Rami’s Racing History (Series 11) | Week 1 - August 18th, 2022
Here are the newly available cars this week.
The 1955 Porsche 550A Spyder is a seasonal exclusive car available as a reward for 20 points from the Summer Festival Playlist. The 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR is available immediately from the Autoshow for 143 million credits, but for those who don’t want to spend, it can be collected as a free reward with 160 points from the Series Festival Playlist (mathematically available starting with Autumn season).
| CAR | Car Type | PI Class | HP | T | Lbs | Engine | Layout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 Porsche 550A Spyder | Classic Racers | C 513 | 109 | 95 | 1510 | 1.5L NA F4 | Mid/RWD |
| 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR | Classic Racers | A 714 | 310 | 234 | 1984 | 3.0L NA I8 | Front/RWD |
The Porsche 550A has three engine swap options, with maximum power from the 330hp 2.0L F4 - TURBO RALLY engine.
1955 Porsche 550 Spyder
Known as the “Giant Killer,” the 550 was Porsche’s first foray into building cars specifically designed for racing. Actor James Dean bought and intended to race his 550 at Salinas in the fall of 1955 but died in a car accident shortly after completing filming of the movie “Giant”. The 550 with a Type 547 1.5-liter, flat-four, air-cooled engine produced a little more than 100 horsepower. One of the biggest steps forward was the space-frame tubular chassis which made it immensely lighter than its racing competition, as well as rigid and stable. This car set in motion Porsche’s racing prominence and helped build a reputation that sparked global sales. The 550 is nimble, agile, well-balanced, and quick, even bone stock. It generates a feeling of confidence and glory when being pushed through corners. Even when pitted against heavier, larger displacement cars, you will find that bigger is not always better.
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR
A treasured masterpiece, the original Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR is housed in a glass case at Mercedes’ Stuttgart Museum. Never again will it see the pavement or the risks of racing. In fact, with only two prototypes ever built, it is currently considered the most valuable car in the world as just earlier this year, the 300 SLR was sold at auction to a private car collector for $143 million. Driven by a young Stirling Moss and co-driven by journalist Denis Jenkinson, it won the 1955 Mile Miglia rally in record-breaking time and achieved incredible speed – a full 32 minutes faster than Juan Manual Fangio, who placed second in the other 300 SLR. Moss’s record time to finish the famed Mille Miglia in the 300 SLR has, to this day, not been beaten. The 300 SLR’s straight 8-cylinder engine, with state-of-the-art fuel injection and desmodromic valve actuation, gave high-revving reliable power. Depending on the tune applied and fuel type used, the car produced between 276 and 310 hp. Sadly 1955 also saw the end of Mercedes’ works-supported racing after the tragic accident at Le Mans. Mercedes did win the 1955 sports car championship, despite retiring at Le Mans out of respect for those who died. Later Sir Stirling Moss was invited on several occasions to relive the 300 SLR’s glory in vintage races before it was permanently retired.
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