Porsche 550 Spyder: History, Specs & the James Dean “Little Bastard” Legend

Following the numerous successes achieved by the Glöckler Spyder, Ferry Porsche decided to create a racing model in the parent company, drawing on the precious experience acquired by Glöckler. 
Construction of the prototype began in the winter of 1952 and the first Porsche 550 was ready the following spring. 
The frame was a ladder type, with a flat bottom and made of welded steel tubes. 
The body, produced in Weidenhausen from a single piece of aluminium, formed a self-supporting shell. The suspensions were independent, with a Hooke-type rear axle. 
After a test drive at the Nürburgring in August 1953, the Porsche 550 was presented at the Paris Motor Show in October. His racing debut came at the Eifelrennen in 1953, where Helm Glöckler (Walter's nephew) won his class. 
The Porsche 550 Spyder also participated in the Carrera Panamerica in Mexico, a particularly demanding race of 8,000 km in eight days. 
The Porsche 550s went on to achieve success the following year in 1954, winning the Sport 1500 class and finishing 3rd, 4th and 12th overall.
In the autumn of 1953, a new Type 547 engine with a capacity of 1,498 cc, designed by engineer Ernst Fuhrmann, was introduced; it developed 110 HP at 7,800 rpm and had a maximum torque of 13.2 mkg at 5,300 rpm.
From 1956 the 550A RS (Rennsport) model was introduced, similar in appearance to the previous model on the outside but with some mechanical changes with an updated engine with 135 HP at 7,200 rpm and two new double-barrel Weber type 40 DCM carburettors reversed. 
In 1958, the Type 718 RSK replaced the 550A. 
Then followed the final models called RS 60 in 1959 and RS 61 the following year.