Back in the late 1950s I had one as an every day driver, after three years I sold it and bought a Mk1 Sprite that I still own. By the way back then the Sprite was worth about twice as much as the Lotus!! Ex track cars were two a penny.
Aw man, what I'd do to race the 550 Spyder (or any porsche at that.). Listen to that sowing machine engine, 118hp of awesomeness. The classic Porsches are just to die for! In my opinion of course.
I saw an original Porsche 550 Spyder being repaired at my Dads shop. He dismissed it like it was nothing. Even joked that it’s not even a real Porsche for having a Volkswagen engine same as the Beetle. Me I was excited to just see one in the flesh. Even though the car was in a very rough shape and in pieces.
That was cool. I love the entire staff at Fifth Gear! Those guys and that beautiful Vicki are the best hosts on a car related TV show ever. I like Fifth Gear better than Top Gear. That replica Lotus Eleven is gorgeous. And it goes without saying that the Porsche 550 Spyder is in a class all it's own! Both cars look incredibly fun to drive or own. I'd take either one of them.
A million headaches 4 sure. I was watching video and reading up on them the other night. Apparently there is a German firm that makes everything for those 4 cam engines. Even buying shims or nuts and bolts or oil seals and what not can run hundreds of dollars real quick. Finding a qualified mechanic to work on a Porsche-Furmann engine can be a major undertaking. Then, if ever you have to dial in the cam timing and ignition timing? Whoa! Hold on to your checkbook! 4 cams and dual distributors. Whoopie!. Not just a matter of lining up marks on a couple pulleys. These things are bevel/shaft cam drives. I don't know what all is involved. Also, there is a difference between just lining marks up so it will start up and run and degreeing a cam.
Tiff, what company makes the retro suit? Looks to be fireproof and thicker than the original. I drove a faux 550 once. It had a hotter cam than Porsche put in the 912. No power til 4000 then you could hardly see the hand on the tach it went up past 6000 so quickly.
I remember seeing ab F40 for 300k about 10 yrs ago and half jokingly telling my mate to sell his house for one.... 3 years later the same car sold for £1,000,000 !
$400 grand????? What is this guy talking about. A real Porsche 550 will cost you $5,000,000 to $6,500,000. $400,000 won’t even pay the 10% sellers fee.
No they were built to win races. They only weigh about 1000 lbs. The real ones had independent suspension and could outhandle the competition in the corners.
@joeszymanski6936 They made 3 versions of the car. One with a hood and tall screen for the road, next the clubman and the top version was the Le Mans, that was the only one with irs it had a de dion set up. In the late 1950s, early 1960s I had one as a road car.
Bruh… I mean you can have your opinion and all, but I have difficulty understanding how you can have a great appreciation for postwar Porsche bodylines and turn your nose up at the all aluminum bodied lotus that was hand wheeled by retired aircraft aerodynamicists… it don’t add up man. Unless you’re a PCA snob? That’s my only logical conclusion. They’re both art on wheels imo.
@@AlexMason3 Whoa you replied 4 years later?! And honestly ngl I lowkey hope more people share your opinion so I can afford a lotus 11 someday... prolly not gonna happen tho :(
Back in the late 1950s I had one as an every day driver, after three years I sold it and bought a Mk1 Sprite that I still own. By the way back then the Sprite was worth about twice as much as the Lotus!! Ex track cars were two a penny.
I was having fun watching it, my head was tilting with the curves! Enthusiasm is catching. These guys were having FUN.
Aw man, what I'd do to race the 550 Spyder (or any porsche at that.). Listen to that sowing machine engine, 118hp of awesomeness. The classic Porsches are just to die for! In my opinion of course.
buy a 996! or a boxster you wont regret it!
I saw an original Porsche 550 Spyder being repaired at my Dads shop. He dismissed it like it was nothing. Even joked that it’s not even a real Porsche for having a Volkswagen engine same as the Beetle. Me I was excited to just see one in the flesh. Even though the car was in a very rough shape and in pieces.
+Chris Bautista I saw a original 550 spyder in flesh recent. I was so thrilled and got to just look at it and touch it for quite some minutes.
he said it's 18k GBP
"The classic porsches are just to die for!"
James Dean agrees
Proper 1950's roadholding from the Lotus, drifting those tiny tyres everywhere!
I love these old replica's they look & sound totally amazing
I had a 550 Technic , It had 914 porsche engine 44 idf webers, it was like a rocket, Real 550 now is reaching almost 1 million now,
This is the beauty of Fifth Gear - those guys didn't need to hire stunt/racing drivers to film their shenanigans.
Of course in real life, back in the fifties, Lotus Eleven's destroyed ALL the opposition.
And THIS is why all the racers had Spyders when they came out. Not as much horsepower, but the weight makes it a lot more quick than the others.
Horsepower makes a car quick in a straight line, lightness makes it quick everywhere.
That was cool. I love the entire staff at Fifth Gear! Those guys and that beautiful Vicki are the best hosts on a car related TV show ever. I like Fifth Gear better than Top Gear. That replica Lotus Eleven is gorgeous. And it goes without saying that the Porsche 550 Spyder is in a class all it's own! Both cars look incredibly fun to drive or own. I'd take either one of them.
