Spyder 550 550A

[Carrera GT]

The plot thickens...

I am trying to get my hands on a photo of Blendl's 550-0043/07 spyder after it was repaired and entered in the Freiburg hill climb. From what I understand, it was repaired with one earlier prototype rear clam shells. During his run he went off the track & landed in some bushes that started a fire that partially destroyed the car. After the crash Blendl dismantled the car. The engine was supposedly ok and most probably put it in the car he raced and later sold to Rolly Resos. No other parts would be interchangeable on a 356 except the maybe backing plates and brake drums which would probably be heat damaged.

I have the before photos (somewhere) as noted but not any after the fire. My understanding is a little different---that is, not much aluminum was left.

Also, had not heard how the fire started.

At the time, this car was known as and registered as 550-07. Never, ever, was a car noted as 550-0043.

Steve Heinrichs

Funny how things go - I previously asked if someone had a photo(s) of the car crash-burning Spyder. I went to my book collection - many from Germany.

I'll try to find a way to scan a photo I found of this Blendl Spyder - noted as car Startnummer 51 - crashed and burned in the trees at 1957 Freiburg-Schauinsland Bergrennen. Caption in (Deutsche) says he - Ludwig Blendl - got lucky - as in he lived to talk about it.

Michael Doyle

[Type550]

Great find Michael - would love to see it. I am trying to get the photo of it before the race - complete!

[Carrera GT]

1957 Freiburg-Schauinsland Bergrennen:

Ok - best I can do for now...a picture of a picture.

Says - "and Ludwig Brendl? (Blendl) of Munich with the
Porsche-Spyder (start number 51, above) talk about being lucky to be alive" (a close translation).

Maybe it is Edgar Barth (or Wilhelm Hild) with Herbert Linge at the very front checking out condition of the car?

Michael Doyle

[Type550]

Which book is it out of Michael? It looks very melted from the fire!

[Carrera GT]

Which book is it out of Michael? It looks very melted from the fire!

Andrew - I imagined it might have looked much worse. I see right side fan shroud and carbs/manifolds melted - probably much more on underside, etc. Crash damage does go front to back - hard to tell all. Must be more pictures - somewhere...such as where this one came from "Stadtarchive Freiburg".

Book Title: "Bergrekord am Schauinsland"
Die Geschichte des beruhmten ADAC-Bergrennens 1925-1988

Page: 62

Author: Henning Volle

Publisher: EK-Verlag

Michael Doyle

[Type550]

30 euro for one article, the rest of the book would have to be good!

[JTR70]

Great Photos Chad and Joel! Thank you!

Very interesting historical account as always you guys! Steve this current discussion yet again makes me appreciate the daunting task of gathering up all these old stories and information then presenting it into a best of knowledge "accurate" book account! You could spend months on this one story lead alone. Makes my head swim! Thanks again!
Justin

[Type550]

[Gearz]

[Type550]

Steve - is this correct?

550-05



550-07 (or is this 550-06?)

[Steve Heinrichs]

I am away today and tomorrow.

Back at this Sunday.

Steve Heinrichs

[Carrera GT]

30 euro for one article, the rest of the book would have to be good!

Many, many sports cars of the day raced at this hillclimb event outside of Freiburg, Germany - including the then very popular Porsche Spyders - it drew hundreds of thousands of spectators and race entrants from all over Germany and Europe. Although written in German print olny, I found the Book to be very good, but limited on the depth of each time period -- as it covers many years. I pursued-located in the Book, the Stuttgarter racer Peter Ruby, driving his '57 Carrera GT coupe here at this mountain region named Schauinsland which has a lot of hillclimb racing history.

Michael Doyle

[356JAGER]

[356]

[Steve Heinrichs]

Yes, 550-05 and 550-07.

Steve Heinrichs