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Reply to "Gene Berg 5 speed"

I also noticed that George B's posts were removed. I snipped the following history from Terry Hill's Spyder history page which indicate a 5 speed and a flat 8 engine:

1955 Spyders win 1100cc and 1500cc class at Le Mans. Factory cars fitted with semispaceframe to improve rigidity, plus closer ratio five speed gearbox. Lighter and more rigid Porsche powered Coopers ('Poopers') outrun Spyders in US and Maserati 150S, EMWs prove embarrassing in Europe. Total production run 78, excluding works cars.

1956 Power raised to 130bhp and chassis revised as a full spaceframe along lines of 356/01 for the type 550A, nicknamed RS. Swing axle rear suspension revised in keeping with low pivot system used by Mercedes to counter extremes of camber change. Umberto Maglioli wins Targa Florio and annexes another Porsche model name. Type 550A production run believed to be 37. Works cars sometimes use larger bore 1587cc and 1679cc engines. Narrow track, short wheelbase, low drag, wishbone rear suspension type 645 version called Mickey Mouse (after its handling). Conveys works driver Richard von Frankenberg over banking at Avus and into life saving tree.

1957 Type 550A doubles up for new formula two against open wheel racers. Iron Curtain refugee Edgar Barth's works car wins class in German GP. Front suspension is revised, having transverse torsion bars in K shaped framework to promote negative camber in lower, sleeker car using type 645 nose. Mechanic's nickname of RSK sticks although the suspension reverts to near normal, the K shaped front frame disappears and Porsche calls it the type 718.

1958 Rear suspension again revised to have Mercedes style Watts linkage location (and Lotus type coil springs) to control geometry changes. Power of works engines for 1500cc class raised to 142bhp, necessitating complex oil cooling matrix using surface of nose panel. RSK converted to central seat configuration to win Reims formula two race.

1959 Production run of 37 Spyder Type 1500 RSK customer cars started, using 148bhp engines. Several buyers, including Jean Behra and Carel Godin de Beaufort, buy dual purpose sports or central seater RSKs. Goodbye to swing axles: works cars reach 162bhp, have lighter frame and wishbone rear suspension. Old RSK wins Targa for Barth as new one's suspension breaks on last lap. Formula two development roars ahead as 1.5litre F1 announced for 1961.

1960 New Appendix J sports car regulations dictate large full width screen which hinders small engined Porsches more than larger Ferraris. Porsche updates RSK to longer, smaller wheel, RS60 form, using 166 bhp formula two engine. For the first time, private owners can buy works specification cars. Alternative 1600cc engines gave 178 bhp. RS60s having 185bhp 1679cc engines narrowly beaten by Ferrari for manufacturers' championship after winning Targa.

1961 RS60 renamed RS61. Racing development concentrates on reluctant flat eight formula one engine, wishbone and coil suspension, plus new fangled disc brakes. Tough and reliable RS61 wins Targa again and special bodied Carrera Abarth version of production car takes GT events. Rakish Zagato designed GT nose then combined with Spyder body as basis of two works 718 coupes and one open W-RS using 1966cc 165bhp version of standard Carrera GT's, more torquey plain bearing engine. RS60 retires four miles from end of Targa while in the lead, W-RS takes second place, then fifth overall at Le Mans.

1962 W-RS fitted with new 210bhp 1982cc version of flat-eight engine and disc brakes. Crashed or placed in numerous endurance events, fails to outrun agile RS61s because of heavy engine.

1963 W-RS receives wishbone and coil front suspension to herald end of traditional VW system. Fitted with experimental glassfibre panels and 225bhp flat-eight. Type 718 version wins Targa; W-RS only seventh (stuck in first gear). Barth wins European Mountain Championship: 240bhp on tap.
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