1962 GP Projects Spyder RSK 718

The long term owner acquired a Beetle chassis and soon after bought the Spyder kit and numerous ancillaries from GP Projects and other sources. It was his intention to convert the Beetle chassis to a spanking new Spyder evocation with a mechanically minded friend. In the end, however, work and life got in the way and he was put in touch with a specialist builder by GP Projects. Courtesy of this contact the body work was professionally sprayed in two pack paint and the various components were professionally brought together. The specialist builder also supplied and fitted a brand-new VW 1600 twin port engine to power the diminutive Spyder.

According to the paperwork this appears to have been undertaken in 1998 and the car has been in the vendor’s ownership ever since. To say it has been lightly used is an understatement, with that new twin-port motor having covered a mere 1,870 miles in the intervening 26 years.

Needless to say, the vendor has commissioned other work on the Spyder since then. Significantly he asked a coach trimmer friend to retrim the car’s cabin using top quality materials. It is plain to see than an excellent job has been done with the bright cabin being a real highlight of the car. To prepare the car for sale the vendor has just spent over £6,500 with Retroclassic Engineering recommissioning and fettling everything to help ensure the lucky new owner is both safe and utterly delighted. 

On perusing our comprehensive photographic package, it is easy to see why the original 718 RSK was such a successful race weapon. It’s aerodynamically slippery, diminutive, and consequently, light. It’s tricky to scale the Spyder without a driver in situ but consider those oversized looking steel VW wheels are just 15-inch diameter items. 

Despite the minimal, race-ready trim of the Spyder there is still much to note and enjoy on the outside of the car. These include the body-coloured vents in the leading edge of the rear haunches and the twin chromed engine-cover grills. Then there’s the teardrop driver’s headrest cowling and the tightly curved matte black exhausts culminating in a single, central tail pipe. The vestigial Perspex aero screens further underscore the car’s period race specification persona.

The fine overall condition reflects the remedial work just carried out to the paintwork including refinishing the matt exhausts, wheel drums and steel wheels. Other minor scuffs and scrapes have also been addressed, although one minor scuff remains on the Spyder’s nose beneath the number plate.

Those 15-inch EMPI style wheels significantly fill the Spyder’s arches and are fitted with a matching set of new-looking Gislaved Speed 316T tyres in a 165 R15 configuration.

The money the vendor spent getting the Spyder’s cabin professionally retrimmed has certainly been well spent. Despite its minimal nature it looks incredible. The compact bucket seats are exquisitely trimmed in soft Jaguar grained leather in a scarlet hue. Padded, horizontal box pleats provide enhanced comfort and grip, and red four-point Luke racing harnesses are also fitted. Further scarlet leather accents grace the hand brake and gear lever gaiters, steering wheel gaiter and rear cabin top roll. The all-wool carpets are finished in black, and edge bound in more scarlet leather.

Controls and instrumentation are on the minimal side of scarce, but what is there is distinctive and very well finished. The hand brake lever is deeply chromed, and the gear knob is polished alloy as is the rear-view mirror mount. A pair of delightful Porsche 356 replica gauges are fitted to the body-coloured dash panel and feature bright chromed bezels. A three-spoke, wood rimmed Mountney sports steering wheel is fitted ahead of four tell-tale lights and a fuel gauge. The vendor's trimmer friend also made a fitted tonneau cover for the Spyder which utilises Aston Martin mohair hood material.

Other details are limited to a battery cut-off switch behind the driver’s seat and a carpeted shelf suitable for some limited storage. The door panels are body coloured and contain pull cords to operate the locking mechanism. Needless to say, the condition is excellent throughout and the thoughtful minimalism ensures you stay focussed on the essence of the Spyder – the period faithful driving experience.

The rear engine cover is a clamshell that hinges backwards to provide access to the 1600 twin-port VW engine. This breathes through twin Dellorto carburettors with individual top mounted free-flow air filters. Other than the centrifugal fan and matte black housing, not much more of the hardly used crate motor can be seen. Some additional storage is also available here in a black plastic tray that sits between the wheels. Ideal for things that don’t mind getting warm like the tonneau cover but probably not for your chunky chocolate bar of choice.

This area presents very well and is tidy and clean overall. Those matte black exhausts that describe such a tortuous path help create a great soundtrack. Watch our cold start video to experience it for yourself. It’s an obviously air-cooled timbre but manages to sound sporty and characterful without being embarrassingly loud. Utterly charming.

The vendor’s April 2024 trip to Retroclassic Engineering has included a full safety check with work being undertaken to suspension, brake system, wheel bearings and fuel system. Even a new seat belt mounting bar has been fitted to ensure the Spyder is in a safe and serviceable condition for sale. A full mechanical service has also been undertaken affording the lucky new owner nothing to do other than to enjoy the summer in this delightful evocation. 

There is a good level of paperwork accompanying the Spyder. The V5 registration document is present. This classifies the Spyder as an Historic Vehicle which renders it MoT and VED exempt in the UK. Despite that, an advisory free MoT is present and current with validity until January 2025. There are plenty of earlier MoT copies present, too, validating the miniscule mileages covered.

The remainder of the archive consists of numerous invoices from all periods of the car’s history. Most recent are two high-value invoices for the extensive pre-sale work the vendor commissioned from Retroclassic Engineering. Earlier invoices document all the parts procured from GP Projects and others to breathe life into this fine replica.

Replicas or evocation cars used to be somewhat divisive. This was often based on some of the shoddy, terribly finished vehicles that were churned out in the 1970s and 80s. Often these weren’t even very faithful replicas of the original only offering a passing resemblance to something else probably not very desirable. This all changed in the 1990s and later with a number of providers offering exactingly faithful, high-quality facsimiles of rare and priceless machinery. The GP Projects Spyder RSK 718 sits firmly in that latter category generating interest, value and demand from enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike.

This example is a cracker. It presents beautifully and has a cabin fit and finish that would shame many big-ticket luxury cars. No expense has been spared in making sure the next lucky owner acquires a car that is safe, secure, and running well. What’s more, it is coming to market just at the right time for a new owner to enjoy the best (hopefully) of the imminent summer weather. 

We estimate that this car will sell for £15,000-£20,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.