THE 550 SPYDER

Porsche’s first purpose-built competition model, the 550 Spyder, boasted a simple yet effective tubular chassis, torsion-bar suspension, and a patent 1,500-cubic-centimeter four-cam engine, soon to be known as the Carrera. With lightweight aluminum bodywork, the 550 tipped the scales at an utterly featherweight 550 kilograms—a little over 1,200 pounds. It was remarkably swift and nimble for its size, and rapidly became the car to beat in the under-1500-cc class of most contemporary sports car events. By the end of 1954, class victories had been achieved in no lesser events than Le Mans, the Mille Miglia, and the Carrera Panamericana, not to mention numerous successes in national-level events on both sides of the Atlantic. It was one of the great, all-conquering sports cars of its time, and cemented its legend early.

Between 1953 and 1956, 90 examples of the Wendler-bodied 550 Spyder customer car were produced. Almost all of these cars enjoyed ownership by enthusiasts and teams that are still well-remembered today. Not least among these was John von Neumann, as important a name in the Porsche world in the United States as could possibly be envisioned.

CHASSIS NUMBER 550-0089

One of the most notable figures in the post-war American sports car scene was an Austrian immigrant named John von Neumann. Von Neumann played a significant role in introducing Porsche and Ferrari to the West Coast, in particular the vibrant and monied Southern California market. His Los Angeles-based Competition Motors served not only as a groundbreaking dealership, but as the center for his own racing team, which fielded such luminary drivers as Ken Miles, Phil Hill, Jack McAfee, and Richie Ginther. These racing legends drove von Neumann-owned cars in numerous significant events—and won many of them.

Chassis number 550-0089, the second-from-last 550 production car, was specifically built for von Neumann with Wendler coachwork finished in silver with red fender “darts.” In addition to the reinforced “high frame” chassis that had by now come into practice, a very desirable feature that provided additional rigidity, it boasted several unique features added early on, including a large oval chrome grille at the rear, two scoop-style vents atop the engine bay, and louvered vents along the rear fenders, all with the goal of providing additional cooling to the engine. These resemble those later integrated into the coachwork for the upcoming production-based successor to the 550, the 550A 1500 RS.

Chassis 550-0089 was first campaigned by Ginther at Pomona in October 1956, where a very minor accident during the main race forced an early retirement. The slight damage was repaired, and the car returned to the track two weeks later at Palm Springs, finishing 3rd overall. Ginther then achieved 4th in class with the car at the Cotati Rose Festival in May 1957. Von Neumann subsequently sold the Porsche later in 1957 to racing driver Jack West, who drove it in no fewer than 20 events during the 1957 and 1958 seasons, finishing 2nd in class at Hourglass Field in San Diego in 1957, 1st in class at the Tracy Sports Car Races in 1958, 3rd at the Laguna Seca Sports Car Races in 1958, and 1st in class at the Minden Gardnerville Airport Race in October 1958. The car was then briefly taken over by Katherie “Sunnie” Baker, who drove it only once but made her ride count—she won the SCCA Ladies race at Phoenix in November 1958.

By 1973 the 550 was acquired by Gary Clenn, and then in 1977 it was sold to Everett Anton Singer of Roslyn Heights, New York. In 1982 it passed to Bob Tate, then to Jo Gardener. Finally, in 1996, it was acquired by Herbert Handlbauer and brought to Germany. In 2006 the 550 was purchased for the notable Dutch Porsche collection of Albert Westerman, who shortly thereafter undertook a complete, bare-metal restoration; photographs on file depict the panels during the work, showing evidence of the original “gills” added to the fenders and indicating that this was the original sheet metal retained throughout prior renovations. Mr. Westerman enjoyed the car regularly in historic events throughout Europe, most notably at the Mille Miglia Storica in 2009. It was then acquired by a collector in Germany before passing to its present American caretaker, who maintains a distinguished collection of high-performance automobiles.

In the current ownership the Porsche’s restoration has been improved with a rebuild of the rear shell to its 1956 racing configuration, for additional engine ventilation. This work was conducted by the noted Porsche specialists at Road Scholars of Durham, North Carolina, who have also mechanically maintained the car to a very high standard. The 550 has been driven reliably at Road Atlanta and Laguna Seca, as well as on a 10-day European tour that began at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este at Lake Como, then moved on to St. Moritz, Baden Baden, and finally to the Hockenheimring and the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart.

Chassis 550-0089 retains its matching-numbers gearbox, number 10091, while the currently fitted engine number 90089 is a correct Type 547 Carrera 1500 mill that has been rebuilt to proper specifications. The bodywork has been freshly refinished in the original color scheme, returning it fully to its appearance as driven by Ginther. Of course, as a pedigreed 550 Spyder this car is eligible for any number of tours and rallies worldwide, including the Mille Miglia Storica (of which it is already a veteran), the Tour Auto, Le Mans Classic, and the Goodwood Revival. It is documented with a FIVA Identity Card, as well as by a small collection of restoration photographs and a binder of additional historical documentation and references.

Claiming the noteworthy ownership provenance of the influential John von Neumann, as well as a period racing record in the hands of the gifted Richie Ginther, this historically significant Porsche is ideal for both high-level exhibition and event enjoyment. Very few cars deliver the magical driving experience of the four-cam Carrera engine at speed, and this rare Spyder is certainly one of the finest to be offered in recent memory.