Classic Car Auction This Weekend

Novi (WWJ)  -- Looking for a classic car?  The Classic Car Auction of Michigan is taking place at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi this weekend.  is the place to be if you're looking for a deal or to buy that 'car of your dreams.'

Organizers say a rare, numbers-matching 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe 427 and a highly original 1960 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible, are among the vehicles to be auctioned off.
"This year's event line-up will again showcase a great range of automotive history, much of which can be traced back to its origins here in the Midwest," said Ken Wallace, Car Specialist, RM Auctions.   
The auction will involve more than 300 cars, many offered without reserve, and an assortment of automobilia. 

Other vehicles up for auction include a 1941 Ford Super Deluxe Convertible powered by a 90-horsepower V8 engine, a 1963 AMC Rambler Coupe, previously owned by former Michigan Governor, George Romney, the first production 1983 Renault Alliance four-door sedan - the 1983 Motor Trend Car of the Year, with 22 original miles and a 2003 Dodge Neon SRT4 with 215 horsepower and 245 lb.-ft of torque - and the little brother to the Dodge Viper SRT10.
   
Doors open at 9am on Saturday and Sunday, with the auction getting underway at 10:30am each day. Admission is $10 for one-day entry or $15 for a weekend pass.   

1960 Porsche 356 Carrera GT

Beauty and Performance 

CarshowClassic.com tells the story. 

The 1960 Porsche 356 Carrera GT is one of the most loved sports cars of all time.  It built on an already successful platform in the 356 line-up and it also introduced design characteristics that would be used in sports cars for years to come. 

Some of the most successful and iconic sports cars of all time were ones that-focused on a specific goal instead of trying to be everything to everybody.  In the case of the-Porsche 356 Carrera GT, the goal was to produce a sports car that provided superior handling and-acceleration.  Many of the refinements that had been included on earlier 356 models were-scrapped in an effort to make this something that was made for the racetrack.

For years the successful 356 platform had used a 1500 CC engine and this had been-upgraded to 1600 CC's.  It was offered in a deluxe model and the GT model had increased-horsepower, now with 115 horsepower.  It doesn't seem that remarkable by today's standards, but-at the time it was quite suitable an impressive for this machine.

To achieve the necessary acceleration and handling, many of the creature comforts-that were included in previous 356 models were taken out.  The 1960 Porsche 356 Carrera GT had-aluminum racing seats that would certainly not qualify as the most comfortable, but reduced the-overall weight of the car.  There was also very little in terms of noise suppression, and it-was anything from a quiet ride.  This was not why people would purchase the 356 Carrera GT so-it is certainly not something that is to be held against it.

They were also subtle changes made to the engine, and it had higher compression-than its counterparts.  Additional refinements to increase horsepower included a muffler that-had increased air flow and therefore produced a rather loud and unique sound.  The engine was-made from an aluminum block which also lowered the weight of the car and the engine was matched with-a 716 transaxle to deliver power to the rear wheels.  The overall weight of the car was less-than 1900 pounds even with the additional performance refinements and this meant that it handled-beautifully.  The weight distribution was also an advantage.

The engine had dual overhead cam valve train and had two valves per cylinder, which-was also a sports car standard at the time.  Because of the higher compression, the engine was-prone to produce more heat and a larger oil pan was included in order to maintain the necessary-lubrication.

The overall look of the 1960 Porsche 356 Carrera GT is definitely sleek; it was one-of the most aerodynamic cars of its age and when you look at one you notice the clean lines and-smooth body panels.  Beyond its enviable performance, the Carrera GT was a beautiful car to-look at and as a result many people have preserved them over the years.  When you look at the-different individual parts of this model, you can see that they continued on with the tradition of-improving on something good with later Porsche automobiles.

1957 Porsche 356 Speedster

One of the Most Successful Ever

CarshowClassic.com tells the story. 

There are many iconic automobiles in the Porsche stall, and one of the most important examples is the 1957 Porsche 356 Speedster.  It had greater commercial success than any of its predecessors and it paved the way for other respected Porsche offerings.

The 1957 Porsche 356 Speedster was similar to many automobiles that were created-and sold by Porsche; instead of creating new models each year, Porsche had more of a tendency to-take an existing model and implement successive upgrades in different model years to build on a-successful platform.  The 356 Speedster had already made its foray into the American market and-the additional improvements helped the 1957 Porsche 356 Speedster to become the highest selling-example of the 356 line-up, selling almost 1200 units.

Building on the success of a lighter and better handling car, the 356 Speedster was-able to compete with its American competitors by being a little bit different.  The 1500 CC-engine was smaller in comparison, but the added weight that the larger engines had also contributed-to their lack of handling and the 356 Speedster was considered by many to be easier and more fun to-drive.  Additional improvements to the seats and other interior materials were implemented to-increase the comfort of the small Speedster.

The Porsche 356 Speedster was available in both a coupe model and a convertible and-it was designed for success in the American market.  The original body design by Erwin Komenda-was improved with suggestions from Max Hoffman who was the only distributor of Porsche automobiles-in America at the time.  It was on his suggestion that a smaller and lighter car should be-produced, and instead of starting from scratch they simply improved and already a successful-existing model.  By 1957, the Porsche 356A had been introduced and was known as the T2 by-automobile aficionados (standing for type 2).

It is difficult to say just how many 356 Speedsters are still around, but it is-well known in the automotive world for being very well preserved.  It seems that many people-were aware that this would be an iconic car even when it was introduced, and many have taken great-steps to preserve and restore them.  It is estimated that more than half of the original 356-Speedsters that were built are still around today, and for most cars sold at auction this would-reduce their values substantially.  In the case of the 356 Speedster, they continue to command-a significant value at auctions and many are sold for hundreds of thousands of-dollars.

