Porsche Richmond Article
Porsche 550 Spyder
In 1953, Porsche needed a race car more powerful than the 356. So they
created the 550. This was the first true competition car from Porsche. It was
lightweight, it had two seats, aluminum body, tubular frame and an open top.
They were racing only with Volkswagen. The initial pair of 550 dominated their
class at Le Mans finishing one-two in the 1500cc division. Then, one of the two
cars won its category in the famed Pan Americana Mexican road race.
Subsequent 550`s carried on what the initial 550`s had started. They were
fitted with the four-cam Carrera flat four cylinders. They soon became dominant
cars world wide. During races, it was fast and easily maneuvered so no other car
stand a chance. But people loved it purchasing every one of these quick little
cars they could find.
In 1956, Porsche started to produce the 550A, a slightly modified Spyder. It was
a hit, shocking the entire world by winning in its first appearance in Targa
Florio, a brutal road race. It also humbled well-known and more powerful rivals
such as Ferrari, Maseratti and Jaguar. In the next five years it won
almost all the races in which it competed. It became a car that attracted
more attention for its occasional losses than for the nearly non-stop victories.
