One of the rarest and most sought-after Porsche race cars from the 1950s, a 718 RSK Spyder, will be offered by Bonhams during its Connecticut auction held May 31 in conjunction with the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance.
The 1959 Porsche 718 RSK Spyder is one of just 34 built, and they became among the most successful sports racers of the era, winning at Le Mans, Sebring and the Targa Florio in Italy, where Porsche scored a 1-2-3 finish.
Powered by the legendary 1.5-liter twin-cam flat-4 engine, the RSK Spyder became known as a “giant killer” for vanquishing cars with much larger engines, such as the V12 Ferraris that dominated endurance racing.
This well-documented Porsche RSK is being offered for new ownership for the first time in nearly a half century, Bonhams says in a news release.
“This rarity, combined with its success in competition, gorgeous looks and renowned driveability, makes it a very desirable car among collectors,” Bonhams says. “Better still, this particular example, chassis no. 718-031, has a well-documented history and was extensively raced in period by legendary driver Bob Holbert at numerous SCCA and international events, including the 1959 Bahamas Speed Week.
“During its career, it was quite successful and regularly either won its class or won overall in the races in which it competed.”
For more information about Bonhams’ Greenwich sale, visit the auction website.
