History - A sportscar of my dreams

1956

1956

Where all began

The first prototype of the 718 RSK started in the Winter of 1956 to prepare the car for the 1957 season. It was a development of the 550A Spyder, using a lighter tubular space frame construction, stronger brakes and a revised front suspension. The original 718 RSK weighed just 1,168 pounds, making the most out of its 1.5-liter, 142 horsepower flat-four.

1957

Introduction to the world

Its competition debut was the 1957 24 Hours of Le Mans, where the single 718 entered crashed out of the race on lap 129. After some additional development work.

1958

The success line starts

Its first major victory came in March 1958 at the Sebring 12 Hours where a factory 718 came in third place overall, just seven laps down on the two leading Ferrari 250 TRs. Porsche 718 took also second place at the Targa Florio, sandwiched between two Ferrari 250 TRs, and third, fourth and fifth at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

1960

1960

Major Upgrades

Porsche upgraded the 718 in 1960 with reshaped bodywork and engines that utilized a stronger crankshaft, enabling engine speeds of up to 7,800 RPM. The new version was dubbed the RS 60 and it claimed victories at the Sebring 12 Hours and the Targa Florio, with a second place finish at the Nürburgring 1000 kilometers. Overall, Porsche took second place in the World Sportscar Championship that year, losing only to Ferrari.

1961

Name Changes

Porsche didn't change much for 1961, just the name, which was now the RS 61, appropriately. The company took home a third place manufacturer's prize in the 1961 World Sportscar Championship, though the 718 didn't post nearly as many victories as it had in prior seasons.

1962

A temporary Stop

1962 saw Porsche enter a factory 718 along with the new eight-cylinder 804 in Formula 1, though its only victory that year was a victory at the French Grand Prix with an 804 driven by Dan Gurney. Porsche pulled out of F1 after the 1962 season and began work on the 718's successor, the 904.

While the 718 didn't have as much success towards the end of its life, it was a seminal car for Porsche, setting the stage for decades of racing dominance to come. It showed that four-cylinder Porsches could keep up with much more powerful Ferraris and the like. In many ways, it was the pinnicale of Porsche's flat-four racecars.