Safety issues.

I have been hearing and reading one thing throughout my time learning about reproduction Spyders and have to ask about it.

I have been told countless times that Vintage cars are "safer" than Beck cars. I know that the frames have two tube hoops in them and while I understand that they might be more helpful in theory to the safety of the occupants during a collision than the regular laddar frame of the Beck cars has anyone actually done any independant testing to prove that the Vintage cars are "safer" in compairison to the Beck cars and if so are results published for the consumer to read?

Safety is a concern to me and learning the answer to this question will assist me in my choice of reproduction Spyder.

Thanks!

These cars are so much fun, but just like the real spyder you don't want to get in a collision with a bigger car. To be honest the vintage frame won't protect you from an other car hiding in the side of your car, because it will hit the spyder at a much higher point (probably in the head or shoulder). The key for safety is drive smart, drive fast and save and most important stay away from other cars blind spots. The Spyder weight is only somewhere between 1100 - 1300lbs, so the chances are that the spyder will just get pushed out of the way in a collision and fiberglass is surprisingly strong. I don't drive my spyder in busy traffic if I don't have too, what I like the most is driving it up our southern calif. mountain roads and listening to the echo in the valley produced by the roaring/screaming engine, just like in the mille millia. My advice: Go get your spyder and enjoy this 50's racing machine.

A 550 Spyder Replica is just that, a replica of a 1955 vintage sports racer. There is nothing SAFE about the concept, it's a race car you can drive on the road. You can take measures to make it safer, but at what level is it safe?

Chuck Beck told me that "These Spyders are the most dangerious cars on the road." Chuck wasn't just talking about the Beck Spyder. If you want safety drive a tank, if you want fun drive a 550 Spyder replica. You can drive it carefully, but... where is the fun in that? Try driving responsibly, there is a place and time for everything, this is the best approach in my never to be humble opinion.

If you want a safe car look somewhere else.

That's a valid question. I have seen no actual comparison. Remember, driving is everything. The death rate for motorcycles dramatically drops after age 25. Mainly because we were all young, stupid and took chances we shouldn't have. As for frame design. You can see them side by side at
HTTP://www.pbase.com/550joe/spyder_frames
-=theron

I'm so glad I didn't have this car in my youth... I seriously doubt I would have survived. When I bought the car I recognized its dangers immediately and very deliberately put myself into a "driving mode" each time before taking it out...Its a car that was meant to be driven fast, but, by God you'd better respect it, On the brighter side, you will probably be clothes-lined by the top of the windshield frame on your way out. With the inevitable decapitation, you'll never know what hit you... Have fun out there guys, but be careful...
David Ferlauto
Mtn View Ca
1969 912
2001 beck

This may sound dumb but...what do you think about wearing a helmet every time you drive the car? It might look strange, but one would think your safety would increase quite a bit. At some point I don't care how it looks...and a colorful helmet would increase the odds of being seen in traffic.

I think a helmet and goggles would be cool - very period. Especially with the cut down plexi windshield. Driving one with the plexi shield I had alot more direct wind in the face. Mine with the taller speedster style windshield protects the face form the wind better at my average height.

Mike

I know this has beaten to death in other threads, but I think it bears repeating...These cars are VERY difficult to see...No matter how safely you drive, it's the inattentive driver in the other car that may get you.

The last time I drove my car I met a pick-up taking up my half of the middle. It was clear from the look of shock and panic on the driver's face as he swerved back into his lane that he hadn't even seen my car...Unnerving to say the least.

George B., again, thanks for your positive, informative and articulate answer to a very good question.

In my opinion, (Maybe worth .02 cents) I seems that a select few members that have Vintage cars are the only persons alleging that their frame is safer than the Beck frame.

When compared side by side, the major and noticeable difference is the fore and aft hoops. The Vintage frame does contain a little bit more steel and I suppose you could construe that it's safer however, based on "thousands" of viewed crashes, neither frame will protect you enough to sustain a "really bad" crash.
(I consider a "really bad" crash to be one that occurs at 30 MPH)
Additionally, any SUV, pickup truck or large car will, by it's height, cause severe damage to your body and frame as well as the cars body and frame.


