@@jarekstorm6331 Yes, but only if they’re good, i.e. drive like a real sports car, i.e. like they should! My first choice would be an AC (Shelby) Cobra, original (not a chance) or high-quality replica. Among replicars, this one is next. It looks very much like the original, with some of the performance of the original (don’t know how they compare, but it’s possible that the replicar’s better) thrown in!
@@yankee2yankee216I dunno, a lot of these are built on shrunk vw beetle chassis, and are old cars, the ac cobra's were old cars, but were race cars, this is more like a budget body on a budget car.. If you have ever driven an old beetle you would know they have personality, but it's not always a fun personality. They make a great noise and with a manx body, and shrunken chassis they are fun, but in more of a terrifying butt clenching way than a this is memorable, i want to drive fast way.. these things had terrible brakes, the steering was reciprocating ball, and they originally ran on bias ply tires with soft sidewalls and by todays standards very narrow. there was no weight up front so they wonder all over the place. They are fun, but maybe not for the reason you think.. 😂
@@rustbeltrobclassic2512Like they say, it can be more fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow… and since slow cars are usually cheaper than fast ones… The Beck Spyder is way cheaper than a real Porsche Spyder, but it’s not THAT cheap, or I’d probably be driving one!
Have to agree, i think these replicas are more likely to be driven and with them being so close to the original i cannot imagine there is much difference and the main thing is to go have fun driving it, imagine the anxiety of an original 550 even extremely rich people are going to be worried all the time. Great video.
Except the Brits who race anything classic in Donington and other classic tracks and do not care much for a crashed classic (well, they do care, but repair)
I built my own Beck Spyder back in 1992. $25k back then to finish the build with a Berg motor & tranny. Super fun car. Auto-crossed it some. With 165/80r15's it was a handful, but with 195/60's and 205/60 rears (Yokohama A008's) it handled like an Indycar. Was great taking to Watkins Glen for Vintage races. They would always wave me right into the paddock w/o having the proper credentials. Car shows? OMG I would have such a crowd around the car while pulling into events, I could not even back into a parking space. Always got loads of attention, questions, thumbs ups, from everyone. I really miss that car! Sold it in 1999 to a Porsche collector in PA. That was a sad day for me 😥
A proper 'berg' motor IS the way to do one, David. Gene emphasized the importance of compression vs heat. His true forged to form (opposed to billet) 411 Centermain swedish steel cranks coupled to his heavy pulleys were the pinnacle of ACVW crank development.
@@bmepdoc9675 thanks, mine was a simple 1776cc counterweighted crank, ported/polished stock valve heads and Kadron carbs. It was a strong little engine and sincetheSpyder only weighed 1300lbs, it was quite quick.
I personally own a Beck's Spyder in my collection. Out of all the cars I have, both classic and modern sports cars, I will say this one of my favorite to drive. I get such a visceral connection driving this car more than the others.
Huge fan of the Spider, and the Beck kit is outstanding. Loved this one, and thank you for driving it hard! I live about 50mi from the site of the James Dean crash site, and the memorial located about a mile from there, in the parking lot of the Jack Ranch Cafe. Mr. Dean was driving across from the Central CA Valley area, on Hwy 46, heading toward Paso Robles, CA. As he was coming down a very long, straight hill, that flattened out at the bottom, (he had the right of way) he was approaching the T shaped intersection with Hwy 41. There was no stop sign for Mr. James. The driver that hit him head on, while attempting to turn left across Mr. Dean's path, and onto Hwy 41(heading toward Fresno), didn't stop. There are all sorts of stories about what really happened, and how, and at the time, the media leveraged heavily on Dean was speeding, and had received a speeding ticket from the CHP not long before that. But it was the driver of the other car who was at fault. I believe the Spider was recently purchased, and he was driving it in order to put break-in miles on the engine, so that it could be re-turned. His (German) mechanic was with him, and following him were other acquaintances/friends in a station wagon, towing the trailer for the car.
It seems unlikely that he was speeding. If he had been, he would have violated the break-in requirements for the engine, and he would have lost his entourage. I don’t offhand know what eye-witness accounts said, but it’s likely that JD was NOT speeding, or otherwise driving recklessly.
@@yankee2yankee216 The speeding ticket can probably still be found online. It was for 65 in a 55. Fines for speeding in CA increase based on the speed that the ticket was written for, so it's not uncommon for a CHP officer to just write 65, even if the person was driving faster. Sort of a "customer service" type thing... the person still gets spanked, hopefully they learn a lesson, and they don't pay a massive fine. So we'll never know, if at the time of the ticket (an hour or 2 before the crash?) how Mr. Dean was driving, or how he drove before, or after. Back then, those highways were out in the middle of nowhere, and no one was on them... but they were still extremely dangerous, and remain that way today. Every time I drive them, I have some level of near miss by people passing around the corners, or passing from behind me, and running oncoming traffic, and me, off onto the shoulder, in order to avoid a head-on collision at speed. It's literally a d*ath zone for about 100+ miles (Paso Robles to Fresno, or Paso Robles to Interstate 5). The highways have been re-aligned several times, and the intersection of the Dean crash moved, as well as the long hill he'd come down. They are currently rebuilding the entire section from that intersection (including large overpasses at that intersection) to Paso Robles and making it 4 lane with a large center divider and the project has been ongoing for almost 10yrs. Years ago a TV show did an investigation, and based on the final resting place of the Spider, witness reports about how it spun, and the actual location from the impact, they did a computer study that showed how the car would have wound up, based on different speeds. The test at 55mph reproduced the same results as the actual crash. They also looked at wear the sun was at, that late in the day, on that date, and found that it was low, and would have been right into Dean's, and his mechanic's eyes. Chances are, they barely saw the big Ford, until the last seconds, and the driver of the Ford thought he could sneak across their lane, and make his left hand turn in front of them. Incredibly sad scenario no matter what.
@@derrickjustice8891 You're welcome. I'm not at all an expert on the crash. There is a ton of information and documentation online, including photos of the crash scene. I think there's even some belief that Dean may not have been driving. I think the mechanic was thrown out of the car and survived, and Dean was sort of in the passenger side. But the car spun, as the hit was into the left front corner and down the driver's side, so the force of the spin could have thrown him over, as it threw the mechanic out. Again, it's all just talk, because I'm no expert on it.
