I recently acquired Silver Blue/Red 550 Spyder Chassis # ES550SC00004092005 which is a good bit of a mystery. The Florida Title shows the Make as EUSC, model year 2006. No doubt the last 4 digits of the VIN indicate a 2005 build. The gent I acquired the car from says he bought it from the original owner who lived in south Georgia and who told him the car was imported into Florida from Brazil. The first two digits of the Chassis Number/VIN are said to stand for European Sports. The Titled Make, EUSC, is said to mean either European Sports Car or European Sports Corporation. Kevin and Cary Hines, Beck, Special Editions Inc., who I recently visited with and showed photos of the car, do not claim the car saying it definitely was not a Chamonix build. I also spoke to Russ Rodrigues at Fibersteel about the car. One of the first questions he asked was, "Does it have big aluminum door hinges?" Indeed it does. Russ said he's seen them before and he was sure the car was built in Brazil. I should also point out that the frame tubes inside the cockpit are carpeted (glued on). Cary Hines pointed this out as something they have never done. Since new this 550 has seen significant modifications. The car started life with a torsion bar suspension. The second owner said it had a fuel injected air cooled engine installed that he could never get to run correctly so he installed a 4 Cam 16 Valve Subaru engine, a Rancho Pro Street Transaxle and also modified to a coil over suspension in the process, which required engine compartment frame modification. It is now akin to the Vintage Spyders coil over setup. It is a great running car, a rocket ship compared to the air cooled versions I've owned and presently own, but rough cosmetically with scratched paint, faded carpet and other things needing attention. I've just pulled the engine and transaxle assembly and will be going completely through the car. If anyone has information as to the true origins of this car it will be very much appreciated. Thanks, Tom
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