Why the Porsche emblems?

I am interested in purchasing a 550 and like most its the simplified view, tha nakedness of it, and style. The body stands for itself. The question is, Why mar it with Porsche emblems? It really is not a Porsche. Its kind of silly. Why does Porsche allow their name to be placed on another product, unless one is licensed to do such? Anyway, whether new or used I plan on removing such emblems. For example, BECK Spyder emblem is OK, it states the manufacturer and the style. The word spyder is commonly used in the sports car arena. I guess I am trying to understand the reason why many of you go that route. What you have stands on its own, you don't need the Porsche emblem. - Thank You, John

Well John,

I guess everyone has their own opinions. When I purchased my Beck, I removed the Beck insignia and installed the correct Porsche lettering and badges. In addition, I also installed the "Wendler" body fabrication company badges and carefully cut away the Beck insignia on the floormats leaving only the word "Spyder."

In MY opinion, it added authenticity to an obvious replica car. I also added numerous other items to make the car look original. When I drove the car, it was "neat" knowing that it looked like the real deal.

97 2/3% of the people that view the car don't have a clue about Beck or Vintage but they do understand PORSCHE.

Many threads exist on this and other 550 boards, they deal with questions from on-lookers as to the make of the car.
I usually told these people: "It's was a 550 Spyder, like the one James Dean died in." Most immediately understood.

Some of the more knowledgable asked if it was real or a replica. When they asked, I told them the truth adding that I wished it was real as it would be worth a cool half million dollars.

As you get deeper into the subject, you'll see that many owners, myself included, have installed numerous items to make the car look original up to and including the installation of aluminum interiors, the interior mounted correct fuel pumps, correct gauges, grab handles, front oil cooler grills, leather straps to secure the rear engine lid, Wide 5 bolt rims, drum skins to resemble the real aluminum brake drums, correct reproductions of headlights, tail lights and turnsignals, steering wheels and the list goes on and on

Both Beck and Vintage can not sell a new car with Porsche emblems as it's against the copywrite law but, anyone can buy the badges and put them on virtually anything provided they are not reaping a profit off of Porsche's name or mis-representation of the real item.

In fact, you could go to your local dealer, buy a Porsche emblem and install it on your Gremlin, Pinto, Yugo or Jaguar, if you had the urge.

Basically, you have to be there to understand the loyality of the owners and the need of many to be as authentic as possible.

And, in conclusion, I suppose that some put the Porsche emblems on their cars just to fool themselves. Could this be possible?,
Yes, but is it probably, NO.

John -

It's just a personal decision that people make about a personal belonging. I haven't gone the route of mounting Porsche crests and scripts (yet), but I did acquire a vintage 1955 Georgia tag and mounted it on my car "James Dean style." It's not a '55 and I'm not James Dean, but the bottom line is that I like it that way, so that's how I did it.

The neat thing is that it doesn't really matter...Spyders are toys designed to make us feel good...Just do what makes you happy.

TMc

I haven't put scripts or crests on mine, yet. But it does look naked without them there, so I think I might. People ask is it real, I say yeah it's a real car! Then I tell them how much an original costs, Jerry Seinfeld owns one, and that this REPRODUCTION cost a lot less,then they usually get it.

In the Porsche Boxter ad on TV where the old man awakes after 40 years in a coma and goes to the garage to drive his 550 Spyder and encounters a Boxter, some of the scenes were of a real 550 but others used a replicar for the driving sequence. Check the archives here for more info, I remember a discussion of the clip. My point is that Porsche themselves authorized the use of the replicar in a Porsche TV commercial, so I see no problem with putting a few badges and scripts on your car if you want to as long as you don't try to sell it to a rap star for $560,000 as an original. Although anyone who would mistake a fiberglass replica for an aluminum original probably deserves to be taken.

George, I agree and,,, especially a "RAP" star.

Yikes! You guys have imparted an image of a Spyder with 20" wheels and those hubcap thingys that keep spinning after the car stops rolling. It's burned into my brain and keep repeating itself like the lyrics of a bad Billy Joel song...

Thanks again for your opinions. It certaintly is an individual preference, for myself, I will be void of porsche logos, however if the car has them already installed I certainly would not be anal enough to damage the finish. Onward! that is enough of this talk.
--- Thanks again John

Terry M;
Picture a Spyder with full hydraulics and skinny tires with neon underneath that hops up and down. A lowrider Spyder that weighs 3000 pounds with all the hydraulics and batteries. ;) Now there is a "fine" ride. Zero to 60 in 23 seconds but on 3 wheels.

John: Do what you wish with your own car but remember this: "IMITATION IS THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY" Regardless of other opinions I wanted a car that reminded me of my youth, James Dean and the days when you could leave your house doors unlocked. Back then we used to remove emblems from our cars, lead and French the headlights and hung Drag Tags from the rear bumpers. Today the trends is to replicate those things that no longer exist (financially or realistically) such as the Porsche 550, Mercedes SL Gullwing, Jaguar XKE, etc. I've seen a few Spyders and Speedsters without emblems and to me they look unfinished or as if they were own by a teenaged bagboy at Publix. But that's my opinion and like arses, everybody has one.

George -

Yep, I can just see those batteries dropping through the fiberglas floor pan on about the third hop.

TMc

John G,
I have found your dream car, it's a "Perry" believe me it's "You" and it's on ebay for 3k, a real fixer-upper, with a price like that you can remove all the offending emblems, have the car painted and live happily ever after. cgi.ebaymotors/ws/eBzyISAP.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2438101968&category=7251

John McNulty:

Do you have any opinions on Thunder Ranch? Appreciate your input.

From your photos, I see you buzz around a bit on the track. Very nice. Never had the opportunity to race a car but when I was younger I had blast racing motocross bikes. I had a local sponsorship with a Honda shop. Raced an Honda Elsinore. When it is all said and done, it gets down to the feel of tires and that feeling becoming second nature. Then the other pieces, especially braking, fall into place.

Thunder Ranch is a very fine operation, Tom McBurnie is a dedicated car maker and will refine/modify the product in accordance to your likes. I firmly believe that talking to each manufacturer, Beck T/R and Vintage is the best course of action.

John
We have a TR car (owner build) and love it. Greatly enjoy working with Tom McBurnie at TR. Quality of the fiberglass work is exceptional. My husband-Steve restored Corvettes for years and is very very picky about fiberglass. The car came in a big crate and before he would let them forklift it off the truck he went over the whole body and was delighted.

We are seriously considering building another spyder and when we do, it will be a Thunder Ranch. Check our pictures to see our car.
angela

Why add Porsche badging? Because it's fun. Ultimately these cars are giant toys, and it's fun to deck them out like the originals--right down to the Porsche badging.

People add all sorts of original authentic touches to their Spyders. It would seem strange to bother mounting an original steering wheel, or side mirror, or dash grab handle, and NOT do any badging.

BTW, I have a Maisto 1/18 scale model of the Spyder. It's not a real Porsche...but it's got the badging, too. ;)