Don’t wait for stories to appear in the store when you can become a member of Wheelbase Media’s weekly news service and save more than 50 percent while gaining instant access to the new features as they’re produced. Click here to get started.

If you are not a member of the media, but still wish to read this and other feature stories from Wheelbase Media, visit www.shiftweekly.com to subscribe to Auto Shift Weekly newsmag, available for your Apple iPad or for your home PC or laptop in pdf format.

Description

The Porsche 550 Spyder established the German automaker as a legitimate constructor of performance street cars. After years of converting the cute little 356 model (above) for racing duty, Ferdinand Porsche set out to construct a purpose-built competition car, one that  eventually found its way to the street and into infamy at the hands of movie star James Dean (right).