1958 Porsche 718 RSK #31 Pilots: E. Barth, P. Frère Team: Porsche KG Race: 4th overall (1st in S 1.5 class) at Le Mans in 1958 Spark - S1875 (resin)
Published 05/12/23
Designed by Wilhelm Hild, Porsche produced the 718 RSK model from 1957 to 1962. The 718 was the evolution of their very successful 550A, or rather, the 645 Sypder. The 645 was a prototype that used a 550 chassis. It had a shorter wheelbase and a unique suspension, along with a welded magnesium body. Though promising, Porsche only made one prototype, and it crashed at the 1956 AVUS-Rennen. Using the 645 as the base, Porsche developed a steel tubular space frame chassis, covered by an aluminum body. In terms of design, the rear looked somewhat like the 550, while the front was more like the 645. Porsche called the new car “RSK”, with “RS” standing for Rennsport, while the “K” came from the new suspension. That’s because the car’s revised torsion-bar front suspension looked like a K. On the rear, it used Watt-linkage coil springs over telescopic shock absorbers.
For the engine, Porsche also used a power plant based on the 550’s, which used the 1.5-liter 4-cam Fuhrmann engine. To increase power Porsche enlarged the 4-cylinder boxer engine up to 1448 cm³. With that, the new Typ 547/3, with DOHC and placed at mid ship, delivered 110.4 kW (148 hp). Without fluids, the car only weighed 570 kg, making it quite nimble. In fact, it could even threaten bigger cars. The 718 RSK was Porsche’s 718th project, and finished it in May of 1957. That being so, it was in time for Porsche to debut it at the 1957 24 Heures du Mans. With a 3-car strong team at La Sarthe, one of them was the 718 RSK. Unfortunately however, while leading the S 1500 class, an accident with an Aston Martin took the car out.
Despite the unlucky start, fate changed in 1958. Porsche enrolled the 718 RSK in a myriad of races around Europe, with the car bringing home many victories. In fact, it even came in second overall and first in class at the Targa Florio that year. Just a month later, Porsche was back to La Sarthe, this time with three 718 RSK. 718 RSK #31 (chassis #718-003) came in fourth overall and first in the S 1500 class. Moreover, car #29 (chassis #718-005), with a 1587 cm³ engine, came in third overall and first in the S2000 class. Respectively, that was Porsche’s 12th and 13th class victories at Le Mans. Not bad for a manufacturer whose car first raced there in 1951 – and won its class!
The 718 is kind of an obscure model, though it raced from 1957 to 1967. During those 10 years, it earned around 700 class podium places and more than 250 victories. Interestingly, those numbers make it Porsche’s most successful racing car! In 1:43rd it is a beauty of a model from Spark. Unfortunately though, it is an older release and quite rare nowadays. I was very fortunate to find this one, and just as important, it was cheap 😁! Sometimes you get lucky, and this was one of those times.