by John Glynn | Feb 3, 2014 | Classic Porsche Blog, Porsche News
Excellent email from a Ferdinand reader in Brazil, who shares this picture of his family’s Porsche 356 Speedster. This 356 Speedster was originally owned by Ferry Porsche.
Bought by his dad in 1981, the car came via a young Brazilian Porsche racer who was sadly killed at Le Mans, then a local businessman and through a series of family friends. Eventually found unloved and in need of restoration, the Speedster was brought back to life and has been enjoyed as a living, driving entity ever since.
“It’s not a concours car by any means,” says the owner, “but it is in good shape. We like to drive it on weekends, and go to our local events, so we prefer to have a road-going car, than just a piece of art standing still.”
I’m getting a few more details. It’s an early chassis number for the Type 2 models, shown on the Porsche Kardex as a “Versuchwagen” fur T-2 (T2 prototype), and listed as first owned by Ferdinand Porsche Junior (Ferry Porsche).
Absolutely super cool. Colour changed from Aquamarine to Red somewhere down the line, but easy change it back if you consider that important. Ferry would be happy that it’s still in use and bringing joy.
by John Glynn | Feb 2, 2014 | Classic Porsche Blog, Market & Prices
Former BFG Porsche 962 motorsport PR chief Michael Hodges has returned to his desk following an inspirational trip to the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, and sends details of a classic 1968 911 coming up for sale at Brooklands Historic Auction next month (March 8th).
“Restored by the current vendor to a very high standard, this fine example should whet the appetite of any serious Porsche collector,” says the auction description. “This is, without doubt, one of the finest 911’s we have seen for some time.”
I note that Silverstone Auctions also has a 1976 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 Targa in their Race Retro sale, on 22nd-23rd February. Originally a Silver Sportomatic, it is now McQueen Slate Grey with a manual gearbox.
The early car is estimated 42-48k, but who knows what might happen on the day. The C3 Targa is no reserve, but I wouldn’t expect it to be cheap, as it looks good in grey on 15″ Fuchs. 90k miles too, which is roughly same as my engine with a few snapped head studs.
Targa paint is pretty recent so have a good look at the body. The interior looks original and is super rare. Please don’t change it if you buy the car: that is very cool. Consider going back to Silver and don’t be too worried about the Sporto. Our friends at Racing Restorations are very good with Porsche paint and body restoration.
by John Glynn | Jan 30, 2014 | Art and Books, Classic Porsche Blog
January 30th is the anniversary of Professor Ferdinand Porsche, who died on this day in 1951. We remember the Professor with admiration and respect, enjoying his legacy while working on the Cult of Porsche book.
In Stuttgart 1931, astride a successful career working for others, Ferdinand Porsche founded an engineering consultancy that would change the face of motoring. Porsche and his team created some of the world’s most iconic cars, and patented technology still in use today.
Already a successful automotive leader and engineer when freelance took hold, with designs including the world’s first 4wd electric hybrid, and the famous Auto Union racing cars, Professor Porsche would not create the cars which built the world’s most successful automaker, nor fully experience his family’s fame. Yet Ferdinand’s creed resonates from every Porsche produced, through one instantly-identifiable ‘Porsche line’.
Unique in the automotive world, this Porsche line drives and binds our community. A fascination with Ferdinand has underpinned my working life for ten years and counting, and brought a rewarding creative partnership with one of the world’s finest photographers, Jamie Lipman. Working with James continues to inspire great stories.
The Cult of Porsche book
We’ve wanted to create books with these stories for a while, and have finally found the ideal creative partner and patron in Ricoh, the respected Japanese imaging company. Alongside their market leading commercial electronics business, Ricoh owns Pentax cameras and has developed a exceptional range of Ricoh production printers. Keen to test their production technology to the max and sponsor real stories with passion, Ricoh has invited us to create a series of three books, collating some of our best work to date.
Two versions of each book will be available: a quality hardback version and a limited, beautifully bespoke edition. We’re revisiting some favourite stories, and have also created some brand-new material. We’ll be using a number of groundbreaking Ricoh innovations to deliver a print experience like no other! Our first book will launch at the London Book Fair in April, and Ferdinand Press will publish and distribute the books right here online.
by John Glynn | Jan 28, 2014 | Classic Porsche Blog, Porsche News
We’re familiar with pictures of Ferdinand Porsche in dark hat and overcoat, or in three-piece tweeds, looking through a wheel. These senior pics have kindled a soft, shed-tinkering grandfather image. But here’s a pic you might not have seen before, which proves he was once a young thruster, keen to get ahead.
Now, the Porsche Museum has rescued the vehicle he designed for his success: the Egger-Lohner C2 Phaeton. This first-ever Porsche design has been brought back to Stuttgart and will be officially unveiled on January 31st: the museum’s fifth birthday.
Ferdinand Porsche P1
Porsche called it the P1 (Porsche 1), engraving the designation into its main components (below). As with so much of Ferdinand’s early work, it was powered by electricity, with a compact drivetrain weighing just 130 kilograms. This 1898 vehicle had a range of up to 50 miles, with a switchable body for summer and winter. Excellent!
In 1899, Porsche raced his creation at the international vehicle exhibition in Berlin: centre of the motoring universe. Over a 25-mile course and with three passengers on board, Porsche drove his own P1 to victory, 18 minutes ahead of his nearest competitor. The man was a proper legend.
Porsche is presenting the P1 as a historical artefact, prefacing Porsche’s early commissions and his later work. No over-restoration and no recreations: kudos to them for making it so. I urge you to visit Stuttgart and learn more about Ferdinand and the P1 at the Porsche Museum. Entry is free all weekend over Feb 1st and 2nd.
by John Glynn | Jan 26, 2014 | Race and Rally, Porsche News
Porsche has claimed a richly deserved victory on the maiden event of the 2014 Tudor United Sportscar Championship. Running the 24 Hours of Daytona with a two car works RSR team, Stuttgart combined trademark reliability with masterful pace when it mattered, to bring the lead 911 home just seconds ahead of its closest competitor and take its 76th class win at the high-speed Florida circuit.
I don’t know who called the driver mix of Richard Lietz, Patrick Pilet and Nick Tandy, but the chemistry could not have been better. Running anywhere from P1 to P4 over the course of a hard day’s racing, the trio were supreme against the SRT Viper race cars, which had looked unassailable in qualifying. Not to mention the mighty space-framed GTLM Corvette race car, which seemed to have ultimate speed for much of the race.
Many incredible stories reared their heads across twenty-four hours of racing, but the most exciting came in the final three minutes, when Joey Hand’s BMW Z4 got within touching distance of the number 911. My heart was in my mouth for the last two laps, as TV cameras focused instead on a titanic scrap in the GT Daytona class. When the cameras swung back to the Porsche, it was Pilet crossing the line for the win.
I am in meltdown: that was incredible. If this is a sign of things to come in 2014, we are in for a memorable season. Now we need more factory racing posters!
