The Porsche 550 Spyder is one of the most iconic sports racing cars of all time.
Its impossibly pretty lines and diminuitive stature took the world by storm at its 1953 release and its perfect mid-engined balance and lightweight construction made it a brilliant sports car for the road and a giant killing racer on track.
It took its final bow just three years later with a stunning victory at the 40th Targa Florio where the 1500cc Spyder of Umberto Maglioli demolished a field of Ferraris, Jaguars and Maseratis all with twice the engine capacity.
The 550 infamously also holds the rather more sad status as the car in which James Dean met his end.
The few remaining genuine 550s are very valuable cars indeed and well beyond the reach of most enthusiasts.
There are numerous replicas in the market place today, but we would be surprised if any is better than this stunning little machine.
It is a Chamonix car, built by Special Edition Inc. in the USA in 2009 and initially supplied to F1 Assistant Race Director Herbie Blash (he's the chap usually seen in the driver's weighing room after a Grand Prix). The firm has built similar cars for some very big motoring names including collector Jay Leno and McLaren F1 designer Gordon Murray, leaving no doubt as to the quality and desirability of the car.
The fit and finish is truly remarkable and it has covered under 1000 miles so the condition is faultless.
It is powered by a mid-mounted four cylinder air-cooled Volkswagen motor displacing 1915cc, fed by twin downdraft carbs and producing 125bhp. Thanks to its light weight it propels the car up the road with real urgency and it leaves a period-perfect wail behind its centrally mounted straight-through single exhaust.
The red leather interior features a 14" Nardi woodrim wheel, aluminium control stalks and a push-button starter. A full/half tonneau is the only weather protection.
The exterior has been painstakingly detailed, including :
* Painted red spears with gold edging on the rear wings (not stickers)
* GT wing mirror
* Porsche badging
* Mesh headlight covers
* Leather engine cover straps
The car is registered as a 1955 Chamonix so it exempt from road tax.
It is impossible to to fall in love with this brilliant little machine, it is fantastic to admire, nimble to steer and brisk to pilot.
If you can't stretch the million or so required for the real thing, this is a very, very good second best.
£29,995
More images at : http://www.paul-stephens.com/for-sale/P ... monix/2457
Sam
01440 714884