Porsche 550 Spyder

[Gramps46]

So you always wanted a Porsche 550 Spyder?  Here are some options though all but one are long out of production.

 

 

The light resin is by Jimmy Flintstone.

The dark resin is by Umi.  (Michael Quarterman)

The built up #34 is by Teapot Graphics (aka John Johnson).

The next unmarked entry is by Welly. The 1:1 is not know to Gramps.

The James Dean "Little Bastard" is by CMC (big $$ for the best.)

According to the UMI instructions the resin bodies are based upon a 550 spyder that was in a Japanese Museum at the time the models were made.   It has also been mentioned that they were based upon a Japanese toy.

 

[rrb124@sbcglobal.net]

Beautiful cars! I was lucky to have had a 1:1 Beck replica. Always good to see these.

[Ace-Garageguy]

The best one I've seen as far as line and proportion go is the '56 Targa Florio version by Fernando Pinto (and his others that share the same shell).

It's a very close scale match to my full-scale Beck 550. The Beck molds were taken from a real car that had never been squashed or modified.

There are several variations, some visually significant, among the 90 or so real ones built, but I think the Beck version is by far the most representative, and the most attractive...hence the FP scale version looks the best to me.

https://www.stuttcars.com/porsche-550-chassis-numbers/

Edited January 12, 2024 by Ace-Garageguy

[Phildaupho]

This the Model Factory Hiro 550 curbside kit I have had in my stash for a number of years.

[Matt Bacon]

I’ve got the USCP kit. Tom’s unboxing video is here:

best,

M.

[Jim B]

Great looking Porsche.

[250 Testa Rossa]

Can we see more of the MFH? I also have the USCP one. 

[Pierre Rivard]

These are great. I feel a Porsche fever coming on... but I and still suffering from the Ferrari fever. Not enough time....

The Fernando Pinto one is whispering in my ear...

[Rich Chernosky]

Very nice presentation Gary.  I have long had the Jimmy Flintstone  resin but the project has been stalled for lack of a donor chassis. Got a nice set of wheels and tires though.  Any idea as what to use. Where is a good place to start for reference. Thanks in advance. 

[Phildaupho]

21 hours ago, 250 Testa Rossa said:

Can we see more of the MFH? I also have the USCP one. 

Hi Maxx - I will post some more photos this weekend. Stay tuned. 

[Phildaupho]

On 1/11/2024 at 7:41 PM, 250 Testa Rossa said:

Can we see more of the MFH? I also have the USCP one. 

As requested. You can see that the body casting is thick and solid but very smooth. The interior comprises of the separate grey pieces. There is a James Dean figure, white metal wheels, some chromed parts that also appear to be metal, a sheet of photo-etch and decals to depict The Little Bastard. I hadn't looked at this kit for a number of years and seeing it again makes me glad I got it when a friend was putting in an order for one. He built his and it tuned out looking fantastic.

[oldcarfan]

I'm curious about that Jimmy Flintstone version. Is it a decent build? Does the kit represent a particular 550? I've been thinking of getting one and removing the hump on the back to make it more like the Jimmy Dean one.

[Gramps46]

13 hours ago, oldcarfan said:

I'm curious about that Jimmy Flintstone version. Is it a decent build? Does the kit represent a particular 550? I've been thinking of getting one and removing the hump on the back to make it more like the Jimmy Dean one.

Gary,

The Flintstone builds up pretty well but not as the James Dean version.  The Dean version is the first version of the 550 and does not have the side vents like the resin copies.  My recommendation for the Dean version is the Welly 550 and just add decals ( ebay ) and the paint flashes on the rear fenders.

 

Edited January 15, 2024 by Gramps46

[Ace-Garageguy]

13 hours ago, oldcarfan said:

I'm curious about that Jimmy Flintstone version. Is it a decent build? Does the kit represent a particular 550? I've been thinking of getting one and removing the hump on the back to make it more like the Jimmy Dean one.

Yup, the hump adjacent to the rear grilles is a real problem with that kit, as is the location of the grilles themselves. They're too far to the rear for most of the cars, though there were indeed some real ones built like that.

I've never seen the blister/hump under the grilles on any real 550, and I've seen a lot of 550s.

That doesn't mean it's incorrect, just that I've never seen one like it.

The driver's head fairing could be added to any 550, though period shots of Dean's car don't show one. They do show the mirror fairings, however, and one type of full width plexi windscreen.

[250 Testa Rossa]

I have the USCP version to build the Dean car. The rear deck will have to be tweaked slightly. However, I would love to build a 550A as well. 

[drodg]

On 1/11/2024 at 11:43 AM, rrb124@sbcglobal.net said:

Beautiful cars! I was lucky to have had a 1:1 Beck replica. Always good to see these.

I was too .... fun little car 

[rrb124@sbcglobal.net]

10 hours ago, drodg said:

I was too .... fun little car 

 

[rrb124@sbcglobal.net]

Thumbs up ?

[Gramps46]

An interesting thread on the USCP model and build.

 

[slusher]

Sharp cars!

[Allan31]

Thanks Gary for your informative post on 550's.

I have had this in the stash for years and could not remember how/when/where it came from.

 

I can only think I ordered it when I got his TV Batmobile.

Fujimi Porsche on the way.