Part of what made the 1957 Porsche 356 Speedsters so special were the design cues-that would later be used on the Porsche 901, which would later be called a 911.  This ended up-being one of the most iconic sports cars of all time, and it definitely owes some of its success to-the warm reception that the 356 Speedster got from both automobile critics and consumers-alike.

1950 Porsche 356 SL Coupe

The Lightning on the Race Tracks

CarshowClassic.com tells the story. 

Porsche 356 is often regarded as a mildly successful car line for the company. However, with the many updates it received, “mildly successful” may not be the right term. 1950 Porsche 356 SL Couple proves that the 356 has more to it than being the first commercial car by Porsche. 

Of all the European car manufacturers existing today, Porsche perhaps has one of-the most interesting histories. The story has to how Porsche came to be is quite fascinating, and-its association with other car companies and its connection with other car lines (such as-Volkswagen) prove that Porsche is indeed one of the pillars of the industry, or at least the-industry as we know it now. 

A proof of this amazing history is the Porsche 356, the first commercial car made-by Porsche. The distinction “commercial car” (or, the first car the company made that-was actually sold under their name) is important because Porsche has a number of 356s before the-actual Porsche 356. There’s the Porsche 356 No.1, the prototype of the Porsche 356. Porsche-even has an earlier car prototype, on display at the Porsche Museum. There’s the legendary 356-that Ferdinand Porsche himself rode during a demo. 

Besides these, Porsche 356 received a lot of updates, before and after the arrival-of what was Porsche’s ultimate game changer, the Porsche 911. For instance, there were two-Porsche 356 updates for the America update (the first a dud, the second one unsuccessful). Of-course, the 356 was also updated for the sake of the race track. One of those 356 cars that made it-to the race track was the 1950 Porsche 356 SL Coupe.

Obviously, this Porsche 356 SL is a coupe, made only a few years after the very-first 356 was released. The SL on its name means super light—something that it needs to be,-especially since it was meant to be a race car. Later on, many 356s would get weight reduction.-Perhaps, the original 356 was higher than it should be (the much lighter Porsche 356 America was a-hit; the first 356, with hardly any changes, in the American market wasn’t very successful).-Today, this car is extremely rare; in fact, the one in the Porsche Museum may be the only one-you’ll see due to its rarity. Only 51 units of the 1950 Porsche 356 SL Coupe was made, a far-cry from all the other 256 updates. 

There were minimal changes done to the design of this 1950 Porsche 356 SL Coupe.-For instance, the car’s tank capacity was improved—with an increase of 78 liters. Its-average speed was around 140 km/h. This was enough to make it achieve record breaking performances-at the 1950 Le Mans 24 Hour race. It also won several tracks during the first half of the-decade—particularly the Belgrade Grand Prix, the Liege-Rome-Liege rally, the Zell am See ice race and the Alpine Rally.  

Needless to say, beyond its great performance, the true contribution of the 1950-Porsche 356 SL Coupe is lineage; because it was a great race car unit, it helped Porsche do better-during its succeeding tries after their entry to the commercial industry. As one of their first race-cars, the 1950 Porsche 356 SL Coupe was indeed quite a lightning on the race track, Porsche’s-first of many.

1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS

On Top of the Heap

CarshowClassic.com tells the story.

There are great cars and there are great cars. The 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR is undeniably one of the best 911s ever created, as proven by the amazing victories it had in a number of racing tracks, such as the Targa Florio and the 12 Hours of Sebring.  

There are a lot of cars that pride themselves as among the best. But many of these-“best” cars are disputed. More often than not, these claims are-valid. 

However, there are a number of cars that has the reputation of being the best and-is yet to be disputed. In fact, some of these great cars are collectively accepted as among the best-in the history of automobile production, perhaps because of their wins on the race tracks or the-innovations that were incorporated in their designs. One of the best sports cars that remain to be-undisputed is the famous and iconic 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera.

Of course, the Porsche 911 itself is an iconic, memorable, and influential car. Its-911 Carrera version is said to be the best of them all. But why is this the case? It has something-to do with the model that the 911 Carrera succeeded—the Porsche 917.

In 1970 and 1971, Porsche 917, specifically the 917K, dominated the Le Mans.-However, after the 1971 Le Mans, the class in which the 917 belongs was deemed ineligible to compete-in the following race season. Obviously, this meant that the Porsche super car was now obsolete and-unable to compete in what was the most prestigious and most important racing competition.  - 

However, Porsche was not one to let its defeats weigh down the company. Despite the-sudden change of rules, the company managed to create the lightweight 911 Carrera RS and the race-track–specific 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR. Based on the 911 S, the 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera-RSR was twice and strong and fast as the 911 S, making it an instant winner right from the start.-The Carrera name was lifted from the little known 356 Carrera (a Porsche that claimed victory in-Mexico’s Carrera Panamericana competition). The Carrera RS units were made so the Porsche 911-Carrera RSR would be eligible to compete in the Group 4 class as dictated by the Federation-Internationale de l’Automobile. 

In any case, the 911 Carrera RSR has a 2687 cc engine with a weight of 2370 pounds.-This type of engine power combined with the dexterous 911 chassis proved to be an amazing match,-something that can be unbeatable on the hands of an amazing driver. It managed to be successful in-the 1973 Daytona 24 Hours race, the Targa Florio, and the Sebring 12 Hours. In the European GT-Championship, the 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR proved to be the car to beat—which is only-expected, since it was made for this specific race. Although the 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR did-not win first place in the 1973 and the 1974 24 Hours of Le Mans (where it placed fourth and second,-respectively), victory here was not even needed to cement the status of the 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera-RSR as one of the best cars during that time.

