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... Gallery Porsche 550 Register by Chassis Number >>>
“Chassis number 550 0090 hasn’t been thrashed around, it’s been well looked after, and even won the FIVA
award for originality at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2010 – the perfect Porsche. A real time warp,
and likely the last one left in such excellent, original condition.”
Launched in 1953 at the Paris Auto Show, the lightweight roadster was the first true competition car to come
from the Stuttgart marque. Just 90 550s were built, each featuring a super lightweight aluminum body, with
two seats and an open-top. It looked incredible on the road, and even more so at speed on the track.
Throughout the 1950s, the Porsche 550 was one of motor sport’s most dominant race cars, out-performing
almost all other models in its class.
American monthly magazine, ‘Road & Track’, said of the model: “The 550 had full road equipment, with lights
and so forth, and a top, and enough stamina and ground clearance to compete in rallies – which it did. The
bodywork and weather gear qualified the 550 for international sports car races – and Hans Herrmann took first
in class and sixth overall in the 550’s first race, the 1954 Mille Miglia…. Herrmann was third overall in that
year’s Carrera Pan Americana. There were 75 cars with bigger engines in that race, and Herrmann beat 73 of
them…”
The cars were built by Porsche in exclusive numbers. In the US, the model did not qualify as a production
sports car, even with its top and road equipment. There weren’t enough of them to be a real road car,
according to the governing SCCA (Sports Car Club of America). Unofficially, the same rule makers would later
cheerfully confess they kept the Porsche 550s out to give other makes a chance!
These little Porsches were extremely quick in a straight line – having a claimed top speed of some 220km/h –
137mph – and accelerating from 0-100km/h – 62mph – in less than 10 seconds - spectacular indeed with
such a small capacity engine in the early 1950s.
The 550 is an icon of 1950s sports car design. It stands today as one of the most collectable cars produced
by the Stuttgart marque, with examples appearing in only the finest collections around the world.
Bonhams Goodwood Revival Sale takes place in Chichester, West Sussex, on 10 September 2016. For
further information, visit bonhams
Related material
... Consolidated 2016 Auction Results sorted by Price descending >>>
... Consolidated 2016 Auction Results in gallery view >>>
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