Like any other race car of the day, lightness was the priority. Frames of small tubes that were just solid enough to keep the car from visibly flexing. Body panels as thin as they could be made. Hit something and you are on your own.
A friend of mine used to have a VW Beetle with a 2180cc that was really strong - probably 180hp. That engine in this car would be awesome! That Beetle could wheelie in first and second gears with 3 people in it! Ran low 11's in quarter mile.
I don't know if it's charming or not because I didn't get to drive one, but I can tell you what definitely is - the video. Ultimate end of the season vibes, fantastic top down experience, beautiful weather. This week the temps dropped under 25C where I live, straight month+ of sunny days only is over and the seasonal depression hit me like a truck. Stuff like this helps me recover and adapt to the new reality for the upcoming 6-7 months.
Knew Chuck well, His shop was in Riverside. Ours was in San Bernardino. He used to buy the chrome 4 lugs from us. CB Performance from up in farmersville was doing the motors. They were middle-of-the-road 'okay'. Chuck had a crew of people making the bodies in Brazil to a semi-finished state then were shipped back up here to the states. Chuck offered a new 'roller' minus drivetrain to me for $5800. He was a real good straight up man. I believe his son is now carrying on. Not sure.
Killed near the current sr46/sr41 interchange in CA, not far from Bakersfield. Word around the campfire was the car needed to have more miles on the odometer to qualify for the race, which was why he drove rather than towed the car.
Home from the war on leave I bought a 1962 Daimler SP250, from a used car lot. 2.5ltr hemi head v8 If I cornered hard the door on the outside would open. Wire wheels with knock offs. You could shine a light through the floor if you lifted the carpet. The whole thing was thin fiberglass. Incredible. The manual said to to take care to keep the hinges oiled and don't get it on your jacket. I wonder if Leno figured out why his overheats. They built the thermostat in the wrong place and as you were adding water it would look full. Sorry, I veered off course. Beautiful car. Buy a Barbour Jacket and a Gerbings heated jacket. 5 thumbs up.
It may be quite a bit more dangerous than a modern car, but you can get killed in any car, and besides, you don’t intend to crack it up! You have the power to drive extra-safely. And if you do have an accident, despite all efforts to prevent it, that’s life. Or death. You cannot live in fear!
I really love the concept of classic car replicas. As classics become more and more rare and more and more difficult to find parts for. I feel that there needs to be more of these replicas to help recreate these vehicles, whether it be a Porsche 550 Spyder or a simple Ford Fairlane.
Most "replicars" have been atrocious. Chuck Beck has a clear idea of the original car and an idea of how to make the replica. There are no short cuts!!It looks "tight." It was made with care by folks who loved the original and that love shows. 160 HP in a fiberglass flyweight is 300 HP in a normal sized car. Amazing.
Another great episode! Thanks for showing us all these cool cars. Really enjoy your commenting as well. You know what you are talking about. Thanks again.
1972, I found an original in a junkyard in Alabama, no tires, weeds growing up through it, the proprietor said he would take $250. for it, which of course, I did not have and I was only passing through. The owner told me it was an old race car, it had a tube frame, aluminum body. Sadly, I had no idea what I was look at, really...all I was interested in was that engine (which I believe was a six cylinder). If I had only known!
My, oh my, isn't this just one of the best-sounding 4-cylinders. Thanks for driving these wonderful cars. I keep watching and enjoying most of your videos, especially the classics like this one.
That's the angriest sounding VW engine I've ever heard! Lovely, I'd love to drive a Beck, they seem to be the best 550 replicas. To me it's everything a modern Porsche couldn't be but imagine if they made a Porsche Elise and it was sort of shaped like a 550, I'd love that!
I owned a Beck 550 Spyder for about 5 years. It was very well built and I LOVED the car. The only issue I had with it was that the front end got really light at around 86 - 90 mph! But it was a HUGE smile maker!!!!
I'm glad you mentioned the Caterham 7, that's just what I was thinking about. These flyweight cars powered by a 4 cyl engine and old school gearbox. Love it. A Datsun 510 probably feels porky after this!
responsive engine, tight handling, this car is a fun to drive. that replica is better than the original in many ways, one of these is the maintenance and parts availability. excellent video.
re: Dean's crash. He wasn't at a stop sign, Donald Turnupseed was at a cross road and made a left turn while Dean was driving straight. He pulled out straight in front of him. Rolf, the mechanic that was riding with Dean to Salinas for the races remarked Dean's last words were "he has to see us, right?" It was 100% Donald's fault.
The quote by Rolf is a well circulated myth that hasn’t been backed up by evidence. Porsche and James Dean historian Lee Raskin has addressed this in his writings. Rolf was interviewed for the coroner’s deposition and later gave a 1960 interview (only known interview) - in both instances he stated he had no recollections directly preceding or following the crash.
@@Latour6182 Dude, I've been studying this for over 30 years, it's the quote that was quoted - period. It doesn't mean that was true, it's what Rolf said. Also, you asking for evidence is silly, considering there were 2 people in the car and one died on the scene.
Wholeheartedly agree with all the comments below....there's just something about the experience of driving a car like this. Thanks for the ride along! Please don't ever put your hand inside of the steering wheel again and palm toward yourself, though (when you first pulled out). I'll give you a pass just this once due to your excitement.
Great video!...thx for posting. I got Chuck Beck to sell me his #007 Lister Corvette Lightweight racer. I appreciate everything you said about being able to drive them daily...agree 100%. After running #007 in two One Lap of America events, it has almost that many miles, too. It's heavier at 2050 lbs., but the dry-sump, gear-drive HC400 Donovan small block kinda makes up for it since the rears don't hook up til the end of 2nd gear...100 mph. Definitely fun instantly lighting the tires at anything below 75-80 mph...then they stay lit. I recently installed an EMCO dog box, and when I shifted to 2nd while holding about 1/2-throttle steady (SWOL, shift w/o lifting), it was like changing Time Zones in the blink of an eye, I suddenly was where I was looking a fraction of a second ago...down the road. Freaky...it felt like I jumped into another Dimension. When I was flat broke after a robbery a while back, I turned down $250K offer from a celebrity who knew the car's race history, but it can't be replaced...I love that car. In a recent video interview, the host asked Chuck if there were any cars that he wished he had back, and without hesitation, he mentioned #007. Right now, I need to yank the Donovan, and drop in an iron Blueprint 383 small block to get the Donovan's deck machined properly. I think it might be fun to shoot a reunion film...maybe in the next couple months. At 87, I know he'd light the tires all the way through second, too. So, I'm now talking to a country club track outside of Tampa to host the reunion. If it happens, I'll post it on my Lister Corvette Facebook page...it's #007's page.
