Porsche 550, RSK and 718: Illustrated History Books & Guides

46: The Birth of Porsche Motorsport

This book chronicles Porsche's triumphant post-World War II journey, overcoming challenges to set records in their inaugural year at Le Mans, the Liege-Rome-Liege Rally, and Montlhéry. The pivotal SL 356/2 063 marked the genesis of Porsche Motorsport's enduring success.
Upon its arrival in the US, under John von Neumann's stewardship, the car secured racing triumphs, foreshadowing Porsche's future commercial triumphs. In 1982, SL 356/2 063 became a fixture at the Monterey Historic Races.

Under Cameron Healy's ownership in 2010, experts confirmed it as Porsche's inaugural Le Mans contender and class victor. Rod Emory and his team meticulously restored the car to its 1951 24 Hours of Le Mans starting grid appearance.
This book unveils the comprehensive narrative, enriched with unprecedented photographs and documentation, offering an unparalleled insight into Porsche's racing legacy.

Product details

Author:	Randy Leffingwell, Doug Nye, Sean Cridland
Details:	335 pages, 10 x 11.6 x 1.1 in (25.5 x 29.5 x 2.8 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	many b&w and color photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Dalton Watson Fine Books (USA, 2023)
ISBN:	9781956309010

Porsche at Le Mans

Porsche's first visit to Le Mans came in 1951 with a streamlined 356 model, complete with aerodynamic wheel fairings. In a precursor to the reputation Porsche would establish over the next seven decades at the famous endurance race, the 356 ran like clockwork, beating the coveted record for the shortest time spent in the pits. Since that memorable debut, Porsche has won outright at Le Mans 19 times, more than any other marque, with a record series of seven consecutive victories from 1981 to 1987. This beautifully designed and extensively illustrated book is your definitive history of Porsche's participation at La Sarthe, chronicling the exploits of both the works team cars and privateer entries.

Since 1951, Porsche has been represented at every single running of the 24 Hours. The models that have taken part comprise a roll call of great sports racing cars: 550 Spyder, 718 RSK, 904, 906, 907, 908, 910, 917, 936, 935, 956, 962, and GT1 - right up to the hybrid 919 that won from 2015 through 2017. To this daunting list can be added the ubiquitous 911, the privateer's choice for the race (in 1971, a year that saw a record number of Porsches take part, 19 of the 33 Porsches in the race were 911s). And hundreds of them are depicted in historical photos.

In addition to the legendary cars, you will bear witness to the exploits of Porsche drivers, a veritable murderer's row of motorsport greats, including Derek Bell, Herbert Muller, Helio Castroneves, Mario Andretti, Jacky Ickx, Jo Siffert, Jochen Rindt, Mark Donohue, and Vic Elford, to name just a few.

Meticulously compiled by noted Porsche historian Glen Smale, Porsche at Le Mans is the most exhaustive celebration of the subject, created with full access to the Porsche archives in Stuttgart. The resulting tome is a treasure trove of history, photographs, data, and technical information, indispensable to any serious Porsche or motorsport enthusiast.

Product details

Author:	Glen Smale
Details:	320 pages, 10.8 x 9.25 in (27.5 x 23.5 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	750 b&w and color photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Motorbooks International (USA, 2021)
ISBN:	9780760369050

Porsche Spyders 1956-1964 - Type 550A, RSK and 718

The great success that Porsche enjoyed with its first 550 Spyders spurred its small but effective racing cadre to a more ambitious design with its 1956 Type 550A. A stiffer space frame was inside the 550A that Umberto Maglioli drove single-handed to win the 1956 Targa Florio, hailed at the time as Porsche's greatest victory.
Experiments in 1956 with an even smaller racer, the Type 645, ended with a disastrous crash. Not for nothing was it nicknamed Mickey Mouse.

In 1957 Porsche created the immortal RSK, a race and hillclimb winner. The RS60 arrived in 1960 to meet new rules, winning Sebring outright. It evolved into the RS61 and then the Type 718, using the Grand Prix eight-cylinder engine.

Races and hillclimbs throughout the world were mastered by these agile silver cars through 1964. See them all depicted in magnificent images from the Ludvigsen Library.

Product details

Author:	Karl Ludvigsen
Details:	128 pages, 8.5 x 10.25 x 0.79 in (21.5 x 26 x 2 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	122 b&w photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Iconografix (USA, 2007)
ISBN:	9781583882009

Porsche Spyders: Type 550 1953-1956

n. The pedigree of Porsche as car designers was brilliantly affirmed by its creation of the 550 Spyder competition roadster. See the 550 Spyder in all its variations, from its origins in experimental Porsche models to the amazing and finely crafted one-off specials of Walter Glockler.
With its superb four-cam flat-four engine designed by Ernst Fuhrmann, the 550 became known as a giant-killer for its racing successes on tracks all over the world. As tough as it was handsome, the 550 was winning races years after its official launch at the Paris Salon in 1953.

