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Freddie's review
Freddie Woodd - Consignment Specialist Message Freddie
“ If you come up a few dollars short to acquire your dream $5,000,000 Porsche 550 Spyder then this recreation makes a lot of sense for something in the region of 1% of the outlay. With Just two owners from new, this is a fabulous looking car and will provide all the thrills required. ”
It really does seem to offer up a good dose of the essence of the original but in a form that you don’t have to park in a bank vault each night, and the Chamonix Spyder was named by the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport and the North American magazine Road & Track as the best replica in the world. Praise indeed!
Vehicle Story
Early Porsche models have long been honoured by the evocation, or replica manufacturers. As Oscar Wilde would have told you, after all, “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” When considering why this may be the case, a number of factors converge to, likely, provide an answer.
Firstly, those early Porsches were great cars. Stripped back, minimal and resolutely focussed on doing one thing really well – delivering driving pleasure by the tonne. Then there is the fact that the passing of time and diminishing supply has catapulted values of original Porsche sports car icons through the roof and on towards the stars. This then renders those cars playthings that only the very, very rich can afford to enjoy. Take the Porsche 550 Spyder that is the subject of this evocation, for example. Part of the wider Bonhams group sold an original 1955 model in North America in 2022 for…….$4,185,123! Then, there is the VW connection. With Volkswagen’s Beetle and the early Porsches sharing at least one rib the former provides a very ubiquitous and mechanically faithful donor for the recreations of the latter.
For these reasons and others besides, numerous manufacturers across the world got into the evocation business with vary degrees of success. One of the more respected manufacturers is Chamonix of Brazil. Chamonix was founded in the early 1980s by Milton and Newton Masteguin, former founders of the legendary Brazilian sports car brand Puma. On the back of a partnership with the American aeronautical technician and race car designer, Chuck Beck, Chamonix dedicated itself to the production of Speedster and Spyder replicas, which are today considered to be among the best in the world.
This reputation is built on the firm’s quality of their bodywork as a result of the fiberglass lamination process (hand laying – with manual pressing). This approach ensures greater regularity, by limiting surface undulations and thickness variations, allowing for lower weight and better dimensional control of the parts. International recognition of the Chamonix brand came in the early 1990s, when the Chamonix Spyder was named by the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport and the North American magazine Road & Track as the best replica in the world. Praise indeed!
Key Facts
- Desirable 1900cc VW Power
- Just Two Owners from New
- Created by World-renowned Builders
- Full Respray in Current Ownership
- 55000137
- 4120
- 1.9l
- manual
- Vintage Blue
- Black
- Right-hand drive
- Petrol
Vehicle location
Bonhams|Cars Online HQ, United Kingdom
Vehicle Story
Early Porsche models have long been honoured by the evocation, or replica manufacturers. As Oscar Wilde would have told you, after all, “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” When considering why this may be the case, a number of factors converge to, likely, provide an answer. Firstly, those early Porsches were great cars. Stripped back, minimal and resolutely focussed on doing one thing really well – delivering driving pleasure by the tonne. Then there is the fact that the passing of time and diminishing supply has catapulted values of original Porsche sports car icons through the roof and on towards the stars. This then renders those cars playthings that only the very, very rich can afford to enjoy. Take the Porsche 550 Spyder that is the subject of this evocation, for example. Part of the wider Bonhams group sold an original 1955 model in North America in 2022 for…….$4,185,123! Then, there is the VW connection. With Volkswagen’s Beetle and the early Porsches sharing at least one rib the former provides a very ubiquitous and mechanically faithful donor for the recreations of the latter. For these reasons and others besides, numerous manufacturers across the world got into the evocation business with vary degrees of success. One of the more respected manufacturers is Chamonix of Brazil. Chamonix was founded in the early 1980s by Milton and Newton Masteguin, former founders of the legendary Brazilian sports car brand Puma. On the back of a partnership with the American aeronautical technician and race car designer, Chuck Beck, Chamonix dedicated itself to the production of Speedster and Spyder replicas, which are today considered to be among the best in the world. This reputation is built on the firm’s quality of their bodywork as a result of the fiberglass lamination process (hand laying – with manual pressing). This approach ensures greater regularity, by limiting surface undulations and thickness variations, allowing for lower weight and better dimensional control of the parts. International recognition of the Chamonix brand came in the early 1990s, when the Chamonix Spyder was named by the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport and the North American magazine Road & Track as the best replica in the world. Praise indeed!
Video
Vehicle Overview
This particular Chamonix Spyder seems to have commenced its life in the UK in 2009 when it was first registered here in September of that year. At that point it was thought to have been imported to the UK by a classic car collector and enthusiast. Darren’s love of the car is clear when he reports “this car turns more heads than almost anything else out there. It is great to drive and extremely easy to maintain due to the VW engine parts.” It is only his imminent relocation to Europe that now prompts Darrens “very reluctant” sale of his beloved Chamonix Spyder.