@@Localtraveler2376 That's not correct. Dean was west bound on Hwy 46 (heading to Paso Robles), and had the right of way. The driver of the Ford was required to yield to through traffic, before making his left turn, crossing the west-bound lane, and turning onto Hwy 41 (heading to Fresno, CA). It was the media who blew up the scenario, that because Dean had received a speeding ticket from the CHP, just an hour or 2 earlier (I don't know the actual time gap between the citation and the crash) he was the reckless driver, caused the crash, and (sort of) got what he deserved. I don't think there's ever been an accurate crash analysis, although I did see a TV program many years ago that returned to the site on the day and time of the crash, to look at sun angles (directly into Deans eyes, potentially preventing him from seeing the other car well, if at all, until it was too late) and they also used a crash forensics team, photos of the crash site, measurements from the original location of the intersection (which has been changed more than once), and put that data into a computer program. When the program ran the crash with Dean's speed at 55, the "model" car performed just like Dean's Spider; Spinning, traveling the same distance before coming to a stop, etc. At speeds above that, the car spun more, faced the other direction, and skidded further. At lower speeds, it didn't spin or spin as much, and skidded less. Was this all accurate, who knows, and I'm not an expert on it all, by any means. I live about 50mi away from the crash site and memorial, and have been driving past it since the mid-80's. Both Hwy 41 and 46 are still ridiculously dangerous, and almost every time I'm on either, I have some sort of "near miss." The section from Paso Robles, through that intersection and up over the top of the long-since re-aligned hill that Dean had just come down prior to the crash, have been under construction for almost 10yrs, due to all the horrible crashes. It's being turned into a 4 lane, with a huge center divider area, large overpasses to replace that intersection, and it will continue on up over that hill/grade, where it will mate up with the redone 4 lane that goes from Lost Hills and Interstate 5, to the other side of that hill/grade.
@@Localtraveler2376 I'm absolutely no expert on the crash. I've just read things that I've come across online, and back when watching TV was a thing, watched a show that dug into it pretty hard, including a computerized recreation that crashed the spider at speeds below 55, and above, in an effort to try to dispel the whole, "Spoiled brat hollywood actor, just doing whatever he wants, blasting along collecting speeding tickets, doesn't care, and nearly 86-ing an innocent local "boy" who's life is now ruined." Typical media slant to sell news papers back then. My thought is that there was also a little back door thing going on, where someone knew someone, who knew someone, and a certain spin was put on the entire thing, since Dean was gone, and witness testimony (that was "officially" recorded) was all over the place, story-wise, which allowed them to "save" the errant driver. "It was a terrible accident caused by a guy speeding in a teeny car that was invisible." If YOU were to drive through the T intersection, yourself, into the sun (I've drive that area a lot at that time of day), and even today, seen how dangerous that intersection has remained, I think it would become quickly pretty clear what "probably" happened. And that happens all the time out there, with people doing exactly as the errant driver did, and trying to cut across that west-bound lane, trying to get onto the 41. It's absolute insanity out there, which is why it's currently being turned into several monster overpasses, and from the top of the hill that Dean came down, all the way to Paso Robles, it's slowly being re-routed and/or re-aligned, and turned into a massive 4 lane freeway.
@@Localtraveler2376 I've heard that his life was pretty rough/sad, because "he was the guy who killed James Dean." The press hounded him forever. But that's probably a lot better than a vehicular manslaughter charge. Young guy who made a horrible mistake, took a life, and then did the ol', come up with a story.
@@Localtraveler2376Lee Raskin is the go to historian on James Dean (Porsche 550/racing history/Salinas trip and accident investigation). Dean’s mechanic and passenger, Rolf, never stated that Dean uttered the famous quote just prior to the crash. He was interviewed for a coroner’s deposition and later gave the only known interview by him in 1960, in both cases he had no recollections of events/conversations directly leading up to the accident or in the aftermath.
A real 550 is so rare and stupid expensive glad they have replicas so people can still enjoy driving something close to original also newer technology can also enhance the replica as well. As long as done properly replicas are amazingband shouldn't be frowned upon so much
The beauty of this is that you can go 9/10 racing around in the streets and with the power to weight ratio no one will know! I would rather have this than a AC Cobra reproduction.
Man this is very fun to drive 😅 i wish i had a chance to drive this one, thank good for people makeing this kind of replica's this world need more simple cars like this one very lightweight enough of power simple in every way 👍😆
Every single 250 GTO was made a little bit differently. This is why I'm seeking a tubular frame American v8 replica for $40k or so. It's the most beautiful car ever made. And I don't want to pay $51 million for a car I'm terrified to drive. Like Cameron's dad in "Ferris Beuller's Day Off"
The 550 looks like a blast to drive. Bouncing speedo brings back memories for sure. Hard not to focus on the bolt and wing nut setup for the side curtains and wonder how often those are hit with an arm or catch a shirt. Guess I need to drive one to find out ;-)
As far as using the Porsche badges is concerned, although it is not a Porsche build, it IS a Porsche design. That, together with the fact that no one is claiming any part of this car to be a genuine Porsche, justifies using Porsche badges.
Hey Tedward, how do you shift so smoothly in all these different cars? I’ve been driving manual for a few years now and still have trouble timing my inputs right to make the ride smooth. Any tips?
