GP Projects RS60 Spyder – Porsche 718 RSK Evocation
Price - £22,500
Mileage - 12,768 miles
MOT - Exempt
John Maher Racing 1,914cc Engine
133bhp
Berg Five-Speed Gearbox
Quaife ATB Differential
Few competition cars capture the spirit of 1950s and early 1960s motorsport quite like the Porsche 718 Spyder.
Developed from the legendary Porsche 550, the 718 RSK and subsequent RS60 became formidable competitors on circuits and road courses around the world, enjoying success at events including Le Mans, the Nürburgring, Sebring and the Targa Florio.
With just 34 original RSKs and 19 RS60s produced, surviving examples are exceptionally rare and command extraordinary values.
The enduring appeal of these lightweight, open-cockpit racing machines inspired a small number of specialist manufacturers to recreate their distinctive appearance and driving experience.
Among them was GP Projects of Princes Risborough, a British company with a background in competition cars, which developed a fibreglass-bodied Spyder evocation based around shortened Volkswagen Beetle underpinnings.
Supercar Group is delighted to offer this GP Projects RS60 Spyder, a particularly interesting example that goes considerably further than a conventional replica in its mechanical specification.
Built for Performance
While the appearance captures the character of an early Porsche competition Spyder, it is beneath the bodywork that this example becomes especially interesting. Power comes from a 1,914cc air-cooled flat-four engine built by John Maher Racing, incorporating an extensive range of specialist internal components. Developing 133bhp at 6,500rpm, the engine produces approximately three times the output of a typical period Volkswagen Beetle 1500.
Its specification includes polished and ported CB Magnum cylinder heads, Gene Berg stainless steel valves, an Engle performance camshaft, a counterweighted crankshaft and twin Dellorto DRLA 40 carburettors. A stainless steel Tube Torque exhaust system provides the finishing touch to a thoroughly developed air-cooled engine. Cooling and lubrication have received equally serious attention, including a SCAT deep sump and a 13-row Mocal oil cooler assisted by twin eight-inch Kenlowe electric fans.
A Properly Developed Drivetrain
The engine is complemented by a Gene Berg five-speed close-ratio gearbox, blueprinted by John Maher Racing. A significant improvement over the conventional Volkswagen four-speed arrangement, the five-speed transmission provides closer ratios to make better use of the engine's power and higher-revving character.
A Quaife ATB limited-slip differential further enhances the drivetrain specification, while a Kennedy high-pressure clutch has been fitted to accommodate the increased performance. The level of investment is substantial. The gearbox work alone is documented at approximately £4,000, with the engine work reportedly extending into five figures. Rather than being built merely to resemble a classic racing Porsche, this Spyder has clearly benefited from considerable attention to the mechanical aspects of the driving experience.
History and Documentation
Accompanying the car is an extensive history folder documenting its development and ongoing maintenance. The file includes detailed invoices, build notes, the original construction manual, wiring diagrams, correspondence and other supporting documentation.
These records provide valuable insight into the work carried out and the thought behind the vehicle's mechanical specification. For an individually constructed specialist vehicle, this level of documentation is particularly welcome.
Mechanical Specification
Engine – John Maher Racing-built 1,914cc air-cooled flat-four
- CB Magnum 044 cylinder heads, polished and ported with three-angle valve seats
- Gene Berg stainless steel valves
- Engle dual valve springs
- 1.25:1 ratio rocker arms
- Engle 125 camshaft
- Counterweighted crankshaft
- Lightened, eight-dowel flywheel
- SCAT deep sump, approximately 1.5-litre additional capacity
- Mocal 13-row oil cooler
- Twin Kenlowe eight-inch cooling fans
- Twin Dellorto DRLA 40 carburettors and manifolds
- Tube Torque stainless steel 4-2-1 exhaust system
- Reported output of 133bhp at 6,500rpm
Transmission
- Gene Berg five-speed close-ratio manual gearbox
- Blueprinted by John Maher Racing
- Quaife ATB limited-slip differential
- Kennedy high-pressure clutch
A Distinctive Driving Proposition
Lightweight, open and mechanically engaging, the GP Projects Spyder offers a very different experience from a conventional classic sports car.
Its character lies in the simplicity of the original Spyder concept, combined with a considerably more developed Volkswagen-based drivetrain. The result is an individual and characterful specialist vehicle, supported by extensive documentation and benefiting from substantial investment in its mechanical specification.
Available to view by appointment at Supercar Group, Malmesbury, Wiltshire. Please contact us for further information or to arrange a viewing.