Jalopnik: 550

Roewe Brings Modified 550s To Guangzhou

Wes Siler — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST

Taking a leaf out of their Western counterparts’ books, Roewe is showing off a group of badly modified Roewe 550s in an effort to get down with the young folk. Apparently, Chinese males between the ages of 18 and 34 find tacky modification as “groovy” as we do here in the states. We’re particularly impressed by the Liberace-esque gold lamé interior and hope it makes its way stateside when Roewe’s parent company Shanghai Auto buys the Not-So-Big Three.

[via China Car Times]

Richard Hammond's Ferrari 550 Up For Sale

Andrew Stoy — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:30:00 EDT

Looks like Top Gear co-host Richard Hammond has decided to part with one of his cars, in this case a 1997 Ferrari 550 with just 49,000 miles on the clock. Despite the fact this supercar was owned first by EVO magazine before falling into the hands of Hammond, the advertisement states the 550 has "had every care possible by Maranello to keep it pristine." Hammond's Ferrari is the requisite red with black interior and has a proper manual gearbox, but with right-hand drive, US buyers need not apply, even at the asking price of about $66,200. [Motorbase]

Roewe 550 Sports Edition, With Bonus Haiku

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:40:00 EDT

Those of us living in the United States will probably never see, let alone have the opportunity to buy, a Roewe product, but the brand marches on, and the Roewe 550 Sports Edition shown here is proof. What it adds to the standard 550 we have no idea, other than the go-faster boy-racer body parts. Despite Roewe being a Chinese brand, we couldn't help but bust out a haiku on the subject.

Now snapped on film
550 Sports Edition
Roewe Flavored Rice

[More images at ChinaCarTimes]

SpeedART Reveals Cayenne Based Titan BTR 550

Wes Siler — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:00:00 EST

If a 500bhp Cayenne Turbo isn't a good starting point for a tuner car, we don't know what is. Adding 50bhp and 96lb/ft of torque (for a total of 612lb/ft) the Titan BTR 550 should live up to it's monstrous name. In addition to the engine mods, the Titan benefits from a sports exhaust that's switchable between loud and not-so-load, air suspension and an aerodynamically efficient carbon fiber body kit. It's also available with 22" wheels up to 11.5" wide. No word on what sort of premium the Titan will carry over a stock $93,700 Cayenne Turbo, expect that info at the Geneva Motor Show. [Source: SpeedART]

Son of 550! The Porsche 718!

Davey G. Johnson — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 21:30:00 EDT

We're not sure, but the instance of the Porsche 718 has to be one of the last times a GP car was derived from a roadgoing vehicle. In this case, it was the 550 Spyder, which itself was born as a derivation of the 356 — which of course is the scion of the Beetle, only with a meth problem. In any event, the 718 didn't fare particularly well (cursed Enzo!), in competition, but it didn't exactly shame itself either. In the end, it took two cars to replace the 718 on the track — the badical 904 in the sports car arena and the 804, which competed in Porsche's final F1 effort in '62. Stick that in your 968 and smoke it, Pepe. – Davey G. Johnson

Porsche 718 [Wikipedia]

Rawlings and Collins on their Transcon Record Attempt

Davey G. Johnson — Wed, 16 May 2007 21:30:00 EDT

Richard Rawlings and Dennis Collins sit down with Bullrun's Rory Camangian for the first segment of what's apparently a four-part interview. They cover the issue of fatigue, their bet with Jay Riecke and prepping the car. Interestingly enough, although Bullrun has posted the methods used to prove that Rawlings and Collins indeed did sprint from Manhattan to Redondo in 31:59, they still haven't answered our question: what was the mileage covered? Along with airing the actual proof, it's the other piece in the puzzle required to tell if they incontrovertibly beat 32:07 by eight minutes or not. – Davey G. Johnson

Rawlings & Collins Break Coast-to-Coast Record — Bullrun 2007 [Bullrun2007.com]

Ad Watch: The Peyton Manning Meatloaf Mercedes 550

Ray Wert — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 15:00:00 EDT

Our sports-obsessed site was all atwitter about Peyton Manning hosting SNL this past weekend. We, on the other hand, as usual, were rather unimpressed with the show and spent the majority of the time fast-forwarding through our DVR-ed copy of the episode. But we did happen upon one clip that made us wish the more-precise side of the German-American hybrid were making cars for the hard-workin' blue-collar 'merican man. Specifically, we wish they made something like Manning's Mercedes 550 Meatloaf edition — a luxe car that includes meat, brown gravy and an in-dash convection oven. Although we do have to say the inclusion of the in-seat toilets may have been a wee bit much. – Ray Wert

Saturday Night Live [NBC.com]

Steve Terrien's 550A Spyder

Davey G. Johnson — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 13:30:00 EDT

The strapping men of Zuffenhausen only ever built 35 550As, but what mighty wee machines they were. Taking the first through fourth places in the '59 Targa Florio, the A-model 550s were a beefed-up and lightness-added version of Porsche's first purpose-built racing car. Steve Terrien, a former Porsche employee and die-hard enthusiast has owned this particular A (the '61 SCCA national champeen) since 1984 and has spent the last few years restoring it for concours and vintage racing events. We want to make out with it.

Catching Up With Forza Motorsport's 1956 Porsche 550A Spyder [Forza Motorsport]

Related:
The Chamonix Spyder: Li'l Bastard for Less [Internal]

The Chamonix Spyder: Li'l Bastard for Less

Davey G. Johnson — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 03:08:07 EST

You know, to be honest, we prefer the 550 Coupe to the Spyder. Especially when it's all Panamericana'd out. We just 'bout choke on our tongue over those cars. Reader Alex, offended (and rightfully so) by the 356 custom job we posted yesterday tipped us off to the Chamonix Spyder, which features a 'glass body built on a tube frame with a variety of VW-based mills to choose from. Plus, as Alex points out, "And if you want to paint it turqoise, fill it with dalmatians and chop in in half, at least no one will wince at the loss of automotive history." Somebody needs to get on that.

Spyder.nl