Spyder 550 550A

[Steve Heinrichs]

Thanks! I try.

My current stress level is quite high as we may put in a few more changes and only have today and tomorrow to do so. We were promised that book goes to printer Friday and delay has been final coordination of Special Edition pages....so, just maybe we lucked out as to final fixes.

Steve Heinrichs

[Blechquäler]

We use to say Rome wasn't built in a day..
or as a an old German saying goes: "Gut Ding will Weile haben"

[Type550]

I look forward to seeing your findings Steve

[Steve Heinrichs]

A little update on 550-05, 550-07 and some other vexing problems.

I have long been troubled by the (generally older) written commentary that 550-05 went back to Europe with Heins and that Heins returned with it or a different car.

The debate here was, at least in part, over whether 550-05 went there at all. I think with photos and other documentation that it is clear it did go there.

The next problem is that there are no races we knew of as to 550-05 from late January 1954 until early December 1955. This, then, begs the question as to if it could really be the car I have noted as 550-07 since the rear is fixed, not hinged.

We have today done a deeper translation of the Stuck/Hern correspondence. And---on 4 June 1954, Kern wrote Stuck saying still no money and that the car remained in Sao Paulo. So, the April and May 1954 races (including start nr. 100 twice) cannot be 550-05 and only can be 550-07. As of now, we continue to consider the 12 September 1954 and 25 February 1955 Agadir races as 550-05 possibilities. Also, 8 March 1955 Touraine could be 550-05. We think we know how to resolve. The rest (recall that Annie's mother brought the car in and that Annie got a spare chassis for 550-07) are our 550-07 (with 043) favorite.

What we do know as well is that Heins brought the car back and we believe we understand the confusion as to if it was same car or new one. Well----it was 550-05 with a non-prototype front end that was put on during its absence.

There are a couple of other issues but, so far, no chassis number changes to race list and three or so races still not settled.

Regardless, I am pleased I was 'pushed' into looking again and the delay to the printer was good luck.

Steve Heinrichs

[Type550]

You seem to be sorting it Steve. Do you know which race Annie drove 550-05 in with #133?

[Steve Heinrichs]

Annie drove 133 at Montlhery; before that was Tour de France and later was Agadir.

I remain not convinced that these were 550-05.

The earlier starts including the 100 Start Nr.s and 5254 WO license plates were 550-07 and the later races look like same car.

So far----------------NO 550-05 races for Annie----may the three after June 1954.

Steve Heinrichs

[Type550]

You can't get hung up on licence plates Steve

Porsche swapped them around on many of their cars - like this plate on both 08 and 09 and the same with other owners...

[Steve Heinrichs]

Andrew,

Please. I understand the license plate stuff very well and am not hung up on them. Nonetheless, they are useful in many instances and we have a major analysis of them. I have simply provide a set of facts.

Seriously.

Steve Heinrichs

[Type550]

I think you need to dig deeper Steve - Agadir is 550-05...

[Steve Heinrichs]

Yes, but I like documents and timing as well not just photos when cars have been reconfigured.

So---to conclude this:

12 Sep 1954 was 550-05
19 Sep 1954 (Start 133) was 550-07 (5254 WO the second time)

25 Feb 1955 Agadir was 550-05

8 March 1955 Touraine was 550-07 (in part analysis because 550-05 was in serious accident on 25 February).

28 May 1955 was 550-05

the rest were 07.

550-05 went back to Brazil for 11 December 1955 Interlagos.


When Annie's mother brought 550-07 in it had 19km. on it.

Please stop chastizing me to "dig deeper" and stop with the similar comments. There have been many issues here including 0020, 0079, 07/043, 05, reconfigurations and much more. We are trying to get to the facts. I don't appreciate the remarks.

Steve Heinrichs

[Type550]

Sorry Steve - I didn't mean to offend you. I will not comment further on this matter

[Type550]

Totally new subject 550-0051! This car has been restored and is featured in many books and scale model cars have been based on it. Here is some of the history according to the owner, but I do not think it is a Le Mans spyder!

[Type550]

My question is - is Gonzague Olivier and Gustave Olivier the same person...?

[Steve Heinrichs]

550-05 vs. 550-07

All, I had a very sleepless night (but not in Seattle).

I have decided to leave the three races as 550-07 as we had it. Here is why---we have shown that earlier races with the fixed back like 550-05 could not have been 550-05 and must have been the reconfigured 550-07.
We have shown that 550-05 went to Brazil and stayed there at least through several of those earlier races.

550-05 does not appear on the listings that 550-07 (from Annie's mother) It would have if it got the new front there.

There is no timing inconsistency with when 550-07 was brought in. There are no pics of the "serious accident" that would mean that the car was not available at the next race.

I realize that I have gone back and forth on this issue and I realize that others have written about Annie's 550-05 races earlier. But, given that we have proven that a number are in fact not---the burden of proof is on those who believe she drove 550-05 in the remaining three in question. Saying that the rear looks like 550-05 no longer works.

The book will show 550-07.

Steve Heinrichs

[55Speedster]

Any thoughts on this one? Looks like a modified spyder frame with a V-6 installed!
Chad