1959 Porsche 718 RSK Center Seat For Sale

Immensely successful with factory drivers and skilled, well-heeled privateers, Porsche’s 718 RSK Spyder debuted in 1957 with the purpose-built competition spaceframe and Type 547 roller-crankshaft, DOHC powerplant ushered in by the prior 550 Spyder. Capable of defeating many seemingly more formidable opponents, the 718 RSK finished third overall—a Porsche first—at Le Mans in 1958. Since the FIA approved full envelope-type bodies for the 1957-58 Formula 2 seasons, the 718 RSK was also available with a center-mounted steering box and scored further victories so equipped at Reims and Avus. Of the as few as 34 built, only an estimated six 718 RSK Spyders were built with center-steering, and of them, four were factory-built with provisions to quickly switch between center- and offset-steering configurations for F2 and sports-car races, including this 718 RSK, Chassis No. 718-028.

Built in April 1959, this 718 RSK was delivered new with the center-seat adaptation to successful privateer racer Christian Goethals of Belgium. In addition to finishing fourth with 718-028 in the car’s first race at the 1959 German Grand Prix, Goethals drove this 718 RSK to victory at the 1959 Leopoldville Grand Prix in the Belgian Congo. In 1960, Goethals co-drove 718-028 with Curt Delfosse to sixth overall and third in class at the Buenos Aires 1000km Grand Prix. Other notable outings in 1960 included a class win at the Formula Libre Prix de Paris at Montlhèry and a second-place podium at Spa. Additionally, Goethals scored two overall victories at Belgium’s Lance Anvers hillclimb.