Q: What transmission did the 1955 Porsche 550 RS Spyder have? A: The 1955 Porsche 550 RS Spyder had a 4 speed Manual Type 718 synchromesh gearbox. Q: What engine did the 1955 Porsche 550 RS Spyder have? A: The engine powering the 1955 Porsche 550 RS Spyder was a Flat 4 (1498 cc | 91.4 cu in. Q: How many vehicles did Porsche produce in 1955? A: Porsche produced 4,529 automobiles in 1955. Q: What is the bodystyle of the 1955 Porsche 550 RS Spyder? A: The 1955 Porsche 550 RS Spyder was a Spyder. Q: How much did the 1955 Porsche 550 RS Spyder cost when new?A: The 1955 Porsche 550 RS Spyder cost approximately $17,500 to $17,500 (USD) when new. Q: What is the width of the 1955 Porsche 550 RS Spyder? A: The 1955 Porsche 550 RS Spyder has a width of 65.40 inches. Q: What is the length of the 1955 Porsche 550 RS Spyder? A: The 1955 Porsche 550 RS Spyder has a length of 141.73 inches. Q: What is the wheelbase size of the 1955 Porsche 550 RS Spyder? A: The 1955 Porsche 550 RS Spyder has a wheelbase size of 82.70 inches. How powerful was the 1955 Porsche 550 RS Spyder? Was the 1955 Porsche 550 RS Spyder popular? Was the 1955 Porsche 550 RS Spyder expensive? What was the fuel economy of the 1955 Porsche 550 RS Spyder? Q: How fast is the 1955 Porsche 550 RS Spyder? A: The 1955 Porsche 550 RS Spyder has a top speed of 136 mph. How many 1955 Porsche 550 RS Spyder were produced? What are the dimension and mechanical specifications of the 1955 Porsche 550 RS Spyder? None of it would have been possible without the little giant-killer, Porsche’s first venture into factory racing, the 550 Spyder.Įlevate your 1:8 scale collection with one of our elegant, harmonious and handcrafted display cabinets, stands or plinths.Popular frequently asked questions include: Today, Porsche’s museums are bursting with racing legends. Among the giants slain were the Ferrari 860 Monza and the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. The 550’s most important win, however, came in 1956, when an updated space-frame version took overall victory at the Targa Florio, then one of the most famous and challenging races in the world. The pairing of the 550 and the Fuhrmann four-cam engine would dominate competition the world over.īy 1955, Porsche’s fifth time competing at Le Mans, the 550 had become not only the runaway winner in its class but also a force to be reckoned with in the race for outright victory against larger and more powerful cars. The engine’s development, led by Porsche engineer Ernst Fuhrmann, featured a 1.5-liter four-cam (versus earlier twin-cam) engine with a brilliantly compact layout that would offer a claimed 110 hp from virtually the same dimensions as the company’s earlier flat-fours, which produced around 80 hp. The pièce de résistance, however, was its engine, known as the Type 547. The quick machine featured a 1498 cc four-cylinder. The car was highly famed for its dominance in 1.1- and 1.5-liter class races. The car featured a ladder-type frame and sleek bodywork. The 550 Spyder was designed for racing exactly as Dean desired. The definitive 550 form was unveiled to the world at the Paris Salon in October 1953. After a few more wins in Europe, the cars were sold off to a buyer who continued to race them. Weeks later, a two-car effort took first and second at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Despite pouring rain and carburetor troubles, the 550 won the very first race it entered, a sign of what was to come. The 550, deliberately designed to be aggressive for motor racing use, was dubbed the Little Bastard by American actor James Dean. The first factory-built 550 debuted at the Nüburgring for the Eifel Races on May 31, 1953. By 1952, Porsche had started developing its own purpose-built race car in-house-the Type 550. Successes continued to mount in the prototypes. From 1951 on, Glöckler prototypes bore Porsche branding. Porsche took notice, and began to support Glöckler’s car, eventually entering an informal mutual assistance pact. That year, his Porsche-powered prototype won the 1,100cc sports car class championship in Germany. Prototypes were developed starting in 1950 by Walter Glöckler, a motorcycle racer and Volkswagen salesman who wanted to use Porsche’s 1.1-liter flat-four engine in his home-built race cars. James Dean, only 24 years old, died in the crash. In an era where nearly every aspect of cars was getting larger, the 550 Spyder, remarkably light, at less than 1500 pounds, was the direct opposite. In September 1955, actor James Dean was driving his brand-new Porsche 550 Spyder to an auto rally in Salinas, California, when he was involved in a head-on collision with a 1950 Ford Tudor. The spyder was piloted by Araldo Sassone who finished 4th in class in the Mille Miglia. It was a white 550 with blue darts and engine P90029. The 550 Spyder was Porsche’s first full-scale endeavour into sports car racing, and one of its most successful ever. Chassis 550-0035 was an Italian delivered spyder on the 12 April 1955 ready for the Mille Miglia race 2 weeks later.
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