Highlights
- Low miles from sparing use on sunny days and French touring holidays
- Lots of special parts and touches
- Correct short wheelbase, suspension rates and replica wheels
The Appeal
The Porsche 718-RSK Spyder is the culmination of years of refinement and development of small displacement power through the harsh and unforgiving proving ground of motorsport.
Porsche only produced 34 Spyder 718-RSKs however so you’d think that the opportunity to own one would be super rare and you have to have a few million lying around to be in with the chance of even bidding for one.
Purchased in 2013, it was originally built by an engineer around 1996-1997 based on a 1971 Beetle chassis, shortened and heavily modified. The body was produced by GP Engineering with excellent representation of the original Porsche.
The History and Paperwork
- MOT exempt
- Write up of build
- Pile of invoices and receipts for parts
There is an abundance of paperwork including the instruction manual for the car from GP Projects. Receipts and invoices are for parts purchased over the years ranging from small items to large. The V5 is present along with 14 previous MOT certificates, the car being from 1971 however is MOT exempt.
The car has also had an overhaul carried out by Spyders Inc who are renowned specialists in the creation and maintenance of Spyder replicas, so the car has been in some very expert hands.
The Interior
- Fantastic finished interior
- Tan leather bucket seats
- Wood rimmed Moto Lita steering wheel
- Period racer style
The interior of the Spyder is beautifully finished and is wonderfully minimal but the tan leather bucket seats give a nice touch of quality matched on the door cards and tied in with the wood rimmed Moto Lita steering wheel. The dash is body colour and houses a few black faced dials and gauges against the shining silver, including the off centred speedo, fuel, temp pressure and tachometer. The battery box is behind the passenger seat and houses a voltmeter to keep a check on the health of the electrical system.
The low-level windshield and windows give a reminder of how low the car is and adds to the sleek and streamlined design of the whole car. Keeping in theme with the rest of the car are the Sparco harnesses which match the body colour and included in the sale is the tan tonneau cover, essential for a tourer on those common rainy Le Mans days.
The Exterior
- Only 7500 reported miles
- Fantastic condition paintwork
- Replica wheels
- Custom exhaust
The exterior of the Spyder is fantastic, a high-quality tribute to the Porsche 718 with it all being reportedly true to dimensions.
The chrome wheels set off the body and the paint work superbly with the tan leather adding to the special presence this car commands. The panel gaps are all nice and equal, a sign of how well this car has been built initially and the silver paintwork on the fibreglass body had so much time and effort spent on it by the Bodyshop during its restoration that it gives the impression of aluminium which provides more evidence of just what a special car this is.
The rest of the exterior of the car has plenty of subtle nods to the car of period on which this car was based and the vents and grilles all around the car all evidence the huge attention to detail during the build and restoration.
The chrome wheels set off the body and the paint work superbly with the tan leather adding to the special presence this car commands. The panel gaps are all nice and equal, a sign of how well this car has been built initially and the silver paintwork on the fibreglass body had so much time and effort spent on it by the Bodyshop during its restoration that it gives the impression of aluminium which provides more evidence of just what a special car this is.
The rest of the exterior of the car has plenty of subtle nods to the car of period on which this car was based and the vents and grilles all around the car all evidence the huge attention to detail during the build and restoration.
The Mechanics
- 1600cc VW air-cooled engine on twin webbers
- Custom exhausts
- Boxed battery
The car has had a recent overhaul from Spyders Inc, which means its mechanicals are reported to be in tip top condition with the added benefit of the car having an upgraded wiring loom. The engine powering the Spyder is a 1597cc VW flat four engines built by GAC, who build formula Vee race engines and chassis. Fuelled by 2 single choke Weber 34 ICT downdraught carburettors, giving the 90bhp powerplant a 5000rpm limit. On the extraction side of things, the custom Stinger tailpipe exhaust gives the car a fantastic noise.
Power is transferred to the road through a VW transaxle 4 speed gearbox which is in good condition, trailing link, torsion-bar sprung suspension in the front and swing axles in the rear. Stopping the speedster are Empi front disc brakes, which are period replicas of the 718 RSK discs used in the late 50’s.
Summary
This is a great tribute to an iconic car from one of the planets greatest automobile manufacturers, a love letter to a beautifully designed car.
It has all the looks and presence of the real thing at a fraction of the cost, which in itself is a massive selling point.
This would be a perfect vehicle in which to travel in style and something you would be afraid to use to its fullest potential.
It has all the looks and presence of the real thing at a fraction of the cost, which in itself is a massive selling point.
This would be a perfect vehicle in which to travel in style and something you would be afraid to use to its fullest potential.
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