Luftgekühlt 5 Promises Pure Air-Cooled Porsche Nirvana

Luftgekühlt returns April 22 with a stellar vehicle lineup and the most unique venue yet! Plus, Petersen hosts a pre-party, April 20.

Air-cooled Porsche fans have a lot to look forward to in 2018. With stellar, star-studded events like the Petersen Automotive Museum’s “The Porsche Effect” taking place, there’s no better time to celebrate vintage sports cars. And now, we’ve got even better news. Luftgekühlt, the brainchild of two-time Le Mans class winner Patrick Long and noted Southern California creative director Howie Idelson returns this year to an even more fascinating venue.

Set to take place April 22, Luftgekühlt 5, like its predecessors, celebrates every iteration of air-cooled Porsche. From the pre-A 356 all the way through the 993. The cars chosen for the event are carefully curated, chosen for their historical significance or just plain interest. Which, in and of itself, is a pretty notable thing. But what sets Luftgekühlt apart from countless other similar meets is its carefully chosen setting, which aims to highlight the design and stature of those special air-cooled Porsche examples.

This year, that backdrop is quite unique: the Ganahl Lumber Company South Bay in Torrance, California. It might sound like an odd pairing at first. But this venue promises stunning backdrops that provide an exceptional contrast to the curvy vintage machinery on display. And, it turns out, the yard carries quite a bit of historical significance itself. It’s owned by California’s oldest lumber company, which was opened by a pair of Austrian immigrants way back in 1884.

Luftgekühlt 5 is kicking off with a special pre-party at L.A.’s Petersen Automotive Museum on Friday, April 20, from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. That event includes plenty of significant air-cooled cars, panel discussions, live entertainment, food, and beverages. The official celebration of air-cooled Porsches kicks off shortly thereafter, taking place on Sunday, April 22 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tickets for the Petersen pre-party can be found here, and you can score your admission to Luftgekühlt 5 by heading over here.

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Brett Foote

Brett Foote has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is a longtime contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites, including Chevrolet Forum, Rennlist, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, among other popular sites.
He has been an automotive enthusiast since the day he came into this world and rode home from the hospital in a first-gen Mustang, and he's been wrenching on them nearly as long.

In addition to his expertise writing about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and every other type of automobile, Brett had spent several years running parts for local auto dealerships.

You can follow along with his builds and various automotive shenanigans on Instagram: @bfoote.