by John Glynn | Feb 8, 2015 | Classic Porsche Blog, Market & Prices
After a slow-ish start to 2015, no doubt the investment end of the air-cooled Porsche market is going again. High-end 964s are the latest target and the 964 Turbo in particular seems to be doing pretty well. Let me rephrase that: people have gone mental with the prices being paid for 964 Turbos.
Doing some Porsche insurance valuations this week, I got talking to one 964 Turbo owner with a few other cars in the garage who could not believe the interest in his growing Porsche fleet. Having bought a relatively low mileage car behind closed doors in mid-2014 for £150k, he was recently offered £200k for the same car. That is £50k in your hand after six months of ownership.
Still slightly dizzy from that, I then heard of a 964 Turbo that had just sold through a UK dealer for THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND ENGLISH POUNDS. Not a rare Turbo S: just a low mileage Turbo. Then yesterday I followed the sale of two as-new Turbo S models for more than half a million pounds each. That is a direct sale with no advertising.
It’s not all air-cooled in the mad world of Porsche. 996 GT2s are also being chased pretty hard, with many deals done off the radar. An 11k-mile, two owner car in black has just sold (unadvertised – directly between owner and buyer) for a substantial six-figure sum – more than I would have expected. I value the rare 997 GT2s quite highly for insurance purposes, but 996 GT2s are now chasing them hard.
I am not endorsing the prices or saying that this is the place to put your money! Nor is this a comment on the supposedly respected Porsche dealers all around the world who are still happy to take uneducated buyers for a ride. I hear about them all the time and it is not good business. These are dealers I would be happy to buy from myself, helping sellers and buyers to get what they want.
I know some of the guys buying these cars and they are true-blue enthusiasts: great people to enjoy all Porsche cars with – no airs or graces involved. It is good to know that some of these cars will get used, but scary to think of where they are now and where they might finish. Will we see many 964 Turbos being used and enjoyed through 2015?
by John Glynn | Feb 2, 2015 | Classic Porsche Blog, Market & Prices
Alex sent through these cool pics of his Porsche 964 Speedster. This 911 Speedster is believed to be the sole Tiptronic example manufactured of apparently just 14 RHD 964 Speedsters – although that’s currently unconfirmed.
What is confirmed is this is a 1992 production car, believed to have been shown at the British Motor Show in UK spec before heading off to Singapore. From Singapore, it went to the well-known Giltrap family in New Zealand, who then sold it on to a local enthusiast. It passed through one more owner before being bought by a doctor in 1998. Alex bought it from the doctor.
While the earliest pre-1990 964 Speedsters were built on turbo-look bodyshells, later versions like this one were constructed using standard Carrera 2 Cabriolet shells. I’ve had a few drives in both and the narrow-bodied cars are sharper and tighter.
As with the earlier 3.0 911 SC Cabriolets, the 3.6-litre engine feels notably different in an open-top car. That fat exhaust note is pretty special with the roof off: I have vivid memories of driving alongside the Amsterdam canals with my mate Jan in his silver 964 Speedster.
Jan’s car was a manual – it would be interesting to see what the Tip gearbox feels like in a Speedster. Two pedals in that RHD footwell doesn’t look quite right, but no doubt it adds to the interest factor.
Most people who rule out Tiptronic are just repeating something they heard elsewhere. I know a few 964 Tip owners who really like the cars: a nice 964 Tiptronic Coupe is currently undergoing full strip and restore with a colour change at Rob Campbell’s Racing Restorations in Pershore for an overseas client. I’ll share some pics of that later and maybe sneak a drive when the project is complete.
As for this particular car, I could get a chance to try it out later this year as I hear it is coming to Goodwood. I may be charged with helping Alex find a new home for it if it comes up for sale.
by John Glynn | Jan 26, 2015 | Classic Porsche Blog, Porsche News
The first time I visited my friend Jonas Zambakides at JZM Porsche, I had just come from Autofarm. “How’s Josh?” asked Jonas. “He’s talking about selling the business,” I said. “He’s been saying that since I met him twenty years ago,” laughed Jonas. I could not disagree.
Autofarm is not too far from Ferdinand Towers, so I get down there every so often. On my last visit, a deal to buy the business was in progress – chatting with the buyers was interesting and the contracts have now been exchanged. Porsche 911 RS Carrera guru, Josh Sadler, has sold his Autofarm business to long-time employees: Mikey Wastie and Steve Wood.
