Following an incomplete race in 1957, Porsche’s 718 RSK finished first in both S1.5 and S2.0 classes, taking third and fourth overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in ‘58. The following year, the car swept the Targa Florio, cementing the legacy of the RSK during this nascent period of Porsche’s eventual dominance of the endurance circuit.
34 RSKs were produced in total, the 24th of which is crossing the auction block next month in Pebble Beach, California via Gooding & Company. Originally owned by American privateer Ed Hugus, who entered this very example into 1959’s Le Mans race, the Spyder was emblazoned with the number 37 on its livery. Hugus also named it Lucybelle after the wife of his business partner. He eventually sold it to Don Ives, an amateur racer who competed with this 718 in an array of events, including the Pikes Peak Hillclimb in the early ‘60s.
Not only has the engine been rebuilt by 4cam expert Karl Loch in Germany, but the presentation of the car itself has been restored to look exactly as it did when Hugus raced it all those years ago. This RSK was delivered to Hugus in a silver coat by Porsche. However, the racer had a team repaint the car trackside, giving it a white coat with dark blue stripes and numbers. Today, Mark Allin and his team at Rare Drive, Inc. ensured historical accuracy by painting the exterior silver and then going over it again by hand with a white lacquer similar to what Hugus used.
Combining aggression and beauty through its curves, this spectacular 1959 Porsche 718 RSK restoration crosses the auction block on August 19 and 20 where it’s estimated to sell for between $4,500,000 and $5,500,000.
