Spyder 550 550A

[Porschinelle]

to answer Max question

[Porschinelle]

Richard and Roxa (nickname of Margarita Sofia) got married in May 1960 5 month after his divorce
At that same moment Richard decided to give away racing
He kept his publisher business for Porsche (Christophorus magazine) but also become a radio and TV expert in car racing
In April 1961 Richard and Roxa were enjoying a few days of rest in Italy
By April 12 th he had a serious accident near Verona
Roxa was killed and Richard was seriously injured
Richard got married for the 3rd time with Helga Elizabeth Brandenburg in February 1962 and had a third child a boy named Cypselus in 1965
If Richard gave away racing he continued to love fast driving and had another serious accident with a 911 in 1970
Three years later (11/11/1973) he was killed at Bielstein near Stuttgart on a motorway

[Porschinelle]

Richard von Frankenberg biography could not be complete without speaking of the terrible accident he rescape from, during the Avus GP Sptember 16th 1956
Most of the pics published below have already been posted on this forum, but just for those who have never seen them
For this Avus GP Richard von Frankenberg was in charge to test for the Porsche factory a spyder prototype with a magnesium body and for the first time a back suspension of a much more modern design that the old VW torsion bars suspension
Unfortunately this modern back suspension was not matching with the old VW front suspension who had not been modified and this car was highly unstable at high speed

[Porschinelle]

During the race Richard von Frankenberg special spyder nicknamed "Mickey Maus" was leading another 550 driven by Wolfgang von Trips by a few meters when for an unknown reason the car went off the oval curve

[Porschinelle]

Richard von Frankenberg was ejected from before the spyder crashed outside the banking in the competitors car park

The magnesium body took fire immediately and the car burn
The firemen arrived quickly and anxiously were trying to find Richard body in the middle of the flames

Luckily he was not there but in the bush who amortize his fal

[Porschinelle]

to complete the above 2 videos

First Richard von Frankenberg crash

www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqdE9diboKE

The Avus

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR-76SBwOlo

[AMP]

Richard von Frankenberg was ejected from before the spyder crashed outside the banking in the competitors car park

The magnesium body took fire immediately and the car burn
The firemen arrived quickly and anxiously were trying to find Richard body in the middle of the flames

Luckily he was not there but in the bush who amortize his fal

And a few years later he found himself in another Bush just as hot as that Titanium Fire. That one of the lovely Roxa!
What a life!!

[Porschinelle]

Good point Ashley
In 1959 Richard was 37 years old Roxa 20

The second video did not post well try I try again

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR-76SBwOlo

[Porschinelle]

Wrong again

anyway I terminate that story by noting that some pilots as Annie Bousquet at Reims in 1956 and Claude Storez always at Reims in 1959 were also ejected from their spyder without the same luck

Annie Bousquet

Claude Storez


and Jean Behra in 1959 on that same Avus ring

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG19_5lowCA

[Type550]

Although raced by RvF at Linz in 1959 which he won, it was not his car. I do not have any record of him owning a 550, and as he was one of the Werk's pilots, I doubt he would have as he was designated cars to race. This car is believed to be 550A-0127

Another question for Andrew

Richard von Frankenberg and his second wife Roxa in a 550 at Linz in Austria in 1959

Question : was this spyder belonging to Richard von Frankenberg ?
If so which number and any idea where this car is to day

[Type550]

From what I have read, they were fitted with twin throat Solex 40 PII downdraft carburetors.

Michael

May be 550-03 was the first fitted with the 4 cams engine in July 1953 but in November 1953 this car was in Mexico to race the 4th Carrera Panamericana race in the hands of Karl Kling and for the occasion was fitted with a push rod engine as the 3 others 550 entered by Porsche in that race

Does anyone have any info on what carbs they ran on the push rod Super engines? Doesn't look like single barrel 40mm Solex carbs..

[Jack Staggs]

Another question for Andrew

Richard von Frankenberg and his second wife Roxa in a 550 at Linz in Austria in 1959

Question : was this spyder belonging to Richard von Frankenberg ?
If so which number and any idea where this car is to day

RvF looks remakably like Vasec Polac

[Porschinelle]

For Tony and Andrew

I have found this pic of 550-001 at the 1953 Le Mans 24 hours with a clear view on the push rod engine for Andrew to confirm his idea

[Porschinelle]

Andrew
Thanks for your kind answer regarding Richard von Frankenberg 550 RS at the 1959 Linz flughafen race

How do you explain that Richard von Frankenberg official Porsche pilot was driving a 550 RS when 3 Porsche customers E

[Porschinelle]

Sorry wrong post I continue
Andrew how do you explain that Richard von Frankenberd official Porsche pilot was driving a quite old 550 RS when 3 Porsche independant customers
Ernst Vogel race number 68
Heini Walter race number 66
and Richard von Dory race number 76
had bright new 718 RSK ?