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For the third time in as many visits to Zuffenhausen,
I have been well received by Dieter Landenberger,
Archive Manager for Porsche & Porsche Museum.
His official title is:
Leiter Historisches Archiv
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG
Öffentlichkeitsarbeit und Presse
Porsche Museum und Historische Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
Dieter first gave my wife & I a peronalized tour of the
Porsche Museum restoration shop which all of you can
see behind the glass as you enter the first floor of the
structure (and in the back):
So this restoration shop is only for cars owned by the
Museum. Customer restorations are done at 'Porsche
Classic' which is located elsewhere in Stuttgart area.
*
One of the cars being restored expertly at the present
in this area is 'Porsche Number 57'. The story of how
#57 came to be discovered & purchased by PAG is not
well known to us in North America...but apparently most
Germans know about via a famous local TV program there.
This is how that restoration was proceeding as of 4/18.
The color, if any of you are wondering, is 'Polo Red',
which happened to be the hue of the first Porsche I
ever owned - a 1968 912 Soft-Rear Targa!
*
It was also interesting to see an old 356 Coupe I remember
seeing years ago (circa 1983) in California which is now owned
by the Museum. This was Gene Gilpin's 1956 A Coupe with
Rudge wheels.
Note the the spinners for German market were...wingless!
The deviation from norm was due to safety concerns FOR
PEDESTRIANS in the home market, even back in the mid-
1950's. As you might know, Porsche 356 Rudges for most
world markets had 'wings'...like one of Ben Hur's chariots
(a popular film of the era)! And this was a cause of concern
in Germany for TÜV.
In any case, Gene traded this restored 356 as you see it for
a well-used Porsche 'Guards Red' 911SC cabriolet, a test vehicle
that PAG had around just prior to re-introducing that model
in early 1980's.
In my opinion, this trade will go down in history as one of
the worse ever made!
In case any of you are wondering, the color of this 356A is
the very rare & seldom ordered 'Lago Green Metallic'.
*
After the tour of the restoration shop, Dieter brought us upstairs
to see the current exhibits at the Museum. We were particularly
impressed with the new Walter Röhrl exhibit:
I was particularly pleased to see the 924 Carrera GTR driven by
Walter Röhrl & my friend Jürgen Barth* at LeMans in 1981:
I thank Dieter for taking time from his busy schedule. And I wish
him the best at all future endeavors at the VW Group!
Saludos,
Eduardo
San Martino Alfiere
Piemonte, Italia
*Like in past years, I was invited by Jürgen to his house for
dinner. My wife & I were to join fellow 356 enthusiast (&
well-known photographer) Hal Toms at Jürgen's home on
4/20. Unfortunately we had to leave on the 19th to proceed
to Regensburg before flying off to Italy!
Excellent reporting Eduardo! I was at the museum and factory today - that No 57 901 car is fantastic - they appeared to be getting ready to install its engine today.
Pictures from yesterday. I know, my phone takes awfull pictures.
Thank you, Samuel, for the update. I happen to be in Germany too as I am vacationing with my wife
there for one week before I travel to Maranello Italy for the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the Dino
at Ferrari. Then to Lago di Garda & the we participate in the historic Stella Alpen Rallye in the Dolomites.
I am presently in Volkach, north of Stuttgart in the Lower Franconia area of Germany (technically
Northern Bavaria). It's a small walled medieval town (founded 1413 AD) east of Würzburg & south
of Schweinfurt. I have been coming here regularly since late 1970's. I am enjoying the Franken
Sylvaners everyday...below at Juliusspital at nearby Vogelsburg! I have previously written about
Volkach & environs in blogs I previously posted here on Rennlist re: my travels to the factory.
*
I would normally post about these car-related trips here on Rennlist. I have tried very hard to provide interesting,
well-researched & thoughtful content to my many threads, some that have been made 'Sticky' in the past. But I
am doing much less of that nowadays as I don't really appreciate the lack of civility of many posters here...and
the abysmal role of our moderators at Rennlist (e.g. Bob Rouleau). Eventually many of us will go elsewhere if
Internet Brands does not care & allows this forum to continue to deteriorate. Here is a case-in-point:
*
But some of you Rennlisters I have gotten to know well enough to have your e-address are getting my travel blog
directly via email for this current trip, as well as my recent visit to Dubai & my attendance at a special driving event
of the Porsche GT Club of the UAE held at the Yas Marina F1 Circuit in Abu Dhabi in April! That experience was 'mega'!
*
No plans at present to visit Zuffenhausen on this trip. It looks like the new Mission E assembly line is coming
along! Although I have a deposit on a 718-era Boxster Spyder, I think I will next go over the dark side & try a
Ferrari 458/488 Spider. I am not impressed with the games PAG has played with its loyal customers re: PTS
in recent years. So I am less interest in PAG today than I have ever been in my long history with the marque
that dates back to my first Porsche in 1973. Thank goodness for choice & alternatives in our auto enthusiast
hobby.
04-25-2017, 04:02 PM
Part III of my Report