Autofarm under New Management
It’s hard to imagine Autofarm without Sadler’s extensive understanding of the 2.7 RS close at hand. Originally founded at the same time as the RS was released, Sadler’s Autofarm became synonymous with the passage of RS Carreras from old homes to new. His famous little black book has more chassis numbers than a Porsche Museum catalogue, and it seems Sadler is not finished collecting them yet.
The new owners have split the business responsibilities, with Mikey running engines, projects and restoration, while former Carrera cup pilot and keen racer Steve will manage the service and storage sides. Sadler stays on in a heritage capacity: there is no better word to describe his core skills in the business of Porsche.
“Stepping back from the day-to-day running allows me to focus on car sales and heritage. As 911 values have risen, provenance has become increasingly important and investors are seeking perfect, correct specification cars. With Autofarm’s expertise and history, we can really help customers,” says Josh.
I don’t claim to know anything about the Carrera RS, but I’ve spent a great deal of time with RS people. Some supposed experts were all smoke and mirrors, and some who I assumed would be largely nonplussed on the subject of Carrera RS and early Porsche race cars like the ST or T/R knew much more than they thought. No doubt Sadler can comfortably hold his own in any RS discussion: I’m glad he will still be around.
Despite his annoyingly youthful appearance, Mikey Wastie’s served a valuable apprenticeship under Sadler, so is not short on knowledge. The company has managed some interesting restoration projects over the last few years, and the new owners will open the doors slightly wider, to bring in a few more modern Porsches. Autofarm will have quite a different flavour with new hands on the tiller: I’m excited for the business – it might need a bigger car park.
by John Glynn | Jan 25, 2015 | Porsche News, Race and Rally
Tuthill Porsche celebrates tonight, following victory in the world-famous Monte Carlo Rally. Driving a Tuthill Porsche 911 in the R-GT category, François Delecour finished almost three minutes ahead of his rival, Romain Dumas, to win the opening round of the R-GT Cup.
“We’ve won rallies in Porsche 911s on every continent, but no rally means more to Porsche fans than Monte Carlo, site of so many classic moments in Porsche history,” said delighted team boss, Richard Tuthill. “To win on this event with the great François Delecour is extremely special: something we will always remember.
Having spent days with the Tuthill crew and most of the weekend keeping tabs on events in Monte Carlo via every available social channel, I know how hard the team worked for this win. Rallying may look like a rock-up-and-ponce-around event, but nothing could be further from the truth. The conditions were deadly: one false move from Delecour or one mechanical failure would have killed the whole effort. Victory in a heavier car with less power than the 4-litre RS of Romain Dumas, a more than worthy adversary, is an excellent achievement.
“An overall Porsche win is no longer possible in the modern World Rally Championship, but we treasure this win just as much,” Richard told me. “Fighting equally committed competitors in capable cars right to the finish was incredible. This year’s Monte Carlo Rally showed just how exciting R-GT rallying can be with more cars taking part.
Delecour in Tuthill Porsche wins Monte Carlo
François Delecour and co-driver Dominique Savignoni set quick times from the start of the 2015 Monte Carlo Rally, building a lead of more than three minutes as they entered the fourth and last day’s rallying. Over the final three stages, including the treacherous Col de Turini, Delecour shrugged off extreme pressure before sealing a memorable victory: the first Monte Carlo Porsche win since 1978.
“This rally has been a huge challenge,” said François. “Snow and ice on the twisty mountain roads makes a great test for the driver! The final day of managing the gap to Dumas while driving quickly to keep concentration was not easy: I am just so happy now! We will celebrate tonight with family and friends, and this amazing team of Tuthill Porsche.”
The Monte Carlo win puts Tuthill Porsche and Delecour on top of the 2015 R-GT Cup: a five-round FIA championship for R-GT cars. The next R-GT round is the Geko Ypres Rally in June, which Tuthill Porsche has previously won in historics, as part of a victorious Belgian championship campaign.
“Ypres is a mega event,” says Richard Tuthill. “Starting with a Monte Carlo win in our pocket, a wonderful car that the fans absolutely adore and this incredible driver and co-driver pairing will be a dream come true. R-GT rallying is a brilliant experience: we want to see more drivers signing up for 2015, hopefully using Tuthill Porsche 911s!”
