When we previewed the Porsche content selling at the Scottsdale auctions, we weren’t exactly blown away with what they had to offer. There didn’t seem to be a major headliner for the Porsche camp to whip up a bidding frenzy for. That all changes with a move to another continent, and another sale. There are some excellent listings in this one, and the Retromobile Porsche auctions have a lot of potential. Lets break down the listings and pick a few favorites.
RM Sotheby’s Auctions
RM Sotheby’s have a couple of my favorite Porsches in Paris this year, including what is probably the agreed-upon Porsche headliner. It’s hard to beat the Goliath-toppling David of early Porsche motorsport efforts, the Fuhrmann four-cam-powered 550 Spyder. And with a pre-auction estimate this high, it certainly deserves some serious attention. Throw in a 964 Carrera RS, an early 911S, and a gorgeous Speedster for good measure, and you really only need four Porsche listings to draw a crowd. Top shelf offerings, that’s for sure.
Lot 143 – 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder (Est. 2,200,000 – 2,600,000 Euro)
Chassis: 550-0068 Engine: Not Listed
The 550 Spyder is one of Porsche’s most iconic designs. The gorgeous curved fenders are in stark contrast to most of the other racing cars that were available in the mid 1950s, and with its light weight and mid-engine four-cam engine, the Spyder provided a lot of success for Porsche’s racing program. This particular car is one of only 75 units sold to customers for racing or road purposes, and is completely street legal. Not only that, but this Porsche is extraordinarily special. Not only was #0068 shown on Porsche’s display stand at the Frankfurt Auto Show, but this is also a racer with Sebring podium winning history, Porsche ace Von Hanstein at the wheel, of course. There is a lot going for this Spyder, though perhaps there are a few things going against it as well.
The most curious part of this listing is the distinct lack of an engine number. This is absolutely a faux pas in the world of Fuhrmann four-cams. Because of this, I’d say it is unlikely that this car has its original engine (although we don’t know for sure). That’s not necessarily a strike against the car, in and of itself, as many of these Porsches had their engines swapped out in the 50s and 60s when they were ‘just old race cars’. The fact that a number isn’t listed is worrying though, as it could, in my opinion, indicate that someone has attempted to pass off the engine as original, perhaps with a case re-stamping. It isn’t exactly likely, but it is possible that this car has a Capricorn reproduction engine built within the last few years. Again, it would be nice if the auction company would disclose this information rather than let it slide under the carpet.
Regardless of the engine under the decklid, this chassis has lived a good long life with some definite highlights. #0068 was shipped to someone named Mike Marshall, who at the time was a Porsche/VW dealer in Miami, who also dabbled in motorsport. During the Spyder’s time with Marshall, it spent most of its racing life in amateur SCCA events, in fact the car won on its first outing at Waterboro in South Carolina. In December of 55, Marshall shipped the Porsche to the Bahamas to participate in the Nassau Speed Week, finishing a best of 4th in the under-two-liter Production Car race. At Sebring in 56, as mentioned before, Marshall shared the car with Von Hanstein, finishing 14th overall and 3rd in class, which is a quite respectable result. Marshall crashed the Spyder in early 1957, repaired it and continued racing through ’58. In mid 1958, the Porsche changed hands and moved into the ownership of ‘The Tampa Hotshoe’ Joe Sheppard.
After Sheppard’s ownership, the trail goes cold for a little more than a decade. Sheppard claims the car was sold by his father as part of a ‘deal’. He doesn’t remember when, and he doesn’t remember who it was sold to. RM says they believe the next owner to have been Robert Ross, who took the Porsche to Sebring regularly for club events. From the late 1950s through the late 1980s, the Spyder’s ownership isn’t solidly known, but then it showed up in the hands of a Lynn Larson for a short time. Larson sold to his friend Phil Bagley, who also owned it for only a short time. Bagley flipped the car to a new owner in Italy.