If you watch him shift, he'll lay into the throttle, let up, clutch in, blip the throttle as the shift lever is being loaded into the next gear gate, and as that rpm changes, he's still applying pressure to the gate... and then the transmission drops into that gear. So it's a slow.....clack........clack......style of shifting, and then he goes back on the power. He's using a method that is based on allowing the 2 differently spinning sections of the transmission, to match their speeds to each other, and then the shift collar just slides from one gear hub, over to the next. It's the same method as if he wasn't using the clutch at all. It's especially easy to do on vintage cars with big heavy flywheels, because the engine rpm's don't float. So that blip creates a momentary speed change that helps align things, and as rpm's quickly drop, his hand pressure is all that's needed. No clutch even required. It's more difficult to do on cars with light flywheels, or modern cars that have a computer controlling rpm, and are using "rev hang" (like Honda) to manage emissions. Try the slow; clack......clack style of shifting, no throttle blip (if you have a modern car) and see what you think. If you have a modern car with a heavy flywheel AND it doesn't do rev-hang, give the throttle a little blip and see how you like that.
@@austinado16 I’ll give that a shot. I have a 2000 Miata and I feel like it should be easy to drive. The flywheel seems pretty light from factory so sometimes the revs drop faster than I can put it in the next gear. Other times (like from first to second where the ratios are much different) I release the clutch too early or too late with too much or not enough gas. Especially when trying to accelerate quickly. I will try the slow style of shifting, but is there anything else I should focus on when trying to be smooth?
@@josephTsnyder Just be slow. Hold the clutch down. There's no race to get the clutch pedal off the floor. Rewatch how Tedward shifts. The clutch foot just takes it's time, and the clutch pedal stays down. You may see him "double clutch" some times, which he coordinates with that blip of the throttle. This is a more advanced technique, which I doubt you need unless the syncros on the Miata trans are so worn out that they no longer generate enough friction on the next gear hub, to slow it's rotation, and match speed. Just drive down your street slowly in first, with very slow acceleration, if any, and then: clutch to the floor and hold......clack, and out of first, now begin to load the shifter against that feeling of a gate for 2nd (sort of a pressure point that you'll have to push past)......then the clack into 2nd. Now bring up the rpm as you smoothly bring the clutch to about halfway, and then bring the clutch pedal up the rest of the way and take your foot completely off. Done deal. Once you have this phase, play with giving a little blip on the throttle, just as you push the shifter through the gate, and you'll feel it drop right in even nicer.
@@austinado16 Copy that. I think my biggest issue is just trying to do everything too quickly. It’s hard not to when the Altima driver next to me can speed off the line at a green light so quickly Lol. Keeping up with modern traffic is an issue but I just have to remember that it’s an older machine and likes certain things. The second gear synchro might be a little worn. When it’s warm it shifts fine but in the cold it does not fall in easily. The next time I drive I’ll try and focus on the clack….clack method. Thank you!
@@josephTsnyder You'll discover that smooth is fast. That slamming the shift lever thing is non-sense that destroys transmissions. If the trans shift poorly cold, change the transmission oil, and pay close attention to what the factory spec'd for it. There are modern equivalents, so you don't have to use "mazda" fluid, but you need to know what it is supposed to take, in order to purchase the correct modern oil. The fluid needs to lubricate, of course, but it also needs to have the ability to allow the friction surface (ribbed groves) on the underside of the synchro rings, to "bite" onto the ramped hub of the gear they are sliding onto/into. This is what slows the gear down, and allows the shift collar that's being moved by your hand, to slide over and engage the next gear. Poor cold shifting is generally a sign of either the wrong oil being used, or the oil is simply warn out. If you'll learn to ignore the fools driving GTA on public streets, you'll find you're a whole lot happier.
Beck has been producing the best case replica, for a long time,. however at this point .. a Subaru WRX motor would be a lot of fun - of course with better suspension and brake set up all around - one this old and used should be less that 30 grand... especially with a VW engine
When cars are so rare and valuable, it’s really cool to have these replicas to enjoy. Very cool.
@@jarekstorm6331 Yes, but only if they’re good, i.e. drive like a real sports car, i.e. like they should! My first choice would be an AC (Shelby) Cobra, original (not a chance) or high-quality replica. Among replicars, this one is next. It looks very much like the original, with some of the performance of the original (don’t know how they compare, but it’s possible that the replicar’s better) thrown in!
@@yankee2yankee216I dunno, a lot of these are built on shrunk vw beetle chassis, and are old cars, the ac cobra's were old cars, but were race cars, this is more like a budget body on a budget car.. If you have ever driven an old beetle you would know they have personality, but it's not always a fun personality. They make a great noise and with a manx body, and shrunken chassis they are fun, but in more of a terrifying butt clenching way than a this is memorable, i want to drive fast way.. these things had terrible brakes, the steering was reciprocating ball, and they originally ran on bias ply tires with soft sidewalls and by todays standards very narrow. there was no weight up front so they wonder all over the place. They are fun, but maybe not for the reason you think.. 😂
@@rustbeltrobclassic2512Like they say, it can be more fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow… and since slow cars are usually cheaper than fast ones… The Beck Spyder is way cheaper than a real Porsche Spyder, but it’s not THAT cheap, or I’d probably be driving one!
@@yankee2yankee216 I agree, buy the beetle, it will save you a ton and if you want wind in your hair buy a beetle convertible.
Have to agree, i think these replicas are more likely to be driven and with them being so close to the original i cannot imagine there is much difference and the main thing is to go have fun driving it, imagine the anxiety of an original 550 even extremely rich people are going to be worried all the time.
Great video.
Except the Brits who race anything classic in Donington and other classic tracks and do not care much for a crashed classic (well, they do care, but repair)
I built my own Beck Spyder back in 1992. $25k back then to finish the build with a Berg motor & tranny. Super fun car. Auto-crossed it some. With 165/80r15's it was a handful, but with 195/60's and 205/60 rears (Yokohama A008's) it handled like an Indycar. Was great taking to Watkins Glen for Vintage races. They would always wave me right into the paddock w/o having the proper credentials. Car shows? OMG I would have such a crowd around the car while pulling into events, I could not even back into a parking space. Always got loads of attention, questions, thumbs ups, from everyone. I really miss that car! Sold it in 1999 to a Porsche collector in PA. That was a sad day for me 😥
A proper 'berg' motor IS the way to do one, David. Gene emphasized the importance of compression vs heat. His true forged to form (opposed to billet) 411 Centermain swedish steel cranks coupled to his heavy pulleys were the pinnacle of ACVW crank development.