Photos by McKlein Photography
by John Glynn | Jan 24, 2015 | Race and Rally
Much-loved Porsche maniac, French rally legend François Delecour, is currently leading the R-GT category of the 2015 Monte Carlo Rally. The event reached its mid-way point this evening, at which point Delecour’s 3.8-litre ex-GT3 Cup car was two and a half minutes ahead of compatriot and Porsche works driver, Romain Dumas in a GT3 RS 4.0.
Romain is doing a superb job in the 4-litre, matching Delecour’s pace to the second in some split sections on his first-ever Monte and setting faster times in a couple of stages. But Delecour is driving like a man possessed, because he is a man possessed: by a passion for this course. His previous Monte Carlo rallies don’t count for a great deal of pace, as the stages are brand new for everyone. It’s a very careful game of power versus know-how.
The rally kicked off last night (Thursday), with two long stages over a deadly ice-into-snow-into-dry-tarmac-into-ice surface. Everyone was running studded tyres: the only option in these freezing conditions, high in the mountains around the ski resort of Gap. Making his return to the WRC was fellow Porsche fancier and nine-time world champion, Sebastien Loeb, driving a one-off event for Citröen.
Reigning world champion, Volkswagen’s Sebastien Ogier, went first into the snow, setting a quick time right from the off. The WRC Live service streamed perfect TV pictures of the unfolding stage from Ogier’s front bumper, which were studied very closely. I was texting info back to the Tuthill service tent and maybe Loeb (below) was watching too, as he went out and set a time half a minute quicker than Ogier on the thirteen-mile section. The online rally world went nuts – such a great start to the Monte.
Three R-GT cars are running in this year’s Monte Carlo Rally: all of them Porsches. Delecour and Dumas are racing against Belgium’s Marc Duez in a 996 GT3 built to R-GT rules. Duez set an opening time of 20:38.0 over the stage. Dumas went 20:24.6: roughly 14 seconds quicker than Duez. Delecour went out with the bit between his teeth, setting a time of 19:01.2 – a full minute and 23 seconds faster than the 4-litre.
Stage 2 was another 20 kms. Delecour 16:56. Dumas 17:06, so another ten seconds chipped. Stage three took place early this morning (Friday) in thick fog and sheet ice. Delecour was eight seconds slower than Dumas, but went 17 seconds faster on the following stage.
On it went until the day’s final trial. This stage was a killer, with three top guys (Meeke, Loeb and Kubica) coming off heavily and ripping huge chunks off their cars. Delecour took it steady, finishing ten seconds slower then Romain, but with a lead now stretched to 2m30s. He was joyous on WRC Radio.
“It’s fantastic to drive a Porsche in Monte Carlo: it’s a dream,” he enthused. “When I was a little boy, I watched Waldegård and Nicolas, winning Monte Carlo in 911s, so today it is a dream for me to drive this car on this rally.
“Things now are more complicated than in the past, because we have to run these large tread tyres, which makes it very difficult to keep the car on the road in tricky conditions. But for now we are happy and will keep pushing hard.”
Pushing hard included losing his rear window and a brake line on Stage 5 (above), where he still went thirty-five seconds quicker over the course, with much-diminished rear brakes. The team changed the brake line and the rear discs and pads, and sent their young charger on his way.
“Our aim for this rally was a strong start to our R-GT Cup campaign,” says team boss, Richard Tuthill. “Everyone in the Tuthill Porsche workshop has worked tirelessly since the car’s last WRC outing on Rallye de France-Alsace, making changes required by the FIA and a few more based on driver feedback.
“François has also worked hard. His commercial efforts brought in a major new sponsor, and he’s maintained a high level of personal fitness through the winter. What we’ve seen in the last two days of rallying is a product of all that commitment.”
The 2015 Monte Carlo continues with four tricky stages on Saturday – including the two longest stages in the rally at 51 km and 36 km respectively – before finishing in the mountains above Monaco on Sunday afternoon. Follow the latest news and stage times on www.wrc.com or via @Tuthill_Porsche on Twitter.
Featured Photo Credit: Colin McMaster for McKlein Image Database
