1955 Porsche 550 RS Spyder Spyder

This 550 Spyder was the 1955 Paris Auto Show car. The car was sold to Sonauto in France and raced there, Sonauto apparently owned several 550s and raced them with different drivers. This car is pictured in the book, 'Porsche 356,' which states that it was Jean Behra's Spyder. The car was owned from 1973 to 2002 by Jim Perrin, noted Porsche historian and past president of PCA. The current owners purchased the car in 2007 and began an extensive refurbishment with the goal of preserving as much of the original paint as possible. Gary Kempton's shop carefully removed the top coat of silver paint while retaining the original blue paint. They carefully removed the top coat of silver paint while retaining the original blue paint underneath. The engine in the car was originally in another Sonauto race car and was rebuilt. The car retains the original tool kit and owner's manual. The racing history of the car is still being researched. The Certificate of Authenticity from Porsche AG states 'manufactured for the 1955 Paris Auto Show.'