Porsche Type 550 A Spyder & Barth 1957 Nurburgring GP Germany Maserati

Description: A superb and rare photo taken during the 1957 edition of the Formula 1 and Formula 2 Grand Prix of Germany (it was a combined F1 & F2 race). Shown in this great image is the F2 WINNING Porsche Type 550 A Spyder (with number 21) of the great Edgar Barth, in full action on the famous German Nurburgring circuit on the 4TH of August, 1957. Amazingly, Barth finished higher then some of his Formula 1 competitors who had a massive HP advantage over Barth’s Porsche!! The Porsche Type 550 A Spyder of Barth was entered for the race by the Porsche factory. It was powered by the magnificent 4 cylinder 1,498cc Porsche M 574 boxer engine that delivered a power output of 135HP. The car weighed only 550 kg (1,213 lb)! Edgar Barth won the F2 race, before Brian Naylor with his Cooper-Climax (2ND), and Carel Godin de Beaufort (3RD). In front of Barth we see Hans Herrmann, with his nr. 17 Maserati 250F F1 race car. Behind Barth rides Roy Salvadori in the nr. 17 Cooper-Climax T43, he started in the F2 race. Both Herrmann and Salvadori retired from the race due to mechanical problems. Barth won the F2 race and finished the (combined) F1 race in 12TH position. The F1 race was won by Juan Manuel Fangio (Maserati). Mike Hawthorn (Ferrari), finished second and Peter Collins (Ferrari) finished third. This magnificent 4-cylinder engine of Barth’s Porsche Type 550A Spyder had four overhead camshafts (dohc per cylinder) and was produced between 1953 and 1964. The designer of the engine, Ernst Fuhrmann (1918-1995) had build it primarily for racing and was the peak in terms of output and build outlay in the 4-cylinder boxer engine model series. The high-performance power unit made its debut in 1953 in the Porsche Type 550 developing 110 hp/ 81 kW at 6200 rpm from 1498 cc displacement and ended its career in 1964 in the Porsche 904, in the meantime boosted to 1966 cc and producing 155 hp/ 114 kW at 6900 rpm. Between these two milestones the vertical shaft engine - constant in displacement and output - was on offer as the top-of-the-line engine version in each respective Porsche 356 Carrera. Characteristic for the Fuhrmann engine was the expensive to manufacture valve gear with four overhead camshafts and two vertical bevel driveshafts. The valves themselves were inclined in a 78 degree angle, creating a magnificently effective hemispheric combustion chamber. The crankshaft was a coupled unit, assembled through the Hirth coupling system. This enabled low-friction roller bearings to be used. Next to the two double downdraught carburettors there was also a twin ignition system present with two spark plugs per cylinder, two ignition coils and two distributors. The crankcase, pistons, cylinders and cylinder heads were all made of a lightweight alloy. The sturdy and abundant ribbing of the cylinder head created an enlargement of the cooling surface. Also the dry-sump lubrication ensured that operating temperatures were bearable in this tuned power plant. We also have photographs available of the engine and engine drawing. We have more images available of the Porsche Type 550 A Spyder . also during the Carrera PanAmericana. The Porsche Type 550 A Spyder was inspired by the smaller Porsche 356 Spyder which was created and raced by Walter Glöckler in 1951. The Porsche factory specifically designed to build the 550 Spyder in car racing. The 550 was designed as a very low and aerodynamically efficient car. It was so low that former German Formula One racer Hans Herrmann drove it under closed railroad crossing gates during the 1954 Mille Miglia. The 550 became known as Spyder or RS, and gave Porsche its first overall win in a major sports car racing event, the 1956 Targa Florio. Its successor from 1957 onwards, the Porsche 718, was even more successful, scoring points in Formula One as late as 1963. A descendant of the Porsche 550 is generally considered to be the Porsche Boxster S 550 Spyder; the Spyder name was effectively resurrected with the RS Spyder Le Mans Prototype. The Porsche 550 "Little Bastard" is well known as the car in which James Dean died. Interestingly, the 550 is amongst the most frequently reproduced classic automobiles, like the Shelby Cobra and Lotus Seven. Several companies have sprung up in the last 25 years, some of which build near-exact replicas from the ground up, including spaceframes built to exacting specs from Porsche blueprints. Some of the companies that make replicas are Boulder Speedster, Chuck Beck Motorsports, Automotive Legends, Chamonix do Brasil, Thunder Ranch, and Vintage Spyders. The 550 Spyders were not only used in regular roadracing, also in rallying they did fine. Besides the Mille Miglia and the Targa Florio, Porsche was so very successful in the