I have two replica/tribute cars with 350 Crate engines. One is a very fast car made a replica for a 1958 Lister Corvette and a 1934 Mercedes. Both have FiTech fuel injection.

1934 Mercedes-Benz 500k Replica

1934 Mercedes-Benz 500k Replica

1958 Beck Lister




The Lister was built by Chuck Beck in Villa Rica, GA - very fast! 0-60 in less than 3 seconds, 180 mph. Corvette suspension. T-10 four speed. 1800 pounds. Basically a race car. No radio, no heater, no top. Scary fast. ZZ3 Crate engine, cam, high compression.

The second car is a very good reproduction of a 1934 Mercedes-Benz 500k. Also a 350 Crate engine, 350 Automatic with overdrive. Very comfortable, power steering, power brakes, good radio, also moves very well!

I am here to learn about my engines. I also collect antique cars.

 

Welcome to the forum!

Both are very nice interesting looking cars. Are they mainly collection or are they weekend drivers? How do you like the FiTech fuel injection systems?

The forum is focused on Gen 3, Gen 4 LS plus Gen V LT1 engines & cars but many members have an older Gen 1 small block chevy, Gen 2 LT1 etc ride or two as well.

 

The Mercedes is an all around driver. The Lister I drive as often when not raining or too cold.

The FiTech seems to work very well. Both cars came with FiTech, and both have fuel cells. The Lister FiTech had been well set up. I just bought the Mercedes just before Christmas. It runs very well, but it needs some tweaking. Been trying to get with FiTech Tec support, but been closed for the holidays.

Will reach out for some people with Gen 2, not sure what I need right now. I am sorting out wiring issues.

 

Sounds like both car's are a whole lot of fun to drive. What's the handling like on open highway and on twisty back roads?

 

The Lister (Blue) is most fun! Scary fast. It was called a "Cobra-Killer" in the racing days. Grabs the ground in tight turns. It is really a race car. No power steering. No power brakes. The engine is so far back, almost in your lap. Neutral handling. Double disk clutch. Sitting in it, about three feet high at the windshield. You sit inside space frame and your butt is about 5 inches off the ground. Difficult to get in or out, but really sweet in it. I love it not having power brakes nor power steering. You really feel at one with the car. Sweet feedback that is perfect. The fastest and best handling car I have ever owned. ENERGETIC. I scared the hell out of my wife and is reluctant to ride in it again! And I only had it halfway throttle.

It beat Jaguar and Maserati in the late 1950s. Also stops on a dime. I run tires at 19 PSI

Now the red 1934 Mercedes-Benz moves along quite well, but the last owner was into show, but with a 5.7 liter (350 Crate) is no slouch! Handles well on twisty roads. Both cars are happy on expressways. The Mercedes has a 3 speed 350 Trans 65mph is turning 2200rpm. The Lister has a 3:07 rear end. See it was built to hit 180mph.

 

Lister sounds very sweet. I have a soft spot for mid front engine cars with the motor well back that will neutral steer. I think ~180 mph 😳 in any soft top convertible would probably make the check underwear light flash! Side note with the 3.07 gear what sort of mpg?

At night the five headlights on the Mercedes have to make quite an impression to on coming traffic! Looks sweet.

 

I don't run them if oncoming traffic three of them are spotlights. Check out Chuck Beck who built my car in 1989. He has built about 30 Listers (mine is Gen 1 and #3 car)

Me and Chuck Beck, seated. Our Lister

Our Car barn. My wife is 5'7" and see how is the Lister! little over three feet high.

Mid-Front engine placement. Modified 350 Crate engine

Chuck Beck Lamborghini V12 Motorcycle
and many more of the Beck Spyder 550 Porsche, like the one James Dean died in one.Chuck is a master, building cars. He is 85 and chain smokes Kools One of his most famous creations is a Lamborghini V12 Motorcycle. Six Weber carburetors. Look him up on Google In the picture shows the Weber and six downtubes exhaust. His creations are better than any factory. He lives near me and we meet often.