1966 Porsche 550 Spyder Evocation (Aluminium)

Inspired by the Porsche 356, the 550 Spyder put Porsche firmly on the map as a serious competitor on the world's motor racing circuits. The diminutive mid-engined roadster with a 1500cc flat-four engine and a modest of 115bhp was light and handled superbly, soon gaining a reputation as a 'Giant Killer' for its ability to defeat much more powerful rivals. Introduced at the 1953 Paris Auto Show, the 550 and its second iteration, the 550A, remained in production until February of 1959, and a total of only 130 chassis were constructed before the 718 RSK Spyders appeared. A large proportion of 550 production was destined for the United States.The 550 will forever be associated with actor and budding racing driver James Dean. This association would be immortalised when, during September 1955, Dean was driving one of the first ninety 550 Spyders and fatally collided with Donald Turnupseed on his way to the Salinas Road Race. The 550 is among the most frequently reproduced classic cars, given its effortlessly pretty styling, its sublime driving dynamics and the prohibitive rarity and thus cost of an original example. The most sought-after homage cars are always hand-built out of aluminium, utilise a genuine Porsche engine and, where possible, have the look, feel and patina of the real thing. Combine this with the romantic image of the little silver Porsche being driven in the sun by a famous actor, and you are pretty damn close! This is all true of the car presented here.This car is something of an enigma. It was bought four years ago by our car-collecting UK vendor from the celebrated French Film and TV actor Arsene Jiroyan. During their shared correspondence in the build-up to the sale of the car (and at the lunch that followed in Cannes when our vendor clichéd the deal!), Arsene spoke about the history, as he believed it, of his car. The car was supposedly built by Autotechnica (A.T.L.) in Mandello Del Lario on Lake Como, Italy in the early 1970s. Ercole Zuccoli founded the company in the late 1960s with production ceasing in 1976. The car's aluminium bodywork is believed to have been crafted at A.T.L. by the talented 'artigiano' Giorgio Greppi, who subsequently set up "Carrozzeria Greppi" with his brother in Colico on Lake Como in the early 1970s. The Greppi brothers went on the build a number of aluminium classic Italian replicas including nine examples of the legendary Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale using the Superleggera construction design used by Touring for 1950s/60s Maseratis and Aston Martins. A.T.L. and early Greppi cars are now collected as important cars in their own right. Arsene states in e-mails to our vendor that, in the early 1990s, he was invited to the famous Gérier museum, established by the former racing driver, historian and car collector extraordinaire Serge Pozzoli to house his amazing vehicles. This visit may have coincided with an auction of cars held after the death of Pozzoli in 1992. Arsene viewed many cars in the main areas, but also some cars that were in storage behind the actual museum and weren"t for sale at this time. It was here he spotted this 550 Spyder, next to a Veritas BMW Barchetta. After many years of searching, Arsene rediscovered this same Spyder for sale and bought it. Since owning the car, Arsene has established that the car is mentioned in a book by Paul Frère. Arsene was also in contact with a man whose father was a mechanic at Le Mans and somehow knew of the 550 and confirms, in a hand-written letter, the A.T.L/Greppi and Pozzoli connections. All correspondence, e-mails, and this letter are included in the car's history file. Confirmed by its engine number, the car utilises a genuine 1600 C (Type 616/15) Porsche engine, as used in 1964 Porsche 356s models (built in 1963), whilst its chassis number relates to a VW registered in 1966. After our vendor purchased the car and when it first arrived on in the UK, it was transported directly to classic Porsche specialists Roger Bray of Exeter, who have particular expertise with 356s. The car was given a thorough health check and service, to the tune of £2,500. Since then, it has been well maintained, always garaged and drives very well. It is UK-registered, with an MOT until May 2018 and wears the evocative registration "515 AVO".There is a lot to like here, an intriguing car with an interesting history that may reward further research by its new owner. It turns heads like nothing else, with or without an actor behind the wheel!