Spyder 550 550A

[Type550]

I am glad that the interior is finished - it started doing my head in! I just need to polish out all the scratches off the plexi screen, drain the fuel tank and put fresh fuel in and give it a wash! (then hopefully it will start after 6 months!)

[Jack Staggs]

Did you alter the gas pedal linkage for easier heel to toe movement?

[Type550]

yep - makes it much easier

[Carrera GT]

What body make is this car?

Michael Doyle

[Type550]

It is my McRae spyder which was one of 36 built in New Zealand in the '90s by Graham McRae. I have done an extensive restoration from when I found it in the back of a warehouse...

[JTR70]

Nice alloy work in the cockpit Andrew! You've done an amazing job of improving this car throughout the years! Do the Autopulse pumps actually work or are they props?

[Type550]

When I first bought it, I was paranoid of drilling a hole in it - I am a little over that now. The pumps are just for show, but could be functional. In their day, they were extremely unreliable and that is why they fitted them in the footwell next to the driver so they were easily accessible to fix. I have a small facet pump under the tank which works like a treat...

[356]

[Type550]

Today is 550-0023. I have little history on this car, except it was in the Matsuda collection in Japan before the collection was sold. I believe it is now in Germany and has also been a participant in the modern day Mille Miglia.

[Type550]

[JTR70]

Thanks again Andrew great posts! Concerning 023 I noticed they added the front air scoops where as when it was in Japan it did not have them. You said the factory retro-fitted some but not all back in the day; do think it was a mistake for the new owners to have made this change?
Thanks again! Justin

[Steve Heinrichs]

Guys,

550-0023 is sorted out in the new book. We have 32 races noted.

Steve Heinrichs

[Type550]

There is much debate over the rubber strip. Many people don't like the look of it and prefer the air intakes. They used to send them back to the factory to get converted to cool the front brakes. It was first done on 550-0039 in a shop when it raced in Portugal - it was adopted soon after that. Personally I prefer the strip...

[Type550]

Can't wait to fill in all the gaps Steve

[Type550]

550-0024 is one of the lost spyders for me. I only have one image of it. I am amazed how many of the early spyders were white - everyone thinks as a spyder being silver with red interior, but there really wasn't that many built with that combination.