Since the 1950s, Porsche achieved success in competition with cars which are decidedly different from their competitors, provoking from some drivers a great loyalty to the brand. From 1957 until his death in 1964, Carel De Beaufort has almost only used Porsche cars.
Released in 1953, the Porsche 550 Spyder is efficient and agile with its small engine of 1.5 liters displacement. Porsche had made a good choice because this category of small volumes is somewhat undisturbed by the changes in the rules that follow the 1955 disaster at Le Mans.
Continuous improvement is already a strength for Porsche. In 1956, the 550A Spyder gets a lighter and more rigid spaceframe, with a weight distribution carefully redesigned to improve the stability. It has a reputation of being very pleasant to drive.
Forty 550A are built, bodied as single seaters or two-seaters. The last but one is sold in April 1958 to De Beaufort who intensely uses it in competition in that year.
In May, De Beaufort dares to engage his little spyder in the Dutch Grand Prix of Formula One at Zandvoort. He finishes in last position six laps behind the winner. Meanwhile, Porsche had developed the model 718 that De Beaufort will now more logically use in Formula One.
This 550A is estimated $ 5M for sale by Gooding in Pebble Beach on August 20, lot 042. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
unsold
Released in 1953, the Porsche 550 Spyder is efficient and agile with its small engine of 1.5 liters displacement. Porsche had made a good choice because this category of small volumes is somewhat undisturbed by the changes in the rules that follow the 1955 disaster at Le Mans.
Continuous improvement is already a strength for Porsche. In 1956, the 550A Spyder gets a lighter and more rigid spaceframe, with a weight distribution carefully redesigned to improve the stability. It has a reputation of being very pleasant to drive.
Forty 550A are built, bodied as single seaters or two-seaters. The last but one is sold in April 1958 to De Beaufort who intensely uses it in competition in that year.
In May, De Beaufort dares to engage his little spyder in the Dutch Grand Prix of Formula One at Zandvoort. He finishes in last position six laps behind the winner. Meanwhile, Porsche had developed the model 718 that De Beaufort will now more logically use in Formula One.
This 550A is estimated $ 5M for sale by Gooding in Pebble Beach on August 20, lot 042. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
unsold
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