Porsche 550 Spyder Story - the first true competition-bred Porsches

The 550 Spyders

The first 500's appeared in 1953. These were the first true competition-bred Porsches; lightweight, two seat, aluminum bodied, tubular framed, open-topped cars. The initial pair of 550's was unique unto themselves, racing only with Volkwagen-derived pushrod boxer four cylinder engines, fitted with detachable roofs. These dominated their class at Le Mans finishing one-two in the 1500cc division. Later, one of them won its category in the famed Pan Americana Mexican road race.

Subsequent 550's, all fitted with the four-cam Carrera flat four cylinder, carried on what the initial 550's had started. The became the dominant cars world wide in the small displacement sports racing categories in the factory's hands, but also in the hands of Porsche's customers who purchased every one of the quick little cars they could find.

In 1956, Porsche introduced a slightly modified Spyder, the 550A. This shocked the racing world when it won the brutal Targa Florio road race outright in its debut appearance, humbling such well-known and much more powerful rivals as Ferrari, Maserati and Jaguar. During the next five years the 550A continued winning, for the factory, and the factory's customers in almost every venue where it competed. Indeed, it was a car that got more attention for its occasional loses than it did for its nearly non-stop string of victories.

Initially the early 550 Spyders were powered by engines developed from Volkswagen, of pushrod Boxer four cylinder design. In later months the 550 Spyder assured Porsches racing heritage by winning the Pan Americana Mexican road race.

When put into production the 550 Spyder was fitted a Fuhrmann engine, a 1500cc four-camshaft Carrera, flat four cylinder block producing 110 bhp.

 The car was of lightweight tubular steel construction, a true two seated sports car

rear view

James Jean in the mid-fifties, his particular car was named 'Little Bastard'. (pictures below)

Although the Spyder is well remembered today for its outstanding racing attributes, it is also lesser known for its ownership by James Jean in the mid-fifties, his particular car was named 'Little Bastard'. Horrifically it was this car that were to take his life. It was reported that Dean was being driven by his German mechanic, Rolf Wutherich (pictured above) at the time who was rumoured to road racing another motorist along Route 446, a Californian highway at the time. A vehicle pulled out, in to the path of James Deans 550 Spyder and a fatal collision occurred. The mechanic lived and the motorist was not prosecuted as the mechanic driving the Spyder was of German origin and the values of World War Two stood to ensure that the prosecution would be overruled.

Just 90 Porsche 550 Spyders were lovingly hand-built by Old World craftsmen between 1954 and 1956; no two of them look exactly alike. Rarely will such a car be put on the market; if it happens, Spyder ownership will usually be restricted to the inner circle of cognoscenti of the marque. Prices far exceed half a Million Dollars.

Spyder aluminum body construction was commissioned to coachbuilder WENDLER in Reutlingen, the heart of the Fatherland. WENDLER’s trademark was a pair of beautiful, teardrop-shaped body badges, mounted to the front fenders.

Redefining the idea of a minimalist car, the 550A features an open cockpit. The engine is mounted amidships, just behind the driver. Not unlike a Lotus 11, the Spyder is living proof that size does matter. These featherweight, one-and-a-half-liter cars were true dragon slayers; innumerable racing successes included many placements well ahead of far larger machines, such as the 4.5-liter Maseratis and Ferraris of the period.

So, what’s lurking behind these aluminum bars, you might wonder?

Quite a surprise! Instead of the vulnerable 1950s four-cam motor, a prime example of Porsche's own Type 616/36 pushrod engine has found its way into this Spyder. The power plant is of 1966 vintage; its main assets are great compression, superior oil pressure, and the absence of any oil leaks. Topped by twin dual throat Dell’Orto carburetors with velocity stacks and mesh screens, and recently tuned by our Senior master technician Dieter, the 1600 dual port Porsche engine is in fine fettle and healthy as the proverbial ox.

Weighing only 1136 lbs. (!), the Spyder is built around a tubular space frame, just like its contemporaries, the Mercedes 300SLR and the "Birdcage" Maserati. Dash is all business, with its famous trio of green-on-black gauges--large tachometer in the middle--and wood-rimmed steering wheel.

So what's it like, driving a street-legal race car, an automobile icon, a car so extreme that it stops other drivers in their tracks?

With an estimated 110 horsepower from 1.6 liters (69 horsepower per liter displacement), this engine is destined to last. But make no mistake: the power-to-weight ratio is about equal to the one found on a pure, 260 hp Porsche 930 Turbo. Acceleration is fierce, and the Boxer motor, sitting right behind your back, won't let you doubt its intentions for a second. Keep the revs up, and it screams all the way to redline, like there's no tomorrow. Occasional flame spitting from the handcrafted, large diameter exhaust pipe is part of the fun you won't want to miss, trust me.

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