Amazing Porsche Collection Spans Four Dozen Cars
This Belgian businessman turned vintage racer has a love affair with Porsche and a 48-car collection.
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Quite the Collection
Porsche is obviously an iconic brand that has endeared itself to a lot of people over the years, inspiring those with the means to amass large, impressive collections of these amazing vehicles. That includes Belgian businessman turned vintage racer Johan-Frank Dirickx, who currently owns 48 Porsches, including some seriously rare, valuable, and historically significant models. Luckily, Classic Driver was recently granted access to this amazing collection so that he can share it with the world.
Photos: Classic Driver
Early Start
Dirickx can trace his Porsche obsession back to his grandfather, who owned around nine of them, including a yellow 911 RS that he fell in love with as a child. After taking the car for a drive when he got his license, that sealed the deal for life. Dirickx purchased his first Porsche - a 1970 911T - at the tender age of 18 and never looked back.
Photos: Classic Driver
>>Join the conversation about this beautiful collection of cars right here on Rennlist.com.
Reliving the Past
However, it wasn't until Dirickx was 33 that he would buy his second Porsche - a new 964 RS. "That it was an RS was important - not just because I wanted a fast car, but because it was a link with my grandfather and my first experience of motoring," he said. "And what grew from that was an appreciation for low weight. I always found it an anachronism that Porsche takes things out of a car and charges you more for it."
Photos: Classic Driver
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Taking Over
Once Dirickx took over his father's business, he finally had the means necessary to buy the cars he dreamed of owning as a child, as well as hit the track in them - something he had wanted to do his whole life, though his father wasn't crazy about the idea. Today, Dirickx is an active participant in vintage racing events all over the globe.
Photos: Classic Driver
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Lightweight and Limited
As far as his massive collection goes, Dirickx has focused on limited-production, ultra-lightweight models. "It's a little ironic that I'm so obsessed with light weight," Dirickx said "The reason is pretty simple; these cars accelerate and hold the road better. The lighter it is, the better it drives. I've owned well over a hundred Porsches these last 30 years. I currently own 55 cars, 48 of which are Porsches. The numbers aren’t important, though, it's much more about the uniqueness of the cars. I had the idea one day to collect all the air-cooled RSs. Then I wanted all the air-cooled RSRs. Apart from the 1974 IROC RSR, I have them all. My SC/RS is pretty difficult to find [they only built 21]. I've also got a 1989 Carrera 3.2 Club Sport, which is as close to an RS as you can get."
Photos: Classic Driver
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Raw Cars
That doesn't mean he doesn't appreciate the finer water-cooled Porsches, however. "I bought the first water-cooled RS, the 996 GT3 RS, and I thought that would be my first and only water-cooled 911," Dirickx said. "I had to do it, it felt compulsory. And it's a very underrated car. And then, inevitably, I bought the one after that, the 997 GT3 RS 4.0, and the one after that, and the one after that. I absolutely prefer air-cooled. I like cars with no aids; driver's cars that are difficult to drive. I like my 911s raw."
Photos: Classic Driver
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Adding More
Like any good collection, Dirickx has his one holy grail car, however - a one-of-20 1967 Porsche 911 R. But no matter how large his stable gets, Dirickx can always think of something else to add to it. "I would obviously like a '74 IROC. And a 1976 first-generation 935 single-turbo, and a K3. Oh, and a 993 GT2 street car and race car. If you don't have anything to live for, you might as well be dead."
Photos: Classic Driver
>>Join the conversation about this beautiful collection of cars right here on Rennlist.com.
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