1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS

One of the Greatest Porsche Ever Built

CarshowClassic.com tells the story. 

Before it dominated the commercial market with the indefatigable and now iconic-Porsche 911, Porsche dominated the race tracks with what is considered to be one of the best Porsche-cars ever created—the Porsche 904 Carrera GTS. 

Of course, car enthusiasts know that Porsche’s first two cars were the Porsche-356 and the Porsche 911. However, on the race track, Porsche had more productions made to prove that-it owns the competition. 

One of these productions is the Porsche 904 Carrera GTS, which many consider as one-of the most beautiful Porsche cars, if not the one of the most beautiful sports cars, ever built.-This may seem like a stretch, but it isn’t—one look at the Porsche Museum would reveal-that this Porsche is indeed a beauty. Of course, because it was not meant for commercial release-like the 356 or the 911, very few people knew about the wonders of the Porsche 904 Carrera GTS. But-those who know their sports car know exactly why this has indeed captured that hearts of many car-lovers worldwide.

The Porsche 904 Carrera GTS is officially named Porsche Carrera GTS. However,-because Germany does not allow the use of the number zero between two other numbers on a car name-(as they reserve the use of such designation for themselves), what should have been Porsche 904 was-renamed Porsche Carrera GTS.

Needless to say, the Porsche 904 Carrera GTS was meant to dominate the race tracks-after the company’s successful previous seasons. Because of this success, the oldest son of-Ferdinand Porsche, F.A. Porsche, designed a car that proved to be ahead of its time. Needless to-say, many of the company’s earlier creation proved to be ahead of its time, but the Porsche-904 Carrera GTS had some details that really made it very different and efficient: mixed steel and-plastic construction. It also uses a fiberglass body. 

The Porsche 904 Carrera GTS was painted silver since this was considered as the-modern racing color of Germany. In any case, the Porsche 904 Carrera GTS was indeed very successful-on the race track. During its debut season, it won the prestigious Targa Florio race. Victory at the-Sebring 12 Hours followed, as well as succeeding wins at Tour de France, the Le Mans race, and the-Reims race (the last two are brutal 24 hour races).  In 1965, the car finished second at the-Monte Carlo race. Although it continued to race during the better part of the decade, its succeeding-seasons were not as successful as its first few years on the race track. With a four cylinder, 180-HP engine and a weight of 530 kg., the Porsche 904 Carrera GTS had some needed improvements in order-to become a much better competitor. Although the car line itself was not continued (as is the case-with race cars), Porsche did one better by creating one of the greatest Porsche race cars, the-Porsche 917. 

But still, while Porsche indeed created better cars and race entrants, the Porsche-904 Carrera GTS remains to be a very iconic figure in the history of the company. Beautiful and-competent on the race tracks, the Porsche 904 Carrera GTS showed how powerful a Porsche can-be.

1950 Porsche 356 Coupe Ferdinand

The Passion of a Car Manufacturer

CarshowClassic.com tells the story. 

While not exactly a prototype, the 1950 Porsche 356 Coupe Ferdinand is one of the-most important cars exhibited at the Porsche Museum as it shows the passion and dedication of the-company’s founder.

The Porsche 356 was developed in during the 1940s and released-in 1950. Although it is not exactly what anyone would call a monumental success, what Porsche 356-has done is indeed a momentous achievement. 

After all, the 356 is the first commercial release of the company—and it-proves that the company has indeed a place in the car manufacturing history. However, for those who-are familiar with the history of Porsche, it is quite known that the company has produced a number-of prototypes before it released the Porsche 356.

One of the company’s very first prototype was the Porsche Type 64—a car-that resembles a Volkswagen Beetle more than anything else, perhaps a sign that Ferdinand Porsche is-indeed influenced by the ideals and the design concepts of the car company. And then there’s-the Porsche 356 No.1, the very first prototype of the 356. But there is another special, one of a-kind 356 that can be found only at the Porsche Museum—the 1950 Porsche 356 Coupe-Ferdinand. 

Technically, the 1950 Porsche 356 Coupe Ferdinand is pretty much like the Porsche-356 No. 1. However, the 1950 Porsche 356 Coupe Ferdinand was not really a prototype. Rather, it was-a test vehicle given to Ferdinand Porsche when he took it for a drive during the Maundy Thursday-(that is, the Thursday before Easter) of 1950. It was the very first 356 out of the factory, and it-was some sort of tradition that Ferdinand got to the ride the very first car from the factory. This-was the same practice that they did with the Type 64. In fact, Ferdinand was drove to have driven-the Porsche Type 64. In any case, it was also tradition that they give the very first car driven by-Ferdinand a nickname. So the car was aptly nicknamed the Porsche 356 Coupe Ferdinand, after the-founder of the company, of course. 

The 1950 Porsche 356 Coupe Ferdinand is currently in display in the Porsche Museum,-although with the other important Porsche units such as the 356 prototype and the Type 64-reproduction. It would seem as the 1950 Porsche 356 Coupe Ferdinand is the least important among-these three, although that is an underestimation of what the Porsche 356. While not a tremendous-success, it was successful in its own right. An updated 356 successful made it to the American-market, while the 356 itself received many updates before it was retired and replaced by the even-more successful Porsche 911. 

