550 spyder
Forum rules
If its not ACVW related, post it in Off Topic.
If its not ACVW related, post it in Off Topic.
- John Alves
- Crankshaft
- Posts: 792
- Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:06 pm
- What model do you have?: 58Ghia 68bug68buggy
- Location: Cape Town
- Has thanked: 3 times
- Been thanked: 48 times

550 spyder
My ultimate replica to build would be the Porsche 550 Spyder
Has anyone on the forum built a 550 ?
Is there anyone in SA that sells a kit?
Can it be built on a beetle pan?
thanks
Has anyone on the forum built a 550 ?
Is there anyone in SA that sells a kit?
Can it be built on a beetle pan?
thanks
No sense being pessimistic. It wouldn't work anyway.
1958 1600 TP Karmann Ghia
1968 1600 TP Beamish buggy
1968 1500 SP Beetle
1958 1600 TP Karmann Ghia
1968 1600 TP Beamish buggy
1968 1500 SP Beetle
-
Class 11 streeter
- Oil Stain
- Posts: 142
- Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2006 9:01 am
- What model do you have?: 8.5 Beetles!
- Location: High Desert of California, USA
Re: 550 spyder
In my mind the 550 is the BEST looking aircooled Porsche ever, I simply cannot understand the fascination with the 356 when sitting next to the 550.

I can't help with SA replicas, but here in the US the best known replica is made by Beck and they show up for sale from time to time. Prices tend to reflect the Porsche crowds income level unfortunately.

That said, you only live once...........
I can't help with SA replicas, but here in the US the best known replica is made by Beck and they show up for sale from time to time. Prices tend to reflect the Porsche crowds income level unfortunately.
That said, you only live once...........
I don't know it all, just enough to be dangerous!
- Watercool
- Transmission
- Posts: 2485
- Joined: Sat Jun 03, 2006 6:05 am
- What model do you have?: VW Rabbit 2.5
- Location: Omaha, Nebraska, USA
- Been thanked: 6 times
Re: 550 spyder
I have to agree on the 550 spyder, but the one that has my attention is the 904 carrera gts.
I had the chance to drive a Beck reproduction at one of the Porsche club meetings, it was a tight fit for my big ass, but man I would love to own one.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Don't argue with an idiot, people watching may not be able to tell the difference
- buggyfan
- Long Block
- Posts: 2979
- Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2008 2:26 am
- What model do you have?: lwb beachbuggy
- Location: newlands,jhb
- Has thanked: 95 times
- Been thanked: 87 times

Re: 550 spyder
http://www.aircooledvwsa.co.za/viewtopi ... tt#p269451" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- buggyfan
- Long Block
- Posts: 2979
- Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2008 2:26 am
- What model do you have?: lwb beachbuggy
- Location: newlands,jhb
- Has thanked: 95 times
- Been thanked: 87 times

Re: 550 spyder
http://www.aircooledvwsa.co.za/viewtopi ... tt#p269451" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- Sambabus
- Short Block
- Posts: 2648
- Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2008 10:42 am
- What model do you have?: Classic campers
- Location: East Rand.
- Has thanked: 39 times
- Been thanked: 14 times
Re: 550 spyder
Im not a big fan of pre 67 porsches. The only one I sort of like is the porsche 356 hardtop. I saw an original 318 rally car in sandton about 2 years ago,blue and silver,the boot and deck lids were held closed with leather straps,and it had a small luggage rack over the deck lide for the spare wheel....I know it was 100% original,...because some retard crashed into the back of it and the metal was wrecked.
The only old porsche I would own would be a 318,made to look exactly like that rally porsche,or a late 60s early 70s targa.
The only old porsche I would own would be a 318,made to look exactly like that rally porsche,or a late 60s early 70s targa.
"ALL THAT LIVES IS BORNE TO DIE........NOTHING REALLY MATTERS." Robert Plant-Led Zeppelin.
"Crime is still goverments priority." SA Police spokesperson
RESPECT,EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE LOSING IT!!!
"Crime is still goverments priority." SA Police spokesperson
RESPECT,EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE LOSING IT!!!
- Sambabus
- Short Block
- Posts: 2648
- Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2008 10:42 am
- What model do you have?: Classic campers
- Location: East Rand.
- Has thanked: 39 times
- Been thanked: 14 times
Re: 550 spyder
Looks like I killed this thread,....sorry guys 
"ALL THAT LIVES IS BORNE TO DIE........NOTHING REALLY MATTERS." Robert Plant-Led Zeppelin.
"Crime is still goverments priority." SA Police spokesperson
RESPECT,EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE LOSING IT!!!
"Crime is still goverments priority." SA Police spokesperson
RESPECT,EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE LOSING IT!!!
- MINCE
- Transmission
- Posts: 2432
- Joined: Tue Dec 12, 2006 11:15 am
- What model do you have?: Without Vehicle
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pereira.artur?ref=profile
- Location: Kirstenhof, Cape Town
- Has thanked: 4 times
- Been thanked: 8 times
- Contact:
Re: 550 spyder
Don't worry about it, you get used it. Trust me
"Great things are not accomplished by those who yield to trends and fads and popular opinion." Jack Kerouac
- Drusky
- Crankshaft
- Posts: 770
- Joined: Wed Jun 30, 2010 10:15 am
- What model do you have?: '71 Deluxe Kombi
- Location: Port Elizabeth
- Has thanked: 77 times
- Been thanked: 15 times
Re: 550 spyder
I know of an old man in SA (my boet's friend) who built a replica. He made the ally panels using an English Wheel. He's a retired airline pirate. I wish I knew where to get piczors and info.
- John Alves
- Crankshaft
- Posts: 792
- Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:06 pm
- What model do you have?: 58Ghia 68bug68buggy
- Location: Cape Town
- Has thanked: 3 times
- Been thanked: 48 times

