A factory-built Porsche race car with documented wins across America returns to the spotlight this April, as one of the most complete and meticulously restored 550A Spyders heads to Monaco later this month.
Consigned through RM Sotheby’s with a pre-auction estimate of $4.0 million to $4.4 million, chassis 550A-0116 was delivered new to driving ace Jack McAfee’s dealership in Burbank, California, on March 4, 1957. Already an established SCCA competitor with experience campaigning Ferraris for John Edgar, McAfee quickly recognized the balance and agility of Porsche’s lightweight Spyder platform.
The car made its competitive debut on June 15, 1957, at Paramount Ranch, where McAfee secured a second-place finish in a preliminary heat before taking two race wins the following day. That early success set the tone. By late July, the 550A claimed victory at Pomona and soon became a dominant presence in SCCA competition, with wins at Palm Springs, Riverside, Laguna Seca, Phoenix, and Altamont. Over the following seasons, it amassed more than 25 race wins between 1957 and 1962.
The 550A represented a major step forward for Porsche, replacing the earlier ladder chassis with a lightweight spaceframe, improving rigidity and handling. Production was limited to just 40 units, and this particular example, completed on February 18, 1957, retains its matching-numbers gearbox, along with its original engine case.
Ownership history remains fully documented from new. After its early success under McAfee and Stan Sugarman, the car passed through a sequence of dedicated enthusiasts and racers across California before moving internationally to South Africa, Japan, and Germany. In 1993, it underwent a comprehensive overhaul by Freisinger Motorsport, Germany, returning it to a period-correct configuration while incorporating a 1959 aerodynamic nose.
Its most recent chapter reflects an uncompromising approach to preservation. In 2019, the car entered a comprehensive six-year restoration under UK-based Porsche specialist Andy Prill, where invoices amounted to over $400k. Over 1,000 labor hours, focused on returning every system to factory specification. Suspension, brakes, and electrical components were rebuilt to original tolerances.
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The aluminum body, known for fatigue due to its magnesium content, received careful structural attention while retaining key original sections. The engine was reassembled using a factory-exchange crankcase sourced from Italy, while the original matching case accompanies the sale.
Another detail worth highlighting is that following early race damage, McAfee requested a modification that allowed the rear bodywork to hinge upward, mirroring the earlier 550 Spyder design. The feature remains intact today, and during restoration planning, the decision was made to preserve it, recognizing its relevance to the car’s competition history.
Shown at the 2014 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, where it earned Best in Class for post-war competition cars, this Spyder is now presented in what Prill describes as “box-fresh” condition.
Accompanied by its Type 550A Driver’s Manual, period photographs, and race documentation, this example offers both historical continuity and mechanical integrity. It crosses the block as Lot 165 at the Monaco Auction on April 25, positioned as one of the most complete surviving 550A Spyders.
Images: RM Sotheby's