1955 Porsche 550 Spyder

For motor vehicles, there are few time periods where more impressive machines were produced than the 1950s and, as if to prove this point, we present to you this glorious 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder which is available to purchase from luxury car retailers, Auxietre & Schmidt. This utterly mesmerising machine is one of just 97 factory-built 550 Spyders ever produced and, as you would expect for such a unique vehicle, it is a price on application (which seldom means good things for your bank balance).

The 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder from Auxietre & Schmidt has a thoroughly impressive period race history that adds to its allure considerably and it has undergone a highly detailed restoration between 1988 and 1992 that leaves it in the remarkable condition you see before you. This magnificent beast is undoubtedly eligible for some of the world’s best events and it is, without question, one of the most desirable Porsches ever produced so there is sure to be a lot of interested classic car fans out there with their eye on it.

Landmark Machine

The 550 Spyder is an important vehicle because it put Porsche firmly on the map as a serious competitor on the world’s racing tracks. In fact, this diminutive mid-engined roadster garnered the moniker of the ‘Giant Killer’ for its capacity to defeat much more powerful rivals. It was originally introduced at the 1953 Paris Auto Show, with the 550 being its second iteration. The 550A, remained in production through February of 1959, and a total of 130 chassis were constructed before the 718 RSK Spyders appeared. A large number of the 550 production run was destined for the United States of America.

Impressive from top to bottom, the 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder is built on a frame of seamless mild steel tubing and it utilised a front suspension of double trailing arms and transverse-leaf torsion bars. After the first few examples of the 550 Spyder, the rear suspension was redesigned from leading control arms to trailing arms with swing axles and tubular transverse torsion bars to improve its overall performance on the track.

The spectacular but incredibly complex engine of the Porsche 550 Spyder, which was called the ‘Drawer motor’ because its engineering drawings were quickly hidden in Fuhrmann’s desk whenever Dr Porsche walked into his office, was an all-alloy unit displacing 1,498 cubic centimetres. Its camshafts were driven off the Hirth-patent built-up roller-bearing crankshaft by a series of shafts and crown wheels. Cam timing took dozens of man-hours to get right, but once all the clearances were correctly set, the motor became one of the most reliable in the business.

One in a Million Opportunity

One of the rarest Porsches to become available to purchase, this 1955 550 Spyder was originally finished in silver with black interior. Its original engine carried #P90046. It was first owned by Jim Cook who raced the car alongside with C. Pitt Browne until 1965 (with a detailed race history which can be looked up). By the mid-80s it was owned by Frank C. Cook of Las Vegas who later on sold it to European Auto Sales Los Angeles.

This German road registered 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder from Auxietre & Schmidt was used very little by its most recent owners and almost never shown in public. It is available to purchase in very good condition throughout and ready to be enjoyed for some of the most prestigious historic events worldwide. Needless to say, this 50’s Porsche icon would enhance any significant collection of classic cars and, most likely, be the cornerstone piece of the collection.