![]() ![]() The pairing of the 550 and the Fuhrmann four-cam engine would dominate competition the world over.īy 1955, Porsche’s fifth time competing at Le Mans, the 550 had become not only the runaway winner in its class but also a force to be reckoned with in the race for outright victory against larger and more powerful cars. The engine’s development, led by Porsche engineer Ernst Fuhrmann, featured a 1.5-liter four-cam (versus earlier twin-cam) engine with a brilliantly compact layout that would offer a claimed 110 hp from virtually the same dimensions as the company’s earlier flat-fours, which produced around 80 hp. The pièce de résistance, however, was its engine, known as the Type 547. The car featured a ladder-type frame and sleek bodywork. The definitive 550 form was unveiled to the world at the Paris Salon in October 1953. After a few more wins in Europe, the cars were sold off to a buyer who continued to race them. Weeks later, a two-car effort took first and second at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Despite pouring rain and carburetor troubles, the 550 won the very first race it entered, a sign of what was to come. The first factory-built 550 debuted at the Nüburgring for the Eiffel Races on May 31, 1953. By 1952, Porsche had started developing its own purpose-built race car in-house-the Type 550. Successes continued to mount in the prototypes. From 1951 on, Glöckler prototypes bore Porsche branding. Porsche took notice, and began to support Glöckler’s car, eventually entering an informal mutual assistance pact. That year, his Porsche-powered prototype won the 1,100cc sports car class championship in Germany. Prototypes were developed starting in 1950 by Walter Glöckler, a motorcycle racer and Volkswagen salesman who wanted to use Porsche’s 1.1-liter flat-four engine in his home-built race cars. In an era where nearly every aspect of cars was getting larger, the 550 Spyder, remarkably light at less than 1500 pounds, was the direct opposite. Handling on the 718 Spyder RS is responsive and precise, as the car hugs the asphalt like a second skin.The 550 Spyder was Porsche’s first full-scale endeavour into sports car racing, and one of its most successful ever. This goes to show that the soft-top counterpart is as capable as its coupe sibling. ![]() The car ferociously accelerates from 0-60 mph in just 3.4 seconds, and achieves 0-120 mph in a staggering 10 seconds, pinning you to your seat.Īt the upper limit, the new 718 Spyder RS tops off at 191 mph, which is just 4 mph shy of the Cayman GT4 RS. ![]() Turning the key, the engine roars to life with a visceral growl, sure to send shivers down your spine. The result is a driving experience that is no short of exhilarating. RELATED: This Barn Find Porsche 550 Spyder Is Going Under The Hammer This makes for instantaneous and seamless gear changes, complimented by breathtaking and gut-wrenching acceleration. Cementing itself as a true masterpiece of engineering, the new 718 Spyder RS produces an impressive 493 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque, which is delivered to the rear axle via a seven-speed PDK transmission. Inspired by the flagship Cayman RS, its soft-top cousin features the very same naturally aspirated 4.0-liter engine honed from the Porsche 911 GT3. compared to the 718 Boxster.ĭespite going electric with its latest lineup of sports cars, Porsche decided to go the combustion route with its latest roadster iteration. The unique design allows Porsche to shed nearly 16 lbs when compared to the non-RS 718 Spyder, and more than 36 lbs. Despite its finicky nature, the soft top provides adequate weather protection when the side windows are raised. RELATED: Why Modern Battery Tech Isn't Good Enough For A Porsche 918 Spyder Successorīoth of these parts are seamlessly removable and can be stowed in the vehicle. The soft top consists of two key components a sun shield and a weather protector. It doesn’t hurt to take a step back at times. Porsche decided to tackle this unneeded burden by opting for a traditional manually-operated soft top. Power-operated top mechanisms, as found in the Ferrari Roma Spider, add unnecessary weight to an already heavy roadster. While a hot potato due to its manual nature, pay attention. This manually-operated, lightweight roof adds character to the new Porsche roadster. ![]() The big point of contention that everyone’s talking about in the automotive space is the new 718 Spyder RS’s removable soft-top. ![]()
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