1957 Porsche 550A Spyder
- Engine
- 1.5L flat-four with four overhead camshafts, approximately 135 bhp at 7,200 rpm
- Colour
- Red over white
Chassis 550A-0116 is one of just 40 examples of the Porsche 550A Spyder, a lightweight tube-spaceframe racing car powered by Ernst Fuhrmann's complex 1.5-litre four-cam flat-four. Delivered new in February 1957 to a Burbank dealership, it was campaigned extensively in SCCA events across California by Jack McAfee and Stanley Sugarman, taking its first victory at the 1957 Riverside National. After passing through several collectors it received a complete restoration in Germany in the 1990s and was awarded Best in Class at the 2014 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$4,900,000
- 1957-02-18 → 1959-02-01Factory deliveryJack McAfee and Stanley Sugarman (Edgar team acquisition)full documentation
Delivered new to McAfee's Burbank dealership; Sugarman listed as entrant with McAfee driving, competing at multiple California SCCA events. Factory technical data sheet dated to delivery day is retained with the car.
- 1959-02-01 →Private saleElden Beaglepartial documentation
Sacramento-based owner; car carried distinctive red-over-white livery and appeared in period photos at California road and airport circuits. Ownership was brief.
- 1962 →Acquisition unknownIrwin Schuebackpartial documentation
Spokane, Washington collector; part of a succession of owners after the car became outdated by newer Porsche Spyder models.
- 1989 → 1993Acquisition unknownDick Barbourpartial documentation
Well-known Porsche racer and collector who held the car for approximately four years.
- 1993 → 2013Acquisition unknownHui Takaharapartial documentation
Japanese collector who shipped the car to Germany for a comprehensive restoration by Manfred Friesinger; a period-correct aerodynamic nose variant was fitted and a fresh four-cam engine was built by Carl Loch to replace the original unit.
- 2013 →Private saleCurrent vendorfull documentation
Obtained the factory technical data sheet from the Porsche Museum and assembled a comprehensive documentation file including period photos, race programs, and original ancillary items.
- Date unknownPrivate saleDon Westerpartial documentation
Monterey-based Porsche dealer and active racer who acquired the car from Beagle.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownChuck Woodwardpartial documentation
Seattle-area collector in the chain of custody following Schueback.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownBill Perronepartial documentation
Huntington Beach, California owner who undertook a restoration of the car during the first half of the 1980s.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownWilliam Zunkelpartial documentation
One of two owners in the late 1980s; held the car alongside or sequentially with David Cohen.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownDavid Cohenpartial documentation
South African motorsport enthusiast; co-listed with Zunkel as a late-1980s owner of the car.
Competition
- 19561956 Nürburgring 1000 KM1st in class
Debut outing for the 550A model; class victory encouraged Porsche to pursue further international competition.
- 19561956 Targa FlorioDriver: Umberto Maglioli1st overall
Solo eight-hour run by the Italian driver in a factory 550A entry.
- 1957SCCASCCA PomonaDriver: Stanley Sugarman
Run approximately one week after the Hourglass Field event.
- 1957-03-01SCCASCCA Riverside — entry onlyDNS
Chassis 550A-0116 entered but did not take the start.
- 1957-10-19SCCAHourglass Field near San DiegoDriver: Stanley SugarmanDecent finishes across three races
Car ran carrying number 288 over the weekend of 19–20 October; completed all three races with respectable results.
- 1957-11-01SCCASCCA Palm Springs
Early November outing prior to the Riverside National.
- 1957-11-17SCCA1957 Riverside NationalDriver: Jack McAfee1st in F-G-H Modified class
McAfee's first successful outing in the 550A after earlier difficulties adapting to it; described as a comfortable victory.
- 20142014 Amelia Island Concours d'EleganceBest in Class
Displayed by the current owner following the Friesinger restoration.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1959Modification
An updated, more aerodynamically refined nose section — a factory-offered option — was fitted to the car.
This revised nose remained in place through subsequent ownership and was retained during the later German restoration.
- 1993RestorationManfred Friesinger
Following acquisition by Hui Takahara, the car was shipped to Germany for a thorough mechanical overhaul and complete restoration to period specification at Manfred Friesinger's facility. A new four-cam engine was constructed by Carl Loch to replace the original unit (engine no. 90109).
The replacement engine was built by Carl Loch; the original engine case was retained and accompanies the car.
- —Restoration
A restoration was carried out by Bill Perrone during the first half of the 1980s; scope beyond cosmetic work is not specified in the catalogue.
Undated precisely; described as occurring in the early-to-mid 1980s.
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