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You dont see one of these every day

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2018 2:15 pm
by Ned Gorski
To cool not share

I recently acquired an original 550 spyder top and frame with a bunch of other 356 stuff
From what i was told the 550 top spent pretty much all its life
Sitting long forgotten on a shelf.
Surprisingly the canvas is still very ply able. Probably because its single layer
canvas. . No rubber like the cab tops
I have lots of close up pics if any one is interested to see them, pretty cool time capsule

Regards Ned

55 continental cab

Re: You dont see one of these every day

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2018 2:32 pm
by Adam Wright
It was probably taken off on day 1! Very cool.

Re: You dont see one of these every day

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2018 3:49 pm
by Max Handley
Wow , that is awesome Ned.

Re: You dont see one of these every day

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2018 3:59 pm
by Jules Dielen
What an amazing find, now all you need is the car to install it on!

Re: You dont see one of these every day

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2018 4:23 pm
by Charles H Jacobus
What was the maximum speed with the top up, 30MPH?

Chuck

Re: You dont see one of these every day

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2018 6:32 pm
by Scott Halperin
First Porsche air brake!

Re: You dont see one of these every day

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2018 7:44 pm
by Ned Gorski
From what i was told the only reason for the top was because some rallies required the car to have a top and a spare tire
They didn't say the top had to be functionable...
Not sure if its true or not

Regards
Ned

Re: You dont see one of these every day

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2018 7:39 am
by Charles H Jacobus
Well, it would provide just a little protection if you were at a rally and a little five minute shower sprinkled on it.

Chuck

Re: You dont see one of these every day

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2018 12:08 pm
by Ron LaDow
Ned Gorski wrote:From what i was told the only reason for the top was because some rallies required the car to have a top and a spare tire
They didn't say the top had to be functionable...
Not sure if its true or not
Regards
Ned
I think is was an FIA requirement, along with the 'spare tire rule', in the hopes of keeping the cars 'street automobiles' instead of pure race cars. As is obvious, it didn't take the builders long to figure a way around it.
The 917 'production' was also a rule 'workaround'.

Re: You dont see one of these every day

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2018 1:15 pm
by Jules Dielen
Ron LaDow wrote:
Ned Gorski wrote:From what i was told the only reason for the top was because some rallies required the car to have a top and a spare tire
They didn't say the top had to be functionable...
Not sure if its true or not
Regards
Ned
I think is was an FIA requirement, along with the 'spare tire rule', in the hopes of keeping the cars 'street automobiles' instead of pure race cars. As is obvious, it didn't take the builders long to figure a way around it.
The 917 'production' was also a rule 'workaround'.
lol, yes that was the Piech trick, right? They had to show there was a run of 25 (?) but it did not specify they all had to run at the same time so only a few had a power train.

Re: You dont see one of these every day

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2018 2:52 pm
by Sebastian Gaeta
The Scroghams showed a Spyder at a Parade in the 90's I believe that had a top like that. Ned's is only the second one I've seen though I am sure there are other people who have seen them too. Nice find Ned!

Re: You dont see one of these every day

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2018 5:32 pm
by Doug McDonnell
As Mike Smith of PRS would say "rare as rocking horse muck".

Re: You dont see one of these every day

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2018 6:11 pm
by Sebastian Gaeta
Jules Dielen wrote:lol, yes that was the Piech trick, right? They had to show there was a run of 25 (?) but it did not specify they all had to run at the same time so only a few had a power train.

Jules, similar to what Ferrari is alleged to have done in 1962 with homologating the 250 GTO: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/feat ... exico.html

Re: You dont see one of these every day

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2018 6:22 pm
by Adam Wright
I've only ever seen one on a car.

Re: You dont see one of these every day

Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2018 6:46 pm
by Martin Benade
It is most attractive when stowed in its straps.