Description
This is my 1985 Banham Porsche 550A RS Spyder Recreation, finished in striking Porsche/ French Blue with contrasting red interior, yellow headlamps and period #77 competition detailing.
If you're looking for a classic that quietly blends into the background at a car show, this probably isn't it!
Built and registered in 1985, it is believed to have been professionally constructed by Paul Banham's team, rather than being a home-built example. Its design recreates the legendary Porsche 550A RS Spyder, with this car taking inspiration from Porsche chassis #0077.
The car was extensively restored prior to my ownership and today presents to a very high standard.
POWER & DRIVING
Power comes from an Alfa Romeo 1, 500cc flat-four boxer engine, producing approximately 119 bhp at 6, 175 rpm, with twin Dell'Orto carburettors and a four-speed manual gearbox.
In something this small and lightweight it's wonderfully entertaining. You sit incredibly low with the boxer engine immediately behind you, surrounded by induction, exhaust and mechanical noise.
There's no electronic wizardry or modern driving aids – just a wonderfully analogue driving experience. You don't need silly speeds to enjoy it.
The car has front disc brakes.
PRESENTATION
A standout feature is the superb set of RH split-rim alloy wheels, costing approximately £3, 700. Combined with the blue bodywork, red cockpit and competition detailing, they really finish the car off.
MILEAGE
A new speedometer was fitted prior to my ownership. It showed approximately 4 miles when I bought the car and now shows 687, so I've covered around 683 miles.
For transparency, recorded mileage before the speedometer was replaced was approximately 5, 137 miles, so the current reading is not the car's total lifetime mileage.
HISTORIC VEHICLE
The car is registered as a Historic Vehicle and currently benefits from historic vehicle taxation and MOT exemption, subject to applicable UK regulations.
This is, of course, a Banham recreation and not an original Porsche 550 – although fortunately the asking price doesn't have quite as many zeros on the end either!
It's a beautifully presented and genuinely unusual classic that can be driven, shown and enjoyed.
OWNERSHIP & WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL
Quite simply, this is one of those cars that makes an ordinary drive feel like an occasion.
I bought the Spyder in 2025 for £30, 000 because I wanted something genuinely different. I've owned a number of interesting classics, but I wanted something I'd open the garage door to and immediately think:
"Wow... that's mine."
This certainly delivered.
It's tiny, incredibly low, very blue and attracts an almost ridiculous amount of attention. At shows people photograph it, children point at it and enthusiasts regularly wander over trying to work out exactly what it is.
I also have TWO INFORMATION BOARDS, both included in the sale, which I display alongside the car. They explain its story and specification, and I've lost count of the number of people I've watched read them from beginning to end before going back for another look.
Trying to leave a show can sometimes take longer than expected because somebody inevitably wants "just one more quick chat" about it!
There are worse problems to have!
THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE
This isn't simply something pretty to park on a show field.
You sit almost at road level with the Alfa Romeo boxer engine immediately behind you. You hear the twin Dell'Orto carburettors, exhaust and everything happening around you.
On the overrun it'll crackle and pop and occasionally throw in a bang for good measure – presumably just in case anybody hadn't noticed you already!
It doesn't need ridiculous speeds to be entertaining. At perfectly sensible road speeds it feels exciting, mechanical and involving.
There are no driving modes and no computer deciding how much fun you're allowed to have. It's basically steering wheel, pedals, gearbox, engine... and you.
The engine was professionally rebuilt by Brunswick Motorsport prior to my ownership and the car has covered relatively few miles since. During my ownership it has always been dry-stored in my garage.
SHOW SUCCESS
During 2026 it achieved:
PUBLIC VOTE WINNER – LINCOLN CASTLE RALLY
FIRST IN CLASS – LOUTH CLASSIC CAR SHOW
I'm delighted with both, but the Public Vote probably means the most because it was simply people at the show choosing the car they liked.
Apparently lots of them liked the little blue thing too!
WHY AM I SELLING?
There's actually a little more behind the sale than simply wanting another car.
In September 2024 I was involved in a serious road accident. It gave me a rather different perspective on life and on putting things off until "one day".
After nearly 35 years with the same company, I decided to leave my career and make some fairly major changes. My wife and I became foster carers and I now also work part-time as a driving instructor – partly because I love driving and partly for my sanity!
Classic cars have always been a passion of mine. I've decided that rather than necessarily owning the same one for years, I'd like to experience some of the cars I've always fancied while I'm fortunate enough to do so.
That's exactly how the Spyder came into my life.
There isn't a problem with the car forcing the sale and I certainly haven't fallen out of love with it. Quite the opposite. I've thoroughly enjoyed driving and showing it, but I'm now ready to see what the next classic-car adventure brings.
Anyone with the classic-car bug will probably understand. Unfortunately, there still appears to be no known cure!
I paid £30, 000 in 2025 and have now priced it at £24, 595. I'd genuinely like to see it go to another enthusiast who'll get as much enjoyment from it as I have.
SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT
Original Porsche 550s inhabit an entirely different financial universe. This obviously isn't one and isn't pretending to be one.
What the Banham offers is that fabulous 1950s competition-car shape, tiny proportions, open cockpit, boxer-engine soundtrack and wonderfully basic driving experience in something you can actually drive, park and enjoy.
You don't require several security guards following you around – or counselling every time somebody stands too close to it!
Perhaps most importantly, it feels special.
Whether it's sitting in the garage, driving along a country road or amongst hundreds of cars at a show, there's very little chance of mistaking it for anything else.
And you're extremely unlikely to arrive at your local classic-car show and find another one parked next to you.
The car is located in Lincolnshire.
Genuine enquiries and viewings are very welcome. I'm an enthusiast rather than a dealer and I'm happy to talk honestly about the car and my ownership.
If you're looking for something unusual, enormous fun and show-proven, this might just be the one.
