Vintech 550 Tribute is a carbon fiber dream, not for sale

Zach Bowman — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 13:32:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Design/Style

We caught up with the Vintech team at the Quail Motorsport Gathering to get a closer look at the team's 550 Tribute. As you may recall, the Paris-based company specializes in building concept cars for a number of manufacturers and wanted to show off its talents to the world at large. Under the attractive silver paint, every body panel on the 550 Tribute is carbon composite.

Styling aside, the real stunner is in the engine bay. Vintech tucked an in-house designed and built 3.0-liter flat four-cylinder engine in front of a Porsche gearbox. The block was milled from a solid chunk of aluminum and is fed by two Weber carbs, though the company says it could just as easily use fuel injection for better efficiency.

Despite having multiple offers for purchase, Vintech says the 550 Tribute is not for sale. Furthermore, it won't produce anything similar for mass consumption. And what did Porsche have to say about the one-off? According to Vintech, the German automaker stopped by to have a look at the retro-styled carbon fiber sports car and approved of the design and construction wholeheartedly.

Vintech 550 Tribute is a carbon fiber dream, not for sale originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 18 Aug 2012 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vintech unveiling P550 Tribute at Pebble Beach

George Kennedy — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Porsche

So you want to own a painfully gorgeous Porsche 550, but you don't have $3.685 million? You don't say! If your heart is still set on a stunning sports car with classic lines, then Vintech may have a solution for you. The French company has created the P550 Tribute, and as the name suggests, the car is meant to evoke the famed Porsche 550.

Though possessing classic lines, the P550 boasts a full carbon fiber body, under which is a modern chassis and a 3.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine. The engine is expected to produce between 260 and 270 horsepower, sent through a five-speed manual transmission. With a curb weight of only 1,212 pounds, this vehicular homage should haul some serious tail.

The P550 Tribute will make its debut Friday, August 17 at "The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering." It is one of the many prestigious events taking place during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Delegance weekend.

Neither pricing nor production numbers have been announced, but we can surmise that the former will be a large number, and the latter will be a small one. In the meantime, feast your eyes on the gallery below of schematics, the build, and the finished product.

Vintech unveiling P550 Tribute at Pebble Beach originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Aug 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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