Porsche 550 Spyder Electric Go-Kart: 1:2.3 Scale Collector’s Model

A scaled Porsche 550 Spyder can be more than a display piece: this electric go-kart was built to drive. Made by Pennewitz Design in Lüdersfeld, Germany, under license from Porsche, it reproduces the classic racer at 1:2.3 scale. The example now offered from Waltham, Massachusetts, is said to have been purchased 18 years ago and left unused since.

Its appeal rests on the contrast between the 550’s racing history and the kart’s compact, electric format. There’s a rear-mounted Lenze motor, selectable fast and slow settings, and a single-seat cockpit dressed with period-inspired details. The listing includes a battery charger, Porsche keyring and MP3-player accessories. No price or motor output is given in the source, so the practical performance and value case can’t be assessed from the available details.

A small kart with a serious racing reference

The original 550 Spyder was Porsche’s first car developed specifically for competition. The company built just 90 of the early ladder-frame cars between 1953 and 1956, including prototypes. Their racing record made the model an important part of Porsche history long before its shape became a familiar reference for collectors.

The 550’s layout reflected ideas explored by racing specials built from Volkswagen and Porsche components by Frankfurt dealer Walter Glöckler. Porsche paired a steel tube ladder frame with a hand-formed aluminum body. Its suspension used Volkswagen-style trailing arms and transverse torsion bars up front, with swing axles and torsion bars at the rear; hydraulic drum brakes served all four wheels.

Early cars used a 1.5-liter pushrod flat-four rated at 77 bhp. The 550 made an immediate mark: Helm Glöckler won his class at the Nürburgring’s Eifelrennen in May 1953, and two 550 coupés took first and second in class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans the following month.

Porsche later introduced Ernst Fuhrmann’s Type 547 engine, a 1,498 cc air-cooled flat-four with two overhead camshafts per bank, shaft-and-bevel-gear drives, dual ignition, dry-sump lubrication and a roller-bearing crankshaft. In 1954 specification it produced 108 bhp at 6,200 rpm, sending power to the rear wheels through a four-speed gearbox. At about 1,213 pounds (550 kilograms) dry, the car was quoted with a top speed of 137 mph (220 km/h).

The 550 combined a steel tube frame and hand-formed aluminum body with torsion-bar suspension and drum brakes. Images provided by Porsche AG.

Its results extended beyond those first outings. Hans Herrmann and Herbert Linge won their class and finished sixth overall in the 1954 Mille Miglia. That year, 550s also won the 1.5-liter and 1.1-liter classes at Le Mans, while Herrmann finished third overall and first in class at the Carrera Panamericana. Porsche later applied the Carrera name to 356 models fitted with the four-cam engine and to later 911s.

The 550A arrived in 1956 with a lighter, stiffer spaceframe in place of the ladder frame. On June 10, Umberto Maglioli drove one to overall victory in the Targa Florio, giving Porsche its first overall win in a major sports car race.

Electric drive and carefully chosen details

Pennewitz’s kart carries the familiar Spyder silhouette in Stone Grey plastic bodywork, with red stripes on the rear fenders and a chassis made from steel and aluminum. Porsche and Spyder badges, leather engine-cover straps, a side mirror, working front and rear lights and a simulated center-exit exhaust give the miniature a finished, road-car-like presentation.

The electric drive sits at the rear, and the driver can select fast or slow settings. The kart rolls on 12-inch steel wheels fitted with Impac Street Runner tires. A cross-drilled disc on the rear axle provides braking. The source gives no speed, range, charging time or battery specifications, leaving key operating details open for anyone considering it as a usable kart.

Inside, brown upholstery, a wood-rimmed three-spoke steering wheel and simulated instruments carry the period theme into the cockpit. A BogieMann II MP3 player and rear-mounted speakers add a distinctly modern touch. It’s a presentation focused on recreating the experience and look of the 550, with the electric motor making the vehicle usable without attempting to reproduce the original’s combustion drivetrain.

Stone Grey plastic bodywork sits on a steel and aluminum chassis, with red rear-fender stripes and 550-inspired trim.

What the listing establishes

The seller reportedly bought the kart 18 years ago, and it has remained unused during that time. The identification plaque and serial number are still attached to the aluminum chassis. It is being sold with a bill of sale, alongside the charger, keyring and MP3-player accessories described in the listing. Prospective bidders will want to establish the battery’s present condition and confirm that the motor, lighting and player work, since the source reports no checks or operating results.

The sale listing and bidding details are available here. With its Porsche license, identifiable chassis plaque and detailed cockpit, this is a niche collectible with real driving hardware. Its next owner’s key question is whether that long-stored electric system is ready to run.

Images courtesy of Bring a Trailer.