Spyder 550 550A

[bbspdstr]

I had found nothing in print nor heard about Al's health from anyone for many years, but assumed Jacques would know. The the last time I saw Al he was tuning a 4-cam engine but having trouble with the shakes while using a screwdriver and also just standing....and that was also quite a few years ago....the last time I was in CA. I'll need more Prevagen to remember what year that was......

I also just heard of another Porsche stalwart passing, Tim Goodrich.
With ALS taking over his body functions, he eventually could only text and we had a brief time staying in touch through that. When that suddenly ceased, I was afraid to call his wife....but then I heard through the Porsche community he had succumbed to that awful disease. Now I should call Diane and offer condolences.

Time is marching on.....Justin, if you read this, perhaps a thread of the Replacements who are taking up flag of the Porsche legion from those experts who have fallen or even just retired from the older Porsche universe would be appropriate, even if seen as "free advertising."

Even I am being known recently as being "retired" due to the decision not to take on any more full restorations. For me, that's a reality I have trouble accepting, but like it or not, ready or not, time does really march on....and as we age, we need to know to whom to pass the torch... (oxyacetylene or TIG!)

Please excuse the morbid side track on this great 550 thread.....
-Bruce

[jacques]

Hi Gerd
I just registered on your site
j

[Blechquäler]

Hi Jacques,
thanks for that info!
I hope that Al is still alive, I was wondering what happened to him because a few years ago his German driving licence was for sale on ebay??
When I visited the shop in those days they were working on a special race exhaust. It was very interesting to see what happens with the gas flow at different designs.
I told Justin that was in 1989 but I remembered wrong, it was in 1990, the same year he was there, I was there in October, found the old flight papers today
How can I reach you?
Gerd

[jacques]

Hi Gerd
Al if he is alive is in a home and no one has contact with him. Jorge was at the latest Lit Meet and is still around. Contact me if you want to track something down.
j

[Blechquäler]

Hi Justin,
must have been in 1989 or 90 - Hey, you're pretty good
The name of Al`s understudy was Jorge Carlos Lizalde, he came from Mexico and was living not far from the shop.
One day I have sent him a long letter but it came back after several weeks:
"No such person under this address".
I've no clue what happened to him or what he's doing now.
Best
Gerd

[JTR70]

[/quote

Nice photo Gerd! Circa 1988?? That's what the cars in background are telling me. I remember those 5-hole Enkie wheels being all the rage back then. I also recognize that guy in the passenger seat as Al Cadrobbi's understudy in the ways of the 4-cam engine. He was there when I visited in '90. Wonder what ever happend to him?
Thanks for sharing!
Justin

[Type550]

Haven't seen 550A-0134 in red before!

[Blechquäler]

[Type550]

Thanks - bit too rich for me! I would rather get the commission!

[356]

WOW, what an amazing opportunity Andrew. I agree with JOP: "BUY IT"
~Vance

[JOP]

Andrew thats easy.... You buy it
Good luck with the sale.

JOP

[Type550]

I have been given an amazing opportunity to sell an original Spyder - 550A-0121. As it is not going to auction, I need to create a marketing/advertising campaign that will flush out the potential buyers. Using social media as a main platform with a media kit for classic car publications, professional photoshoot and its own website, hopefully I will get a sale - wish me luck!

[JOP]

Kaisers 550 number plates is Swedish.
The plate with A or B combined with numbers is Stockholm City and Stockholm County signs.
If Kaiser sold it to me in Lund, South Sweden before 1973 it would get a M + numbers since the Porsche changed county.
The other number plates look like interim they were on a red background with white numbers.

[Type550]

It is documented in Excellence was Expected - 'With brushes and paint pot, von Hanstein and driver Maglioli had personally given their Spyder a crude coat of German racing white and had added an Italian flag design on the hood in recognition of Maglioli's nationality.'

[Type550]

Thanks again Andrew
A last question re 550-045 for you when you awake tomorrow morning




Gert Kaiser seen here in 1955 at the start of his attempt to beat the Sweden speed record which he push to 210 KM/H
Questions :
Was this 550 already 550-045 ?
If so why a different plate number ? (in this case A 1253)
Last question is 550-045 still own by State of Art ?
As I know they sold at least one of their 550

Kaiser always raced 550-0045, so all photos are of the car. I am not sure how the registration works in Sweden, but the car is documented with at least 3 licence plates. Westerman sold both 0045 and 0089. 0045 is now owned by a Swedish collector.