Few automobiles are more recognizable than the mid-1950s 550 Spyder, the Porsche that launched the brand, with only about 100 ever produced. The 550 was a metaphorical giant killer in its day with its simplistic form follows function design, which still produced a form that has withstood the test of time. Ferrari drivers winced in the corners because to the car’s tiny weight (about 1,300 pounds) and small but torquey four-cam engine, which contributed to its significant victories on road courses all over the world.
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550 Porsche
From 1953 through 1956, Porsche developed the 550, a racing sports car. Only 90 Porsche 550s were made at the time, but they rapidly became the class leaders in the 1.1 and 1.5 liter segments. The 1948 Ferry Porsche Porsche 356/1 prototype set the standard for mid-engine vehicles with air-cooled four-cylinder engines, and the Porsche 550 continues that tradition. With Porsche’s 718 model, the mid-engine racing design was further refined; because to its benefits, it quickly took over as the standard design for top-tier racing cars by the middle of the 1960s.
The Porsche 550 has a long history in racing, and it took first place at the Nurburgring Eifel Race in May 1953. In its class, the 550 Spyder would typically place top 3. Each Spyder was created and modified with racing in mind.
The highest price ever paid for a 550 at auction was $5,170,000 (PS4,115,763) for a 1958 Porsche 550A Spyder sold by Bonhams in 2018.
Here is the current price of the Porsche 550 Spyder.
A two-door racing Porsche 550 Spyder from the 1950s featured a 1.5-liter flat-four engine, an RMR configuration, and a choice of a four- or five-speed manual transmission. Ninety Porsche 550s in total, comprising coupe and spyder models, were built. This mid-engine car has an air-cooled, four-cylinder engine that was modeled after the 1948 Porsche 356/1 prototype.
From its racing triumphs to the vehicle’s excursions across the world of the rich and famous, the Porsche 550 has left behind an incredible legacy. But the main query in this piece is, “How much does this ride cost right now?”
Car numbers
Porsche created over 90,550 spyders, and each one has a unique past. It was my goal to write a brief provenance of each car along with a race history, however this kind of study reveals that many of these spyders have troubled pasts. Some are completely rebodied, some are fire cars, some are death cars, some are highly disputed in terms of their originality or matching numbers, such as the engine and transmission, and then you consider the quality of each restoration. Some have heavily modified chassis frames from the days when they had been converted by their owners into customized race cars.
When compared to the days when these vehicles were just collectibles and frequently raced, early racing Porsches, like other early racing marques, have become very much an investment or retirement fund. Based on the present financial market, 550 spyders are selling for an average of EUR4 million, give or take, and a thorough provenance of these spyders can increase the worth of the automobile by up to 10%. I’m happy to share with the current owners every piece of the huge database I have on the origin of every spyder ever manufactured. It is preferable not to expose them here because there is a lot at stake and some owners don’t know the spyder’s true lineage.
Some of these cars’ racing histories are similarly unfinished and yet a “work in progress.” When thoroughly investigated, reference books like the Sprenger / Heinrichs “Carrera” are a great resource for racing, however they contain several errors on drivers, events, and chassis numbers. Many of them have been brought to the writers’ attention, but as both authors have passed away, it is regrettably unlikely that a revised edition of this book will be released with the confirmed revisions.
A database of all 550 spyders may be found here, with where available both vintage racing and modern pictures.
Porsche 550 Spyder from 1956
Even for the illustrious Porsche brand, the Porsche 550 Spyder is about as traditional and iconic as it comes. The Porsche 356 served as the model for the lightweight roadster, albeit without the hard roof. The 550 Spyder fulfilled Porsche’s demand for a race car to compete in the roadster class. In reality, the third 550 prototype, the first 550 to compete, took first place in the 1953 Eifel Race at the renowned Nurburgring. After that triumph, the 550 won 370 races for a total of 95 victories and 75 class victories.
The 550 Spyder was well recognized for more than just winning. Actor James Dean’s newfound passion for racing was what ultimately led him to buy a specimen. Sadly, a motorist came out in front of Dean as he was driving down a California highway, killing both the actor and his brand-new 550.
Nevertheless, 90 copies of the 550 Spyder were produced, and it had a distinguished career. 43 of those 90 automobiles were created as “customer cars” for non-racing purposes. The blue model seen here as well as Dean’s are included in that allotment. In actuality, there is only a five-digit difference between the chassis numbers; Dean’s car has license plate number 550-055, while the other has 550-060. Jerry Seinfeld, a passionate Porsche collector, owned the latter until March 2016.
Updated 03/14/2016: Jerry Seinfeld sold his 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder for an astounding $5.35 million at a Gooding & Company auction.
Found in a shipping container, a Porsche 550 Spyder that has been stored for 35 years.
One of the rarest Porsches ever made, the 550 Spyder was only produced in 90 units from 1953 to 1956. Much more so considering that numerous them were damaged during races. Finding a long-forgotten 550 is therefore a significant occurrence.
In California, a 1955 street-spec specimen that had been in a container for at least 35 years was recently discovered. The car was put into storage after its owner switched to motorbikes in the 1980s, even though it was never lost.