@@bmepdoc9675 thanks, mine was a simple 1776cc counterweighted crank, ported/polished stock valve heads and Kadron carbs. It was a strong little engine and sincetheSpyder only weighed 1300lbs, it was quite quick.
I personally own a Beck's Spyder in my collection. Out of all the cars I have, both classic and modern sports cars, I will say this one of my favorite to drive. I get such a visceral connection driving this car more than the others.
Huge fan of the Spider, and the Beck kit is outstanding. Loved this one, and thank you for driving it hard!
I live about 50mi from the site of the James Dean crash site, and the memorial located about a mile from there, in the parking lot of the Jack Ranch Cafe. Mr. Dean was driving across from the Central CA Valley area, on Hwy 46, heading toward Paso Robles, CA. As he was coming down a very long, straight hill, that flattened out at the bottom, (he had the right of way) he was approaching the T shaped intersection with Hwy 41. There was no stop sign for Mr. James. The driver that hit him head on, while attempting to turn left across Mr. Dean's path, and onto Hwy 41(heading toward Fresno), didn't stop. There are all sorts of stories about what really happened, and how, and at the time, the media leveraged heavily on Dean was speeding, and had received a speeding ticket from the CHP not long before that. But it was the driver of the other car who was at fault. I believe the Spider was recently purchased, and he was driving it in order to put break-in miles on the engine, so that it could be re-turned. His (German) mechanic was with him, and following him were other acquaintances/friends in a station wagon, towing the trailer for the car.
It seems unlikely that he was speeding. If he had been, he would have violated the break-in requirements for the engine, and he would have lost his entourage. I don’t offhand know what eye-witness accounts said, but it’s likely that JD was NOT speeding, or otherwise driving recklessly.
Thank you for sharing the story. I’ve always wondered what really happened.
@@yankee2yankee216 The speeding ticket can probably still be found online. It was for 65 in a 55. Fines for speeding in CA increase based on the speed that the ticket was written for, so it's not uncommon for a CHP officer to just write 65, even if the person was driving faster. Sort of a "customer service" type thing... the person still gets spanked, hopefully they learn a lesson, and they don't pay a massive fine. So we'll never know, if at the time of the ticket (an hour or 2 before the crash?) how Mr. Dean was driving, or how he drove before, or after. Back then, those highways were out in the middle of nowhere, and no one was on them... but they were still extremely dangerous, and remain that way today. Every time I drive them, I have some level of near miss by people passing around the corners, or passing from behind me, and running oncoming traffic, and me, off onto the shoulder, in order to avoid a head-on collision at speed. It's literally a d*ath zone for about 100+ miles (Paso Robles to Fresno, or Paso Robles to Interstate 5). The highways have been re-aligned several times, and the intersection of the Dean crash moved, as well as the long hill he'd come down. They are currently rebuilding the entire section from that intersection (including large overpasses at that intersection) to Paso Robles and making it 4 lane with a large center divider and the project has been ongoing for almost 10yrs.
Years ago a TV show did an investigation, and based on the final resting place of the Spider, witness reports about how it spun, and the actual location from the impact, they did a computer study that showed how the car would have wound up, based on different speeds. The test at 55mph reproduced the same results as the actual crash. They also looked at wear the sun was at, that late in the day, on that date, and found that it was low, and would have been right into Dean's, and his mechanic's eyes. Chances are, they barely saw the big Ford, until the last seconds, and the driver of the Ford thought he could sneak across their lane, and make his left hand turn in front of them. Incredibly sad scenario no matter what.
@@derrickjustice8891 You're welcome. I'm not at all an expert on the crash. There is a ton of information and documentation online, including photos of the crash scene. I think there's even some belief that Dean may not have been driving. I think the mechanic was thrown out of the car and survived, and Dean was sort of in the passenger side. But the car spun, as the hit was into the left front corner and down the driver's side, so the force of the spin could have thrown him over, as it threw the mechanic out. Again, it's all just talk, because I'm no expert on it.
Like any other race car of the day, lightness was the priority. Frames of small tubes that were just solid enough to keep the car from visibly flexing. Body panels as thin as they could be made. Hit something and you are on your own.
My favorite classic car from Need for Speed Porsche Unleashed 2000 video game.
Very nice game!
A friend of mine used to have a VW Beetle with a 2180cc that was really strong - probably 180hp. That engine in this car would be awesome! That Beetle could wheelie in first and second gears with 3 people in it! Ran low 11's in quarter mile.
I always thought those Spiders were super slow. Tedward has cured me of this false notion. What a fun little car.
I don't know if it's charming or not because I didn't get to drive one, but I can tell you what definitely is - the video. Ultimate end of the season vibes, fantastic top down experience, beautiful weather. This week the temps dropped under 25C where I live, straight month+ of sunny days only is over and the seasonal depression hit me like a truck. Stuff like this helps me recover and adapt to the new reality for the upcoming 6-7 months.
Knew Chuck well, His shop was in Riverside. Ours was in San Bernardino. He used to buy the chrome 4 lugs from us. CB Performance from up in farmersville was doing the motors. They were middle-of-the-road 'okay'. Chuck had a crew of people making the bodies in Brazil to a semi-finished state then were shipped back up here to the states. Chuck offered a new 'roller' minus drivetrain to me for $5800. He was a real good straight up man. I believe his son is now carrying on. Not sure.
I hung out with Chuck at the Walter Mitty event at Road Atlanta. Super cool guy.
This car is so light, the engine gets little resistance! It just revs! Wow! I always knew these cars were spectacular!
12 minutes of eargasmic heaven, thank you for taking us along for the ride Tedward!
Thank you for helping feel like James Dean for just a few seconds after closing my eyes. Another banger🔥
Killed near the current sr46/sr41 interchange in CA, not far from Bakersfield. Word around the campfire was the car needed to have more miles on the odometer to qualify for the race, which was why he drove rather than towed the car.
Correct. And at a certain amount of miles, the engine needed to be re-tuned, hence why he had his/the German (Porsche) mechanic riding with him.
The “banjo” steering wheel on the Beck’s Spyder gives it a real classical look and, I’d imagine, feel.
Beck has been striving for excellence since the late 80's!!
