1955 PORSCHE 550 SPYDER BECK RE-CREATION - BEAUTIFUL, TIGHT & VISCERALY FAST

1955 Porsche Other Description

$3,685,000 WAS THE PRICE (including Buyer's premium) AN ORIGINAL 550 SPYDER FETCHED ATTHE GOODINGS, MELIA ISLAND AUCTION IN MARCH 2013.

Gooding & Companywill offer a selection of cars from the Jerry Seinfeld Collection at their Amelia Island auction on March 11, 016. Arizona auctiongoers can view a preview sampling of three historic Porsches from the collection at Gooding’s Scottsdale sale, aking place January 29–30.

“We are grateful and honored to be entrusted with these superb examples from the collection of Jerry Seinfeld. These cars epitomize the highest of quality and pedigree,” states David Gooding, resident of Gooding & Company. “Jerry’s keen eye for significant Porsches, he care and pride he takes in maintaining his spectacular collection and his enthusiasm and passion for the Porsche marque makes this one of our most thrilling sales in our company’s history.”

“I’ve never bought a car as an investment,” states Jerry Seinfeld. “I don’t really even think of myself as a collector. I just love cars. And I still love these cars. But it’s time to send some of them back into the world, or someone else to enjoy, s I have.”

Thefollowing cars will be displayed inScottsdale:

"1955 Porsche 550 Spyder"

("Gooding & Company estimate: $ 5,000,000 to $6,000,000")

YOU CAN HAVE MINE FOR $38,950 AND DRIVE AROUND LOOKING AND FEELING AS IF YOU ARE IN ONE OF THESE VERY FEW,EXTREMELY VALUABLE,ORIGINALCARS!

You can have no idea how much attention my car attracts.

From pedestrians as I drive by, hrough those who down their windows to ask questions and give complimentsatred traffic lights, o the on-lookers when she is parked. I recently pulled into a parking space in a local shopping center. Next to my car was a rather large SUV which made my Spyder look like a miniature! The lady driver was climbing into her SUV but, s I walked away, he emerged and, ith her smart phone, tarted taking several photos of my car.

To own, o experience and to be seen in a car the original predecessors of which now cost many millions of dollars certainly instills a deep sense of pride of ownership.All this is quite apart from the pure pleasures of driving her which has got to be the most exhilarating way to blow away life's cobwebs.

THE PORSCHE 550 SPYDER, VERY BRIEF HISTORY:-

The Porsche 550 Spyder was inspired by the original Porsche 356. From 1951, orsche 356 prototypes were built and raced by Walter Glockler. His successes led to Porsche’s decision to build the first Porsche specifically developed for racing -the 550.

The engine was based on the VW Beetle flat-4. It had shaft-driven, win overhead camshafts; a roller-bearing crankshaft and dual ignition. Displacement was 1498 cc to qualify forthe 1.5-liter class. The mid-located engine was fed by a pair of Solex carbs, t produced 110 bhp at 6200 rpm. With an aluminum, onocoque body maximized for compactness, erodynamics and lightness, he car weighed around 1300 lb. All the factory 550 Spyders were silver in color, ermany's racing color.

The first three were hand-built prototypes. 550-03 raced as a roadster at the Nurburgring Eifel Race in May 1953, inning its first race. 550-05 was introduced to the general public at the 1953 Paris Motor Show.

Over the following years, he Werks Porsche Team evolved and raced the 550 with outstanding success and it was recognized wherever it appeared. With the 550, orsche was the first manufacturer to organize, xternal, acing sponsorship.

The Porsche 550 Spyder became an active participant on European and US championship circuits between 1953 and as late as 1965. Starting in over 370 races, ith approximately 95 overall wins and an additional 75 class wins, he Spyder dominated and/or embarrassed more powerful cars from the prestigious racing stables. The cars were well represented at famous circuits around the world and soon became the racing car of choice for privateers, arning the reputation of ‘Giant Killer’.

Only 90 cars were built with 78 being sold to the public for motor sport purposes. For such a limited number of builds, he 550 Spyder was always in a winning position, sually finishing in the top three in its class. The beauty of the 550 was that it could be driven to the track, aced and then driven home which showed its incredible flexibility.

THE JAMES DEAN SAGA:-

For the younger among us, ames Dean was a movie idol of the fifties. He starred in the major, ovie successes East of Eden, ebel without a Cause and Giant with the film stars of the day including Elizabeth Taylor, ock Hudson, al Mineo, atalie Wood, ulie Harris, aymond Massey, ennis Hopper and others.

However, is passion was racing. After a succession of fast cars, otorbikes, treet and track races, n 1955, e traded his Porsche Super Speedster for a brand new Porsche Spyder 550. While his racing activities were contrary to the wishes of and his contract with Warner Bros, his did nothing to deter him.

After breaking up with girlfriend and film star Ursula Andress he was returning home when, hortly after being cited for speeding, e collided almost head-on with a Ford Custom Wagon. The Porsche was demolished and James Dean died at the scene.

At the age of 25 and the height of a movie career, his was, f course, ajor international news. The side effect of which was the increased, nduring fame of the Porsche 550 Spyder.

MY 1955 PORSCHE 550 SPYDER:-

This is my own car and is actually a 1991 recreation by the famous Chuck Beck. Chuck started making them in 1982 and his 550’s are widely acknowledged as being the most accurately and solidly constructedrecreations while capturing the very essence of the original 550’s giving incredible handling and typical Porsche/VW reliability.