Porsche 550 Prototype Coupe Specifications
The first two Porsche 550s were coupes and had slightly different specifications than the 550 Spyders that came afterwards.
Engine
- Type 547: Four cylinder 4 cycle, box motor, air cooler, horizontal opposed, 4 overhead camshafts
- Power: Approx 110 HP @ 6200 RPM
- Bore: 3.35 in (85 mm)
- Stroke: 2.59 in (66 mm)
- Piston Displacement: 1498 cm actual, from formula cubic 1487 cm
- Compression ratio: 9.5:1
- Crankcase: Aluminium
- Cylinders: Aluminium hard chromed walls
- Cylinder head: Aluminium
- Valves per cylinder: 1 intake, 1 exhaust
- Valve operation: 4 camshafts driven by 2 vertical shafts
- Crankshaft: Full roller bearing, built up
- Pistons: Aluminium
- Air blower drive: V-belt, crankshaft to generator shaft
- Crankshaft-blower ratio: 1:1
- Air volume: 1100 ltr/sec at 6200 RPM
- Engine lubrication: Dry sump, with oil cooler and oil filter in main current
- Firing order: 1-4-3-2
- Distributor drive: Camshaft
- Spark plugs: Temperature valve 260 – 280 C
- Carburetors: Solex 40 PJJ or Weber 40 DCM
- Muffler: 2 mufflers leading into 1 exhaust pipe
- Clutch: Fichtel & Sachs, K 12 Porsche Special
- Transmission: 4 forward speeds, helical gears, synchronized, 1 reverse
Gear ratio
- 1st gear: 11:35
- 2nd gear: 17:30 – 16:31 – 18:29
- 3rd gear: 23:26 – 22:27 – 24:25
- 4th gear: 27:22 – 25:24 – 26:23
- Reverse gear: 1:3.56
- Shifting: Ball and socket and push rods
- Rear axle: Spiral bevel pinion, ZF lock type differential
- Gear ratio: 8:35 – 7:31 – 7:34
- Top speed: 124 mph
Chassis
- Frame: Tubular, seamless steel tubing
- Front springing: 2 transverse, 4-leaf adjustable torsion bars
- Rear springing: 1 round torsion bar on each side
- Shock absorbers: Fichtel & Sachs, telescopic hydraulic
- Front: 26 x 90
- Rear: 36 x 140 HA
- Front wheel suspension: Longitudinal suspension arms, outside needle bearings
- Rear wheel suspension: On oscillating half axles
- Steering: Special worm gear with divided tie rods
- Steering ratio: 1:14.15
- Operating brakes: Oil hydraulic foot brakes to all four wheels
- Parking brake: Hand lever operating cable to rear wheels
- Brake drums: 11.0236 in (280 mm)
- Brake lining width: 1.5748 in (40 mm)
- Total effective surface: 115 sq in (744 sq cm)
- Wheels: Disc
- Rims: Aluminum
- Tyres front: 5.00 – 16 in
- Tyres rear: 5.25 – 16 in
Dimensions & Weight
- Wheel base: 2101 mm / 82.7 in
- Front tread: 1290 mm / 50.8 in
- Rear tread: 1250 mm / 49.2 in
- Dry weight: 550 kg / 1213 lbs
Electrical Accessories (6 volt)
- Battery: Varta Special 6 V/70 amp
- Starter: Bosch EED 0.4/6 L 18 / Bosch LI/GE 160/2 2500 L 10
- Generator: (LI 20/1 P 45)
- Voltage regulator: Bosch RS/UA 160/6/15
- Distributor: Bosch 2 V 2/6 K 10
- Coil: Bosch TK 6 A/5
- Spark plugs: Bosch W 260 T 2 – W 270 T 17 or equivalent type
- Ignition switch: Bosch SH/ZS 1/1
- Starter switch: Kirsten 5232
- Light switch: Kostal 7473/3 with voltage regulator
- Beam deflector switch: Bosch SHNF 2/1
- Blinker unit: SWF 2 x 20 watt, Type BGA
- Blinker switch: Bosch SH 12/27 HI (2 circuit) without bulb
- Brake light switch: Teves (On master brake cylinder)
- Head lights: Bosch LE/YE 180/X 2/7
- Blinker and park light: Bosch LE 14/16 N 2
- Tail, brake, blinker & back up lights: Bosch LE 14/16 N 1
- License plate lights: SWF EL 153-1
- Horn: Bosch HO/EZ 32/32 D 1 or D 2
Price
- List price (1955): US$6,800.00
