Porsche 718 Spyder RS Panamericana Special: Tribute to Historic Victory

Porsche honors its legendary automotive heritage with an extraordinary creation: the 718 Spyder RS Panamericana Special. This one-of-a-kind vehicle commemorates the 70th anniversary of the official Porsche team’s historic participation in the first era of the Carrera Panamericana Mexico.

[source: Porsche AG]

As the final piece of a special trilogy celebrating the brand’s success in this emblematic Mexican race, drawing inspiration from the iconic 550 Spyder, it will also be auctioned for charitable causes. As a perfect addition, TAG Heuer pays tribute to this legendary race through the release of the limited TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon x Porsche Panamericana.

A one-of-a-kind vehicle

Porsche Latin America unveiled the 718 Spyder RS Panamericana Special, a one-of-a-kind vehicle commemorating Porsche’s most significant success during the 1954 Carrera Panamericana Mexico. This edition is considered Porsche’s most successful among the brand’s three participations since 1952. Hans Herrmann, piloting a 550 Spyder, secured an impressive third place overall and clinched victory in the Sport category for cars up to 1500 cc. This remarkable achievement not only elevated Porsche’s status in global motorsport but also proved so memorable that—combined with the experiences of 1952 and 1953—it inspired the iconic “Carrera” naming.

Using the 718 Spyder RS as a foundation, Porsche aimed to recreate the spirit of the historic mid-engine 550 Spyder with its lightweight construction—the first vehicle specifically designed for racing that outperformed rivals with larger engines. A Porsche Latin America team, collaborating with Exclusive Manufaktur experts at Porsche’s headquarters in Germany, developed this model. Their joint effort completed a trilogy of cars created through Sonderwunsch, Porsche’s exclusive personalization program. This trilogy celebrates the 70th anniversary of three remarkable Porsche participations in the Carrera Panamericana.

“From the beginning to the modern era, La Carrera Panamericana Mexico is far more than a competition for Porsche. One only needs to look at the 911 Carrera or the Panamera—both named to honor the events that unfolded here in Mexico 70 years ago. The Sonderwunsch Inspiration cars represent exceptionally special projects, and Mexico was entrusted with three consecutive ones: the 911 Carrera Panamericana Special, the twin 718 Cayman GT4 RS Carrera Panamericana Specials, and this year’s 718 Spyder RS Panamericana Special”, said Tobias Eninger, CEO and President of Porsche Latin America. “The latter celebrates the legendary 550 Spyder, with which Hans Herrmann achieved remarkable feats. Each car commemorates a successful moment that individually resonated through the years, but collectively, transformed Porsche into an iconic brand.”

Celebrating Porsche’s Success in Mexico

In 1954, during the final edition of “golden era” of the Carrera Panamericana Mexico, Porsche cemented its legacy in this legendary rally. The brand achieved its best result to date, showcasing the exceptional capabilities of its sports cars in one of the most grueling races in those times. Porsche fielded a team of four official 550 Spyders, driven by an international quartet: Mexico’s Salvador López Chávez, Argentina’s Fernando Segura, Guatemala’s Jaroslav Juhan, and Germany’s Hans Herrmann. The race spanned five intense days, covering over 3,000 kilometers from the southern Mexican Border at Tuxtla Gutiérrez in the state of Chiapas, to the northern border at Ciudad Juárez in the state of Chihuahua.

The Porsche 550 Spyder featured the first race use of the 1500 cc four-camshaft engine, which was groundbreaking technology for its time. Combined with the lightweight aluminum bodywork, this engine enabled the car to reach speeds exceeding 200 km/h, allowing it to outperform heavier vehicles with engines more than three times its size. This victory was not just Porsche’s first as an official team; it also led to the Fuhrmann engine being dubbed the “Carrera Engine” and later inspired the name of Porsche’s most exclusive model line.

Completing the trilogy: the new Porsche 718 Spyder RS Panamericana Special

The Porsche 718 Spyder RS Panamericana Special, distinguishes itself through aesthetic enhancements, exclusive equipment, and historical nods. Centenaire silver adorns nearly all aerodynamic elements, including the carbon fiber components from the Weissach package. This striking color extends from the NACA ducts on the front, through the fascia and lower air intakes, to the rear spoiler in Gurney Flap format. The Magnesium wheels are complemented by high-gloss black ceramic composite brake calipers (PCCB), offering a contemporary twist.