1961 Porsche RS61 Spyder Sells For $1.705 Million

[carreraken]

1961 Porsche RS61 Spyder Sells For $1.705 Million

Based on the Porsche 718, the successor to the legendary Porsche 550 Spyder, the RS60, 61 and W-RS were campaigned in a variety of racing series throughout the 1960s. In 1960, Porsche RS 60s won the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Targa Florio and the European Hill Climb Championship.

The 1961 RS61 Spyder used a 1.6 liter Type 547/3 boxer motor, good for 160 horsepower. The car also featured a revised double wishbone rear suspensionto improve handling.

The Gooding & Company pre auction estimate for the car pictured was $1.2 to $1.5 million, but buyers clearly felt the car was worth more. By the time the hammer dropped, the RS61 Spyder had been bid up to $1.705 million.

[pwd72s]

Lemme take a peek at my checkbook...

[audiman08]

Even if I did have the money, I don't think I could shell out that much for a single car...I'd feel like a putz....but that's just me

[Neilk]

Originally Posted by audiman08

Even if I did have the money, I don't think I could shell out that much for a single car...I'd feel like a putz....but that's just me

and to add to the shear blasphemy, I think I would rather drive a Beck at a fraction of the cost. Sure it wouldn't be the same thing, but I wouldn't have to worry about parking it. Now if I had Google dollars, I'd buy it.

[URY914]

My '73 914 2.0 is for sale in the classifieds for $5,500. Just sayin'...

[herr_oberst]

Lotta money, but, oooooohhhhh what a pretty car. I'd rather have that than a similarly priced diamond or watch.

Plus, IIRC, this car can be turned into a monoposto, - try that with a watch.

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by URY914

My '73 914 2.0 is for sale in the classifieds for $5,500. Just sayin'...

I've been told that the difference between a $20 whore and a $2,000 whore is both considerable and memorable.

[URY914]

Originally Posted by Dottore

I've been told that the difference between a $20 whore and a $2,000 whore is both considerable and memorable.

100 $20 whores would be more than "memorable" if not "considerable".

[sammyg2]

A fool and his money are my best friends

[Hetmann]

I can't even fathom that kind of money for an old car. Good luck finding the greater fool. On the other hand, I'd love a 550 replica I could actually drive.

[kach22i]

It's a cute car, but I'd take Thunder Ranch plastic copy so I could actually drive it.

[sammyg2]

Anyone want to guess what it would cost to have a car craftsman replicate a car like that from scratch and make an exact duplicate? i'm talking about those guys who can make anything.The ones that take a bare frame and "restore" it until it's a perfect 1923 bentley being shown at pebble beach.

I bet it could be done for a whole bunch less than that guy paid.
There might be a well paying business idea there. Get the parts to patern off of, and start building hand made cars and selling them for half a mil each.

Porsche wouldn't mind, right?

[kaisen]

Sammy, that reminds me of a friend of mine that vintage races a few of his high dollar cars.
He was interviewed about it and they asked if he was worried about wrecking his multi-million dollar car on the track. His reply, "Why? I could never do millions in damage" (this was twenty years ago). This same fellow also answered another question posed here: "why buy X when you could have Y or Z for the same money?" He'd answer, straight faced, "I already own Y and Z" In this context, the buyer of the RS61 likely owns (several) other covetable Porsches, Ferraris, etc.

[DanielDudley]

Many of us would have to be there to understand it, but there are plenty of people that 1.7 million on a racer would be similar to buying a Carrera for the rest of us. The other factor to take into account would be that even if there are others woth the Millions, YOU as the WINNER, are the only guy to have this car.

So NYAH.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by DanielDudley

Many of us would have to be there to understand it, but there are plenty of people that 1.7 million on a racer would be similar to buying a Carrera for the rest of us. The other factor to take into account would be that even if there are others woth the Millions, YOU as the WINNER, are the only guy to have this car.

So NYAH.

You got that right, but even if I were in his shoes i probably would be able to justify it.

I really like having money, I just hate spending it.
Money is something to collect and save. The more money you have, the more freedom and independence you have.
The more you spend, the more enslaved you become.

[Dantilla]

Once the bidding passed 1.5, I thought I'd stop bidding, and wait for a 917.

[GG Allin]

Which one of those old RS Type Porsches had the center driving position?

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by mbrouder

Which one of those old RS Type Porsches had the center driving position?

I believe the very car being discussed on this thread has the capability of conversion to the monoposto, and back to the LHD as displayed in the picture.

[GG Allin]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

I believe the very car being discussed on this thread has the capability of conversion to the monoposto, and back to the LHD as displayed in the picture.

That's something I never knew. Here's one I saw a few years ago at the Geneva Concours.

[javadog]

It turns out that the guy that bought this car is Stirling Moss. I believe he is still in a hospital bed, after falling down an elevator shaft about a week ago.

At his age, given his condition, that's an interesting purchase.

JR