Spyder 550 550A

[Porschinelle]

Specially for Michael if he is on line
Yesterday I posted some pics of 550's taken during the August 15th Gaisberg hill climb in Austria
looking back to one of these pics something came to my mind

[Porschinelle]

This car is registred 911959 ie exactly the same number than the car driven by Claude Storez/Ed Hugus during the 1957 Le Mans 24 hours

[Porschinelle]

Sorry on the above pic Claude Storez co pilot was the US guy Ed Crawford
Ed Hugus was sharing the wheel of 550 0132 race number 35 with Carel Godin de Beaufort from the Nederlands plate number 162921

[Porschinelle]

All the above to say that I remembered your discussions on the French forum Autodiva re these plate numbers

[Porschinelle]

Have you definitely made your mind about these numbers directly painted on the car body ?
Porsche internal numbers ?
or temporary custom plates ?
The fact that a Le Mans car raced in June at le Mans in France and in August in Austria with the same number do not match the temporary custom plate numbers theory ?
Now more surprising at Le Mans car race number 32 who was a bright new 718RSK (718 RSK 001)driven by Edgar Barth/Umberto Maglioli had a plate number 162910

[Porschinelle]

Car race number 33 who was 550A 0131 driven by Hans Hermann/Richard Von Frankenberg ie a much older car ha

[Porschinelle]

Sorry wrong post I was saying that car race number 33 (ie the next race number to 718 RSK 001) had a plate number 162911 when it was an older 550 A 0131 (Hans Hermann/Richard Von Frankenberg)

[Porschinelle]

Only logical explanantion : both cars are official Porsche factory cars when car race number 34 (plate 911959) and 35 (plate number 162921) were customer cars
To add to the confusion I always thought that this numbers directly painted on the body had only existed in 1957 or if you will see that the 718 RSK drivenn by Jo Bonnier during the 1958 Targa Florio had also a painted plate number

[Porschinelle]

[Porschinelle]

Michael I also found this poster of the 1957 Reims 12 hours
Do you know it ?

[Carrera GT]

Michael I also found this poster of the 1957 Reims 12 hours
Do you know it ?

Gerard,

Yes, I know this image very well! It was used as a Poster and for the Race Program. I have a nice copy of the Program - still looking for a nice condition Poster. Do you have one for me?

And yes, the painted on numbers are an interesting subject. I'll comment on those a bit later (we did do a lot of research at Autodiva!).

Michael

[Porschinelle]

May be off topic but just to answer Neil question

[Porschinelle]

The parabolic curve named :"Virage Saint Esteve" in the 60's

and even in the 70's

[Porschinelle]

As Neil I have made several times the Mont Ventoux climb and never noticed this parabolic curve similar to the one existing on the old Nurburing race track
First tought : 3 different roads goes to the top of the Mont Ventoux

[Porschinelle]

So one of the possible explanation could be : the curve is on one of the road I have never taken
But as I am curious I did some research and found the explanantion
The Saint Esteve curve 40 years ago

the Saint Esteve curve to day