Popular YouTuber Visits Famous Unorthodox Porsche Collector in L.A.
Magnus Walker quite simply has one of the coolest Porsche collections around.
YouTube is a haven for car culture. You can find pretty much any enthusiast community on the site. Porsche enthusiasts have a wide variety of internet personalities to choose from if they want to live vicariously through the presenters. Even short videos can offer a learning experience you might not find anywhere else.
Sam Michael David Fane, proprietor of Seen Through Glass, recently toured Magnus Walker’s Porsche collection. Fane is currently on a global road trip and decided to pay the former fashion designer a visit. What Fane finds is a truly unique collection owned by an authentic Porsche aficionado.
Fane’s international journey is enhanced by the addition of his personal 911 Carrera T. He shipped his 911 to continental Europe and to the U.K. and now he’s in the western hemisphere, with LA being the first leg of his trip through America. Fane shoots his videos POV style, a decision that is extremely beneficial to viewers, as they get an immersive deep dive into whatever content he films. Despite Fane’s lack of screen time, his enthusiasm shines through, and it’s likely the primary reason why his videos have become so popular.
Walker’s collection is housed in the building that used to contain his Serious Clothing business. It’s got a unique vibe and Walker comes off as a true Porsche lover who isn’t concerned with being a typical collector. “When it comes to Porsche I’m all about everything, so the goal is one of everything Porsche has ever made in a sports car. So that’s front engine, mid engine, rear engine, air and water cooled” says Walker right at the start. It’s an ambitious goal that also paints Walker as a collector who casts a wide net, which is probably why his collection is so alluring. This particular 924 Carrera GT is especially rare as only 406 were made.
Walker’s collection contains performance oriented models but also historically significant ones. This 1979 924 Turbo was the first front engine, water cooled Porsche and it’s one of fifty that made it to America. The Pasha interior makes it even more special, which does not go unnoticed by Fane and Walker, who count themselves as fans of the unique upholstery. In fact, Walker claims he bought the car specifically for the interior.
Walker’s collection essentially consists of models he enjoys. “If there’s a Porsche badge on it to me it doesn’t matter if the motor is in the front, the middle, or the rear.” That definitely explains his love for this 924, which was a product of Al Holbert’s Porsche dealership, where they made their own wide-body conversion kits. Walker’s appreciation for an aspect of Porsche history that might get overlooked by newer collectors is noteworthy and refreshing.
After Fane is guided through Walker’s collection of front engine models, he is then shown the section devoted to rear engine models. Walker’s infamous “277” 1971 911 takes a starring role out front, and it is unsurprisingly positioned so that it can be driven out of the warehouse without being blocked by his other cars. Walker is something of a rebel in the community and he earned that reputation by doing things outside of the norm. That includes owning cars that aren’t in showroom condition. “Chips and stuff like that to me…just memorable moments. It makes the car special. It’s patina, ultimately it’s memorable moments to me. I don’t need the car to be shiny. It just shows that it’s been lived in and it’s been driven.” It isn’t hard to figure out why Walker is so well respected among enthusiasts. He exudes authenticity.
Fane and Walker share a mutual appreciation for the unique paint and interior colors that Porsche created in the 1970s. Walker shows off his 1977 930 with an Ice Green Metallic paint job and Fane is positively giddy over it. And the factory green avocado leather interior makes Fane giggle like a little kid.
Walker then shows Fane a 930 that is impressive because it’s very likely only one of two built with a copper brown exterior and brown interior. It’s really a testament to Walker’s passion that his collection is filled with cars that he enjoys because of how they were optioned.
Walker is understandably considered a legend by enthusiasts everywhere. It’s a real credit to Fane that his own passion shines through despite him not being in front of the camera. The Walker collection has some real substance behind it and that’s due to his beliefs on car collecting and his love of Porsche. The entire video features a ton of great vehicles, including the lone non-Porsche in his collection. It’s worth every second of the 18-minute run time.