Re: 550 spyder
after a bit of research I now realise why they are not as popular as other replicas
It cant be built on a beetle pan, motor and box must be turned 180º like the vees
and as class 11 streeter said "Prices tend to reflect the Porsche crowds income level"
would love to have technical drawings of chassis though. I'm sure I could build that, the body I would have to steal.
It cant be built on a beetle pan, motor and box must be turned 180º like the vees
and as class 11 streeter said "Prices tend to reflect the Porsche crowds income level"
would love to have technical drawings of chassis though. I'm sure I could build that, the body I would have to steal.
No sense being pessimistic. It wouldn't work anyway.
1958 1600 TP Karmann Ghia
1968 1600 TP Beamish buggy
1968 1500 SP Beetle
1958 1600 TP Karmann Ghia
1968 1600 TP Beamish buggy
1968 1500 SP Beetle
- Wentzel
- Donor

- Posts: 983
- Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:10 pm
- What model do you have?: T1 1977,76
- Location: Witbank
- Has thanked: 6 times
- Been thanked: 13 times
Re: 550 spyder
I love the 550 too, wanted to build one but the price put a stop to that idea. Maybe we could find an unfinished project or completed kit in need of rebuild somewhere? The low light body should make for interesting and fun driving.
Oxyboxer Project
Never Ending Beetle Project viewtopic.php?f=23&t=35724
Lolette Spyder Project http://www.aircooledvwsa.co.za/viewtopi ... 23&t=32175
Never Ending Beetle Project viewtopic.php?f=23&t=35724
Lolette Spyder Project http://www.aircooledvwsa.co.za/viewtopi ... 23&t=32175
- buggyfan
- Long Block
- Posts: 2979
- Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2008 2:26 am
- What model do you have?: lwb beachbuggy
- Location: newlands,jhb
- Has thanked: 95 times
- Been thanked: 87 times

Re: 550 spyder
http://www.aircooledvwsa.co.za/viewtopi ... tt#p269451" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
- John Alves
- Crankshaft
- Posts: 792
- Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:06 pm
- What model do you have?: 58Ghia 68bug68buggy
- Location: Cape Town
- Has thanked: 3 times
- Been thanked: 48 times

Re: 550 spyder
No, this one
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
No sense being pessimistic. It wouldn't work anyway.
1958 1600 TP Karmann Ghia
1968 1600 TP Beamish buggy
1968 1500 SP Beetle
1958 1600 TP Karmann Ghia
1968 1600 TP Beamish buggy
1968 1500 SP Beetle
-
Piet
- Oil Stain
- Posts: 171
- Joined: Sun May 20, 2012 6:08 pm
- What model do you have?: type 3, Porsche 550
- Location: East Rand
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 15 times
Re: 550 spyder
I'm currently building a 550 spyder. I bought the chassis and body from Kit Kar Centre in Isando about 10 years ago, but had other things to do then (like finding a decent job). I only started working on it again recently. The first 550's had a tube frame with a Beetle front axle and a Beetle gearbox turned 180 degrees, with a 1500 Beetle engine sitting in front of the axle, and drum breaks. The engine was later replaced with a four cam unit, and a 5th gear added to the gearbox. The frame was also changed to something resembling a space-frame.
The kit I bought came with coils-over shock suspension and cable gear linkage. However, I plan to keep it as close as possible to the original, if not in detail then at least in spirit.
Is there anyone who completed a 550?
I will post some pictures of the original, as well as mine (which is less impressive)
The kit I bought came with coils-over shock suspension and cable gear linkage. However, I plan to keep it as close as possible to the original, if not in detail then at least in spirit.
Is there anyone who completed a 550?
I will post some pictures of the original, as well as mine (which is less impressive)
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
-
flatfourfan
- Full-time Bug Nutter
- Posts: 4195
- Joined: Tue Nov 08, 2005 12:06 pm
- What model do you have?: Speedster Replica
- Location: Pretoria
- Has thanked: 36 times
- Been thanked: 50 times
Re: 550 spyder
Have a look on the project threads, there was a build with a white one a while ago.....looked pretty complete to me.
You need to make a thread Piet.......
You need to make a thread Piet.......