Spyder 550 550A

[Type550]

The spyder is 550-0028. There was another spyder in the Swiss racing team which was 550-0079, but I have also found 2 other spyders repainted with the same colour scheme.

[Porschinelle]

Just nclick on the link and its work
Fantastic video presumably filmed by end 1953 in Salzburg
In addition to the red + white spyder have you noticed this fantastic blue cab with wire rudge wheels

[Porschinelle]

I retry the video

https://youtube.com/watch?v=rkrGrJ_CX7M

[Porschinelle]

Andrew extracted from this video

hyttps://youtube.com/watch?v=rkrGrJ_CX7M

some pics of an early 550 painted in the Swiss color (red body + white helmet)








Any idea of the chassis number ?

[356]

Andrews probably seen this one already but maybe I'll run across a new one for him.
~Vance

[356]

Those two could easily have passed for a pair of dashing Hollywood types.

[356]

What an exciting new discovery that somewhat rewrites the record books Andrew. It is a shame that Steve isn't here to share in it.
~Vance

[Type550]

It is all swings and roundabouts with these cars! I had an email from Adam Wright who recently scored some photo albums from Jim Barrington featuring some of the 550s he had owned during his life.

One car I instantly recognised was the 550 with the holes behind the doors which was owned by William Edgar and raced by Suzy Deitrich. The Carerra book always had it listed as 550-0077 - the old Dunkel spyder, but the holes and the race dates never matched up and even when challenging Steve, he wouldn't budge! (probably because he had done the provenance of the car when it went to auction!)

Well, it has been identified as 550-0063, which moves some more of these races around. The races that are currently linked to 0063 have already been moved to 550-0023 and agreed to, but now a lot of the 0077 races will need to be moved and not sure yet what they will be replaced with!

[Type550]

Actually 550-03 at Giant's Despair in 1954 driven by James Graham

[356]

Von Newmanns car by the large air pockets?
~Vance

[356]

Thank you Andrew, I knew it had a "Mc" in it.

[Type550]

Troy McHenry in 550-0029 at Santa Maria in July 1956

[356]

McDaniel 550??

[356]

Great stuff Andrew.
~Vance

[Type550]

One of my favourite photos in my collection Vance



I have just done a search on Hans Klenk who the photo is referring to. Klenk worked with the Porsche factory on a number of body designs including the Sauter-Porsche, so it is highly likely that he made the aerodynamic changes to the 550 for Annie's speed trials.

Research says the American Roadster's humble beginnings started when Stuttgart commissioned Hans Klenk Karosserrie to build an all steel, open car in 1950. Called the Sauter Roadster, it weighed in at only 1,298 lbs. and was fitted with 'easy access' suicide doors. It was used as a Rally Car on the Leige-Rome-Leige Race and carried a 1500cc motor. It was then purchased by Porsche in 1952, and used as a development mule, refitted with the 'new' Typ528 Super 1500cc motor.

Klenk would be the guy leaning over with the walking stick - he was an official Mercedes test pilot, but a serious accident at the wheel of the 300SL forced him to stop his career and he focused on car design.