Following a retreat from the peak prices of 2015/16, the classic Porsche market worked hard to regain some momentum and settle back into a groove through 2017/18. Auction results for the last twelve months show how few really rare Porsches came to market through 2018, as many sat on their collections awaiting a more optimistic picture.
The truth was that things were not all bad and the lack of product may have helped what was offered for sale to do well: surprisingly well, in some cases. Here are the top five results from auction sales in 2018.
1: Porsche 959 Dakar – sold for $5,945,000
It’s hard to believe that the ex-1985 Dakar Porsche 959 was the headline auction result for the entire Porsche marque in 2018. This car was one of the first factory Porsche race cars I truly got close to, as it lived at Tuthills when I bought my first 911 and began spending time there. I enjoyed many hours in and around this factory rally car back in the day.
The car was offered at RM Sotheby’s groundbreaking Porsche-only sale at the Porsche Experience Centre in Atlanta. Truly selling to the converted, the Dakar 959 blew pre-auction predictions to pieces and sold for almost twice the low estimate, coming in just under $6 million including premium. A superb result for a factory rally car that failed to finish the Dakar.
Porsche 550As dominated the big-money Porsche sales through 2018. With Le Mans competition history including fifth overall and second in class and a class win at the 1958 Nurburgring 1000kms, chassis number 550A-0145 was one of the most desirable examples ever to come up for sale.
Offered by Bonhams at its 2018 Scottsdale sale, the car sold to an American collector for a world record price of $5.17 million including premium.
pic courtesy of Bonhams
3: 1957 Porsche 550A – sold for $4,900,000
Number three on our list of top five Porsche auction sales in 2018 is another 550A, this time from 1957. Chassis number 550A-0116 was offered by RM Sotheby’s at the 2018 Monterey sale and a substantial Californian heritage did it no harm at all.
Leaving the Hollywood heart throbs to one side, Jack McAfee may be the number one name in vintage California Porsche history. McAfee’s Burbank dealership was home to an SCCA-winning 550A and this car was sold through the hallowed doors in February 1957. It was subsequently owned by several big names until a Freisinger restoration in the mid-1990s. The seller is hopefully delighted with a sale result of just under $5 million: within reach of the world record price set by chassis 0145.
4: Unraced 2007 Porsche RS Spyder – sold for $4,510,000
A fine Porsche RS Spyder race car sold by Goodings at its Pebble Beach sale took full advantage of the model’s exceptional profile in American racing history. RS Spyder 9R6.706 was the last of six carbon-bodied Porsche LMP2 prototypes manufactured for racing in 2007. Supplied new to a race team on the US east coast, the car was subsequently not raced by its Floridian buyers. Instead, it made its way into private hands.
The unraced prototype was one of three RS Spyders owned by the seller and was the first RS Spyder ever to be offered at auction. Few true Porsche rarities have emerged in the 21st century, but there can be no doubt that this is one of them. It sold for $4.51 million including premium.
pic courtesy of Gooding and Company
5: 1955 Porsche 550A – sold for $4,455,000
Last but not least in our run down of top five Porsche auction sales results for 2018 is this 1955 Porsche 550A, sold by Gooding and Company at its 2018 Pebble Beach event.
This 550A had been with its owner for more than twenty years and was offered as part of an impressive collection of highly original sports cars. Chassis 550-0053 was a matching numbers example with plenty of history including a recent visit to four-cam guru, Jeff Adams. Presented in beautifully sympathetic condition, it sold for $4.455 million including premium.
pic courtesy of Gooding and Company
The best of the rest – and what’s to come in 2019
Only a handful of Porsche cars broke the $3 million barrier in 2018 and there was a sizeable gap from the headline sales to the best of the rest. It’s clear that storied race cars pre-1970 remain of interest, including 550s and 718s, and there is also a market for low mileage rare 911s.
What will tickle the market’s fancy in the twelve months to come? There are some trends at work right now that should continue through 2019. The lowest mileage air-cooled road cars – rare ones, mind – are likely set for a safe run this year. Front-engined cars have softened a touch in recent months, but the nicer models are probably also good news.
The lion’s share of what does well this year will hinge on what collectors decide to send to market. It will be interesting to see what happens at this year’s early sales: roll on Amelia Island.
Offered for sale (now sold) is this original RHD 1972 Porsche 911, bought new by a PCGB founder and former president and recently reworked by one of the most famous names in air-cooled 911s to create a superb modified Porsche 911.