Vintage has more of a space frame design whereas the Beck is more in tune with the original Porsche designed 550 frame.

In reality, neither frame should be considered ""safe"" (I've been to both facilities and seen both frames)

Neither car has side impact protection. Neither car has crumple zones, air bags, frames designed to send the engine and trans "down" upon impact etc etc etc.

What they do have is a measure of maneuverability that "hopefully" will allow you to steer clear of a potential problem. But, anything can happen and when it happens, it happens "FAST"

You be the judge.

Like Martin said, all these 550 Spyders are made for pure driving fun but with extreme alertness & caution to your surroundings.
I think that wearing a helmet in an "eye catching" color is a great idea, Sean.
JF
1957 550 Spyder(2002,by Vintage)
1997 911(993S Widebody)

I have heard of a guy driving his 550 around Houston with a leather helment and goggles. I have seen the car parked but not in motion.

AFA the frame design goes, from what I have seen in pictures none of the manufacturer's frames would keep you alive in a 70mph crash. While it would be possible to make a 550 safer with a redesign of the frame and addition of side impact beams, air bag, roll cage, crumple zones, etc, you are adding a lot of weight to a light and nimble car which now will be a small overweight underpowered car.

Like George B said, if you want more safety, buy a used Boxter. If you want a one of a kind, seldom seen replica of a 50's racing car, buy a 550 and wear a helment with a flashing red bicycle light on top so the soccer moms in SUV's will notice you before they run over you.

Drive with the headlights on at all times, may prevent that guy or gal pulling out from a side street that would say, "Gee, I never saw the car."

Gary,

In answer to your question I don't believe that there have been any independent tests involving one car versus the other.

Aloha,
Ken

Thanks John, and I agree. For maximum safety, the helmet should be an eye catching color. I am going to look into having a helmet painted a nice vintage color.

Interesting idea, also, about the flashing bicycle light!

Anything we can do to enhance visibility will help. I think our greatest safety risk clearly comes from other drivers.

Here's a link to a place that makes vintage 50s style racing helmets.

www.davida.co.uk/classic/index.html

I took delivery of my car on Friday, and had a nice afternoon drive yesterday. My concerns about visibility have been calmed somewhat.... Looking around yesterday, I noticed that the Spyder is not THAT much smaller than a Miata or Z4 or S2000. While I realize that the car is much less safe than these cars, at least it's about the same size.

I am still exploring helmet options. The Davida helmets look great, but are not DOT approved (and their website explicitly states they are for collectible use only, or something to that effect).

My safety concerns are the cell phone talking soccer moms in the Expeditions that do a quick glance in the mirror before slicing three lanes to get into the Target parking lot. We sit under their radar.

Having the loud pipe and the lights on and staying out of their rear quarter is about it.

Mike

Has anyone thought of or installed those flashing light setups simillar to motorcycles.

I drive a Boxster daily and I feel sometimes I am hard to see.

I picked up a flashing "bike strobe" light the other day, and am going to affix it with velcro to the back of my Vintage rollbar. Both are easily removable.

Hello All. When I worked Intensive Care in the 70's we called motorcycle and car helmets "brain buckets" because in an intersection collision or anything else with even moderate speed involved, that's what they were. v v

Thanks Vicki, I read this at lunch.

Want some goulash?

Yeah, I have a friend who did a 55MPH header off a bike into the grill of a Ford Galaxie.

One arm in 29 pieces, one in 17 pieces, ribs crushed like saltine crackers, inhaled 13 teeth into his lungs, crushed pelvis, crushed face, crushed legs, brain damage to the extent that he is partially paralyzed on his left side, often cannot maintain consciousness, and has robot-like speech (This after having to re-learn speech and reading).

That happened in 1972...He was 24. He has spent the last 32 years in a hospital bed and wheel chair, living with his elderly parents after his wife divorced him for "loss of consort"...

And they say with awe and reverence that his helmet saved his life.

Saved his life? What life? Screw the helmet...

Sorry about that Mike. . .v

Vicki,

No need for apologies

As the saying goes "Mikey will eat anything" LOL