1954 Porsche 550 Spyder - Highlights of the 550 Spyder

Hey Guys, Here's All You Need to Know About The 1954 Porsche 550 Spyder. Check out complete review of interior, exterior design updates, features, new technology and other improvements in all trim levels of the refreshed.

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The Porsche 550 Spyder, which was first exhibited at the 1953 Paris Salon and featured the four-camshaft-engine developed by Dr. Ernst Fuhrmann, a four-speed transmission and a differential lock, was not only an immediate success but was also admired for its harmonious shape. Its light-alloy monocoque body, a so-called integral body-frame with floor frame, flowed smoothly from the front end, over the wings and to the rear. The flat frame consisted of welded tubing. Internally designated Type 547, the air-cooled 1,500-ccm four-cylinder engine was equipped with four overhead camshafts and had a power output of 110 bhp at 7,800 rpm. Thanks to ongoing further development, it represented the greatest trump card held by Porsche in motor racing until 1961.

Inspired by the Porsche 356 which was created by Ferry Porsche, and some spyder prototypes built and raced by Walter Glöckler starting in 1951, the factory decided to build a car designed for use in auto racing. The model Porsche 550 Spyder was introduced at the 1953 Paris Auto Show. The 550 was very low to the ground, in order to be efficient for racing. In fact, former German Formula One racer Hans Herrmann drove it under closed railroad crossing gates during the 1954 Mille Miglia.

This was demonstrated in the early 50s during the Carrera Panamericana in Mexico, a 3,000-km long-distance race across the country. This is where Porsche wrote a chapter in racing history — unintentionally at first. The main aim in 1954 was to prove the performance capability of the new 117-bhp engine with four camshafts in the 500 Spyder. Sponsor logos from Fletcher and Telefunken, the companies supporting racing director Huschke von Hanstein for the event in Mexico, also appeared for the first time on a Porsche factory car. With the passenger seat covered, the Spyder achieved sustained speeds of more than 200 km/h (124 mph) on the long straightaways of the Carrera Panamericana. The vehicle‘s low weight made it superior to most of its large-displacement rivals. Hans Hermann came in third and Jaroslav Juhan came in fourth overall behind the two Ferrari factory cars, which was an impressive double victory in the sports-car class up to 1,500 ccm.

The first three hand built prototypes came in a coupé with a removable hardtop. The first (550-03) raced as a roadster at the Nurburgring Eifel Race in May 1953 winning its first race. Over the next couple of years, the Werks Porsche team evolved and raced the 550 with outstanding success and was recognized wherever it appeared. The Werks cars were provided with differently painted tail fins to aid recognition from the pits. Hans Herrmann’s particularly famous ‘red-tail’ car No 41 went from victory to victory. Porsche was the first car manufacturer to get race sponsorship which was through Fletcher Aviation, who Porsche was working with to design a light aircraft engine and then later adding Telefunken and Castrol.

Winning wasn’t the only thing the 550 Spyder was known for. It was his newfound love of racing that spurred actor James Dean to purchase an example. Sadly, the actor and his still-new 550 were both fatally injured when a car pulled out in front of Dean as he drove down a California highway.

Nevertheless, the 550 Spyder enjoyed a storied career, with 90 examples being built. Of those 90 cars, 43 of them were built as non-race, “customer cars.” Both Dean’s and the blue example seen here are within that allotment. If fact, the chassis numbers are only separated by five digits, with Dean’s car wearing plate number 550-055 while the other wears plate number 550-060. The latter was owned by avid Porsche collector Jerry Seinfeld until March 2016.

Jerry Seinfeld managed to get an amazing $5.35 million at a Gooding & Company auction for his 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder.

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