A Porsche 550A that won the 1956 Le Mans endurance marathon in its own vehicle class will cross the auction block later today expected to attract up to $7,500,000.
Porsche quickly rose to prominence in motorsports in the fifties. Many cars from that era still belong to the company or its former employees, but the upcoming auction is a remarkable exception. As such, it may be of interest to the richest car collectors out there.
The racecar with the chassis number 0104 was assembled specifically for the 1956 Le Mans race. Piloted by a team of Porsche drivers, it came fifth in the overall standing and first in its own category. It then proceeded to race in various events all the way until 1968.
Most 550A models on open sale are Spiders, but this one is a rare coupe version with a silver-tinted aluminum body. Its 1.5-liter engine pumps out 110 PS (108 hp / 81 kW).
Like nearly all racecars out there, the one on sale has gone through several rebuilds over the years. A few years ago, it underwent a complete restoration that saw its exterior and technical specifications reverted to OEM.