Current owner, Darren, acquired the Chamonix Spyder in May 2016 to become just the second UK registered keeper. Darren clearly loves the Spyder having lavished much care and attention on this feather light evocation. During his tenure Darren had commissioned a full and recent professional refurbishment of the Spyder. This work has included a full respray in its current fetching Vintage Blue livery, a full electrical rewire and new classic style rear lights. The classic look alloy wheels have been added together with new tyres. New classic style wing mirrors and wooden rimmed OMP steering wheel have also been fitted.
Exterior
The original Porsche 550 Spyder was so achingly cool to look at thanks to its low and minimal looking profile. There were curves, of course, but they were so subtle as to appear secondary to the purity of the car’s design. Almost like a sop to those who might expect some additional visual interest. And so, it is with the Chamonix Spyder but with additional drama and theatre added courtesy of the Vintage Blue livery and chunky split-rim style wheels. It remains a highly evocative and charming design and likely reassuringly familiar to many. This example has benefitted from a recent professional respray in its bright Vintage Blue livery. The standard and condition of this finish looks very good being smoothly and appropriately thickly applied. The colour really seems to suit the pure form of the Spyder, too, probably only adding to the head turning qualities that Darren alludes to. The perennial issue for recreations formed from fibreglass tend to be distracting variations in the panel gaps. This Chamonix acquits itself pretty well in that regard with the fit of the vestigial doors and rear clamshell appearing nicely consistent. This seems equally true of the fuel filler cap cut out in the bonnet. It is only the trailing edge of this panel that looks anything less than tight and symmetrical. For some modern tastes the original 550 Spyder was dated only by its steel wheels. They appeared big in diameter but narrow in depth making them seem a bit bicycle like. The recent fitment of the current 17-inch split-rim styled items should satisfy anyone of that opinion. These are finished with silver centres within polished alloy rims. A series of gold-coloured nuts encircle the perimeter of the faces and lug disguising centre trims feature Chamonix branding. A new and matching set of tyres in a 205/45 configuration are fitted. A black fabric, centre zipped tonneau cover is also included.
Interior
As you may expect, and like this car’s inspiration, the cabin is a minimally equipped affair. This appropriately lets you focus on how much fun you are having, rather than forcing you to fiddle and fuss with haptic screens and the like. Despite that, what is here is well presented, nicely trimmed and finished. The fixed back bucket seats are finished in black with the supportive, padded bolsters featuring orange stitched details. Half-moon headrest pads are fitted within the chunky tubular rollover hoops. Sabelt four-point harnesses are fitted. Controls and instrumentation are on the scarce side, but what is there is easily operated and clearly Volkswagen derived. A trio of delightful Porsche VDO replica gauges are fitted to the body-coloured fascia panel and feature bright chromed bezels. These sit behind that new, three spoke alloy and wooden rimmed OMP classic-style steering wheel. The carpets are finished in black Chamonix Spyder branded fitted mats grace to footwells. The floor mounted and hinged peddles reference the configuration of Porsches past, too. A modicum of additional, soft-bag storage is available in the nose-compartment around the fuel tank if required. Probably not recommended for fireworks or distress flares, however!
Mechanical
The rear clamshell lifts to provide sight of and peerless access to the 1,900cc VW engine. This is the larger of the two “factory” Chamonix options claimed to deliver around 115bhp. With under 600kg to haul around, this is enough to propel the Spyder from 0-60mph in around 6.5 seconds. Power is routed to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission. The benefits of the Spyder’s construction means that almost every component and mechanical adornment can be eyeballed. The engine bay itself presents very well with plenty of recognisable VW components noted. The underside of the car is well presented and seemingly free from leaks or deformations. There is a little overspray noted from the recent respray but nothing more onerous than that.
History Highlights
The paperwork included with the Chamonix Spyder is limited to the current V5 registration document in the name of the owner. This classifies the Spyder as an Historic Vehicle based on the age of the donor car. As such the Spyder is thought to be MoT exempt and zero rated for VED in the UK. The Spyder was last MoT'd in 2013 at 1,772 miles.
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What We Think
If you come up a few dollars short to acquire your dream Porsche 550 Spyder then the evocation route makes a lot of sense for something in the region of 1% of the outlay. Additionally, the memory of some of the truly hateful replicas that the 1970’s and 1980’s delivered have mostly been consigned to the past. Today faithful looking recreations like the Chamonix Spyder have become increasingly sought out and desired as a result. This car helps to further underscore the recent coming of age of this market segment, too. It presents very nicely in a striking colourway and offers a convincing level of authenticity blended with a degree of welcome reinvention. It really does seem to offer up a good dose of the essence of the original but in a form that you don’t have to park in a bank vault each night. Something that can no longer be said of the original cars given their eye-widening values. As such this charming Chamonix Spyder makes a compelling case for itself just in time for the late summer. We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £25,000 - £30,000. Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am- 12pm or 2pm-4pm. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
About this auction
Estimated value
£25,000 - £30,000
Seller
Private: dabu
Buyer’s premium
7% of the winning bid (minimum £700), plus 20% VAT on the Premium only.
Viewings Welcome
Viewing is strongly encouraged, and is strictly by appointment. To book one in the diary, please get in contact.