Bobby Green, the owner of Old Crow Speed Shop, was given the opportunity to view the motorbike collection that was kept at the top of a secluded hill in Orange County after the owner just passed away.
The 550 Spyder finally saw the light of day as he cracked open the crate after more than three decades. The crimson speedster has been sitting for all those years, but it still has an incredibly pristine appearance without any rust.
According to reports, the car was bought in 1963 from Loretta Turnbull and restored in the early 1980s, just before its owner put it in storage. The automobile appears to have a new owner already. He should provide the 550 Spyder with the proper street and track action.
This 1955-built 550 Spyder was one of the final models to roll off the Stuttgart assembly line. It is propelled by a 1.5-liter flat-four mid-mounted engine with an initial output of 108 horsepower and 89 pound-feet (121 Nm) of torque. Given its model year, it has a four-speed manual transmission because Porsche didn’t install a five-speed transmission until 1956.
The 550 was not only a hot, streetable fast but also a successful racer. It won its first race at the Nurburgring, and it also finished first in its class in the Carrera Panamericana and 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The 550 Spyder is a highly valued collector because of its rarity and impressive racing history. While most restored and well-kept specimens sell for between $3.5 and $5 million, some can sell for significantly more.
The Porsche 550 Spyder was produced in what year?
In September 1954, the first Porsche 550 Spyder went into production under chassis number 550-0016. Because it was the first production automobile Wendler produced on its own frame, they had to establish tooling and production processes, which meant that this car was still in many ways a prototype. Despite having three more bodies in the works by December, 550-0016 wasn’t finished until the 20th of January 1955. With 550-0018 having been delivered five days earlier, it was the third vehicle to be delivered. The newest 1498cc type 547 quad cam engine with the new numbering scheme of 90001 was paired with the spyder. The rounded rear fenders of 550-0016 were finished with blue darts, while the interior was lined with blue vinyl. It was bought by Josef Jeser, who raced it at the Solitude Rally in April 1955.
There are how many Porsche 918 Spyders in existence?
Of course, the hype was fully justified. The sleek two-door, which was painstakingly engineered, has a 4.6-liter V-8 that produces 887 horsepower and 944 ft lbs of torque. This enables it to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in a jaw-dropping 2.5 seconds and achieve blazing speeds of up to 214 mph.
Only 918 Spyders, as the name suggests, were produced in 2015. Only 230 of those are thought to have had the Weissach package. Porsche collectors prize this particular black beauty in particular because it is one of these uncommon models.
The Weissach configuration, so named after the brand’s motorsport hub in Germany, decreased the Spyder’s combat weight by about 100 pounds in order to enhance its aerodynamics. Utilizing exposed carbon-fiber highlights, magnesium alloy center-lock wheels, ceramic wheel bearings, titanium chassis bolts, and lightweight Alcantara inside trim, the weight was reduced.
2015 saw the delivery of the 13th Spyder off the production line to its one and only owner. It has a little over 12,400 kilometers on it and has gotten routine maintenance from Porsche to maintain it in good shape.
This is, quite simply, the ultimate Porsche, according to the auction house, who describes it as “an intoxicating combination of technology, legacy, and mind-bending performance.”
You’ll pay for all of that. At the June 23–30 RM Sotheby’s Open Roads auction, the four-wheeler is anticipated to sell for between $1.14 million (EUR950,000) and $1.38 million (EUR1,150,000). Better organize your bids.
What is the value of a Porsche 550 Spyder?
The good news is that, despite their scarcity, a Porsche 550 Spyder may be bought without costing a million dollars. CarGurus estimates that a 550 Spyder replica costs between $35,000 and $70,000. Similar prices are reported by Classic Driver. On the UK market, used examples are priced similarly. But an original will probably set you back approximately $500,000, give or take a few hundred,000.
Having said that, not all models have such low asking prices because some are more noteworthy historically than others, such as the 1957 Porsche 550A Spyder.
How uncommon are Porsche Spyders?
On the Collecting Cars platform, one of the most amazing hypercars from the previous ten years is presently up for auction.
Porsche made less than 1,000 918 Spyders, so this is a unique chance to get one.
The car that is up for grabs is expected to draw a lot of attention because it has hybrid power and an enviable specification.
What is the value of a Porsche Spyder?
The 2022 Porsche 718 Boxster Spyder 2dr Convertible is the model with the lowest price. Its Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), including destination fee, is roughly $98,300. Other variations include the $98,300 starting Spyder 2dr Convertible (4.0L 6cyl 6M).
What does Porsche mean by Spyder?
The word “Spider” or “Spyder” is occasionally used to denote small convertibles, typically lightweight 2-seaters like the FIAT 124 Spider or Porsche Boxster Spyder. If you have the slightest interest in automobiles, you presumably already know this.
Do Porsche Spyders count as Boxsters?
The most extreme iteration of Porsche’s 981 Boxster is the Boxster Spyder. Comparing it to a Boxster GTS, it is 30 kg lighter, 10 mm longer, and 11 mm lower. There are distinctive streamlined humps behind the rollover hoops, and the front end has a more aggressive look.