Also, the 1950 Porsche 356 Coupe Ferdinand is a testament to the passion of-Ferdinand Porsche. Who have heard of a company founder who took the effort to test drive their very-first creation? Indeed, this really shows how dedicated Ferdinand is, and this is dedication and-passion did bear fruit—Porsche is one of the most successful car manufacturers today, after-all, while the Porsche 356 is considered by many as one of the important cars ever built in the-history of automobile manufacturing.

1955 Porsche 356 1500 Speedster

Luxury at Minimal Cost

CarshowClassic.com tells the story. 

One of the Porsche 356 updates, the 1955 Porsche 356 Speedster is a special car made for the American market. It was hit, although the precedents to its success are rather surprising.

The Porsche 356 is one of the most iconic cars in the Porsche, and for a good-reason—it is only the first commercial release of the company. However, the Porsche 356 is not-just the 356; it was updated and upgraded in order to meet with the standards then. After all,-competition, then as now, was stiff, and the only way to win against the others is to edge them out-one way or another. In this respect, the 1955 Porsche 356 Speedster has dominated its-market—which is why it is actually considered as one of the most popular Porsche, and not just-in the 356. 

Ironically, the Porsche 356 Speedster was designed in order to compete in the-American market. The production was prompted by Max Hoffman. The Porsche 356 Speedster was not his-first foray in trying to penetrate the American market with a Porsche. In 1952, he tried it with the-Porsche 356 America—a regrettable attempt as only four were ultimately sold during the year.-In fact, the idea for the Porsche 356 Speedster and the Porsche 356 America wasn’t very-different; both cars were Porsche 356 with minimized features. Of course, in the case of the-Speedster, the intention was different.

Hoffman wanted to try his luck this time by trying to lower the price of the Porsche-356 to 3,000 dollars—still a hefty price at the time, but considerably cheaper than most of-its direct competitors. The normal price of a Porsche in Europe is around 4,000 dollars, almost the-same price of the much sought after Cadillac. In order to make a dent in the market, it needs to-lower its price; otherwise, it wouldn’t stand a chance. But, of course, in order to do this,-the 1954 and the subsequent 1955 Porsche 356 Speedster will need to have fewer features in order to-cut the cost of the production. Because of this, the car has no door boards, no glove compartments,-no heating, and very insufficient roofing.  With these precedents, one would think that the-Porsche 356 Speedster would not succeed. But on the contrary, it did—in fact, more than 14,000-Porsche 356 Speedster units were sold. 

Perhaps one of the reasons for this is the engine. Although the 1954 and the 1955-Porsche 356 Speedster had many key features left out, they have one of the best engines during the-time—the 1500 engine. Also, the almost bare 356 Speedster made up for its speed (because the-car is light). Driving and handling the car became a delight for many. Many did criticize the size-of the Porsche 356 Speedster (saying that the height made it rather uncomfortable to drive) although-its rood was rather easy to put up—a major feat during the time. Many celebrities owned this-Porsche, including James Dean (before buying the 356 Spyder).

Overall, the 1954 and the 1955 Porsche 356 Speedster was received well by both the-American critics and buyers. Perhaps the lesson is that less is more, although may it’s just-that Porsche is overall amazing car it doesn’t matter if it is sold with very few-features.

1971 Porsche 917/20 Coupe

The Pink Pig 

CarshowClassic.com tells the story. 

The 1971 Porsche 917/20 Coupé was especially made for the 1971 Le Mans. While the previous 917 cars were welcomed warmly, this version of 917 did not receive the same kind of acclaim. Still, it remains to be one of the more popular 917 cars.

In 1971, Porsche was still at the heels of their sweet, sweet victory during the Le-Mans competition a year before. Of course, as car enthusiasts would know, the Porsche 917 did win-the 1971 Le Mans thanks to the Porsche KH Coupe. However, during the 1971 Le Mans, there was-actually a new Porsche that hit the road. 

Its performance, obviously, wasn’t sterling enough to gain an iconic-reputation. And while this Porsche was indeed famous, it was famous for not so positive reasons. The-car was the 1971 Porsche 917/20 Coupé.

The 1971 Porsche 917/20 Coupé was meant to be a test car for the Canadian-American Racing Cup. It was designed by SERA, a French designer company, and not by Porsche itself.-The result of the design was both amazing and uninspiring. On the positive side, the 1971 Porsche-917/20 Coupé managed to improve on several things. It combined stability and downforce which-they derived from the 917 KH. It was also a combination of the long tail and short tail design, two-designs that the other Porsche 917 famously employed (the Porsche 917 KH was a short tail, which-some say is one of the reasons why it outperformed the long tail Porsche 917 LH). During the test-runs, the 1971 Porsche 917/20 Coupé did perform very well too. 

The design of the 1971 Porsche 917/20 Coupé was also very clunky, a-departure from the general design of the other Porsche 917 cars. SERA made it so due to their theory-that the clunky body of the 917 will prevent its wheels from interfering car airflow. The-car’s square nose was design due to this concept. 

However, the general design of the 1971 Porsche 917/20 Coupé was meant with-criticism. In fact, it has been said that even the officials at Porsche (then and now) would admit-that the 1971 Porsche 917/20 Coupé was not exactly the most beautiful cars. Critics said it-looked like a “fat pig,” which Porsche took head on by painting the 1971 Porsche 917/20-Coupé pink with pig parts painted on it—hence its nickname, le Cochon Rose, or the Pink-Pig in English. Surprisingly, it qualified for the 1971 Le Mans. 

