Spyder 550 550A

[Porschinelle]

Michael

May be 550-03 was the first fitted with the 4 cams engine in July 1953 but in November 1953 this car was in Mexico to race the 4th Carrera Panamericana race in the hands of Karl Kling and for the occasion was fitted with a push rod engine as the 3 others 550 entered by Porsche in that race

[Type550]

Michael is correct that 550-03 was the first spyder to be fitted with a quad cam engine - 547-01. There were only 12 of the early engines which came in the 1498cc, with one being a smaller displacement. I am not sure how many of the prototypes are still fitted with the original engines.

550-01 and 02 were originally fitted with 1500 Super pushrod engines outputting 98hp - they were never fitted with Type 547 engines.

In July 1953, 550-03 was built and fitted with the first of the Type 547 engines. It was taken to the Nurburgring on August 2nd to practice for the German GP. The rear engine deck remained closed to the public and the engine never shown. It was entered in its first competition on August 9 at the Freiburg Hillclimb, but the engine was better suited to endurance and not the sprint event.

550-04 was built and also tested with 550-03, at the Nurburgring in September 1953 using the same engine 547-01 with Hans Herrmann driving.

For the 1953 Carrera Pamamericana, Porsche decided to enter four cars - 550-01, 02, 03 and 04. As 550-01 and 550-02 had already been sold, Porsche intended to sell both 03 and 04 as they were finished with as being test cars. They fitted them with the same Super pushrod engines as 01 and 02 and shipped to Mexico.

550-05 was built and fitted with the second Quad cam engine - 547-02 which was finally released to the public at the 1953 Paris car show. Again, when it was shipped to race in South America, with the intention of being sold, the engine was removed and replaced with a Super push rod.

[Type550]

good Karma today

[356]

That's perfect Karma for you Andrew.
~Vance

[356]

nurburgring 1954

[Carrera GT]

That's a great photo...

Michael Doyle

[Porschinelle]

Question for Andrew
Is that car a modified spyder ?
If so what number ?Who ? and where ?

[Type550]

It is 550-14 - only raced once at Avus (Berlin GP) in September 1954 where it finished 2nd. The guy is Hans Herrmann

[356]

Le Mans?

I recently found that old photo too Gerard and just knew Andrew had the answer.
~Vance

[Porschinelle]

Another question for Andrew

Richard von Frankenberg and his second wife Roxa in a 550 at Linz in Austria in 1959

Question : was this spyder belonging to Richard von Frankenberg ?
If so which number and any idea where this car is to day

[356]

I think this is Von Frankenberg as well?
~Vance

[spyderwerks]

Richards 2nd wife pictured here , Margarita Sofia Spohn died just 1 year after marriage (1961) . A beautiful woman. Does anyone know the cause of her death. A real shame to have died so young.

[911quest]

Michael

May be 550-03 was the first fitted with the 4 cams engine in July 1953 but in November 1953 this car was in Mexico to race the 4th Carrera Panamericana race in the hands of Karl Kling and for the occasion was fitted with a push rod engine as the 3 others 550 entered by Porsche in that race

Does anyone have any info on what carbs they ran on the push rod Super engines? Doesn't look like single barrel 40mm Solex carbs..

[Porschinelle]

to answer Max question

[Porschinelle]

to answer Max question