The Beck 550 Spyder - Porsche or Pretender?

Critics chatter endlessly about art imitating life, and vice versa, but how do they view an imitation that's even more popular than the authentic item? The Beck Spyder is one of those rare examples of a replica becoming worthy in its own right, nearly as respected as the original Porsche 550 it sought to emulate.

Giant Slayer
For those unfamiliar with this Fifties-era racecar, Porsche presented the 550 Spyder to the public for the first time at the Paris Motor Show in October 1953. Weighing just 1,213 pounds, the lightweight Spyder was known as a giant-killer in its day, regularly thrashing much more powerful competitors.


The 550's racing success was a major contributing factor to Porsche's commercial success. Although only 90 were ever built, they swept the global competition, running with a mere 110 bhp from its 1498cc engine. At Le Mans, from 1953 to 1955, the Porsche Spyder dominated its class. In the 1955 Le Mans, the Porsche 550 gave a win, place, show performance in the 1.5-liter class, and a 1st-2nd performance in the 1.1-liter classes.


The Porsche 550 is perhaps even more famous (or rather, infamous) for being the "death car" of actor James Dean. He was killed in a collision with a Ford station wagon near Cholame, California, on his way to a race in Salinas.

Spyders in a Row
Originally, he built a number of his Beck Spyders in the United States. His first effort was developed in the early '80s from an original car that he had access to in Ventura, California. Even though the wheelbase of the custom tubular frame was exact, 82.7 inches, he found the car to be too cramped, so he later lengthened it to 85 inches.