Tyler Hoover's Beck Spyder Is A Far More Affordable Way To Own A Porsche 550

Oct 10, 2023

If you want a Porsche but only have the budget for a Subaru, here is a car for you

Owning the historic and iconic Porsche 550 will set buyers back millions, but those who can't fork over that kind of dough have alternatives. Though the car you see here is labeled as a 2021 Beck Spyder, it's a modern interpretation of the classic sports car. And this one has an interesting history as it is owned by Tyler Hoover of popular YouTube channel "Hoovie's Garage." So for those who want to dish out millions for a 550 but want a model like it with an interesting history of its own, this Beck Spyder now up for sale is an attractive proposition.

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Built under the Beck nameplate, the Spyder is a worthy replica of the original 550, and the wait-list for these Porsche homages carry a several-year waiting list. Hoover's version was built by Indiana-based car builder Special Edition, Inc., which has been building replicas of classic cars for over 35 years.

Its fiberglass body gives it a light 1,300-lbs curb weight, making it a strong performer on the road. The sportscar has a fiberglass convertible body with leather bonnet straps and a Silver Blue finish. The front is finished with an oil cooler grille and has a fender-mounted side mirror. The low, metal-rimmed windshield is conspicuous and elegant, especially when the top is down. It has 15-inch "wide-five" steel wheels and comes with a full-sized spare tire. The tube-frame chassis is powered by a mid-mounted 2.5-liter "Ej25" flat-4 engine sourced from a 2006 Subaru Impreza. Because the output is sent to the rear wheels via its 4-speed manual transaxle, the car is able to maximize the engine's power. While this Beck Spyder's odometer shows about 300 miles, donor engine has been run for approximately 150,000.

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Its simple, elegant red interior beautifully complements the slick exterior. And while it may look like a vintage sportscar complete with a dash grab handle, a Nardi-style wooden steering wheel and vintage-style VDO instruments, it has a Soundstream hidden Bluetooth stereo and comfortable leather-upholstered seats. The selling dealer replaced the water pump, timing belt, pulleys, head gaskets, and seals. Its potential owners can even watch YouTubes of Tyler Hoover tweaking this creative car.

The Porsche 550 is "about as classic and as iconic as it gets", says renowned car designer Frank Stephenson. While this roadster was initially used exclusively on racetracks, it was quickly adapted to be legal to drive on the road. Its low-slung body, sloping hood and raised headlights make it look wider and longer than it is. The smooth front of the car is mirrored in the back, making it attractive and aerodynamic. Inside, the two seats cozily fitted right in front of the rear axle and passengers nearly reach the front axle when they stretch out their feet.

When it was first sold in the 1950s, the Porsche 550 Spyder retailed at $6,800 (about $76,000 today adjusted for inflation). In 2016, comedian Jerry Seinfeld purchased a 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder for $5.35 million. According to The Classic Valuer, the median price of a vintage Porsche 550 is $3.5 million.

Fortunately, the gorgeous Beck Spyder is a more reasonable priced alternative. With bidding at about $25,000 as of this writing, putting a replica of the iconic Porsche sportscar in your garage won't have to break the bank.

Laurel is a writer, communications consultant, and educator who loves studying how the world is interconnected. She is particularly attracted to cars because they are a sign of economic trends and consumer preferences. As car companies become mobility and technology companies, consumers get to reap the benefits.