This turn-key 911 is offered ready to be driven and enjoyed. Registered as an historic vehicle, it is both tax and MOT exempt. Most recent work includes two new rear tyres and a new twin-plug rotor and distributor cap. A substantial sum has been spent in building and maintaining this 911. The sale includes the cherished registration that has been on the car since new.
In stark contrast to run-of-the-mill RSR builds based on tired American imports, this original RHD 911 could not have better provenance. Bought new in March 1972 from John Aldington of AFN Porsche by then-President of Porsche Club Great Britain, Bill Goodman, the car enjoyed a long and successful hillclimb career with Bill until his passing in 2004. It was subsequently owned by a family friend, before landing at the famous Tuthill Porsche workshop in Oxfordshire, where it was transformed into a beautifully modified RSR-style 911 with a rebuilt 911/83 2.7 Carrera RS engine on high butterfly throttles with twin plug ignition.
It would be impossible to list every upgrade and improvement brought to this desirable 1972 911 with sought-after side oil flap since its most recent change of owner. Wonderful history dates back to the purchase invoice and includes bills for more than £150,000 spent with Tuthill Porsche since October 2014. Note that this does not include the purchase price! This car was created by the owner as a money-no-object vision of his ultimate road-going RHD 911. The headline spec list looks like this:
Bodywork: Full body restoration including inner and outer sills, A and B-posts, kidney bowls, parcel shelf repairs, scuttle and windscreen aperture repairs, front slam panel replacement and more. Complete steel-arch conversion to RSR spec. Full repaint in original Tangerine.
Interior: All new trim including Recaro Pole Position seats trimmed in leather with black Alcantara centres, new headlining in black, RS carpets and rear seat pads, new sound deadening, custom dash with 10k tacho, bolt-in roll cage, new inertia reel seat belts and Tuthill harnesses.
Engine: A genuine 2.7 Carrera RS 911/83 twin plug engine with mechanical fuel injection, rebuilt by Tuthills with usual attention to porting and blueprinting. Kevlar engine shrouds, twin Classic Retrofit mappable ignition spark boxes, custom SSI exhaust (including cabin heat) with bespoke silencer and fitted rear bumper.
Transmission: Custom Tuthill gearbox with WEVO shifter, limited slip differential, 930 clutch fork and more.
Suspension: Full Tuthill Porsche EXE-TC adjustable suspension, all suspension components replaced or rebuilt.
Brakes: Full Tuthill Porsche braking system including adjustable twin master cylinder Tuthill pedal box and billet aluminium 6-pot front/4-pot rear calipers.
Wheels and Tyres: 9-inch and 11-inch BZ Classic rims in RSR finish, wrapped in Pirelli Corsa Classic 235/45 and 305/30 R15 tyres (rear tyres are new).
Option to purchase: Optional additions include a car set of super-rare genuine 9-inch and 11-inch Fuchs wheels, a set of Cibie Pallas light units in body colour and smaller round ‘Durant’ mirrors.
The current owner is a private individual, so has asked me to help market the car on his behalf. I will be attending to all viewings and facilitating any inspections. The final payment will be a bank transfer direct to the owner.
This is a straight sale: no part exchanges, thank you. I am happy to work with overseas buyers keen to take advantage of the current exchange rates.
The asking price of £134,995 is substantially less than the cost to build and an attractive price in this market given the history, provenance and high-end nature of all modifications. Any inspection is welcome.
Porsche 911 CD 6299 History
In March 1972, Porsche enthusiast Bill Goodman bought a brand new RHD Porsche 911T in Tangerine from the late, great John Aldington at AFN/Porsche Cars Great Britain Limited for the all-in sum of £4167. This event in itself was not greatly significant, save for the fact that, in March 1972, Bill Goodman was the President of Porsche Club Great Britain: a position he occupied from 1968 to 1974.
Bill was one of the original group of Porsche owners who met at the Grand Hotel in Birmingham in 1961, to discuss the foundation of a British Porsche club. The club was duly established and Bill was made Chairman in 1964. He worked tirelessly in that role to set out the foundations of what is now one of the world’s most respected Porsche groups, becoming President in 1968. Holding the presidency for six years, Bill remains fondly remembered by all who knew him.
Registered as CD 6299, the car was Bill’s first 911, following six 356 models in succession over fourteen years. As Bill himself would later say: “I have never been one to keep the same car – even a Porsche – for very long, and it took a 911 to interrupt that habit.”