+Joe Van Seeters Top Gear was a comedy show with cars, i like this show better.
I hope the RPM i slimited to 1000 and the engine is of steel. Or it will be another cursed 550
Porsche definitely has it in the looks department.
The Porsche replica is awesome, looks elegant and from the way it looks, I think it is street legal...
They are. Roller from Beck costs $35,000. Turn key 45k+.
1955 550/1500 RS Spyder in 2012 sells for 3.685 Million.
The Porsche does sound pretty damn good
a 1955 Porsche 4 cam motor alone is 1 million.
Beck 550 Spyder., an alternate motor.
A million headaches 4 sure. I was watching video and reading up on them the other night. Apparently there is a German firm that makes everything for those 4 cam engines. Even buying shims or nuts and bolts or oil seals and what not can run hundreds of dollars real quick. Finding a qualified mechanic to work on a Porsche-Furmann engine can be a major undertaking. Then, if ever you have to dial in the cam timing and ignition timing? Whoa! Hold on to your checkbook! 4 cams and dual distributors. Whoopie!. Not just a matter of lining up marks on a couple pulleys. These things are bevel/shaft cam drives. I don't know what all is involved. Also, there is a difference between just lining marks up so it will start up and run and degreeing a cam.
I would love a replica E type
Call Eagle... they've made a bunch. Bring several suitcases full of "Green Backs" or Pounds Sterling. They certainly aren't giving them away!!!
Tiff, what company makes the retro suit? Looks to be fireproof and thicker than the original.
I drove a faux 550 once. It had a hotter cam than Porsche put in the 912. No power til 4000 then you could hardly see the hand on the tach it went up past 6000 so quickly.
Loved watching this!
400 grand !!!!!!!!??? How old is this video ?
The Porsche costs 5 mill now hahaha
How old is this comment it’s worth 10 million now haha only joking but it wouldn’t surprise if it was ;)
I remember seeing ab F40 for 300k about 10 yrs ago and half jokingly telling my mate to sell his house for one.... 3 years later the same car sold for £1,000,000 !
Oui, il y a 30 ans une R5 turbo 1 valait environ 80 000 Francs français, maintenant elle vaut 80 000 euros 😱
Love that eleven
550 Porsche already a winner in styling.
How are you finding today’s cars Jimmy?
@@lambos124 Too many crazy drivers. Safer with the angels.
@@arricammarques1955 :)
How much did they say a Porsche engine and transmission costs? I missed that.
$400 grand????? What is this guy talking about. A real Porsche 550 will cost you $5,000,000 to $6,500,000. $400,000 won’t even pay the 10% sellers fee.
Show was recorded years ago.
The lotus looks like somthing kids built in a garage
No they were built to win races. They only weigh about 1000 lbs. The real ones had independent suspension and could outhandle the competition in the corners.
@@joeszymanski6936 oui et elles avaient un moteur 🥰, pas un truc de midget essoufflé à arbre à cames latérale....
@joeszymanski6936 They made 3 versions of the car. One with a hood and tall screen for the road, next the clubman and the top version was the Le Mans, that was the only one with irs it had a de dion set up. In the late 1950s, early 1960s I had one as a road car.
Are they roadlegal?
The 550 is.
@@DeltaSniperZRR Isn't the Westfield XI road legal, too?
Both street legal
The actual Lotus Eleven was a far better race car than the 550 Spyder.
I didn't know that Benny Hill also designed cars !
I love this sort of thing! Reminds me of the boys at Top Gear. Sub'd. More please!
The spider scares the fuck out of me i dont ever want to see that car in my life
I smiled.
So much want !
I will get my 550 spyder!
Was the Westfield wearing bald tires? It looked like it had no grip at all.
stiff needle
These guys are Not funny, yet they persist in ruining what should be interesting pieces, by trying to be so.😞
Now imagine taking one of those, and putting an LS in it
german technology always the best ;)
Put Jason in the Eleven and he'd still win. It was the driver not the car. Jason was SOOO much smoother.
+Thomas Nixon Nope, it was both, the driver and the car. ^^
That Lotus/Westfield 11 is one of the ugliest cars I've ever seen. Love the Porsche though.
+Alex Mason Your opinion of beautiful must reside in your little toe.
+Thomas Nixon beauty is in the eyes of the beholder my friend
Bruh… I mean you can have your opinion and all, but I have difficulty understanding how you can have a great appreciation for postwar Porsche bodylines and turn your nose up at the all aluminum bodied lotus that was hand wheeled by retired aircraft aerodynamicists… it don’t add up man. Unless you’re a PCA snob? That’s my only logical conclusion. They’re both art on wheels imo.
@@elementaljosh yeah bruh, I’ll still keep my opinion, as it’s mine, not yours. You keep yours by all means 👍
@@AlexMason3 Whoa you replied 4 years later?! And honestly ngl I lowkey hope more people share your opinion so I can afford a lotus 11 someday... prolly not gonna happen tho :(
Porsche definitely has it in the looks department.