It was used by the Martini Racing Team (who won the race with the Porsche 917 KH-Coupe) after proving at the qualifiers that it is better than its pre-race performance. Still, the 1971 Porsche 917/20 Coupé did not perform spectacularly. It met-an accident during the halfway point of the race, finishing at 32^nd place (still, it-wasn’t the lowest ranking Martini Racing Team car that year; that distinction went to the-Porsche 917 LH). Nonetheless, the 1971 Porsche 917/20 Coupé did prove that it had great-aerodynamic qualities and a commendable speed.

So the 917 KH won the 1971 Le Mans and the Porsche 917 PA Spyder won the Can-Am a year later, leaving the 1971 Porsche 917/20 Coupé as one-off car. Although not successful, it remains to be rather popular due to its unusual-history.

1971 Porsche 917 LH Coupe

Onwards Victory

CarshowClassic.com tells the story. 

The 1971 Porsche LH Coupe did not win the Le Mans during Porsche’s domination in that year. However, while the Porsche LH Coupe is not exactly considered as the most successful 917, it is credited to be one of the stepping stones towards Porsche’s two-year victory.  

The Porsche 917 is considered to be the racing success story of Porsche. After all,-it managed to win the Le Mans and the North American racing cup Can-Am, both twice in a row. 

At the Le Mans, it was the 917 KH Coupe that did the trick. And at the Can-Am, it was the 917 PA Spyder. These two cars made the Porsche 917 series as one of the most-successful cars in history, and one of the most exemplary in the history of Porsche. After all, it-made to win victories against racing powerhouses Ferrari at the Le Mans and Chevrolet at the Can-Am. In any case, the 917 KH-917 PA combination was obviously very effective. In a span for four years (two for Europe and two-for North American), it can be said that the Porsche 917 was a leader. 

But the 917 was not exactly a completely winsome series. There are some models that-were not as successful. This was true with the Porsche 917—especially so when it had to face-another Porsche for the throne, and more so since it had to face one of the best Porsche cars ever-created.

This was the case of the Porsche 917 LH Coupe. The 1971 model of this car is-currently exhibited at the Porsche Museum, along with the other 917 cars. Of course, to say that the-Porsche 917 LH Coupé was a failure is not exactly true. After all, during the 1970 Le Mans,-the Porsche 917 LH Coupé managed to place second. The winner of the Le Mans that year? The-far more superior Porsche 917 KH Coupe, considered to be one of the most successful and one of the-most iconic cars ever. A year after, the 1971 Porsche 917 LH Coupé even failed to finish (two-917 LH finished in the 20s and 30s, not even reaching the finish line). 

 

Still, the Porsche 917 LH Coupé was important because it was the car that-paved the way for the Porsche 917 KH Coupe to be made. Although not exactly a prototype, the 917 LH-was the beginning of the Porsche 917 series. Without it, Porsche wouldn’t have won the Le Mans-and the Can-Am, hence forfeiting their place in history.

Presented at the 1969 Geneva International Motorshow, the Porsche 917 LH-Coupé was deemed as a new class of racing cars due to its appearance and on-paper capabilities. The company had to work double time before it won be permitted to enter the Le-Mans, as 25 units needed to be made before it can qualify for its class (at the time of its release,-there were only 18 assembled). Indeed, the power of Porsche 917 LH Coupé was one of a kind.-Unfortunately, even with this kind of power, the Porsche 917 LH Coupé did not exactly have-the best debut. Its performance at the 1969 Le Mans was disastrous, which prompted Porsche to make-the 917 KH. The power of the Porsche 917 LH Coupé even prompted Ferrari to build a similar-class car, proof that Porsche’s initial 917 was indeed a powerhouse and a way towards the-victory Porsche needed at the time.

1969 Porsche 917 PA Spyder

A Can-Am Success

CarshowClassic.com tells the story. 

While the Porsche 917 K became ineligible to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans by 1972, this amazing Porsche series did not retire just yet. Because while it was inactive at the Le Mans, it was gaining a lot of attention in another continent. The 1969 Porsche 917 PA Spyder helped in that victory.

The 1970 and 1971 Le Mans proved that Porsche was indeed capable of creating-powerhouse cars that can moderate the road and beat the likes of Ferrari. 

However, it was not only in Europe (Le Mans was based in France) where the 917-dominated during that decade. Because after the 917 K proved its worth in Le Mans, a different kind-of Porsche 917 was creating a different kind of sensation across the globe.

The 1969 Porsche 917 PA Spyder was the North America-specific version of the highly successful Porsche 917. It made a debut on the North American race-tracks through the no defunct Canadian-American Challenge Cup, also known as the Can-Am. Making the Porsche 917 PA Spyder, however, was not really among the intentions of Porsche.-Instead, it was their California distributor Vasek Polak who pushed the company to create a 917 for-the 1969 Can-Am. During this time, this cup was only three years old, yet it was already becoming very popular-and, most importantly, very lucrative. It was also dominated by a likely car manufacturer—the-Chevrolet. With its McLarens built engine, it won the cup ever since it started. Polak wanted to-break this winning streak with the 917, which was easily one of the most promising cars made by-Porsche for the race track during that time.

The PA stands for Porsche-Audi, as Polak was also a distributor for Audi. The Porsche 917 PA Spyder was only minimally altered-due to the lack of time. The changes, in fact, were only made so the car would be able to race at-the Can-Am. The 1969 Porsche 917 PA Spyder was lighter than the original 917 by at least 50 kg due to the-roof and windscreen removal (the 917 PA is a spyder, after all). Its body was similar to the 908-Spyder, although it has an aluminum spaceframe chassis, quad-cam flat 12 4/5 liter engine. At 775 kg that can reach up to 580 bhp, the Porsche 917 PA Spyder was-certainly a beauty and a commendable car. 