Exclusive photography of the 550 in the Ludvigsen Library shows its engineering, its evolution and in action in races in Europe and North America. This book is must reading for all Porsche enthusiasts.

Product details

Author:	Karl Ludvigsen
Details:	125 pages, 8.5 x 10.25 x 0.31 in (21.5 x 26 x 0.8 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	122 b&w photos
Language:	English
Publisher:	Iconografix (USA, 2003)
ISBN:	9781583880920

Porsche au Mans - 70 ans

Seventy years of Porsche participation in the world's greatest motor race! Following the triumph of the 356 in the 1951 edition, Porsche has accumulated more successes at Le Mans than any other manufacturer, including a record seven consecutive victories from 1981 to 1987.

The author takes us aboard the legendary cars - 550 Spyder, 718 RSK, 904 906 907 908 910 917 936 935 956 962, GT1 and the hybrid 919, victorious from 2015 to 2017 - to relive the exploits of legendary drivers such as Derek Bell, Herbert Muller, Helio Castroneves, Mario Andretti, Jacky Ickx, Jo Siffert, Jochen Rindt, Mark Donohue and Vic Elford.
A precious collection of epic stories, race results, photos, data and technical information...

Product details

Author:	Glen Smale
Details:	320 pages, 11.2 x 9.7 x 1.26 in (28.5 x 24.5 x 3.2 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	570 b&w and color photos
Language:	French
Publisher:	ETAI (F, 2022)
ISBN:	9791028305277

Porsche - La passion du sport (2e édition)

This book, which is part of the "Dossier Chronologique" collection, presents us year by year with the history of a legendary name among all motorsport: Ferdinand Porsche. At once designer, outstanding engineer and manufacturer, his name is inseparable from the sportiest brand in German automobiles.

Illustrated with numerous colour documents from the Porsche archives, as well as from unpublished private collections, this book covers the technical characteristics and history of all models, and is intended to be the reference work for fans of the brand as well as all lovers of fine sports mechanics.

Product details

Author:	Constantin Parvulesco
Details:	208 pages, 12.2 x 9.25 in (31 x 23.5 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	600 color photos
Language:	French
Publisher:	ETAI (F, 2006)
ISBN:	9782726886649

Porsche 550 Spyder

In 1953 Porsche began to build cars especially designed for motorsports, starting with the 1500 RS Spyder, the then official name. The light construction with under 700 kilos kerb weight plus the powerful engine made for excellent driving performances and it was road legal, too.
In this fine box, Stefan Bogner captures the classic and pure form of the Spyder and stages some of the rare original models in a large-format coffee-table book. A separate factbook contains well- and lesser-known information on the groundbreaking sports car.

The sporting successes of the Porsche 550 Spyder are legendary: In 1956 Umberto Maglioli achieved the first motorsports overall-victory for Porsche at the Targa Florio. Numerous victories and podium finishes followed.
Until 1957 just a little more than 100 Spyders were built, which makes the car one of the most expensive Porsches today. Its most famous owner adds to this: The news of James Dean's tragic death by accident in a 550 Spyder went around the world - to this day both are immortal.
Have a look at one of the most exclusive Porsche models of all times and experience a piece of German automobile history!

Product details

Author:	Stefan Bogner
Details:	304 pages, 12.2 x 11.6 x 1.97 in (31 x 29.5 x 5 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	251 b&w and color photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Delius Klasing Verlag GmbH (D, 2021)
ISBN:	9783667119797

Mythos Le Mans - Die Porsche-Sieger - Autos, Technik, Fahrer

Since 1923, legends have been written, heroes born and the future tested at Le Mans. And with 19 victories, Porsche has contributed far more to the myth than other brands.
The Porsche racing cars also became absolute icons, this applies to the first Le Mans-winning 917 as well as to the last 919 Hybrid.

Star photographer René Staud invited these Porsche winners to his studio: Artfully arranged and with an eye for detail, he continually reveals new facets of the sports car. And what drivers, technicians and engineers have to say about the individual models is hardly less breathtaking than the art of photography!

Product details

Author:	René Staud, Bernd Ostmann
Details:	240 pages, 9.1 x 12 in (23 x 30.5 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	200 b&w and color photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Motorbuch Verlag (D, 2020)
ISBN:	9783613043442

Porsche - Das Rennen vor dem Rennen - Der Weg nach Le Mans

The development of a racing car is kept very secret as sporting and economic success are at stake. Almost 50 years ago, Porsche opened the locked doors for the first time and gave a glimpse of development and testing.

In this volume, Paul Frère takes a look behind the scenes and describes the feverish work before the race and between events to improve performance and handling or to iron out defects. He also names the reasons that cost victory in so many races and reveals the long development path to a successful competition car.

Product details

Author:	Paul Frère
Details:	296 pages, 9 x 6.7 in (24 x 17 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	150 b&w and color photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Motorbuch Verlag (D, 2020)
ISBN:	9783613043435