 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2007) |
| Porsche 550 | |
|---|---|
_1X7A0325.jpg) | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Porsche |
| Production | 1953–1956 90 produced |
| Assembly | Stuttgart, Germany |
| Designer | Erwin Komenda |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Sports car |
| Body style | 2-door coupé 2-door spyder |
| Layout | RMR layout |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1.5L (1,498 cc) DOHC flat four engine |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual 5-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,100 mm (82.7 in) |
| Length | 3,600 mm (141.7 in) |
| Width | 1,610 mm (63.4 in) |
| Height | 980 mm (38.6 in) |
| Curb weight | approximately 550 kg (1,212 lbs) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Porsche 718 |
The Porsche 550 is a racing sports car produced by Porsche from 1953 until 1956. In that time only 90 Porsche 550s were produced, and they quickly established dominance in the 1.1- and 1.5- liter classes. The Porsche 550 is a mid-engine car with an air-cooled four-cylinder engine, following the precedent of the 1948 Porsche 356/1 prototype designed by Ferry Porsche. The mid-engine racing design was further developed with Porsche's 718 model; its advantages led to it becoming the dominant design for top-level racing cars by the mid-1960s.
The Porsche 550 has a solid racing history; it won the Nürburgring Eifel Race in May 1953, the first race it entered. The 550 Spyder usually finished in the top three in its class. Each Spyder was designed and customized to be raced.
A 1958 Porsche 550A Spyder sold at auction in 2018 by Bonhams for $5,170,000 (£4,115,763); it was the highest price for a 550 at auction.[1]