Home from the war on leave I bought a 1962 Daimler SP250, from a used car lot. 2.5ltr hemi head v8 If I cornered hard the door on the outside would open. Wire wheels with knock offs. You could shine a light through the floor if you lifted the carpet. The whole thing was thin fiberglass. Incredible. The manual said to to take care to keep the hinges oiled and don't get it on your jacket. I wonder if Leno figured out why his overheats. They built the thermostat in the wrong place and as you were adding water it would look full. Sorry, I veered off course. Beautiful car. Buy a Barbour Jacket and a Gerbings heated jacket. 5 thumbs up.
It may be quite a bit more dangerous than a modern car, but you can get killed in any car, and besides, you don’t intend to crack it up! You have the power to drive extra-safely. And if you do have an accident, despite all efforts to prevent it, that’s life. Or death. You cannot live in fear!
Once again proving that in the real world, slow cars are far more fun than fast cars.
You call this slow? This is basically a old racecar
I really love the concept of classic car replicas. As classics become more and more rare and more and more difficult to find parts for. I feel that there needs to be more of these replicas to help recreate these vehicles, whether it be a Porsche 550 Spyder or a simple Ford Fairlane.
Whoa Tedward! You have a sixth-sense for the cars that interest me most!
Most "replicars" have been atrocious. Chuck Beck has a clear idea of the original car and an idea of how to make the replica. There are no short cuts!!It looks "tight." It was made with care by folks who loved the original and that love shows. 160 HP in a fiberglass flyweight is 300 HP in a normal sized car.
Amazing.
Another great episode! Thanks for showing us all these cool cars. Really enjoy your commenting as well. You know what you are talking about. Thanks again.
1972, I found an original in a junkyard in Alabama, no tires, weeds growing up through it, the proprietor said he would take $250. for it, which of course, I did not have and I was only passing through. The owner told me it was an old race car, it had a tube frame, aluminum body. Sadly, I had no idea what I was look at, really...all I was interested in was that engine (which I believe was a six cylinder). If I had only known!
errr ok
My, oh my, isn't this just one of the best-sounding 4-cylinders. Thanks for driving these wonderful cars. I keep watching and enjoying most of your videos, especially the classics like this one.
My uncle had one of these around the time I was in HS. Car absolutely ripped and was a blast.
Beck over there in the US, and Chamonix here in Brazil, excellent replicas. 👏🏻🗿
Wow, this car is where its at! That engine soundtrack better than two turntables and a microphone ;p
That's the angriest sounding VW engine I've ever heard! Lovely, I'd love to drive a Beck, they seem to be the best 550 replicas.
To me it's everything a modern Porsche couldn't be but imagine if they made a Porsche Elise and it was sort of shaped like a 550, I'd love that!
I owned a Beck 550 Spyder for about 5 years. It was very well built and I LOVED the car. The only issue I had with it was that the front end got really light at around 86 - 90 mph! But it was a HUGE smile maker!!!!
I'm glad you mentioned the Caterham 7, that's just what I was thinking about. These flyweight cars powered by a 4 cyl engine and old school gearbox. Love it. A Datsun 510 probably feels porky after this!
responsive engine, tight handling, this car is a fun to drive.
that replica is better than the original in many ways, one of these is the maintenance and parts availability.
excellent video.
So visceral - love it. Sounds and I'm sure the feel of everything. Thanks for sharing these great drives!!!!
This weekend I went to a specialist Porsche Classic centre who rebuild Porsches to the highest standard.
356's went for 300.000 euro upwards. Insane.
Love it, it’s a shame so many drivers don’t know the joy of driving a light responsive analog sports car which doesn’t need massive hp
Very nice video! I actually have one on order, very much looking forward to driving it.
re: Dean's crash. He wasn't at a stop sign, Donald Turnupseed was at a cross road and made a left turn while Dean was driving straight. He pulled out straight in front of him. Rolf, the mechanic that was riding with Dean to Salinas for the races remarked Dean's last words were "he has to see us, right?" It was 100% Donald's fault.
The quote by Rolf is a well circulated myth that hasn’t been backed up by evidence. Porsche and James Dean historian Lee Raskin has addressed this in his writings. Rolf was interviewed for the coroner’s deposition and later gave a 1960 interview (only known interview) - in both instances he stated he had no recollections directly preceding or following the crash.
@@Latour6182 Dude, I've been studying this for over 30 years, it's the quote that was quoted - period. It doesn't mean that was true, it's what Rolf said. Also, you asking for evidence is silly, considering there were 2 people in the car and one died on the scene.
Wholeheartedly agree with all the comments below....there's just something about the experience of driving a car like this. Thanks for the ride along! Please don't ever put your hand inside of the steering wheel again and palm toward yourself, though (when you first pulled out). I'll give you a pass just this once due to your excitement.
Great video!...thx for posting. I got Chuck Beck to sell me his #007 Lister Corvette Lightweight racer. I appreciate everything you said about being able to drive them daily...agree 100%.
After running #007 in two One Lap of America events, it has almost that many miles, too. It's heavier at 2050 lbs., but the dry-sump, gear-drive HC400 Donovan small block kinda makes up for it since the rears don't hook up til the end of 2nd gear...100 mph. Definitely fun instantly lighting the tires at anything below 75-80 mph...then they stay lit.
I recently installed an EMCO dog box, and when I shifted to 2nd while holding about 1/2-throttle steady (SWOL, shift w/o lifting), it was like changing Time Zones in the blink of an eye, I suddenly was where I was looking a fraction of a second ago...down the road. Freaky...it felt like I jumped into another Dimension.
When I was flat broke after a robbery a while back, I turned down $250K offer from a celebrity who knew the car's race history, but it can't be replaced...I love that car.
In a recent video interview, the host asked Chuck if there were any cars that he wished he had back, and without hesitation, he mentioned #007.
Right now, I need to yank the Donovan, and drop in an iron Blueprint 383 small block to get the Donovan's deck machined properly.
I think it might be fun to shoot a reunion film...maybe in the next couple months. At 87, I know he'd light the tires all the way through second, too. So, I'm now talking to a country club track outside of Tampa to host the reunion. If it happens, I'll post it on my Lister Corvette Facebook page...it's #007's page.
I believe the other car pulled out in front of the oncoming, low slung Porsche driven by Dean.