But unfortunately, this was not enough. For three years, even with the Porsche 917-PA Spyder as competition, the Chevrolet team managed to win the Can-Am. Their victory was apparent, as their cars (starting with the McLaren M8D-Chevrolet) were clearly more powerful than the 1969 Porsche 917 PA Spyder. Until 1971, Chevrolet-predictably dominated the Can-Am, although the Porsche 917 PA Spyder continued to race for a number of years (making it the most-raced car in the competition).

All that changed in 1972. With the 917 now banned from competing at the Le Mans,-Porsche was able to update the Porsche 917 PA Spyder with something far more superior than even the-Chevrolets. This was the Porsche 917/10, which won the Can-Am in 1972. In 1973, Porsche’s victory continued with the Porsche 917/30KL. After Porsche-retired from the Can-Am, Chevrolet yet again dominated the Can-Am until it folded in 1986.

1970 Porsche 917 KH Coupe`

The Beast

CarshowClassic.com tells the story. 

The 1970 Porsche 917 KH Coupé was called “The Beast” during its time. This isn’t surprising at all, considering its power and its design. And the intimidating nickname was fitting, as it was the most successful race car of the year.

There are many reasons why the 1970 Porsche 917 KH Coupé is considered to be-one of the most powerful and successful race cars in the history of the automobile, and not just-among the cars that Porsche has developed. 

For one, it has the reputation to back it up; during its release, it was called-“The Beast.” It also became iconic after 1970 because of the Hollywood movie-LeMans, starring Steve McQueen. Of course, the reputation of the Porsche 917 KH Coupé-was more than just a legacy or hype. It really had the credentials to back it up, backing it one of-the most successful 917 out of the six 917s created.

The 1970 Porsche 917 KH Coupé was intended to race the 24 Hours of Le Mans-after a disappointing car at the same race a year before. The result was the Porsche 917 KH-Coupé, which was raced by team Salzburg. Although the initial 917 did not do so well in the-previous Le Mans, many teams and companies knew it was going to be a very tough competitor for the-top prize. Hence, Enzo Ferrari resorted to selling half of his company to Fiat, only to finance the-creation of the Ferrari 512. This investment proved to be somewhat success, although not as-successful as they expected. 

In the end, the Porsche 917 KH Coupé won the Le Mans that year, followed by-the Porsche 917L and the Porsche 908. The Ferrari only managed to win fourth and fifth place, with-all their other Ferrari 512 (the remaining nine of their total 11 512 entries) did not finish at-all. This was momentous for Porsche not only because they won against the powerhouse Ferrari. The-win was a great step forward for the company because this was their first Le Mans win. Now they-discarded their underdog reputation and became a major competitor in the racing-world.

1954 Porsche 550 Spyder

A Legend’s Predecessor

CarshowClassic.com tells the story. 

It isn’t unusual for car manufacturers to look at their previous car models for inspiration. And the 1954 Porsche 550 Spyder has indeed inspired one of the best and the most powerful racing cars competing today, a testament to the power of this 1950s classic car.

Everyone is probably familiar with the Porsche RS Spyder, one of Porsche’s-latest and most successful forays into the world of racing. The RS Spyder marked Porsche’s-return to racing after almost a decade of absence. 

It made its debut in the Le Mans Series in 2005, and its winning streak continued-for a number of years, making it one of the best racing cars today a mean feat considering how tough-the competition is today. Therefore, it’s not really surprising that the Porsche RS Spyder was-named and somewhat modeled after another iconic Porsche model: the Porsche 550. 

The Porsche 550 Spyder was created after their very first car production, the-Porsche 356, and some spyder prototypes they have created with Walter Glocker starting in the early-1950s. There are very few Porsche 550 Spyder built, although this doesn’t really mean the-model wasn’t successful; unlike the 356, the 550 was a racing car, meant to compete in the-race tracks to gain a much needed winning reputation beyond the commercial-market. 

In any case, the Porsche 550 Spyder was built using the configurations created by-the son of Porsche’s founder. But while the 356 was a moderate commercial success, the-engineers of the car found many shortcomings regarding its design. For one, although it was an-excellent commercial car, it was too heavy to be a race car. Its body was made from steal and its-structure was not meant for good handling. This made the 356 an insufficient racing car, despite-some of its great features. Hence, the company reinvented the 356 to create something that would-suit racing better.

One of the major changes in the 1954 Porsche 550 Spyder from its predecessor was-its engine. The 1500S engine used for the 356 was great, but not really enough to compete with-racing powerhouses Ferrari and Jaguar, for instance. This is why the Type 547 was created. The-engine was more suitable for the LeMans race track, a 110 horsepower, 7800 rpm-engine. 

The later incarnations of the 1954 Porsche 550 Spyder actually had a less powerful-engine. In any case, the changes made to the 1954 Porsche 550 Spyder from its 356 predecessor were-enough to claim victory at the LE Mans and the Mille Miglia race tracks. The 1954 Porsche 550 Spyder-was so successful that Porsche further enhanced the design to create the Porsche 718, an even more-successful competition car that claimed victory in the Formula One race tracks. 

 

The 1954 Porsche 550 Spyder’s nickname, “Giant Killer,” had a-different meaning when famous movie star James Dean died in a car crash using the 1954 Porsche 550-Spyder. His 550 Spyder was customized (at that point, he was vocal of his dreams of becoming a race-car driver), and hence very iconic, although the car itself is no longer in existence (there is,-however, a replica). The car crash didn’t really tarnish the 1954 Porsche 550 Spyder’s-reputation; in fact, it only made it more iconic and legendary.

