Porsche 718

The Ultimate Model Guide

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Built for circuit track, road and hill climb racing, the Porsche factory team and numerous customers successfully used the 718 race sports cars from 1953 to the mid-1960s. Famous racers like Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips, Hans Herrmann, Graham Hill, Ricardo Rodriguez and Joakim Bonnier brought home more than 1,000 race victories with the fast and agile Porsche race cars. They really caused a sensation in motorsport thanks to their small four-cylinder flat engines which won races overall against a competition that had superior engine power (but were heavier cars).

Porsche 718 Basics

Manufacturer: Porsche / Production Years: 1957-1962 / Production: ~ 78 units / Assembly: Germany / Chassis: Spaceframe chassis / Suspension (front): torsion bars, telescopic shock absorbers, anti-roll bar / Suspension (rear): Watt-linkage, coil springs over telescopic shock absorbers / Engine: Type 547 1,498 cc (91.4 cu in) DOHC F4 boxer engine normally aspirated Mid-engined / Transmission: 5-speed manual / Weight: 570 kg (1,256.6 lb) / Designer(s): Wilhelm Hild / Predecessor: Porsche 550

Evolution

The 718 was all about ongoing development, itself an evolution of the type 550. In 1956 it was followed by the 550 A Spyder (40 units) which had a tubular space frame and a more powerful engine. In 1956, the Italian driver Umberto Maglioli raced to sensational victory in a 550 A at the Targa Florio, which was the most challenging road race at that time. Today, the engine known as the “Fuhrmann engine” is nearly as legendary as the vehicles themselves with its four overhead camshafts. Nearly as legendary as the car itself is its power train with four overhead camshafts, known to this day as a Fuhrmann engine.

718 RSK Becomes A Winner

The successor to the 550 A made its debut in 1957 as the 718 RSK (34 units). Motorsport and technology were closely intertwined in its name. While the “RS” stands for “race sport”, the “K” referred to the newly developed front torsion bar springs. They were arranged in the form of a capital “K” on its back. The 718 was further improved to address all concerns compared to its predecessor. A frame made of seamless steel tubing gave it high strength and an ideal lightweight design. The engine, chassis and drum brakes were also further optimised.

The 718 RSK celebrated successes across the globe, e.g. at Le Mans, the Nürburgring, in Argentina, Riverside in California and at numerous hill climb races. The 550 A Spyder and the 718 RSK both proved the enormous potential of their Porsche designs in Formula-2 racing. Further developed into a monoposto, the 718/2 even won the Formula-2 manufacturers world championship in 1960.

718 RS 60 Now A Benchmark

When new FIA regulations for race sports cars demanded greater similarities with production street cars, Porsche responded with the 718 RS 60 (19 units) for the 1960 season. The car quickly became the benchmark in the 1.6-litre class. Its greatest sport successes were overall victories at the Targa Florio, the 12 Hours of Sebring and the European Hill Climb Championship in the years 1960 and 1961. The 718 RS 61 Spyder (13 units) was built starting in October 1960. It was primarily raced by individual drivers. Its technical highlight was a new rear suspension with wishbones.

The Coupe

In order to also exploit the potential of the 718 Spyder at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 718 RS 61 was further developed into a coupé version. In 1961, the 718 GTR – which still had a four-cylinder engine – went to the starting line. For the 1962 season, it was equipped with a two-litre eight-cylinder and disc brakes. Also using these two engine types was the 718 W-RS Spyder that raced from 1961 to 1964. Mechanics gave it the endearing nickname “Grandmother” during its multi-year race career. The one-off car won the European Hill Climb Championship in 1963 and 1964 and proved once again the potential of the Porsche mid-engine concept.

Versatile Enough for F2 (& F1)

The Porsche 718/2 was a single-seater development of the 718 sportscar chassis and in fact intended for racing in Formula Two. But when the Formula One regulations limited engine capacity to 1.5-litre in 1961, they offered the possibility to run the car in Formula One.

Up against strong opposition from Cooper, Ferrari and Lotus, Porsche won the unofficial Formula 2 World Championship in 1960 – the “Coupe des Constructeurs”. As a design platform for the single-seater Porsche opts for the proven 718/2 RSK Spyder chassis with independent suspension and torsion bar springs at the front as well as coil springs at the rear and dual-circuit drum brakes. The aluminium body is formed by hand over a wooden body buck.

The 718/2 F2 is powered by the four-cam Carrera motor that has notched up countless race victories, and the power transmission is by an in-house-developed synchronised manual six-speed gearbox. Because Formula 2 is contested alongside Formula 1 over longer distances, from 1961 the wheelbase of the 718/2 is extended by ten centimetres to make room for larger fuel tanks. Joakim Bonnier clinches second at the Brussels Grand Prix in 1962, and third place two weeks later at Snetterton.

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Porsche 718 Variant Guides

As successor and further development of the 550 A, the 718 RSK debuted in 1957 (34 cars made). Its name paid tribute to both racing and technology: the RS stands for Rennsport (“racing sport”) and the K reflects the configuration of the newly developed front torsion rods on its back. The 718 RSK demonstrated the enormous potential of these Porsche designs in Formula Two as well. Further developed as a single-seater, the 718/2 won the 1960 Formula Two manufacturers’ world championship. When the new FIA regulations stipulated closer ties to production cars, Porsche responded in the 1960 season with the 718 RS 60 (19 cars made). Its greatest successes included overall victories at the Targa Florio, the 12 Hours of Sebring, and the European Hill Climb Championship in 1960 and 1961. The 718 RS 61 Spyder (13 cars) made its first appearance in October of 1960. In order to exploit the potential of the 718 Spyder for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 718 RS 61 was further developed into a coupe version. In the 1961 season, the 718 GTR was still entering races with a four-cylinder engine, whereas in 1962 it featured a two-liter eight-cylinder variant as well as disc brakes. The 718 W-RS Spyder, of which only one was built, also used these two types of engines for its races from 1961 to 1964. It won the European Hill Climb Championship in 1963 and 1964.

