Extremely Rare Porsche Camper Van to be Auctioned
Even the most complete Porsche collection will not likely feature the Tempo Mikafa Sport camper van.
We just ran across this gem online, and this is certainly not a Porsche you see every day. This is a 1955 Porsche Tempo Mikafa Sport camper van. It is complete with all the features you’d expect to see in a camper, including a functional restroom, a kitchen with a dining area, and a slew of pop-out windows to allow adequate mountain airflow. What you might not expect, though, is the Porsche 356 powerplant. This example will be available for sale at Mecum Auctions‘ 2019 Monterey event, happening Aug. 15-17. And this may be your only chance to acquire one because there are only three in existence. It is also, according to the Mecum Auctions post, one of only two Mikafa campers in the United States
These campers are a joint effort between Porsche, Tempo, and Mikafa. Tempo was a German automobile manufacturer and Mikafa was an aircraft manufacturer that decided to venture into making luxury campers. Tempo provided the chassis, Mikafa made the bodies and interiors, and Porsche provided the 4 cylinder boxer engine to power the front wheels.
Only three Sport examples were reportedly built, so finding another one is unlikely. That, coupled with the fact that only two of these Campers are in the US surely will make for a lofty winning bid.
The interior is truly luxurious, but would you expect any less from a Porsche branded vehicle? It’s hard to keep in mind the age of this camper when considering its features. Such as a fridge, a kitchenette featuring a stove, drawers for storage, and even a fold-out dining table.
These campers are the pinnacle of glamping in the 1950s. According to the Mecum Auctions post, a similar model was purchased by Hungarian Count Antal Szapáry von Muraszombath Széchysziget und Szapar.
Whether or not vintage campers tickle your fancy, we all can appreciate seeing something so excessively rare. Some lucky collector will have the opportunity to own this little known piece of Porsche history come mid-August. Its simple cockpit, futuristic aero and dated interior finish choices mark this unrestored machine a miraculous time capsule. Soon enough, this example will likely be tucked away into a private collection, so take the time to admire it while you have the chance.
Photos: Mecum Auctions