The UK proved the place to be for Porsche collectors recently as several records were set for rare examples of the German sports cars. Not only did RM Sotheby’s liquidate an impressive collection of 911s from the 1990s in London on Wednesday, but Bonhams set a record of its own with the vehicle you see here.
This highly original 1956 Porsche 550 RS Spyder is one of just 90 made, capable of trouncing bigger, more powerful cars of its day despite its humble 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. It’s the kind that was immortalized by James Dean, and has held cult status ever since.
Bonhams sold it to the highest bidder for £4,593,500 – equivalent to over $6 million at current exchange rates. That sum falls short of the £4,700,000 to £6,200,000 pre-sale estimate range, but was still enough to set a new record for 550 Spyders sold at auction.
The Porsche emerged the most valuable lot of the day, accounting for nearly a third of the £14.5 million at the Goodwood Revival sale. Other highlights included a 1965 Ferrari 275 that sold for £1.5 million, a 1950 Frazer-Nash (£610k), a 1967 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage (£455k), a 1971 Ferrari 246 GT Dino (£299,420), a 1962 Jaguar E-Type (£253k), a 1928 Bentley (£406,940), and a 1962 Lotus Elite (£103k).
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