@@Localtraveler2376 That's not correct. Dean was west bound on Hwy 46 (heading to Paso Robles), and had the right of way. The driver of the Ford was required to yield to through traffic, before making his left turn, crossing the west-bound lane, and turning onto Hwy 41 (heading to Fresno, CA). It was the media who blew up the scenario, that because Dean had received a speeding ticket from the CHP, just an hour or 2 earlier (I don't know the actual time gap between the citation and the crash) he was the reckless driver, caused the crash, and (sort of) got what he deserved. I don't think there's ever been an accurate crash analysis, although I did see a TV program many years ago that returned to the site on the day and time of the crash, to look at sun angles (directly into Deans eyes, potentially preventing him from seeing the other car well, if at all, until it was too late) and they also used a crash forensics team, photos of the crash site, measurements from the original location of the intersection (which has been changed more than once), and put that data into a computer program. When the program ran the crash with Dean's speed at 55, the "model" car performed just like Dean's Spider; Spinning, traveling the same distance before coming to a stop, etc. At speeds above that, the car spun more, faced the other direction, and skidded further. At lower speeds, it didn't spin or spin as much, and skidded less. Was this all accurate, who knows, and I'm not an expert on it all, by any means. I live about 50mi away from the crash site and memorial, and have been driving past it since the mid-80's. Both Hwy 41 and 46 are still ridiculously dangerous, and almost every time I'm on either, I have some sort of "near miss." The section from Paso Robles, through that intersection and up over the top of the long-since re-aligned hill that Dean had just come down prior to the crash, have been under construction for almost 10yrs, due to all the horrible crashes. It's being turned into a 4 lane, with a huge center divider area, large overpasses to replace that intersection, and it will continue on up over that hill/grade, where it will mate up with the redone 4 lane that goes from Lost Hills and Interstate 5, to the other side of that hill/grade.
@@Localtraveler2376 I'm absolutely no expert on the crash. I've just read things that I've come across online, and back when watching TV was a thing, watched a show that dug into it pretty hard, including a computerized recreation that crashed the spider at speeds below 55, and above, in an effort to try to dispel the whole, "Spoiled brat hollywood actor, just doing whatever he wants, blasting along collecting speeding tickets, doesn't care, and nearly 86-ing an innocent local "boy" who's life is now ruined." Typical media slant to sell news papers back then. My thought is that there was also a little back door thing going on, where someone knew someone, who knew someone, and a certain spin was put on the entire thing, since Dean was gone, and witness testimony (that was "officially" recorded) was all over the place, story-wise, which allowed them to "save" the errant driver. "It was a terrible accident caused by a guy speeding in a teeny car that was invisible."
If YOU were to drive through the T intersection, yourself, into the sun (I've drive that area a lot at that time of day), and even today, seen how dangerous that intersection has remained, I think it would become quickly pretty clear what "probably" happened. And that happens all the time out there, with people doing exactly as the errant driver did, and trying to cut across that west-bound lane, trying to get onto the 41. It's absolute insanity out there, which is why it's currently being turned into several monster overpasses, and from the top of the hill that Dean came down, all the way to Paso Robles, it's slowly being re-routed and/or re-aligned, and turned into a massive 4 lane freeway.
@@Localtraveler2376 I've heard that his life was pretty rough/sad, because "he was the guy who killed James Dean." The press hounded him forever. But that's probably a lot better than a vehicular manslaughter charge. Young guy who made a horrible mistake, took a life, and then did the ol', come up with a story.
@@Localtraveler2376Lee Raskin is the go to historian on James Dean (Porsche 550/racing history/Salinas trip and accident investigation). Dean’s mechanic and passenger, Rolf, never stated that Dean uttered the famous quote just prior to the crash.
He was interviewed for a coroner’s deposition and later gave the only known interview by him in 1960, in both cases he had no recollections of events/conversations directly leading up to the accident or in the aftermath.
A real 550 is so rare and stupid expensive glad they have replicas so people can still enjoy driving something close to original also newer technology can also enhance the replica as well. As long as done properly replicas are amazingband shouldn't be frowned upon so much
Fantastic video! I’ve always wondered, though, how you find such excellent driving roads?
Outstanding drive! Thanks a lot!!!
The beauty of this is that you can go 9/10 racing around in the streets and with the power to weight ratio no one will know! I would rather have this than a AC Cobra reproduction.
Outstanding!
One of the more fun VWs to drive out there.
Man i really enjoy your vids Tom! Keep em coming 😊
Thank You!
Sweet little ride.
Same weight as the original with more oomph and brakes. Fun.
I love it! I want to drive it. Couldn't not focus on the bouncy kph speedo, though. Ha. Keep up your great works, Tom. Cheers.
Great review. It prompted me to go watch your S2000 AP1 video again.
Nice ride!!! Just like I was behind the wheel...
Man this is very fun to drive 😅 i wish i had a chance to drive this one, thank good for people makeing this kind of replica's this world need more simple cars like this one very lightweight enough of power simple in every way 👍😆
Every single 250 GTO was made a little bit differently. This is why I'm seeking a tubular frame American v8 replica for $40k or so. It's the most beautiful car ever made.
And I don't want to pay $51 million for a car I'm terrified to drive. Like Cameron's dad in "Ferris Beuller's Day Off"
The 550 looks like a blast to drive. Bouncing speedo brings back memories for sure. Hard not to focus on the bolt and wing nut setup for the side curtains and wonder how often those are hit with an arm or catch a shirt. Guess I need to drive one to find out ;-)
Can you find a Beck 904 next please.
That hood prop is scary. I would never rely on it like you do.
Agree, I'd worry about the wind!
You can adopt the attitude there is nothing you can do, or you can see the challenge as your call to action.
thank you for giving the two wheeler a wide berth.
Hey man, I have no idea where this is recorded but aside from the Porsche being a spectacular car it's also a very beautiful area.
Sweet lookin' ride!
She had that tint of craziness in her soul that made her believe she could actually make a difference.
As far as using the Porsche badges is concerned, although it is not a Porsche build, it IS a Porsche design. That, together with the fact that no one is claiming any part of this car to be a genuine Porsche, justifies using Porsche badges.
I had one, gorgeous to look at. However, the steering box had a large dead spot on center.
this looks very fun
Only thing I know about James Dean is that he was famous and he crashed and died in a 550…..