1948 Porsche 356 No. 1 Roaster

No. 1 and the Beginning of an Automobile Powerhouse 

CarshowClassic.com tells the story. 

The 1948 Porsche 356 No. 1 can be considered as the start of what turned out to be one of the greatest car manufacturers in the world. Although this 1948 prototype isn’t perfect, it helped Porsche pave the way towards a more spectacular future.  

Even a legend has to start somewhere. Indeed, this is exactly what the 1948 Porsche-356 No. 1 is—the beginning of the legacy that is Porsche. 

The 1948 Porsche 356 No. 1 is the very first car produced by Porsche and Ferdinand-Porsche, the son of the company’s founder. There was only one 1948 Porsche 356 No. 1 ever-produced, which only made the value of this concept car quite high—quite high, in fact, that-it is a museum piece, displayed at the newly opened Porsche Museum. 

In any case, the 1948 Porsche 356 No. 1 has an aluminum roadster body, designed by-Erwin Komenda. The production of the design was quite fast—it only took him one month. Komenda-was a noted designer for VW Bettle and Porsche, and he was responsible for the Porsche 550 Spyder-and the Porsche type 356. Before his death, he even worked on Porsche’s most prized car-designs—the Porsche 911. After the design was completed, it was first tested for the road in-June. The 1948 Porsche 356 No. 1 is a two-door sports car with a mid-engine design. 

That the 1948 Porsche 356 No. 1 has a mid-engine design is very telling, even those days. Back then, most cars are rear-engined; mid-engine designs are usually reserved for racing cars, since designers think the mid-engine design is not very safe for the usual driving. Does this mean that the 1948 Porsche 356 No. 1-was intended for competition rather than consumer use? Perhaps not—the 1948 Porsche 356 No. 1-was derived from the Volkswagen design, which usually employs the mid-engine and rear-engine car designs. Both Komenda and Porsche worked for Volkswagen way before the company began-producing cars. 

The 1948 Porsche 356 No. 1 became the prototype for the Porsche 356, which was the-very first production model of Porsche. There are some notable differences in the design; the 1948-Porsche 356 No. 1 is a roadster; the very first Porsche 356 is a two-door couple, followed by a two-door convertible. Still, the production model of the 1948 Porsche 356 No. 1 did not immediately-create stir from the buying public. It was already in the late 50s when the 356 became renowned for-its quality, handling, and aerodynamics—characteristics that will be key features of the-succeeding Porsche creations. Also, because of these characteristics, the 356 became a common racing-and sports car, although Porsche would get racing renown much later with a different-model. 

Indeed, the 1948 Porsche 356 No. 1 started it for Porsche. By the time the 356-ceased production in 1965, more than 70,000 units were already produced. And not only that; the-successor of the 1948 Porsche 356 No. 1 and the Porsche 356 became the most renowned sports car-ever—the Porsche 911. This only proves that without the 1948 Porsche 356 No. 1, the much-acclaimed Porsche 911 will not exist as well. 

Looking at the 1948 Porsche 356 No. 1, it is easy to see how far Porsche has-changed and improved.

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1939 Porsche Typ 64

The Real Porsche Prototype

CarshowClassic.com tells the story. 

The Porsche 356 No. 1 is the prototype of the very first commercial release of Porsche, but it is the 1939 Porsche Type 64 that is actually the very first Porsche car. 

The history of Porsche is very rich—so much so that the company deserves to-have its very own museum. Of course, the legacy of Porsche in the automobile industry is-unparalleled. The first cars made by the model are considered to be not just major items in the-industry; they can be considered as important historical artefacts. 

This is the reason why the Porsche 356 No. 1 is one of the most priced possessions-of the Porsche museum, as it shows how the company began and how its progression started. And, of-course, who wouldn’t want to see the very first car that the company created.

However, while the company Porsche began its legacy with the iconic Porsche 356 and-its prototype, the Porsche 356 No.1, these aren’t exactly the first cars made by the person-behind the company, Ferdinand Porsche. And the car that is considered to be the grandfather of the-all the Porsche cars today is the 1939 Porsche Type 64.

To know the history of the Type 64, it is important to know the history of the-company and the company’s founder. Ferdinand Porsche, before founding the company in 1930, was-first associated with the German company Volkswagen. In fact, while another designer was credited,-he was responsible for the design of the very first Volkswagen. When the company was founded in-1930, it was first a vehicle development and consulting company, not a car manufacturer. Later on,-the very first Porsche was produced. This was the 1930 Porsche Type 64. 

When one looks at the Type 64, its resemblance to the Volkswagen Beetle design is-very apparent. To many, it was the ideal touring car, with many concepts, design details, and-aerodynamics so far beyond its time. It ran on a speed of 130 km/h, a true feat during the 1930s,-even for Porsche. Ferdinand Porsche believed in the car so much that he actually drove it-himself—a sign of his great love for his own creation.

The car was created for the purpose of racing, but the car pre-empted its entry on the race tracks. Because of this, only three 1939 Porsche Type 64 were built,-with one actually used on races from the 1940s to the 1950s. Sadly, two of the three 1939 Porsche-Type 64 cars no longer exist today, while the last remaining Type 64 is privately owned. The one-exhibited in the Porsche Museum is only a replica, although the replica made use of many original-parts from the two original Type 64 cars. 

Of course, it was the 356 No. 1 that proves to be the more known-prototype—since the commercial release of the 356 is the company’s entry in the-commercial market. Nonetheless, this cannot underscore the importance of the 1939 Porsche Type 64.-It plays a very significant part in the history of the company, and not only because it shows a-number of trademark Porsche details that remain to be present even until today.

