Spyder 550 550A

[Type550]

If it is a replica it is pretty good! If it is an original, I can't find it in my database...

[Porschinelle]

A question for Andrew
Roger Loyer was running a sport cars garage in the west of Paris
His garage had young French cinema artists as customer as seen on this pic

In addition to his garage Roger Loyer was a quite successfull motorbyke pilot before the second WW and move to car racing mainly with Gordini after the 2nd WW
He is seen here driving a Gordini with Jean Behra at the 1950 Le Mans 24 hours

To promote his garage Roger Loyer was advertising in various newpapers claiming he was able st sale any Ferrari, Porsche, Maserati etc new





He then improve his publicity by showing one of his race car to start with the Gordini

[Porschinelle]

although he did not had much success with the 550 he used it in one of his publicity


Hence my question to Andrew which one was it ?

[Type550]

The Carrera book has it listed as 550-0034, but based on the air intakes in the nose, I think it could be a later 550. I will do some searching! Thanks for the post - I haven't seen those photos before!

Andrew

[Type550]

As 550-0034 has one of his dealer emblems on the rear and the nose has been converted to the air intakes, it is highly likely to be this car...

[Porschinelle]

Thanks Andrew
I agree
For your info registration 72 EB 75 is Paris 1955 ie when Roger Loyer bought this car to Auguste Veuillet or a friend of Auguste (Gonzague Olivier ?) registration 9595 NG 75 is Paris 1964
For sure this speedster was never registred in Paris before 1955 as according to the French registration system up to 2010, you were keeping the same plate number if you were buying a second hand car already registred in the department where you were leaving

[vhelmle]

Hello Everyone,

Steve Heinrichs has asked me to post the information we used to identify the Loyer car as 550-0034. We have several photo sets of restored cars. One extensive set was originally identified as 550-0034 and shows the blue car photo that Andrew uploaded. The Loyer plaque is present on two of the photos in this set. This same blue car is identified on several websites as 550-0034 (Anamera, Barchetta, Pbase, Auto Diva). A primary source lists this car as 550-0034. We also list Loyer with license plate 72 EB 75 at 1956 Coupe d'Automne.

Assuming that the restorers knew (or probably knew) the chassis nr. of their car, we believe that Loyer raced 550-0034.

Porschinelle's comment about license plates is interesting and

complicates the question. We wonder if there is a reason for the change.

[Type550]

Hi Vietta,

You also have 550-0034 racing in the 1956 1000 km Paris, Montlhery. How could it as the car was white?

[Type550]

It is interesting to see 0034 with the rubber strip and the same licence plate which was when Loyer raced it in the 1956 Montlhery Coupe de Paris race. The new front must have been a result of the accident he had in the practice session of the 1956 1000 km Paris, Montlhery race.

He did not have the service badge on the rear at this race.

As Gonzague Olivier raced it while Loyer did, I believe Olivier still owned it, but allowed Loyer to put the service badge on the rear for promotion.

Thanks Andrew
I agree
For your info registration 72 EB 75 is Paris 1955 ie when Roger Loyer bought this car to Auguste Veuillet or a friend of Auguste (Gonzague Olivier ?) registration 9595 NG 75 is Paris 1964
For sure this speedster was never registred in Paris before 1955 as according to the French registration system up to 2010, you were keeping the same plate number if you were buying a second hand car already registred in the department where you were leaving

[vhelmle]

Hello Everyone,

Steve Heinrichs has asked me to post some additional information about 550-0034 that we found. According to Factory Service List, Loyer brought 550-0034 to the Factory for repairs, but we can't be sure of the date which was sometime in 1955-56.

Vietta

[Type550]

I thought the service list said Olivier...



When I caught up with Bob Baker at RRV, he told me he bought the car directly off Gonzague Olivier

[vhelmle]

Hi Vietta,

You also have 550-0034 racing in the 1956 1000 km Paris, Montlhery. How could it as the car was white?

[vhelmle]

Hello Everyone,

Steve Heinrichs has asked me to respond to Andrew's question about 550-0034 at the Factory Service department. Olivier did deliver 550-0034 to the Factory for service as Andrew notes. However, on another page of the document, you will see in the fourth position, "Sportservice R. Loyer, Paris" delivers 550-0034 for service. Again, we can't determine the date, but probably in 1956.

Here's that page:



We think it is possible that Olivier owned the car after Loyer, but we don't know.

Vietta

[356]

[Type550]