The Porsche 718/8 W RS Spyder was initially powered by the tried-and-true four, found in prior versions of the 718. Its body, however, was designed to accept a Boxer-8, which it would receive later in life. The body was aluminum and the frame was comprised of steel tubes. It made its racing debut in 1961 at the Targa Florio where it was driven by factory drivers Dan Gurney and Jo Bonnier. It would finish the race in an impressive second place.In 1962, the eight-cylinder engine from the F1 race car was fitted. The engine had been enlarged two 2 liter capacity and it developed just over 200 horsepower. It enjoyed a successful career in the World Endurance Trophy, competing all over Europe, and even scoring class victories in the 1962 Targa Florio and at the Nurburgring 1000km. Porsche would finish the season in second place in the world Cup for Speed and Endurance. The 718/8 competed mid-1962 in the European Hillclimb Championship. The following year, thanks to the driving talents of Edgar Barth, and the newly tuned 240 hp engine, it won the European Hillclimb Championship. Barth and the car would repeat this accomplishment the following year.
By Daniel Vaughan | May 2011
By Daniel Vaughan | May 2011
Related Reading : Porsche 550/718 Sports Racing Cars History
After World War II, Walter Glockler of Frankfurt was one of the first to own a Volkswagen dealership. He was an amateur motorcycle racer that had ventured into auto racing once he had financial backing from his successful dealership. One of his engineers working at the dealership had worked on prewar Adler sports cars and had amassed a wealth of racing knowledge and expertise. In 1948 they modified....
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1959/60 Porsche 718 RS 60 Spyder
1959/60 Porsche 718 RS 60 Spyder
Automobile sport was part of the picture for the fledgling Porsche sports car firm from the first. The 356 quickly became popular around the world, in the hands of private drivers with sporting ambitions. New racesports cars were developed in Zuffenhausen at the beginning of the fifties the1.5 liter 550 Spyder proved a shark in the goldfish bowl against larger-displacement competitors in major races.....
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