2002 Porsche 550 Spyder Replica by Thunder Ranch
Vehicle Details
- Year: 1955
- Make: Porsche
- Model: 550 Spyder Replica
- VIN: 5500005002K
- Mileage Shown: 1,950
- Transmission: Manual
- Title Status: Clean
- Color: Silver
- Seller Type: Private Party
- Location: Fredericksburg, TX 78624
- Lot #: V-0050337
Crafted by the specialists at Thunder Ranch, this 2002 Porsche 550 Spyder replica is presented in a multi-step silver finish over a burgundy and charcoal leather interior. It features an air-cooled 2.3-liter Volkswagen flat-four engine with dual Weber carburetors, a 4-speed manual transmission, a high-capacity oil sump tank, adjustable Koni front shocks, Bilstein rear shocks, 4-wheel cross-drilled disc brakes with separate front & rear master cylinders, custom Rudge alloy wheels by HRBB, and much more. Benefitting from various recent service items, this Thunder Ranch Spyder is now being offered for auction by its seller out of Texas with a host of accompanying documentation.
The fiberglass bodywork has undergone a multi-step finish in silver, composed of three primer coats, two base coats, and two clear coats. Details include a frameless plexiglass windscreen, powder-coated exhaust headers with a matching tailpipe, and 15”x6” custom Rudge polished aluminum wheels by HRBB. The wheels have been ceramic coated and wrapped in Michelin Defender tires from 04/23, measuring 185/65R15 at the front and 195/65R15 in the rear. The seller adds that a California BAR sticker has been affixed, and a new headlight assembly and bulbs have been fitted. Detailed images are provided in the gallery.
Inside, the driver is welcomed by burgundy-upholstered bucket seats complemented with charcoal leather panels and body-color surrounds. The equipment includes a three-spoke ebony-stained wood-rimmed steering wheel, VDO instrumentation, lap belts, a dash-mounted rearview mirror, and a charcoal leather shift boot. The seller adds that an acoustic liner has been added to the floor and firewall, new seatbelts have been fitted, and new leather covers the panels on the floor, doors, and firewall.
Powering this vehicle is an air-cooled 2.3-liter Volkswagen flat-four engine equipped with dual 44 IDF Weber carburetors, driving the rear wheels through a 4-speed manual transaxle. The seller states that service items have included rebuilding the carburetors and replacing the clutch slave cylinder and starter motor. A new oil pump and pressure relief valves were also installed, along with a new oil cooler system consisting of four cooling tubes that provide a total of 240 square inches of heat sink surface area, complementing the original high-capacity oil sump tank. Additionally, leak-down tests on all four cylinders are said to show results under 1%. Performance features include four-wheel cross-drilled disc brakes with separate front and rear master cylinders and adjustable Koni front shocks (painted) paired with Bilstein rear shocks. Additional various components have been replaced, such as the battery, carburetor linkage, spark plug wires & distributor cap, axle boots, oil filler cap & breather, valve covers, twist-type fuel tank cap, and mobile fire extinguisher.
This sale will include a clean title, a car cover and the following original parts that have been replaced: emergency brake assembly, clutch slave cylinder, battery, oil cooler assembly, starter, headlight assembly with bulbs, license plate light, fixed fire extinguisher, windshield wiper assembly, fender mirror, glass windshield & supports, rear deck louvers, “Porsche” valve covers, carburetor filters, wide seat belts, flip-type fuel tank cap, oil pump and interior carpet panels. Also supplied with the sale will be four chrome-plated steel wheels (15x4.5 fronts / 15x5.5 rear) mounted with Vredestein tires. Documentation of the car’s history will be provided, along with all receipts and specifications associated with the restoration. Books on the Spyder, parts manual, and generic maintenance manual are also included.
The seller would like you to know: “Over a year of restoration was put into this car, which was already a very low mileage car, and I hope the attention to detail shows. The Spyder is a classically beautiful car, and respecting its design was paramount in the process. Offered in Fredericksburg, Texas, this vehicle comes with a clear title listing it as a 2002 550 ASVE (Assembled Vehicle) and has been acquired by the current owner in May 2023, showing approximately 1,850 miles. A total restoration has been performed, which includes various part replacements. Documentation reveals that Thunder Ranch sold the Stage 3 kit to a Judge in late 2002, with assembly completed by Entropy Racing from mid-2007 to mid-2010. The engine was modified by Bernie Bergman in mid-2007, and minor work was carried out by Eric Bernhard Historic Automotive Services in late 2021. The previous owner acquired the car in September 2022. All available documentation, including the vehicle's history, receipts, and specifications, will be provided with the sale.”
Comments (22)
@RLaurence28Turbo Yes it has turn signals which are operated from a toggle switch just above the ignition key. It requires manual deactivation. It also has license plate lights that were added after the exterior photos were taken. I have just posted daytime and night time photos of the lights. Additionally I have posted an interior photo of the instruments at night to show that all the lights are operable
@RLaurence28Turbo I do not know the top speed and have only had it up to 80 mph (do not know the revs at that point). Car's behavior was stable and relaxed.
From a legal and safety spec,, I can not see that is has functional direction signals. License plate light is noted as in one of the boxes,, is the wiring in tact to plug and play to make functional? What else might be overlooked from this perspective that is not on the car currently or a function it does not have?
Can you provide top speed? How is on the highway? What speed does it run well at? Highways run about 75/80 mph in Michigan… also appears to handle the bumps pretty well. Roads from the Video make it look and handle very well!
Though no one commented about the steering wheel orientation in the driving video, that will be fixed tomorrow morning (I was one mark off on the steering shaft spline).
@bte3340 - its an R8. Thanks for the compliment on the Thunder Ranch.
What’s the black Audi in the background ? Beautiful Beck !
@rikhumps - I may not understand your question, but I did not take the engine apart to look at the bearings after I installed a new oil pump.
Bid in the amount of $30,000
Oil pump replacement Did that have a deleterious effect on bearings?
@restncreate - the Texas title lists the car as a 2002 550 ASVE (ASsembled VEhicle). The original car plate and VIN is shown on photo #39
Dear Seller, can you confirm the description of the car on the title…. Year make etc? Many Thanks
Wow this is a stunner! I had a Beck 550 for years that I absolutely loved. It was nowhere near the caliber of this beauty… GLWA
Bid in the amount of $27,500
Bid in the amount of $27,000
@WGris - was going to try and get the videos posted today, but found that I do not have the appropriate cable from my old Go-Pro to my new computer. Had to order the cable that will come in on Tuesday, so expect the post on Wednesday. Sorry about the confusion.
@WGris - both videos should be posted sometime on Monday. Thanks for the interest.
Stunning car! A start up and a driving video would be helpful to many of us who are serious potential bidders.
Damn pretty!
Bid in the amount of $25,000
Bid in the amount of $10,000
Bid in the amount of $550