Painted in sought-after Tangerine (also known as Blood Orange), Bill’s 911 was a simple original specification. The car was chosen for its notable torque at low revs and low weight as standard: two qualities which bode well for competition.
Bill was a keen driver and motorsport competitor and his 911T was soon spotted on the hillclimb circuit. The first major modification came in the form of an engine swap, the flat six from his wife’s 2.4S Targa finding its way into the back of the T. His best times came down a bit, but it was not a long-term solution.
The big change came following a conversation with Josh Sadler of Autofarm fame, who suggested building a high performance 3.0 Turbo engine that would offer the same power to weight as some of the single-seater race cars of the time. A change to later 3.0 RSR style accompanied the new engine, with AP brakes and a long list of associated modifications.
When Bill passed away in 2004, the car was handed down to his son, who kept it until 2009. Thereafter, it lived in and around the UK midlands until 2014, when it popped up for sale Tuthill Porsche in Wardington, Oxfordshire.
Tuthills had a raft of customers interested in the rare RHD 1972 911: an original non-sunroof car in factory Tangerine with the distinctive side oil flap. Some wanted to restore it to original specification, but that was not in tune with its original owner. Run as a modified 911 since its earliest days, the ideal custodian would continue that trend and do justice to its legacy.
A candidate soon emerged, a price was agreed and a project was drawn up that would see a significant sum invested to create the car you see today. Featuring all of Tuthill’s expertise in building modified 911s for the ultimate driving experience, this 911 has covered just a few thousand miles since the build was completed. It is now for sale as the owner is streamlining his collection.
Update 11/2/19: these units are now available to order. There are many happy new owners! Scroll to the end.
I spotted some teaser pics of the updated Blaupunkt Bremen from Evo-Sales in Hamburg on Instagram last week. Details and images are thin on the ground right now, but I thought it was worth a share all the same.
Finding a period radio for a classic car has become an expensive business in recent years, with original Blaupunkt head units particularly pricey to source. I had a nice Blaupunkt Toronto SQR46 on the shelf for my 1981 Porsche 924 Turbo, but it turned out to have no sound. I sold it on eBay and bought a fairly plain Sony unit with DAB and iPhone hookup instead.
I rarely if ever listen to music in the car these days, so what’s in the dash is not a big issue for me most of the time. When I do want to listen to something, my main priorities would be to have DAB radio for BBC 6Music and the ability to stream from the Worldwide FM app on my iPhone. Currently, I run a double-DIN Kenwood DMX-7017DABS with Apple Car Play in the CR-V to handle that or the factory Subaru (Kenwood) integrated audio in my BP5 Outback streams iPhone apps through a mini-jack hookup.
Both sound well through a custom amplifier/speaker setup, but neither is single DIN size or suitable for an old 944 or 911. The new Bremen seems to have my simple needs covered in single DIN size straight out of the box and with a retro look that will suit anyone running a late ’80s or ’90s Porsche.
Matthias Wagner at EVO-Sales tells me that there are no actual pics of the unit installed in a dashboard as yet, but the unit is so reminiscent of Blaupunkts of old that anyone my sort of age will have no problem imagining what it might look like in situ. The styling is super period and all used within the rights to Blaupunkt production, sales and marketing for car, marine and caravan applications held by Evo-Sales since February 2016.
To make it even more attractive for Porsche folks, the head unit is expected to retail at just €449/£400 when it launches later this year. This makes the updated Blaupunkt Bremen SQR46 a much nicer price than the Porsche Classic radio with sat nav, which current retails at £1,000 or so here in the UK. I prefer to use a separate GPS or Google Maps on my iPhone and that should be easily doable with this unit. All things considered, the Bremen is well placed to be a strong contender in the ‘classic retrofit’ market.
Specs are below: headline items include Bluetooth, DAB, USB in and 4 pre-outs with 4×50 native power for those who do not run external amplification.