Porsche 718 RSK Spyder (1957 – 1959)

The 718 was a development of the successful Porsche 550A with improvements made to the body work and suspension. The car's full name is 718 RSK, where "RS" stands for RennSport (sports-racing) and the "K" reflects the shape of the car's revised torsion-bar suspension. It had a mid-engined layout and used the 142 horsepower (106 kW) 1.5-litre Type 547/3 quad-cam engine introduced in the 550A. There were several variations, including the RSK Mittellenker.

Porsche 718 RSK Mittellenker (1958)

Porsche created the single-seat 718 RSK Mittellenker (center steering) to compete in Formula 2 racing. The body differed from the 718 2-seat sports racer only to accommodate the central driving position, with revised seat, steering, shifter and pedal placement, and the aerodynamic fairing behind the driver’s head moved from the left to the middle. Instead of having a full-width cockpit, the body sides were extended toward the center to create a space solely for the single driver, with a short, wrap-around windshield.

Porsche 718/2 F2 (1959 – 1963)

In 1959 Porsche unveiled the prototype of a narrow, open-wheeled car called the Porsche 718/2 that married the 718's mechanicals with a more traditional single-seat Formula body. For 1960 the production 718/2, starting with chassis number 718201, received revised bodywork, a 6-speed transaxle, and a wheelbase extended by 100 mm. A total of five cars were built. Some of these four-cylinder cars were later raced in F1 under the 1962 1½ litre formula.

Porsche 718 RS 60 Spyder (1960)

For the 1960 season the FIA made changes to the regulation regarding the windscreen and cockpit size. These rules changes together with a larger (1.6-litre) Type 547/3 engine, developing 160 horsepower (120 kW) and a new double wishbone rear suspension brought about the RS 60 model. The RS 60 brought Porsche victory at the 1960 12 Hours of Sebring with a car driven by Hans Herrmann and Olivier Gendebien. 1960 also saw Porsche win the Targa Florio with Hans Herrmann being joined on the winner podium by Jo Bonnier and Graham Hill. z

Porsche 718/2-05 Experimental F2 (1960)

The fifth and the last of the 718/2 F2 cars, with chassis number 718/2-05 was an experimental formula racing car. It had the 718/2 chassis, but a different body. The car never got its own type number. It was a one-off car, continuous development project that later evolved into something that became the prototype for the 1961 Porsche 787 F1 car and then even for the 1962 Porsche 804 F1 car. 718/2-05, was first seen at the F2 race on Solitude race track near Stuttgart in July 1960.

Porsche 718 RS 61 Spyder (1961)

The 1961 Porsche RS was one of the last Spyders made by Porsche that used the potent 4-cam engine. It was a successor to the 1960 RS60 which was a highly developed version of the original 550 RS Spyder. These diminutive racecars excelled on the tighter courses like the Targa Florio which was first won by Porsche in 1956. That victory marked the first time a sports car with a midship engine had won a major motor sports event.

Porsche 718 RS 61 LM Coupé (1961)

The story of the 718 coupé began in 1960 when a customer ordered a one-off design from Karosserie Wendler. The car was built on the Porsche 550 chassis. Front-end design came from the 718 Spyder. The roof and the rear end were unique creations by Wendler. For the Le Mans 24h race in June 1961, Porsche created two 718 RS 61 Coupés. They shared the side view silhouette of the Wendler coupé and the rear end of the 718 Spyder, but the front design was original to the car.

Porsche 718 W-RS Spyder (1962 – 1964)

The 1961 4-cylinder special Spyder is the car that became the 1962 8-cylinder W-RS Spyder. It started during the 1961 racing season, when three special 718 racing cars were created for the factory team. Two of those special cars were built as coupés and one as a Spyder - with chassis number 718-047. For the 1962 season, the car got some changes and became known as the Porsche 718/8 W-RS Spyder. Out went the four cylinder and in came an eight-cylinder engine from the Porsche F1 race car (enlarged to 2 liters).

Porsche 718 GTR Coupé (1962 – 1963)

The chassis number 718-046 of a 1961 718 RS 61 Coupé was used for a new car called 718 GTR in 1962.. The Coupé version was developed from this RS 61 donor and was initially fitted with a 4-cylinder engine. This car was also upgraded to an 8-cylinder F1 derived engine which produced 210 horsepower (160 kW). The car was also fitted with disc brakes. A GTR Coupé driven Jo Bonnier and Carlo Maria Abate won the 1963 Targa Florio making it three wins at the event for a 718 car.

Porsche 718 Data & Research

We dig into some of the data surrounding the Porsche 718, including production numbers, specifications, chassis numbers and much more. The 718 variants were all mid-engined layout and used the 1.5-litre Type 547/3 quad-cam engine introduced in the 550A. There were also a handful of 8 cylinder engines added to special variants but that was largely the exception.

Porsche 718 RS 61 Spyder – Specifications & Performance

Porsche 718 RSK Spyder – Specifications & Performance

Porsche 718 W-RS Spyder – Specifications & Performance

Porsche 718 RS 60 Spyder – Specifications & Performance

Porsche 718 Pictures, Galleries & Wallpapers

The successor to the 550 A Spyder, the 718 RSK improved in many respects. A space frame of seamless steel tubing provides high rigidity at a very low weight; the suspension and the drum brakes have undergone optimization. The aerodynamics were refined which is why the 718s look sleeker and tighter. Enjoy these galleries and pictures of various Porsche 718s.