Written by:
SPEED Staff
SPEEDtv.com
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When it became painfully obvious that one-off specials would always have an edge on the Porsche 356, Porsche built the 550 Spyder. It was plainly a race car, yet street drivable if one kept the revs up to protect the roller connecting rod and crankshaft bearings. Porsche took the then-novel approach of swapping ’round the Volkswagen transmission for a midengine configuration, then bolting up a seriously radical hemi-head DOHC boxer four, with twin two-barrel Solex carbs and a dry sump. Standard Porsche (nee VW) suspension bolted to a steel ladder frame covered by an aerodynamically voluptuous aluminum body. Despite the peaky race-tuned engine, drivers found it easy to drive in competition and surprisingly well balanced—especially for a Porsche. All the power could be used, and used well. Hans Herrmann won class and sixth overall in the 550’s first race, the 1954 Mille Miglia. Later that year, Herrmann placed third at the Carrera Panamericana, ahead of 73 cars all with larger engines (and that’s why Porsche uses “Carrera” to this day). It didn’t necessarily end the day of specials, but Ken Miles gave up his famous MG-based Shingle to drive a 550. After all, it was the 550 Spyder that was special.
Specifications
Engine: 1.5-liter DOHC horizontally opposed four
Horsepower: 137
0–60 mph: 8.2 seconds
Top Speed: 122 miles per hour with acceleration gearing; up to 147 miles per hour with endurance-race gear ratios
Price New: $6,800
Value Now: $800,000 to $1,200,000
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