by John Glynn | Sep 21, 2012 | Race and Rally, Classic Porsche Blog
The superb EB Motorsport Porsche 911 RSR returns to Spa this weekend, to defend both its 2012 World Sportscar Masters title, and outright victory in the separate Top Hat Masters race at the epic Belgian track last year.
First qualifying today was for Top Hat Masters: a production car series that permits a wide range of cars to be entered. Mark Bates brought the Porsche home in fourth place on the grid: a result he is rightly pleased with.
“There’s a huge Top Hat grid here at Spa,” said Mark. “Must be 60 or 70 cars: everything from pre-’66 Minis to a 1970s NASCAR. I led the Yank tank up the Kemmel Straight in practice and even at 145 mph, the force of air coming off the NASCAR was enough to push the 911 around.
“Fourth on the grid is fine. Last year we had pole with a 2:49, which some said couldn’t be done. Pole this year went to an Escort at 2:44, but that car is quite radical: rose-jointed suspension with solid bushes, 6-pot brakes: even the rain gutters either side of the windscreen are filled. Other cars up front are quick enough in qualifying, but can they keep that pace up for a 61-minute race?
“Fuelling at Spa is a headache, so I like to come here with fresh rubber and a full tank of fuel, go out and take it steady. That way, we gain speed through the whole weekend as the fuel burns off. I don’t know how others will play it: we’ll see how it all works out.”
World Sportscar Masters qualifying gets under way shortly – I’ll find out how that went and add the results to this post.
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by John Glynn | Sep 16, 2012 | Classic Porsche Blog, Market & Prices, Project Cars
The auction for the earliest LWB Porsche 911 just ended on eBay. Final price was £37,100. Assuming a quality Porsche restoration will cost at least £60,000, that makes the car £100k done. I’m sure whoever placed the winning bid thinks that will prove a good price in time, and I’m inclined to agree.
See below for a full copy of the eBay sales text. Here’s a screen shot of the bids from start to finish: the highest bid for most of the week was placed two days into the sale. The winning bid was placed twenty minutes from the finish.
That early bidder did well to judge the likely price so accurately – I wonder what stopped them going just that little bit higher.
The seller was my online Porsche friend, Brendan Mullan, up in Scotland. Here’s a copy of Brendan’s eBay sales text:
One of the most significant road cars in Porsche’s history
Chassis (VIN) number: 119200001 The First LWB Chassis Number
Engine number: 6290001 The First LWB Engine
Gearbox number: 2281682 Type 901/03
Build date: 28 June 1968
THE FIRST EVER PORSCHE 911E – MATCHING NUMBERS HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT 911
This is an amazing barn find story!
The car was discovered in a barn, where it had been for over 25 years, by two committed long term early 911 UK based enthusiast/owners and totally researched by us as genuine. Factory confirmed and virtually complete with unique colour combination. Probably the very first long wheel base (LWB) Porsche ever built. Totally unique.
First three owners were contemporary Porsche factory drivers of the day; Robs Lamplough, Paddy McNally and the immortal Jo Siffert. Built two months before actual LWB production began and used as a mule for six months at the factory. Converted by the factory from LHD to RHD for the first road driving owner. Personal letters from one of the first three owners confirming its early history. Unparalleled provenance.
This car has matching engine, gearbox and chassis (VIN) numbers. The very first ever LWB chassis (# 119000001) and the very first ever MFI E engine (# 620001). Confirmed as a factory Versuch (prototype) model, one of only three or four known to exist and this is the earliest LWB example. The car retains all its original Versuch tags with the factory prototype numbers along with the usual VIN plates. Documents on hand confirm its status. Contains a mix of SWB and LWB parts as would be expected in the summer of 1968 during testing of the new model. Unique original colour combination of light ivory exterior and red interior (all items present). Repainted black in the mid 1980’s but original colour still evident everywhere. Correct date stamped original parts, including four matching dated five and a half inch Fuchs wheels. All body panels except one front wing and the engine lid are original. Engine is complete from heat exchangers to air box. Gearbox original and complete. Original hydromatic front suspension has been replaced many years ago as most have. Interior in restorable condition. Uncracked SWB dash top. SWB rear lights. Seats, door panels, lower dash, carpets all in good to excellent condition. Original undamaged glass all round. Door pockets reasonable. Lovely date stamped steering wheel, stained and torn headlining. No hood badge.
As can be seen from the pictures the ducktail is obviously not original but the decklid grille fitted to it appears to be the correct one year only three bar 1969 grille. We have a very nice one year only 1969 decklid that will come with the car. The front seats shown in the pictures are also aftermarket replacements. We have the original red seats which are in restorable condition and will also come with the car. Although not shown in any of the pictures we also have the original bonnet.
