24 Hours of Le Mans: Olivier Gendebien / Maurice Trintignant, Scuderia Ferrari, Ferrari 250 TR/58, battles with Claude Dubois / George Hacquin, Equipe Nationale Belge, Porsche 550 RS. Copyright LAT – Motorsport images.
KNOKKE-HEIST, Le ZOUTE – August 13, 2024 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – On October 6, the Bonhams|Cars Zoute Sale is set to present a remarkable piece of automotive history: the ex-‘ECURIE NATIONALE BELGE’ 1956 Porsche 550RS Spyder Chassis 550-0082. This iconic vehicle is estimated to fetch between €3,500,000 to €4,000,000.
Chassis no. 550-0082, the 9th car of its model, was completed in March 1956. Ordered by Porsche’s Belgian distributor, D’Ieteren Freres in Liege, it was delivered in Belgium’s racing color of yellow to Ecurie Nationale Belge. This team was formed by the 1955 merger of Jacques Swaters’ Ecurie Francorchamps and Johnny Claes’ Ecurie Belge.
The car was subsequently raced extensively by many noted Belgian amateurs, including Claude Dubois, Christian Goethals, Georges Harris, Freddy Rousselle, Georges Hacquin, Alain Dechangy, Yves Tassin, and the celebrated lady competitor Gilberte Thirion. With six events on its calendar for the 1956 season, it achieved a number of podium finishes, including 3rd at the 12 Hours of Reims. Its crowning achievement that season was a class victory at the 1000 km of Paris at Montlhéry, finishing 20 seconds behind Phil Hill and Alfonso de Portago in a Ferrari 857 S. After multiple races and podium finishes including the Nürburgring and Spa, the car’s most significant event was the 1957 24 Hours of Le Mans, making it just one of ten 550 Spyders to contest the fabled race. The car, eligible for Le Mans Classic and the Mille Miglia, is offered in fully restored condition and comes with an extensive history file with period documentation.
Philip Kantor, International Chairman Bonhams Cars commented: “Our team is genuinely thrilled to bring such a significant piece of Belgian racing heritage to the public eye. The opportunity to showcase this remarkable vehicle in front of its home crowd for the first time is truly a special occasion for us.”
Sale: The Zoute Sale
Location: Knokke-Heist, Le Zoute
Date: 6 October 2024
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