Four Porsches That Should Be on Your Auctions America Santa Monica Shopping List
A 1958 Porsche Speedster, 1977 Porsche Turbo, 1988 Porsche 959, and a 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 drive into a bar, but what do they have in common? If you guessed they’re all made by our favorite car company, I’m sorry, but you don’t get any bonus points for clairvoyance. But if you were truly prescient, you might have already known that this quartet of Stuttgart’s finest will be looking to find new owners and homes at the Auctions America’s California sale, June 25-26.
Held within Santa Monica’s historic Barker Hanger, the fourth annual California sale hopes to repeat the success it had in 2015 with $15.4 million in sales. Being that this is Rennlist, we decided to take a closer look at some Porsches (you don’t have to be clairvoyant about that one) that you might consider raising your bidder’s paddle for.
1958 Porsche 356A 1600 Speedster by Reutter
Estimate: $260,000 – $300,000
Auctions America Lot 1071
The Porsche Speedster was the brainchild of Max Hoffman, the original importer and distributor of Porsche cars in the United States. While the company’s range of 356 coupes and cabriolets sold well, they were relatively expensive, and had a limited market as such. Hoffman suggested they might do even better with a lower-cost sports car to compete with the plethora of imported sports cars, primarily from Britain, and from marques like MG, and Triumph, which were taking the American market by storm. Porsche responded to Hoffman’s request by producing a stripped version of their 356 cabriolet. Ostensibly the company’s “economy” model, the Speedster was priced at $2,995 and recognizable by a low, wraparound windscreen, lower door waistline and lightweight bucket seats. There were no windup windows – buyers had to make do with plastic side curtains. The car’s combination of low price, light weight, and sublime handling made the Speedster a bonafide success both on the boulevards, and in the American sports car racing leagues. An estimated 4,822 examples are believed to have been constructed between 1954 and 1958 when production came to an end.
This fetching silver example offered here has a pre-auction estimate of $260,000 – $300,000, and is purported to be an excellent example of the breed, having been restored by European Collectables. While the engine it was born with is no longer part of the equation, this Speedster now has a period correct 1600 “Super” 75-hp flat four-cylinder engine residing in the engine compartment, which puts out a few more horsepower than stock. Which might make it a great choice for driving events like the Copperstate 1000 and Colorado Grand.
1977 Porsche Turbo Carrera
Estimate: $170,000 – $200,000
Auctions America Lot 1086
When it comes to performance, the words Porsche and “Turbo” go hand-in-hand. Historically, much of the Porsche 911’s development has resulted from the factory’s racing program; indeed it was the period Group 4 homologation rules that instigated the development of the world’s first turbocharged, ultra-high performance streetcar in 1975. Crowned the fastest German production car upon its introduction, the 930 would also transform Porsche’s brand image as the company now had a legitimate competitor to combat its rivals from Maranello and Sant’Agata Bolognese.
Complete with its Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, space-saver spare, and toolkit, this very fine 930 in Copper Brown Metallic was one of the most desirable performance machines of its day, and has recently seen an upward spike in prices as the auction house’s estimate also indicates. A piece of history that will never be repeated, all it needs now is a new owner to continue the enjoyment of driving it.
1988 Porsche 959 “KOMFORT”
Estimate: $1,300,000 – $1,600,000
Auctions America Lot 1100
One of the most iconic supercars of the ’80s, this 1988 959 “Comfort” model — because it was more luxurious and comfortable than the “S” — is powered by a 444 horsepower, twin-turbocharged 2.8-liter flat-six connected to a six-speed manual driving all four wheels. While these figures might seem quaint now, the 959 was far ahead of its competition — the Ferrari 288 GTO and Lamborghini Countach both come to mind — in both technology and speed, and is still extremely potent today.
Perhaps because it did not look as outrageous as the cars from Maranello and Sant’Agata, the 959 flew a little under the radar for many folks, but one still ended up on my bedroom wall. 959s are now more than 25-years-old, so importation of cars like this federalized and fully road legal 1988 example are open to bids from almost anyone, which is good news for American car collectors and enthusiasts who have the $1,300,000–1,600,000 that Auctions America estimates it will take to make this original and low-mileage example yours. Not just for your bedroom wall, mind you — but in your actual garage.
2011 Porsche 911 GT3
Estimate: $175,000 – $200,000
Auctions America Lot 2097
The 911 GT3 is the street legal version of Porsche’s production-based racing cars, the winning GT3 Cup and RSR, with a lineage that traces back to the iconic 911 RS of 1973. With aggressive cooling ducts and functional aero, it certainly looks the part of a racing car, perhaps just waiting for sponsorship decals to be applied as a finishing touch. When it was released, the GT3 was feted by many as one of the greatest drivers’ cars of all time and was continuously updated until production ended.
Within the engine bay of this 2011 Porsche “997” GT3 lies a 3.8 liter 6-cylinder engine, producing 435 horsepower, and 317 lb.-ft. of torque, at a lofty 8400 rpm redline. Stirring the very analogue six-speed gearbox — the only one offered — motivates the car from a standstill to 60 mph in just 4.0 seconds and onto a top speed of 194 mph, if you’re brave enough.
Auctions America states that this GT3 is a “meticulously cared for car” with no track time and has “led a rather pampered life.” Perhaps more importantly for those Rennlister’s obsessed with such things, the auction house says this car has only 2,000 miles from new, and that all important “clean DME scan.” With a low-auction estimate above what this car sold for new in 2011, this GT3 presents an excellent opportunity for someone to get an almost fresh in the wrapper GT3, and perhaps use it as intended. Besides, Porsche won’t be building them like this anymore.
Previews start on June 24 at 1 pm, and the auction takes place June 25 and 26 at 10am. A full weekend event pass is only $20. For more information, visit AuctionsAmerica.com.
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Photos [Auctions America]