Radio
• CODEM IV High-End Tuner
• Integrierter DAB/DAB+ Tuner
• DAB Band III/L-Band
• Service Link (DAB-DAB, DAB-FM, DAB-DAB-FM)
• Diensteauswahl nach Ensembles
• RDS (AF, CT, EON, PS, PTY, REG, TA, TP)
• Travelstore
• Comfort Browsing
Bluetooth
• Bluetooth 2.0 mit EDR für Freisprechen und Audiostreaming
• Profile: HFP, PBAP, A2DP, AVRCP, SPP
• Integriertes Mikrofon und Anschluss für externes Mikrofon
Media Player
• Wiedergabeformat: MP3, WMA
• Wählbare Anzeige Modi (ID3-Tags, Ordner, Datei)
Datenträger
• USB 2.0
• SDHC (bis zu 32 GB), SD, MMC
Eingänge
• Front USB (Standard A-Typ)
• SDHC/SD-Kartenslot
• Front Aux-In
• Eingang Steuerung-Lenkradfernbedienung
I received an email from Matthias at Blaupunkt advising me that these units were now available to pre-order. He has sent no other information other than this so do not shoot the messenger!
Dear Ferdinand,
The BREMEN SQR 46 DAB has passed the long-term test very well. The devices are now being produced and will be delivered in March / April 2019. If interested persons want to pre-reserve then here: info@car-akustik.de best regards,
Matthias Wagner / Blaupunkt Car-MULTIMEDIA
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My most recent visit to EB Motorsport in Barnsley revealed a slightly sorry looking ’74 RS-style 911 sitting in a corner of the workshop. Brought in on 17″ wheels and with a weird exhaust setup which was neither one thing nor the other, the new owner wanted a set of EB’s 15″ RSR wheels and a 2.8 RSR bumper painted and fitted. Mark’s just sent me some pics of the finished project, which showed quite a transformation!
EB RS project begins
Offering the bumper up to the car, the exhaust was an issue. The tail pipes spaced at an odd distance from the centre obviously did not fit in the moulded bumper cut outs but, more importantly, the rolled exit tips were of quite a small internal diameter which was probably hurting performance.
After some consultation with the customer, the decision was taken to remake the exhaust silencer and mould a custom 3.0 RS-style rear bumper to suit. The fabricators centred larger diameter stainless tail pipes on the original muffler with some internal mods, also repairing some damage to the rear panel while the exhaust was on the bench.
With the new exhaust fitted, the bumper mould was mocked up and vents added to the underside. A plain reflector panel was also prepared and the panels were moulded in composite. The completed parts were then finished in body colour of Grand Prix White in EB’s own paint shop.
The RSR wheels were fitted with Pirelli Corsa Classic tyres and a geometry setup was carried out, based on the team’s proven 3.0 RS race settings with a bit less camber for the road. The engine was serviced, including new plugs, a rebuild and re-jet for the Weber carbs and new set of plug leads reviving the 3-litre’s view of the world. The finished item looks a lot better than the unloved 911 I first saw a few weeks ago!
I recently had to move my 1983 Porsche 944 project from long term and slightly forgotten storage in a lock-up garage to a friend’s barn where some of my other cars are kept. The garage rent payments had increased to the point where they were being noticed rather than just drifting out of my account every month, so it was time for a change.
My Porsche projects have been right on the back burner for several years since I got back into old BMW motorcycles, but I haven’t lost any appetite for the three classic Porsches that remain as part of my fleet. The 924 Turbo is having a fuel system refresh with a new filter and pump arrangement to get around the issue of the in-tank pump and hopefully that will be off to storage somewhere else soon, leaving me with some garage space. Now the 944 is back on my radar after spending a day dragging it about and stripping some aluminium arms off a rear beam which is supposed to be heading its way, it is lined up to be next in the garage.
Porsche 944 Project: Rust Update
Moving the car was a good excuse to stop off at the Racing Restorations workshop and take a closer look at the only real rust on the car: small patches at the rear of both sills and a sizeable hole in the battery tray. I had a go at the sills with a hammer and chisel and – as I always suspected – they are really not bad: nothing like the shocking rust one sees on later 944s that have been used every year since manufacture. This 86k-mile example car has been in storage for over twenty years so I am not too surprised that the shell is in good condition.
The battery tray damage is rather more substantial than the rust on the sills, but my colleague assures me that repairing it properly will take less time than should be needed to pull the fusebox and loom out of the way. I’m taking that as a challenge. Having broken several 924s and 944s for spares and spent a lot of time lying in the driver’s footwell of my LHD Porsche 924 Turbo sorting out the wiring loom, getting all that copper out of this car won’t be that difficult: there’ll be a lot more room to work in once the brown dashboard has been removed.
This weekend was the first time I had driven some of my other cars for a while, including the lovely old 1993 Mercedes 500 SL in Malachite Green, my Daytona Violet E36 M3 saloon and my old Landcruiser 80-series. Still love those, too. Why would anyone buy a new car when old ones are so much cooler?
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