GTP Cool Wall: 1953-1956 Porsche 550

[Jahgee]

1953-1956 Porsche 550 nominated by @Jahgee1124

Bodies: 2-door coupe, 2-door spider
Engine: 1.5L flat-4
Transmission: 4-speed Manual
Drivetrain: Mid Engine, Rear Wheel Drive
Power Output: 108 HP

Note that the man pictured is James Dean with his personal 550

 

[Jahgee]

Moved to OP, this post can get deleted

 

[Dagger311]

Sub zero. Saw a replica at my first ever car show. It's sweet.

 

[AudiMan2011]

James Dean. That is all that needs to be said about this car. Steve McQueen is just a bonus.

 

[Slash]

Meh. Doesn't really appeal to me, never cared for that flat, floaty roadster style cars like this.

 

[Turtle]

Colder than cold things. Sub-zero.

 

[GTP_Ingram]

With the Lancia Fulvia, the Citroen SM and this, the cool wall is polling three of my all-time favourite cars in a row. Undoubtedly the coolest Porsche, and indeed one of the coolest cars of all time. Sub Zero

 

[Dagger311]

Here it is! Kind of a replica, anyway .

Edit, dammit, wrong photo...

Double edit: Right photo, I just had a brain fart. That was the only Vintage Porsche there.

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

One of the few Porsches from that era that is truly attractive. Sub Zero.

 

[Wolfe]

I'm tempted to vote Uncool because it's so damn overrated and this thread will be filled with references to that infamous accident, including members whose parents weren't even born yet when it occurred. Blah.

However, I'm a fan of Mille Miglia cars, and it's historically significant on its own merits. Oldschool roadsters like this are classy, and old Porsches are Cool by default.

 

[mustang fanatic]

And I thought the GT40 was small.

Anyways, meh. It's alright, but I really don't care for the looks that much.

 

[Wiegert]

Seeing a Brazilian-built replica parked up on a London street last month gave me a good idea of how sublime these 550s look from almost any angle. Simple, yet elegant.

Replica or not, this thing should grab most people's attention for all the best reasons. And because it's so synonymous with historical open-road racing.

 

[Clark]

James *****n Dean, don't need to say any more than that. The fact that it killed him just makes it even cooler.

It's a race car for the road, but it doesn't look all macho and aggressive. It just looks perfect.

 

[Dagger311]

I'm tempted to vote Uncool because it's so damn overrated and this thread will be filled with references to that infamous accident, including members whose parents weren't even born yet when it occurred. Blah.

However, I'm a fan of Mille Miglia cars, and it's historically significant on its own merits. Oldschool roadsters like this are classy, and old Porsches are Cool by default.

What accident?

 

[AudiMan2011]

What accident?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Dean#Accident_and_aftermath

 

[Zenith]

Replicas, replicas, replicas.

Cobras suffer from the same problem. Too many replicas.

Is this car exempt? Hmmm... Not sure.

 

[Adamgp]

Can't do Sub Zero for this one, so Cool it is.

 

[Dagger311]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Dean#Accident_and_aftermath

Well that sucked.

 

[cbarbosa]

Sub-Zero! 👍

 

[Xilor]

For some reason I really don't like the way it looks. Would give it uncool but its racing pedigree drags it up to Meh.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

Even without the Dean connection, it's still SZ for me. Saw an actual one this summer, and could not get over the size and the details. Such an awesomely cool car, the type that nobody would say anything negative about if they saw you drive by. Sweet 👍

 

[MoLiEG]

One of the most iconic cars in history.

Subzero!

 

[Parker]

An easy Sub Zero.

 

[JAHHAJ]

Sub Zero.

 

[TheCracker]

Too many replicas. Too many connotations with a dead actor. A lowish cool.

 

[SVX]

Gorgeous looks + 1950s sports car + light weight + European = Sub zero. And this car doesn't prove that statement otherwise.

Fixed, same statement for this car. 👍

 

[Dennisch]

Replicas, replicas, replicas.

Cobras suffer from the same problem. Too many replicas.

Is this car exempt? Hmmm... Not sure.

If you see a 550 99 out of a 100 times it is a replica.

But still, it has that oldschool racer vibe.

Cool.

 

[Joey D]

Sub-Zero. I consider James Dean to be right up there with Steve McQueen in terms of old school cool, so that really helps the car's image. Plus it's just a fantastic design and oozes appeal.

 

[GTPorsche]

Sub-zero without the James Dean connection.

 

[AlvaroF]

Old Porsche + Kings of cool connenctions (and even without them) and we get the coldest of the coldest.