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.

After the season, Goethals commissioned Porsche to install a 1600cc engine at the factory in Stuttgart, where the car remained until Goethals sold the car to Carmelo Guiffre of Mohawk, New York. Guiffre shipped 718-028 from Germany to the United States and later sold the car to G.F. Leydorf Jr. After years of perseverance and a very lucrative trade offer, Rick Grant of Dayton, Ohio, was finally able to acquire 718-028 from Leydorf. Grant had it restored for vintage racing and entered it into more than 100 events with John Higgins driving.

Displayed at the 2009 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, 718-028 retains most of its original Wendler alloy bodywork. The twin-Weber carbureted type 547/3 engine (No. 90220) was rebuilt by Porsche 4-cam expert Bill Doyle at California’s Rennwagen Motor Company. Documents with the car include letters and telegrams dated 1963-64 from Goethals to Guiffre, shipping invoices for the car’s export from Germany to New York in 1964, an original Porsche 718 RSK Spyder driver’s manual and a Telefax from Jurgen Barth of Porsche stating the car’s factory engine and gearbox numbers. A true racing icon, 718-028 is eligible for myriad exclusive vintage racing events because it has the option to convert from center-seat to two-seat configuration.