What's the difference between '55, '56, and '57 models if any...?

Sorry if this has been asked before but I am relatively new to Spyders and many of the books I found at the bookstore don't go into much detail about the 550. What are the major and minor differences between the 3 years? Also am I correct in assuming that the Spyder was only produced between 55-57 or did they make them before and after those years? Was the car ever offered in other colors than silver? And a question about the headrest, for those that did have that as an option, did they ever come for both passenger and driver or was it a driver only option (talking about the original car here)? Sorry for all the questions. Thanks!!!

Teddy:

I believe all your questions will be answered by reviewing a recent publication: Porsche Spyders, Type 550 1953-1956 by Karl Ludvigsen LIbrary of Congress Card No. 2002112473. Should be at any major bookstore. Got mine at Amazon.com.

also a good book is Porsche Racing Milestones by Hal Thoms. I just got it from Amazon and it answered a lot of my questions along with the where's and why's of all the racing changes through the years. Oh but if we could build a 904 knock off, it was the las to use the 4 cyl. engine and such a beautiful body. Larry in Kansas

you can build a 904 knock off...

see Martin and Walker's website or buy the remains of Avanti - they both make 904 replicas.

Mike

Mike, could you give me that 904 replica web site? Larry

www.904gts.com is the M&W site

I am not sure where or if the Beck 904 will resurface - it has been removed from the Avanti Motors website...

Mike

Teddy:

Other books you might want to check out are "Porsche 356 & RS Spyders," by Gordon Maltby, and "A Passion for Porsches," by the late, great racing journalist, Denis Jenkinson.

Page 126 of the Maltby book contains and excellent photograph of the space frame chassis that Porsche used in the 550A (1956), which offered significant improvements in torsional and longitudinal rigidity over the twin-tube ladder frame employed in the 550. In a way, the picture represents what could have been but never was in the Beck and Vintage replicars, which use twin-tube (afficionados may like the authenticity) and what might be called "unresolved" (non-trangulated) chassis respectively.

The replicar manufacturer that probably came closest to the 550A chassis (and also used rack-and pinion steering instead of the ubiquitous TRW steering box employed by the others) was McRae Spyders of New Zealand, but unfortunately, Graham McRae, a former Formula 5000 champion (and Indy "Rookie of the Year" in 1973), became ill last year and closed his business. Perhaps a new manufacturer will emerge to incorporate modern technology and safety features in a replicar that maintains the cachet and excitement of the original Spyder.

Regards,

Peter ("cogito")

Teddy: Check out "The Porsche Book" by Lothar Boschen and Jurgen Barth. The chapter on the Glocker Porsche to RS61 is very informative.
I doubt that more than a handful of Spyder enthusiasts know that the original chassis tubes were used for the VW type hot air heater. Jurgen Barth's father, Edgar Barth, raced against (with EMW) and then with Spyders in the 1950's. Cheers!