Regarding 1950s Porsche Spyders, the sheer number of podium finishes reveal a tale of one the greatest sports cars ever built. Considered by many to be the most beautiful of all the Spyder variants, the Type 718 RSK won its class at the 12 Hours of Sebring, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and an outright victory at the 1959 Targa Florio. Porsche’s mid-engine flat-four powered racer was truly a remarkable design.
Media’s first impressions
The Spyder 718 RSK captured the imagination of the automotive press from the moment it appeared onto the racing scene. Their words spoke volumes about the car’s exceptional attributes.
Sports Car Illustrated lauded the car’s prowess, declaring in 1958, “The Porsche Spyder 718 RSK is a masterstroke of engineering, a marriage of form and function that blurs the line between art and science. Its potent engine, combined with its lightweight chassis, results in a racing car that feels like an extension of the driver’s will.”
Road & Track chimed in with equal enthusiasm, noting, “The Spyder 718 RSK’s rear-engine layout, perfected by Porsche, bestows it with unmatched balance and cornering prowess. It’s as if the laws of physics themselves bend to the car’s will.”
Chassis 718-024 highlights
- One of just 24 customer 718 RSK Spyders, exceptionally well documented
- Delivered new to Le Mans in 1959 for American racer Ed Hugus
- Raced across the U.S. throughout the early 1960s including 4th place in class at the 1962 Pikes Peak Automobile Hill Climb
- Exceptional, recent restoration by Rare Drive, Inc. to Hugus’ “Lucybelle III” Le Mans 1959 livery
- Largely undisturbed original chassis and Karosserie Wendler aluminum body
- Engine rebuild by noted Carrera four-cam expert Karl Hloch
- 2021 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance class award winner and First in Class at the 2021 Audrain Concours d’Elegance
- Eligible for the highest-level vintage racing and driving events, including Le Mans Classic and the Colorado Grand
Technical Specs
- 1,498 CC Type 547/3 DOHC Air-Cooled Flat 4-Cylinder Engine
- Twin Weber 46 IDA3 Carburetor
- 160 BHP at 7,800 RPM
- 5-Speed Manual Transaxle
- 4-Wheel Finned Alloy Drum Brakes
- Front Independent Trailing-Arm Suspension with Coil-Over Shock Absorbers
- Rear Independent Double-Wishbone Suspension with Coil-Overs
Legacy
The Porsche Spyder 718 RSK’s legacy endures, serving as a source of awe and appreciation for today’s vintage racing enthusiasts. Its simple but innovative chassis, combined with the complex and powerful 4-cam air-cooled engine, continues to be regarded as an early ingredient of Porsche’s DNA.
Heading to auction
BroadArrow Auctions proudly announces this piece of Porsche motorsports history will be auctioned at their upcoming Amelia Island Auction on March 1st and 2nd, 2024. Go HERE for information.