The Porsche arrived in Italy on the 12th of November in 1989, delivered to a Mr. Parigi. The Italian registration process is apparently quite slow, as the car is claimed to not have been registered with the Automotoclub Storico Italiano until April of 1997, by which time the 550 had already changed hands yet again to a Pierluigi Bartoli. Bartoli sold the car to its current owner in 1999. The current owner, who is not named, apparently purchased the car for the purposes of historics racing.
Since 1999, this 550 has been lovingly restored to the condition it was in when it sat on a plinth at the Frankfurt show. The car, as shown by Porsche at the time, featured a short ‘sport’ windshield just in front of the driver, a tonneau over the passenger’s seat, and traditional silver paint with light blue “darts” on the rear quarters. Quite a striking addition, if I may say so. RM says the car is eligible for use in the Mille Miglia, Tour Auto, Le Mans Classic, Goodwood Revival, Monterey Historics, and the Monaco Historic Grand Prix, among others. I’d rate this 550 as among the “driver class”. It is not particularly significant in the grand scheme of things, as it does not have much in the way of international provenance. This would be an excellent car for any of those vintage events where the car actually gets driven. In fact, I’ll be at Monterey this year if the buyer would like to allow me a few touring miles. Just look how much fun Max Girardo is having at the wheel of this thing. Can’t you just picture yourself in a similar position?
Lot 129 – 1992 Porsche 911 Carrera RS (Est. 140,000 – 160,000 Euro)
Chassis: WP0ZZZ96ZNS490311 Engine: 62N80736 Transmission: 2002258
One of only 1,992 964 Carrera RS built, this beauty is quite a rarity. Built specifically for owners who wanted a dual-purpose car for track days, showroom stock racing, or even a hardcore focused street car. Powered by a dry-sump 3.6 liter engine producing 260 horses, this was a relatively potent machine in its day. It was lightweight, its engine liked to rev, and it had everything you’d need for quick driving and none of the things you didn’t need. A strong Getrag G50 transmission with taller 1st and 2nd gears fitted, including a limited slip differential, was installed. In addition, a lightweight single-mass flywheel shaved 14 pounds of rotating mass, and a short-shift gearshift linkage helped the driver with a little extra “dynamic” feel.
An updated suspension was fitted with competition in mind. Adjustability was key, including adjustable control arms for camber adjustment, as well as racing coilover-style shock absorbers and adjustable stiffness anti-roll bars. Lightweight “Cup” wheels helped to reduce unsprung weight as well in 7.5″ front and 9″ rear fitment ZR rated tires. The Porsche weighed only 2684 pounds, and sprinted to 62 mph in just 5.3 seconds. It was a seriously quick machine in the early 1990s, but speed wasn’t its main focus, as it was a truly capable cornering machine as well.
This Porsche was delivered in October of 1991 to “Citifin of Milan” Citicorp Vinanziaria S.p.A. Why a financial company needed a Carrera RS, we may never know. Likely a company car for one of their wealthy head honchos. Just two years later, the Porsche was sold to Nicola Ferrini, a noted Italian soccer coach. Ferrini kept the 964 through August 1996, when he traded it in at Sport Auto Roma, a Ferrari dealer in Rome. The dealership apparently held on to the Porsche for over a year, as the next registered owner was Pierfrancesco Frere of Team Nuvolari in December 1997, where the car was apparently first used for sports racing purposes. October of 1999, the RS found itself in the hands of Luca Aiazzi, competing on track with the car for a number of years. The current owner purchased the Porsche after it had transferred through a number of dealerships in early 2007. As of now, the RS shows just under 42,000 kilometers, and receipts for a recent engine overhaul are included. Could be a great track car or collector piece for the new owner if their bid is high enough.