extremely heavy Carrera PanAmericana that they named quite a few of their cars after the famous race. The following Porsche’s have been called Carrera (which stands for “race” in the Spanish language): Porsche 356 , Porsche 904 , Porsche 911 (1963 - 1989) , Porsche 964 (1989 - 1993) , Porsche 993 (1993 - 1998) , Porsche 996 (1998 - 2004) , Porsche 997 (2004 - present) , Porsche 924 and off course the Porsche Carrera GT . Professor Ferdinand Porsche initially started the company called "Dr. ing. h. c. F. Porsche GmbH" in 1931, with main offices at Königstrasse in the center of Stuttgart. The company offered motor vehicle development work and consulting, and did not initially build any cars under its own name. One of the first assignments the new company received was from the German government to design a car for the people, a "Volkswagen" in German. The first Porsche, the Porsche 64, was developed in 1939 using many components from the Volkswagen Beetle. After World War II, Ferdinand Porsche's son, Ferry Porsche, decided to build his own car because he could not find an existing car that he would be interested in buying. The first models of what was to become the 356 were built in a small sawmill in Gmünd, Austria and had aluminum bodywork: the modern Porsche company was born. The prototype car was shown to German auto dealers, and when pre-orders reached a set threshold, production was begun. Many regard the 356 as the first Porsche simply because it was the first model sold by the fledgling company. Porsche commissioned Zuffenhausen-based company Reutter Carosseri, which had previously collaborated with Porsche on Volkswagen Beetle prototypes, to produce the 356's steel body. Porsche constructed an assembly plant across the street from Reutter Carosseri; that assembly plant is now known as Porschestrasse. The 356 was road certified in 1948. Not long afterwards, on January 30, 1951, Ferdinand Porsche died from complications following a stroke. In post-war Germany parts were generally in short supply, so the 356 automobile used components from the Volkswagen Beetle including its engine, gearbox, and suspension. The 356, however, had several evolutionary stages, A, B, and C, while in production and many VW parts were replaced by Porsche-made parts. The last 356s were powered by entirely Porsche-designed engines. The sleek bodywork was designed by Erwin Komenda who also had designed the body of the Beetle. Porsche's signature designs have, from the beginning, featured air-cooled rear-engine configurations (like the Beetle), rare for other car manufacturers, but producing automobiles that are very well balanced. In 1964, after some success in motor-racing, namely with the Porsche Type 550 Spyder, the company launched the Porsche 911 another air-cooled, rear-engined sports car, this time with a 6-cylinder "boxer" engine. The team to lay out the body shell design was led by Ferry Porsche's eldest son, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche (F. A.). The design phase for the 911 caused internal problems with Erwin Komenda who led the body design department until then. F. A. Porsche complained Komenda made changes to the design not being approved by him. Company leader Ferry Porsche took his son's drawings to neighbouring body shell manufacturer Reuter bringing the design to the 1963 state. Reuter's workshop was later acquired by Porsche (so-called Werk II). Afterward Reuter became a seat manufacturer, today known as Keiper-Recaro. This is a very nice and very rare non period photo that reflects a wonderful era of Porsche ‘s automotive history in a wonderful way. This is your rare chance to own this photo, therefore it is printed in a nice large format of ca. 8" x 10" (ca. 20 x 30 cm). It makes it perfectly suitable for framing. Shipping costs will only be $ 10.00 regardless of how many photos you buy. For 5 or more photos, shipping is free! All our photos are modern photos that are traditionally made from what we believe are the original negatives and are copyright protected. (Note: A. Herl, Inc. does not appear on photo, for ebay purposes only)No copyright expressed or implied. Sold as collectable item only. We are clearing out our archives that we have gathered from various sources.All items always sent well protected in PVC clear files and board backed envelopes. They make the perfect gift and are perfectly suited for framing. They will look gorgeous unframed and will be a true asset nicely framed with a border. They are a gorgeous and great asset in every home, workshop, workplace, restaurant, bar or club! First come - first served. And you can always contact us for your requests. Please ask any questions before the auction ends.

Price: 9.95 USD

Location: Utr.

End Time: 2025-01-08T11:17:34.000Z

Shipping Cost: 10 USD