Spyder 550 550A

[Porschinelle]

Another mystery

On the above pic taken on the Le Mans race track Friday June 11th and on this ones taken the same day inside the Le Mans city



it is clear that the leading car was the reserve car without race number and that the car race number 37 had his race number directly applied on the body on the contrary of the car who really raced who had its number applied on a white circle

[Porschinelle]

car 37 numbers are well applied on a white circle
Indeed its depend, upon the light on the pic as on these ones taken after the arrival of the race with the winning Jaguar D type were the number 37 on the boot is not clear

[Porschinelle]

To come back to the leading car without race number it is that same car who wear the 37 number on these 2 pics (same zoll plate W21-851






The last pic was taken in front of the Reutter Karosserie plant
Obviously the car was decorated with these race number for a publicity purpose
Have you an idea where the second pic was taken ?

[Porschinelle]

[Porschinelle]

This pic explain why 550-031 race number 38 was not part of the parade
This car went to the registration process alone apart the 5 other 550 spyders


Another color pic of 550_031 showing clearly the swiss flag in red on the right front wing

[Type550]

Amazing detail as usual Gerard! The photo was taken on race day driving from Porsche's hotel to the track with team technical chief Wilhelm Hild driving and one of the mechanics as passenger. The author says it is Polensky/von Frankenberg's spyder, so obviously they don't realise it is the spare car with the same #37.

As you can see the numbers are very different - the 3 has a rounded font on the race car but is more square on the spare car - plus the obvious lack of the white base circle

[Type550]

550-0031 going through scrutineering pre race

[Type550]

another parade photo

[Porschinelle]

Hi Andrew

I have a French friend who has just bought in the US an all aluminium 550 replica
Of course he don't say he has got the right car but he has decorated it exactly as Richard von Frankenberg 550-045 at the 1955 Le Mans race




On this last pic you clearly see the red light fixed on the left wing exactly as it was on the original car





I believe this light purpose was to identify the car during the night session

Do you know if this fitting was unique for 550-045 or some other 550 had it ?

On the left side 550-045 had a red circle with something in the middle
Is it another light or soething else ?

[Type550]

The 502 Motorworks car is well built - they will get better the more they do!

They did use additional lights for the LeMans race and other races like Reims to lighten the race number but only the side facing the pits as it raced along the straight, or mushroom lights on the top. In the 1954 LeMans, they lit the number on top of the engine bay.

You can see here the lights on the top and the wiring from underneath before the Reims race

[Type550]

In the 55 LeMans, the other cars also used the light on top of the rear

[356]

Who and when?

[Type550]

Robert Holbert driving 550A-0123 on 5 July 1957 at GP Watkins Glen finishing 1st

[Porschinelle]

Question for Andrew

Bob Holbert drove a 550 RS in 1957 and 1958

At the 1958 Sebring 12 Hours March 12th 1958 he shared the Marshall Motors 550 below with race number 46


with Charles Wallace and Skip Hudson
They finish at a mere 25th place when a bright new 718 RSK driven by Harry Schell/Wolfgang Seidel (race number 41) finish 3rd overall


Question : Was this nearly out of date 550, 0123 or another one ?

[Type550]

Based on the position of the indicator lights and the new driving lights, I believe it is a different 550A - not sure which one though. Photos of races soon after have the original front again with Holbert racing