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Aluminum 550 Spyder build

Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2015 11:32 am
by Adam Wright
An opportunity came up last year to have a 550 body built, so I jumped at the chance. My friend Wray is making the body and even teaching a class on how to do it, how cool is that?
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006679607997
http://www.proshaper.com/

And before anyone cries kit or reproduction, I am mounting it on a 356 chassis, so it will be a re-bodied 356 Special, in a long tradition of such builds.

I will post pictures as the build progresses, so far the work is amazing!!!!

And if you have any interest in building your own, Wray is doing a class every month. How cool would it be to have a 550 that you built!

Happy New Year!

Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2015 12:38 pm
by Tony Proasi
That's very cool! Wish CT was closer....

Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2015 12:44 pm
by Adam Wright
Tony, it's normally a 3-5 day class, guys fly in from all over the world to learn from Wray, they just fly in, stay at a local hotel and learn how to make metal dance.

Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2015 1:34 pm
by James Davies
Very cool Adam. Wray's shop is just up the road from me. Great to know he offers classes.

Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2015 2:54 pm
by Greg Bryan
That's a very impressive industrial-strength English wheel ...

Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2015 4:49 pm
by Tony Proasi
Adam Wright wrote:Tony, it's normally a 3-5 day class, guys fly in from all over the world to learn from Wray, they just fly in, stay at a local hotel and learn how to make metal dance.
Then you visit this parts guy in NY buy a bunch of stuff.... it becomes complicated. I might look into in the spring its five degrees here today not sure I could take it much colder.

Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2015 8:29 pm
by Gordon White
Ray Schelin formed the fenders for my Jaguar xk 120 about 15 years ago. Very accurate good work and a nice man to deal with.
Gordon

Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 1:07 pm
by Adam Wright
Tony Proasi wrote:
Adam Wright wrote:Tony, it's normally a 3-5 day class, guys fly in from all over the world to learn from Wray, they just fly in, stay at a local hotel and learn how to make metal dance.
Then you visit this parts guy in NY buy a bunch of stuff.... it becomes complicated. I might look into in the spring its five degrees here today not sure I could take it much colder.
Tony-
There is nothing for you here, our place is very boring.

Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 1:10 pm
by Adam Wright
The other warehouse is boring too.

Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 11:49 pm
by Steve Harrison
So THIS is the new 'double top secret' project that bumped the Ace of Spades off it's pedestal. (I think the lake house was just an excuse, haha) When it's done will this one be sold down river too?

But, all kidding aside,...that is a way cool project. An honest to goodness, hand bucked aluminum bodied version is a great tribute to the 550. Just like 99.99 % of the rest of us too... it's the closest you'll ever get to having one for real. You've got a virtual paradise of potential projects when I think about your situation, with all those parts floating around loose. You can do a project and not have the guilt that you're stripping a car that could be brought back to life,....the project itself IS the life renewal.
Great idea, and post lots of pix along the way I hope.

Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 11:54 pm
by Adam Wright
Steve-
This one has been in the works, or werks for almost a year. The other one I didn't start until the Spoodster was sold.

It's a 904 body on a 914/6.

Life is getting really fun!

And the lake house is real.

Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2015 10:04 am
by Haig Haleblian
And then I get to stay at Adam's lake house for a week to unwind and use allllll his toys. What a great guy that Adam Wright. I think Adam is becoming our 356 version of Mangus.

Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2016 3:20 pm
by Adam Wright
Ok, back at work on this one. I really wish I could clone myself, anyone working on that?

I have been spending time getting the body together so we can scan it. From there Wray is going to make a buck from the scan and then the real aluminum beating begins. Once he starts pounding he is hoping a few more guys want bodies, it will be cheaper now when he is making my body. If you're interested contact Wray at Pro Shaper.

http://www.proshaper.com/

Also Wray can make anything, he made the aluminum tonneau for Da Spoodster, so if you need metal work, he's the guy to go to.

I'll keep everyone posted now that this project is moving again.

I also got a rare chance to sit in a real 550 that a friend has, having access to a real one will be invaluable for this build.

Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2017 8:51 pm
by Adam Wright
The un-glamorous side of any strange project, lots of prep and measurements. A friend with a huge archive of 550 pics helped me out with the shots I needed to write measurements of specific areas. Lots of cutting and pasting with cheap prints and I have what I need to go see 0054 for more data.

Re: Aluminum 550 Spyder build

Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2017 9:12 pm
by Dan Epperly
Too bad you don't have a roughly six by two.inch section of a real one with the VIN stamped on it, you could call it a restoration project.