This unique 911 will require total restoration: The shell is in a poor state and mechanical components will need a total renovation/rebuild. It will need a complete top to bottom nut and bolt rebuild but such an historically important car must be saved. Once this car is restored it will represent a benchmark example of the whole 911 development and in particular a watershed moment in the pre-impact bumper (longhood) programme.
We are both well-known contributors to early 911 forums. This is a private sale. We are not dealers. You can read all about the discovery of this amazing barn find 911 on our thread on DDK
The car is available for viewing and is currently located near Prestwick Airport in Scotland.
We would love this 911 to be bought and restored by an enthusiast who understands its position in Porsche history. We will be happy to assist any overseas buyer with transportation but any shipping and other charges will be the responsibility of the purchaser. We reserve the right to withdrawn this 911 at any stage as it may be sold elsewhere. Thanks for looking and good luck with your bidding.
An opportunity like this will never arise again. Car is sold as seen.
Please note that bidders with zero feedback should contact the seller directly before bidding as all bids with no feedback will be removed.
by John Glynn | Sep 7, 2012 | Classic Porsche Blog, Market & Prices
Classic Porsche simpatico, Brendan Mullan is selling his recent barn find Porsche 911 on eBay. But this is no ordinary Porsche dragged out of a barn.
Chassis number 119200001 is the first ever long wheelbase Porsche 911 built in Stuttgart. Bolted together on June 28th, 1968, I was five months old when this 911 rolled out of Zuffenhausen and under the bums of Lamplough, McNally and Jo Siffert: Porsche test drivers at the time.
The eBay description is as good as you’d expect from the Porsche enthusiasts selling this car, and the provenance is solid. More solid than the chassis itself, but rust is nothing that can’t be repaired. You can switch it back from RHD to original left while you’re at it.
What will it fetch? Who knows, but I’ve already had one phone call discussing possible sale price. It’s currently sitting pretty at £35k with 8 days left to run. I doubt it will be cheap, but what’s cheap in an ever-rising market? Interest rates are close to zero: putting (a lot of) money into this will return better than that in time. And if it sells to someone with a factory restoration team to do the work, then all the better.
by John Glynn | Aug 22, 2012 | Classic Porsche Blog, Market & Prices
A US friend just sent me a stack of pics from set up at the recent Mecum Auctions in Monterey, California, where Porsche entries fetched some record prices. I’m working on a post about the event, but I had to post this picture of a 356 straight away.
He calls it “put on your happy face”. It certainly brings mine out. Anyone else got Mecum or Monterey pics to share? Hit a brother up: mail@ferdinandmagazine.com.
by John Glynn | Aug 14, 2012 | Classic Porsche Blog, Porsche News
The Porsche 911 2.7 Carrera RS is 40 years old next month. The Porsche Club Carrera RS has planned a party running from September 13-16, with events centered around the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart. The programme uses words like ‘restricted parking’ and ‘exclusive dinner’, but don’t let that deter you: I’m sure it’ll be worth a look if you’re a Carrera RS fan in Europe.
Update from the organisers:
As a special birthday gift for our beloved cars, the Porsche Club Carrera RS was able to come up with a limited edition of oil filters, decorated with our event logo and with special imprints. The filter comes in red colour, just like the original Porsche filters used to be in the 70’ and 80’s. It was manufactured in a strictly limited number of 500 pieces in order to remind of the originally planned first series of 500 RS cars in 1973.
This special filter will not be for sale, but it will only be given to participants, sponsors and supporters of the RS World Meeting. We will mail one of these filters to each participant as soon as the entry fee has been paid. The entrant will receive another one during the event as a spare. This filter will fit to any 911 between 1972 and 1994.
There will be a special edition of a 1:87 scale model Carrera RS made by BUB for the event given to all participants. On Friday, Walter Röhrl will join our drive to Langenburg with the brand new 991 with the Sport Design package and “Ducktail”.
On Saturday at the Bosch proving grounds at Boxberg, the participants will be guided by some former or still active instructors of the Porsche Sports Driving School that would like to share their experience with the RS owners.
For Saturday evening we have some special guests, e.g. Manfred Jantke, who got appointed Porsche racing director in 1972 and thus experienced the first racing entries of the Carrera RS. Hans Mezger, the well known Porsche engine designer will also be there and tell some stories about his favourite RS souvenir, an original RS ducktail that he kept when he sold his prototype car in 1976.
There will also be a lucky drawing on Saturday night of many valuable prizes donated for the event by our sponsors.
This is bound to be well attended. Share any pics you take – would love to see it. Our email is mail@ferdinandmagazine.com!
