RM Sotheby’s will attempt to find a new owner for this 1957 Porsche 550A Spyder in late April. Belonging to a series of just 40 vehicles, this example is poised to win around €3.5–3.8 million.
Whereas the original Porsche 550 utilized a traditional ladder-frame body, its “A” successor took advantage of a lightweight and durable space frame. It also came equipped with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine capable of 135 PS (133 hp / 99 kW) – not a bad match for a vehicle weighing as little as 540 kilos (1,190 pounds). Back in the fifties, the Spyder was considered a seriously fast ride with its top speed of 240 km/h (149 mph).
The example seen here had participated in many races and won many accolades before retiring in 1962. It had its rear end badly damaged early on, leading to a costly repair inspired by the more recent Porsche RS 550. As a result, this is the only known 550A model in existence to feature a pop-up rear end – other models had louvers installed in their sides to access the engine.
Prill Porsche Classics conducted a full restoration of the car sometime between 2018 and 2026. It cost the owner nearly $400,000 in American money and saw the engine and transmission fully rebuilt. The bodywork was also comprehensively restored, so the condition of the car is “as new”.
