James Dean 550/Where to buy?/Please reply

Obviously a 'newbie' to this site.

I'm looking at purchasing a Spyder Replica of Dean's via www.jamesdeanspyder.com. Does anyone know of this dealer? He has one listed on EBay but seems to be making a few more. I've been researching this for some time and have found all the "kit" cars, however, I'm not mechanically inclined. Do most of these places manufacture and ship ready to drive?

Are there other dealers that will custom build a Dean replica?

Any information would be very helpful.

This dealer is licensed by the James Dean Foundation and CMG to use the James Dean name on automobiles. The car is a very nice Vintage Spyder. If you have any doubts, you can check with the James Dean Foundation to be sure of the licensing issue, they will give you confirmation of the legitimacy.

All the manufacturers can build you a car that is ready to drive away, but they will not add any James Dean stuff to the car, because of the legal issues. As a private party, you can add all the goods yourself.

So if you want one right now, without a substantial wait, with all of the James Dean stuff on it, this dealer is your only choice.
-=theron

Thanks so much for the input! However, I've heard that the car has some differences from Dean's:

Gas cap is wrong
Bonnet strips are wrong
Scoops are wrong
Windshield is a 356

Can you tell from the pictures?

www.jamesdeanspyder.com

If you go for a true replica, there are a list of things that would have to be changed, but just how much of a replica do you want? For instance here are some things that people rarely do, in addition to what you have already listed.

Oil cooler grill should be dented
Front drivers turn signal should be missing
Body damage on rear passenger fender
License plate on rear grill
You could go on and on.

The guy to talk to is RescueDiver, he's spent a lot of time making his car probably the closest thing to JD's car.
You can get his info at
CLICK HERE

-=theron

Yeah, I have emailed him a few times to no avail. Maybe because I'm a newbie at this he's a bit hesitant.

I talked to the guy selling the Jamesdeanspyder.com. He said Resuce's is horrific to look at. Basically he said the side mirror was wrong...the license plate cover was off...and a bunch of other stuff. He said it LOOKED like a kit car, not a replica Dean car.

To his defense the guy said he wasn't making a true Dean replica. More of a TRUE 550 replica, he said he got all the parts from actual 550 molds. Not bad I guess.

I'm just kinda swamped w/ information on all these dealers and what to look for and not look for. Again, I'm not mechanically inclined so buying one that is damn near a replica is best for me. The main problem I see w/ this guys is the scoops in the back. That is def. not a part of Dean's car.

Do you know if any of the dealers create replica's that are turnkey? Or do you have to get a 550 turnkey and do it yourself?

Thanks again for all your help!