1955 Porsche 550 Spyder

Without question, the Porsche 550 Spyder is recognized as the first Porsche that was purpose-built for racing. This compact, mid-engine sports car significantly impacted events such as the Targa Florio, Mille Miglia, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and Carrera Panamericana, often outperforming larger and more powerful rivals from Ferrari and Maserati.

Herbert Linge, a renowned racing driver and Porsche’s first mechanic after the company relocated to Stuttgart, meticulously documented the production of the 90 models of the 550 Spyder, named for its impressively low weight of 550 kilograms. According to his detailed records, chassis 0038 was completed on April 29, 1955, equipped with engine P 90031 (internal number 41) and gearbox 10029.