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1973 Porsche 911S

The Beginning of a Legend

CarshowClassic.com tells the story. 

Porsche is known for its iconic car models, but nothing can be more iconic, more memorable, and more significant in the automobile world than the Porsche 911, the car that built Porsche. Indeed, the 1973 Porsche 911 S can easily describe what the major car manufacturer is all about. 

The Porsche 911 is perhaps one of the most iconic sports car models in existence-today—so much so that the 911 line still exists today. Needless to say, it was the 911 that-really made Porsche into what it is today; its predecessor, the Porsche 356, was not exactly the-automobile behemoth everyone expected it to be. 

In any case, there are many reasons why the 911 became such a success and an icon-in the sports car industry; its look was both a nod to the previous models before it and a great-departure to the preconceived notion of what a sports car should look like. Its power, of course,-was quite a revelation, and it obviously rivaled the rival sports cars in the market during that-time. 

As mentioned earlier, the Porsche 911 is considered by everyone as the prime-achievement of the automobile company. It succeeded the innovative but not very successful Porsche-356, the very first car production of the company. To its credit, it wasn’t a complete dud,-and it was able to penetrate an already difficult market when it came out during the late 1940s.-However, that wasn’t enough; Porsche needed a real winner. This winner came in the form of the-Porsche 911, which was first unveiled in 1963 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It was thought to be a-better grand tourer than the 356, primarily because of the 2.0-liter air-cooled flat-six. Of course, its body was also well received. Designed by Ferdinand Porsche, it was larger and-easily more comfortable than their first creation, making it more luxurious. 

During the release of the 911, many critics were already saying that this-particular model was the best created by Porsche, and they were more than right—after all, the-911 became more successful than anyone ever thought. 

The 1973 Porsche 911 S was one of the further improvements made of the 911 series,-less than a decade after its release and more than a decade before the series received an overall-overhaul. The 1973 Porsche 911 S was technically the same model the previous ones, with only minor-alterations. For one, the engine was changed to into a more powerful 2341 cc engine. It also used-mechanical fuel injections—the one used for the 1973 Porsche 911 S was made by Bosch. Because-of the engine change, the 1973 911 S has a more powerful transmission. Other changes also include-alterations in the front bumper. All this, plus its considerably lighter weight, made the 1973-Porsche 911 S not just one of the best 911s; it is considered to be one of the best Porsche models-of all time. 

Although Porsche has moved beyond its 911 success to create other successful sports-car lines, the Porsche 911 remains to be the company’s crowned jewel, so to speak. A-discussion about classic sports cars will not be complete without mentioning the 911 and the 1973-Porsche 911 S, one of the best mainstream Porsche models ever created.

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1962 Porsche 718 W-RS Spyder

A Competitive Beast

CarshowClassic.com tells the story. 

Many would think that sports car manufacturers would immediately jump into the race track to gain a stellar reputation. However, this isn’t always the case. The 1962 Porsche 718 W-RS Spyder was one of the first updates of the very first model that began the Porsche’s race track dominance.

The 1962 Porsche 718 W-RS Spyder was an update of an earlier model that proved to be known as the “Giant-Killer.” In any case, the Porsche 718 W-RS did for the company what the C-Type did for Jaguar: introduced the company to the world of competition racing. In fact, the history-of both cars is quite similar. 

Like the C-Type, the Porsche 718 W-RS was created from a commercial car model. For the C-Type, it was the XK 120; for the Porsche 718 W-RS, it was the Porsche 550 Spyder, a sports car that was called the Giant Killer because of its-power. And while the 550 also gained some successes in the racing world, it was the Porsche 718 W-RS that did the company proud by winning so many races and competitions in just four years. Indeed,-this Porsche is among the most competitive among the creations of this automobile-superpower. 

The Porsche 718 W-RS is mid-engine race car, like the successful Dino line of Ferrari (the Dino, however, was around a decade-younger than the Porsche 718 W-RS). What made the Porsche 718 W-RS an impressive car is its numerous wins in several racing prix, such as the 12 Hours of Sebring in-1060 and the wins it got at Targa Florio in 1960. The year later proved to be more fruitful for the-company as it won Le Mans. It wasn’t very lucky in the Formula One, however, as the Dino-dominated the competition.

For those not in the know, the 12 Hours of Sebring is an endurance race that began-in 1950 and still exists today. Obviously, the race runs for 12 hours, making it a great preparation-of racers who were planning to join 24 Hours of Le Mans race. Meanwhile, Targa Florio began in 1906,-although it was discontinued during the late 1970s. The 24 Hours of Le Mans, meanwhile, was then the-toughest competition for racers, since it was a race that lasted for 24 hours (which means only the-toughest cars and racers can prove to be victorious here).

Although the 1962 Porsche 718 W-RS Spyder is not exactly well known among casual car fans, enthusiasts would recognize this as one-of the major breakthroughs of Porsche, although not in the commercial sense. In terms of commercial-recognition, Porsche 911 remains to be the company’s prized jewel. After all, it is deemed-(and rightfully so) by many as the most successful competitive car model in the history of-automobile production. That it has been in production since 1963, a few years after the 718 was-develop, helps.  In fact, there lies the value of the 1962 Porsche 718 W-RS Spyder, the most notable of the 718 updates. Simply put: without the 1962 Porsche 718 W-RS Spyder, it isn’t far fetched to say that the 911 may not exist at all. 

The 1962 Porsche 718 W-RS Spyder is now displayed at the Porsche Museum—a proof that this model is indeed very-important in the history of this car manufacturer.