1956 Porsche 550 RS Spyder
- Engine
- 1.5L DOHC flat-four (Type 547), four-cam, twin dual-choke downdraft carburettors, dry-sump, dual ignition, ~110 bhp
- Colour
- Bright yellow
Chassis 550-0082 is one of just 99 Porsche 550 RS Spyders produced, completed in March 1956 and delivered new in Belgian racing yellow to Ecurie Nationale Belge via importer D'Ieteren Freres. Raced across Europe by a roster of notable drivers including Gilberte Thirion and Claude Dubois, its highlights include a class win at the 1000 km de Paris in 1956 and a start at the 1957 Le Mans 24 Hours. Following decades of altered configuration and storage, the car was fully restored to correct specification by Porsche Zentrum Würzburg around 2000.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold €3,042,500 (≈ $3.35M)
- 1956-03-01 →Factory deliveryEcurie Nationale Belge (via D'Ieteren Freres)full documentation
Car ordered through Porsche's Belgian distributor and delivered new in yellow, Belgium's racing colour. Used as a key competition vehicle for several years across major European events.
- 1958 →Private saleJacques Thenaerspartial documentation
Operated the car in hillclimbs, minor races, and rallies through the early 1960s.
- 1965 →Private saleEdmond Perypartial documentation
Acquired from Ecurie Francorchamps around 1965; had the car rebodied as a coupe by APAL and fitted with a larger Carrera engine.
- → 1970Private salePierre Bonvoisinpartial documentation
Belgian racing driver who raced the APAL-bodied car in Belgium through 1967.
- 1970-09-01 →Private saleMr Michaelis of Embourgpartial documentation
Belgian owner who acquired the car with an S-90 engine; subsequently removed it from active use and kept it in storage for roughly two decades.
- → 1989-03-01Acquisition unknownPhilippe Jegher of Esneuxpartial documentation
Belgian intermediary through whose hands the car passed before its sale to an Italian buyer.
- 1989-03-01 → 1995-05-01Private saleCorrado Cupellinipartial documentation
Bergamo-based Italian owner who acquired the car lacking both its engine and APAL coachwork.
- 1995-05-01 → 2000Private saleBruno Ferracinpartial documentation
- 2000 →Private salePeter Ludwigfull documentation
German owner who commissioned a thorough restoration at Porsche Zentrum Würzburg in 2000, including new bodywork and a correct period engine and gearbox, at a cost approaching €100,000. Also had the Fuhrmann four-cam engine rebuilt in 2003.
Competition
- 1953Le Mans 24 Hours1st and 2nd in class
Type-level result for the 550 Spyder at its first Le Mans appearance; not specific to this chassis.
- 1953-05-01Nürburgring debut raceclass dominant performance
Inaugural outing for the 550 Spyder type as a whole, not specific to this chassis.
- 195612 Hours of Reims3rd
- 1956Côte de la Roche aux FauconsDriver: Gilberte Thirion2nd
- 19561000 km of Paris1st in class
Class victory at Montlhéry, finishing roughly 20 seconds behind the leading Ferrari 857 S driven by Phil Hill and Alfonso de Portago.
- 1957Grand Prix des Frontieres2nd
Held at Chimay.
- 1957Le Mans 24 HoursDriver: Claude DuboisDSQ
Co-driven by Georges Hacquin; disqualified after stopping to replenish oil on lap 70, in a year when more than half the starting field retired.
- 1957Swedish Grand PrixDriver: Yves Tassin8th in class
Co-driven by Ms Hacquin; final outing for the car under Ecurie Nationale Belge.
- 1957-03-01Roche aux Faucons hillclimb1st
- 1957-03-01Charreau de Leffe hillclimb1st
- 1957-05-01Grand Prix de Spa3rd
Finished behind two other 550 Spyders.
- 1957-05-011000 km Nürburgring3rd
Again classified behind a pair of fellow 550 Spyders.
- 2001Mille Miglia Storica
First major event following the comprehensive restoration completed by Porsche Zentrum Würzburg.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1965ModificationAPAL
Bodywork replaced with a coupé body built by APAL; original engine substituted with a 2.0-litre Carrera unit.
Alterations carried out around the time of or following Edmond Pery's acquisition, as documented in letters held in the history file.
- 2000RestorationPorsche Zentrum Würzburg
Full restoration encompassing fabrication of correct period-style bodywork and sourcing of an appropriate matching-type engine and transaxle, returning the car to proper 550 RS specification.
Total cost was approximately €100,000; commissioned by owner Peter Ludwig.
- 2003Engine rebuild
The Fuhrmann four-cam engine was overhauled and rebuilt.
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