Bob Ingram (former honcho of Glaxco) drove his '55 Porsche 550 Spyder to the "first Saturday" Cars & Coffee today in north Raleigh. The car is absolutely spectacular. When I first saw it I honestly thought it was one of the aftermarket kit cars, until I walked up on it and saw it for what it is - one of the very few remaining 550 Spyders. I don't know how many are left, but I know it's not many.

This is the same model Porsche in which James Dean died in 1955.

The blood red Speedster parked next to the Spyder is nearly as valuable as the Spyder. It's the very last 356 Speedster produced, and it has the 356 Carrera engine, and aluminum body panels (hood, trunk lid and doors). One of Mr. Ingram's employees named Allen (from Roads Scholars) drove it to C&C this morning.

I was chatting with Allen about the Spyder, and mentioned that a friend and I had determined that it was likely a 7-figure car, but we weren't sure if the first number was a "1". He smiled and said "try a 2".. The car's restoration is impeccable... I never imagined I'd actually see one on the road.

Life is good...

 

Man! Gives me goose pimples!

 

Spectacular!

 

Thanks for sharing. Just beautiful!

 

Amazing. Wonder if it was restored by Porsche ? Can't imagine who else you'd want to restore a car that valuable. Thanks for the pics.

 

I was told that the lads from Road Scholars (http://www.theaircooledguys.com/) who work for Mr. Ingram, did the restoration.

 

Man...looking at it makes me feel so deprived....

 

Way back.....in the early 70s, these and especially Speedsters were just old Porsches. The term collectible had not been thought of by many.
A friend bought one of the 550s back then for $6,800.00. In 1990, he sold it for $800 thousand, unrestored. It would go for twice that now.

 

More pics

 

straight classic.....

 

definite 7 figure car. Wonder what insurance rates are???

 

OMG!!! I want one so bad

 

Nice!

 

That's all I was able to take. The car had a crowd around it all morning..

 

elemental.