1960 Porsche 718 RS 60 Works Spyder

718-044racingGermany

Engine: 2.0L flat-four quad-cam (Type 587/3), ~1,606–1,678 cc displacement variants used in period

Chassis 718-044 is the last of four factory-retained Porsche RS 60 spyders built in 1960, distinguished from customer cars by heavier-gauge chassis tubes, separate front torsion bars, and integrated driving lamps. Uniquely among the Works quartet, it ran a high-torque 2-litre Type 587 engine, making it structurally distinct. Its competition record spans the 1960 Le Mans 24 Hours, the 1961 Sebring 12 Hours, and most famously the 1961 Targa Florio, where Stirling Moss and Graham Hill came within eight kilometres of victory before a seized differential handed the win to Ferrari — a near-miss Moss himself described as one of his greatest races.

Ownership

—Auction sale
Sold US$5,120,000
RM Sotheby's catalogue lot →
1960 → 1961Factory delivery
Porsche Works (factory)
full documentation
One of four factory-retained RS 60 examples built with works-specific features; campaigned by the factory in major endurance events across 1960 and into 1961, with documentation attested by letters from Jürgen Barth.
1961 →Private sale
Bernhard Vihl
partial documentation
Privateer based in Clifton, New Jersey, who collected a series of Porsche racing spyders; notably served as a key financial backer of driver Bob Holbert.

Competition

1960
1960 Le Mans 24 Hours
Driver: Jo BonnierDNF — engine failure (hour 18)
Co-driven by Graham Hill; car started 54th and had risen to 14th overall and led the 2-liter class by early morning before a blown gasket caused terminal engine failure. Car ran a 1,606 cc motor qualifying it for the 2-liter class, and featured distinctive tall Plexiglas bodywork.
1961
1961 Targa Florio
Driver: Stirling MossDNF — differential failure
Co-driven by Graham Hill; officially entered under the Camoradi team but prepared by Porsche factory mechanics. Moss led by 65 seconds entering the final lap before the differential seized approximately eight kilometers from the finish, handing the win to Ferrari.
1961-03-01
1961 12 Hours of Sebring
Driver: Hans HerrmannDNF — broken camshaft
Edgar Barth co-drove with Herrmann for the opening seven hours; Jo Bonnier and Dan Gurney then took over after their own car retired early, but a broken camshaft ended the race roughly ninety minutes later.
1961-05-01
1961 1000 km Nürburgring
Driver: Edgar BarthDNF — burned piston
Co-driven by Hans Herrmann; the car completed only a handful of laps before mechanical failure forced retirement. This was the final appearance as a works-entered racer.
1961-06-01
1961 Mosport Player's 200
Driver: Jo Bonnier2nd
Entered by Porsche Cars North America; this was the final event before the car was sold to privateer Bernhard Vihl.

Maintenance & restoration

No maintenance or restoration records.

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