Those genuine Porsche 550 Spyders, worth anywhere from $800,000 to over $1,000,000, had four-cylinder air-cooled boxer engines that produced 110 hp. The 550-model designation represented the car's weight in kilograms. For us Americans that equates to 1,213 pounds.
By reviewing these numbers one can understand why KIT CAR wanted to extend an invitation to Vintage Spyders, in Stanton, California, and make sure we tested one of the company's 550-S Spyders. The 550-S is equipped with a 210hp Subaru water-cooled 2.5L boxer four-cylinder powerplant. We imagine the VS 550-S weighs about the same as the original Porsche 550, but the engine produces just under twice the horsepower. You don't need to be a math whiz to realize this replica is going to be fast.
For KIT CAR's Performance Day, we had a couple of resident hot shoes who were standing by to be the test drivers for all 12 vehicles we were testing. The trouble is, pretty much all the manufacturers and owners wanted to do the driving themselves. We can't blame them, though our experts Jason Scudellari and Nick Licata would have been able to produce better test numbers. They're accomplished drivers and car testers, so they're bound to get the most out of all the machines.
Vintage Spyders' owner, Greg Leach, performed well behind the wheel, considering he'd never piloted an automobile in timed performance tests before. He was also gracious enough to let me take the 550-S for a spin during our lunch break. The Subaru-powered roadster is an absolute hoot to drive. It's nimble on turns and accelerates like cars with three times its torque and horsepower. This being my first time behind the wheel and being watched by about 40 colleagues and many kit car manufacturers, I didn't go as fast as I would have if I were all alone on a twisty country road. Still, I got a thrill of how sweet it would be to own one of these babies.
After traveling around the defunct El Toro Marine Base tarmac for as long as I thought I could get away with and not make Greg mad at me, I reluctantly returned the car and keys to him and gathered up my camera for the afternoon's testing sessions. I was as impressed with the build quality of the VS 550-S as I was with its exquisite performance. Though better numbers could have ultimately been recorded on this Vintage Spyders 550-S, I give the car a big thumbs up for fun and driving enjoyment. Even if I were a well-heeled affluent sort of bloke with enough money to purchase a real 550, I think I'd want a replica Spyder like the VS 550-S for my daily driving pleasure. I'd keep my real Spyder in the Porsche museum, or maybe the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, as it's a bit closer to home than Germany.
Vehicle manufacturer:Name: Vintage SpydersPhone: 714/894-1550Web site: www.vintagespyders.com
VehicleYear and type/model: 1955 Porsche 550-S Spyder replicaCar Owner: John Schnepf, Roche Harbor, Washington
PricingPrice of Kit: $30,000Total Price as Tested: $40,000Estimated Hours to Build: 240
DonorYear and type/model: Subaru and VW (parts only)
Components included in kit:
ChassisFrame: Custom tubular steelWheelbase: 85 inchesRearend: Swing-axle VW with coilover shocksRear Suspension: Bilstein coilover shocksRear Brakes: Five-bolt discFront Suspension: VWFront Brakes: Five-bolt discSteering: VWFront Wheel: Boyd Coddington Wide 5 Porsche-style aluminumRear Wheel: Boyd Coddington Wide 5 Porsche-style aluminumFront Tire: Dunlop radials 195/60/15Rear Tire: Dunlop radials 195/60/15