He invested some skill points in Charisma and Strength.
What a mean little lady.
Absolutely love this car, and I'm typically against replicas.
I like replicas if they are well made and true (as possible) to form.
Awesome !
Tedward saying “boooond group” is basically his version of Doug Demuro’s “thisssss”.
Thank you for letting us taste what the James Dean myth felt..
The ultimate Porsche "Outlaw."
The only thing missing from this video is the Eagles song “James Dean” playing as you drove.
Great video! Also, more Type R videos please!
Great video as always! I have a '71 Alfa Spider love you to get eyeballs on. I am in Mass about twenty miles away. You do consultations?
I think this would be awesome to drive with the Subaru EJ25 option!
Remember when Hoovie bought a Subaru powered one and sold soon after?
A small roadster is the recipe for fun period. For the price I'd take one over 1,000 modern muscle cars. It's a drivers car.
Day 37 of asking Tedward to drive the S60R❤
Reminds me of playing Need For Speed Porsche Unleashed on my Gameboy Advance back in the day.
I can see clearly the origin of the Cayman in the Porsche 550
1 like = Tedward is the best
Before he moved to the inner city, he had always believed that security complexes were psychological.
I think I'd pop the hood to refuel...don't want any drips on the paint.
NFS Porsche 2000!
Absolute Dreancar !
Hey Tedward, how do you shift so smoothly in all these different cars? I’ve been driving manual for a few years now and still have trouble timing my inputs right to make the ride smooth. Any tips?
If you watch him shift, he'll lay into the throttle, let up, clutch in, blip the throttle as the shift lever is being loaded into the next gear gate, and as that rpm changes, he's still applying pressure to the gate... and then the transmission drops into that gear. So it's a slow.....clack........clack......style of shifting, and then he goes back on the power. He's using a method that is based on allowing the 2 differently spinning sections of the transmission, to match their speeds to each other, and then the shift collar just slides from one gear hub, over to the next. It's the same method as if he wasn't using the clutch at all. It's especially easy to do on vintage cars with big heavy flywheels, because the engine rpm's don't float. So that blip creates a momentary speed change that helps align things, and as rpm's quickly drop, his hand pressure is all that's needed. No clutch even required. It's more difficult to do on cars with light flywheels, or modern cars that have a computer controlling rpm, and are using "rev hang" (like Honda) to manage emissions.
Try the slow; clack......clack style of shifting, no throttle blip (if you have a modern car) and see what you think. If you have a modern car with a heavy flywheel AND it doesn't do rev-hang, give the throttle a little blip and see how you like that.
@@austinado16 I’ll give that a shot. I have a 2000 Miata and I feel like it should be easy to drive. The flywheel seems pretty light from factory so sometimes the revs drop faster than I can put it in the next gear. Other times (like from first to second where the ratios are much different) I release the clutch too early or too late with too much or not enough gas. Especially when trying to accelerate quickly. I will try the slow style of shifting, but is there anything else I should focus on when trying to be smooth?
@@josephTsnyder Just be slow. Hold the clutch down. There's no race to get the clutch pedal off the floor. Rewatch how Tedward shifts. The clutch foot just takes it's time, and the clutch pedal stays down. You may see him "double clutch" some times, which he coordinates with that blip of the throttle. This is a more advanced technique, which I doubt you need unless the syncros on the Miata trans are so worn out that they no longer generate enough friction on the next gear hub, to slow it's rotation, and match speed.
Just drive down your street slowly in first, with very slow acceleration, if any, and then: clutch to the floor and hold......clack, and out of first, now begin to load the shifter against that feeling of a gate for 2nd (sort of a pressure point that you'll have to push past)......then the clack into 2nd. Now bring up the rpm as you smoothly bring the clutch to about halfway, and then bring the clutch pedal up the rest of the way and take your foot completely off. Done deal.
Once you have this phase, play with giving a little blip on the throttle, just as you push the shifter through the gate, and you'll feel it drop right in even nicer.
@@austinado16 Copy that. I think my biggest issue is just trying to do everything too quickly. It’s hard not to when the Altima driver next to me can speed off the line at a green light so quickly Lol. Keeping up with modern traffic is an issue but I just have to remember that it’s an older machine and likes certain things. The second gear synchro might be a little worn. When it’s warm it shifts fine but in the cold it does not fall in easily. The next time I drive I’ll try and focus on the clack….clack method. Thank you!
@@josephTsnyder You'll discover that smooth is fast. That slamming the shift lever thing is non-sense that destroys transmissions.
If the trans shift poorly cold, change the transmission oil, and pay close attention to what the factory spec'd for it. There are modern equivalents, so you don't have to use "mazda" fluid, but you need to know what it is supposed to take, in order to purchase the correct modern oil. The fluid needs to lubricate, of course, but it also needs to have the ability to allow the friction surface (ribbed groves) on the underside of the synchro rings, to "bite" onto the ramped hub of the gear they are sliding onto/into. This is what slows the gear down, and allows the shift collar that's being moved by your hand, to slide over and engage the next gear. Poor cold shifting is generally a sign of either the wrong oil being used, or the oil is simply warn out.
If you'll learn to ignore the fools driving GTA on public streets, you'll find you're a whole lot happier.
Hey Ted, will there be a GX460 update soon?
sir, i hope when you open engine trunk, please start the engine and take view tour of engine bay while revving
Beck has been producing the best case replica, for a long time,. however at this point .. a Subaru WRX motor would be a lot of fun - of course with better suspension and brake set up all around - one this old and used should be less that 30 grand... especially with a VW engine
Ted, are you going to be at the Tuscan Village car show tomorrow (9/14)?
Cool. Kit cars can be fun. No, it's obviously not the real thing, but who cares. 👍
Can you please make a video on the Porsche 944 S2???!?
Would be a perfect daily with a stock type 4.
How well do you fit in the car? I’m curious how much legroom is in these 550 Spyders.
Tons of room!
I owned one in the 90's, I'm 6'3" and had no issues with leg room.
É o Chamonix, réplica brasileira ?
please show us how you get in and out of the car💀
To the untrained eye your the boss
Yeah Dr Porsche was a practical minimalist, anything over 1600cc is just excessive...
What does it weigh???