1956 Porsche 550 RS Spyder

Porsche's first true competition car was the mid-engined 550 of 1953, showcasing its all-aluminum, naturally aspirated, air-cooled four-cam four-cylinder competition engine. The 550 was intended primarily for individual enthusiasts participating in class competitions, but they soon began to score overall wins against more powerful competitors. The Porsche 550A Spyder, introduced in 1956, was created specifically for the factory to compete on an international level. The 550's engine was redesigned to be more reliable and to generate more horsepower and torque, and those in factory works cars received Weber carburetors, a higher compression ratio, and distributors driven from the crankshaft instead of the inlet camshafts. Even bigger changes were made to the chassis, where the 550's ladder frame was replaced with a new lighter and stiffer tubular steel space frame.

Umberto Maglioli drove solo to win the rugged eight-hour 477 mile marathon race around Sicily to score Porsche's first major international victory. The little white car wearing the Italian Tricolore on its nose vanquished the works Maseratis and Ferraris in the first of eleven Porsche victories in the brutal Targa Florio.

This car, one of four prototypes built by the Porsche Werkes department, scored Porsche's first overall international victory and beat numerous 3.5-liter Ferraris, Mercedes-Benz 300 SLs, and Maseratis in the process.

The 550A is the immediate descendant of the Type 550. It has a much improved and stronger tubular space frame making it lighter and stiffer than its predecessor. Combined with the uprated 1,500 cc air-cooled flat-four engine with Weber carburetors and an increased compression ratio it delivered 135 hp and 107 lb/ft of torque. The 550A proved that Porsche's potent 'underdogs' were now serious competitors for overall victories in major international endurance sports car races.