Porsche’s 550 Spyder was a successful race car right from the very first event it entered, yet taking the chequered flag at the inaugural Nürburgring Eifel Race in May 1953 was only the beginning of a long and distinguished career for this diminutive racing machine. Constantly upgraded and optimized to take advantage of the prevailing rules, the 550 Spyder evolved into the 550A and eventually the 718 RSK. Each iteration continued the legend that the original 550 Spyder had started and surviving examples today are highly sought after by collectors the world over.
Even among such esteemed company the 1960 Porsche 718 RS 60 Werks is something rather special. It represents the pinnacle of the development of this range of racing cars and is one of just four original Works RS 60s built. 718-044 was the last car to be completed by the factory and has features that were unavailable to customer cars, like separate left and right torsion bars, integrated driving lamps and a flat-black dashboard, mounted with an exposed fuse box. Fitted with a variety of engines during its racing career, 718-044 still retains the 2-liter Type 587/3 racing motor that was fitted to the car when Stirling Moss very nearly won the Targa Florio in it, only to be thwarted by mechanical failure just five miles from the finish.
718-044 has led an incredible racing life and other notable drivers include Graham Hill, Dan Gurney, Jo Bonnier, Bob Holbert, and Hans Hermann. Having raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 12 Hours of Sebring, Targa Florio, Nürburgring 1000 KM and the Bahamas Speed Week, this 718 RS 60 Works car is an integral part of Porsche’s racing history and the opportunity to acquire such a special vehicle does not come around very often, if at all.
It has been comprehensively restored both mechanically and aesthetically by marque specialists Urs Gretener and Paul Willison and comes with an extensive history file. Offered with a long list of spare parts including a Plexiglas windshield, suspension components and the original gas tank, 718-044 is arguably the pinnacle of Porsche’s technical capabilities in the early ‘60s and one lucky bidder will be able to add it to their collection at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey sale taking place between 15-17 August.
Images courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
