Weighing in at only a little more than 1300 pounds (ca. 590 kilogram), and offering an average of 120 horsepower, the 1956 Porsche 550 was the car that made Porsche really stand out. In fact, there were only about one hundred of them made, which added to its iconic fame in the car world.
The 550 prototype actually came into the public eye as an introduction in October of 1953. It was seen first at the Paris Auto Salon in that year.
The 550 was one of the cars to compete in the 1956 24 Hours of Le Mans, but because of irregularities, it was disqualified. For those who really enjoy everything that the 550 is, they will be more than willing to pay for it. Simply owning a collector’s item with the kind of history this one has, is something not everyone gets to do.
Porsche fully intended the 550 to be a favorite of the private race car drivers. A couple of names that were mentioned, along with this car, were those of Dan Gurney and Phil Hill, both of whom drove the car. It was probably most well-known by its nickname, the Giant Killer.