Other RM Sotheby’s Porsche Lots For Sale
Lot 119 – 1969 Porsche 911S 2.2L Coupe (Est. 200,000 – 250,000 Euro)
Lot 139 – 1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A Speedster (Est. 250,000 – 300,000 Euro)
Bonhams
Who would have thought that they’d ever see a pair of mid-engine Porsches leading the show at a major auction? A stellar 914/6 and a gorgeous low-mile Carrera GT are doing just that at Bonhams’ sale next week, so you don’t have to think about it anymore. The Carrera GT has been shooting upward in value over the last couple of years, and the 914/6 cars have been on a steady rise for the last 5-years or so, finally making 6 figures on a regular basis. These are both excellent lots for collectors to bid on, so get your paddles ready!
Lot 343 – 2005 Porsche Carrera GT (Est. $870,000 – 1,000,000)
As we’ve been showcasing for over a year, Carrera GT values have been flying sky high recently. If you had purchased one in 2012 or so, you’d likely have tripled your money by selling the car today. Just over 1200 of these beastly vehicles were built, and as the current crop of hypercars goes all-computer-controlled, the demand for an analog supercar seems to increase. This seems to be inflating Carrera GT values with every single sale. It wasn’t all that long ago that you could buy one for about $250,000, but I’ve already seen half a dozen of them sell into the 7-figure range. An ‘average’ condition car still sells on eBay for three quarters of a million US dollars. Is this one worth it?
When you take into account that his CGT is painted in a very interesting shade of “Navy Blue” over Terracotta leather interior, and combine that with a sub 10,000 mile documented odometer, this might well be crossing the million-dollar mark in Paris. The Porsche was recently serviced with a brand new carbon clutch, new brake pads, and a set of four new tires. The whole Carrera GT was also wrapped in clear vinyl film to prevent road damage and rock chips. Comes with books, tool kit, fitted luggage, all documents and service records, and a French “Carte Grise”.
Lot 375 – 1970 Porsche 914/6 (Est. $92,000 – 150,000)
Oh how I wish I’d purchased a 914/6 about a decade ago when they were everywhere for under twenty grand. This is an interesting Porsche to see for sale in Europe. The circular orange front fender side markers indicate this as a US delivered car, and in fact so too do the car’s documents. Equally interesting is that this POrsche has been fitted with amber/clear front turn signal lenses, which are typically reserved for European delivery cars. In my humble opine, the Euro turn signals look much better than the all-amber USA version.
According to documents included with the 914, the engine and gearbox of this 914/6 were completely overhauled just two years ago in mid-2014. The car comes with a file of papers documenting the Porsche’s originality, as well as a Porsche certificate of authenticity. I didn’t ever really think I’d see the day of six-figure 914s, but if there was one to make it to such heights, this might be the one.
Other Bonhams Porsche Lots For Sale
Lot 305 – 1969 Porsche 911 T 2.2L Coupe (Est. $54,000 – 76,000)
Lot 308 – 1996 Porsche 911 ‘993’ Turbo (Est. $150,000 – 170,000)
Lot 314 – 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera Speedster (Est. $270,000 – 380,000)
Lot 319 – 1971 Porsche 911 S 2.4L Coupe (Est. $140,000 – 190,000)
Lot 324 – 1967 Porsche 911S 2.0L Coupe (Est. $150,000 – 200,000)
Lot 327 – 1965 Porsche 911 Coupe (Est. $240,000 – 280,000)
Lot 338 – 1988 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2L Coupe (Est. $54,000 – 76,000)
Lot 341 – 1995 Porsche 911 ‘993’ Cup (Est. $280,000 – 470,000)
Lot 367 – 1969 Porsche 911 T 2.0L Coupe (Est. $65,000 – 97,000)
Lot 376 – 1986 Porsche 911 Turbo 3.3L Coupe (Est. $92,000 – 140,000)
Lot 380 – 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera Speedster (Est. $160,000 – 190,000)
Lot 401 – 1971 Porsche 911 T 2.2L Coupe (Est. $70,000 – 92,000)
Artcurial
Artcurial doesn’t have as many sales through the year as the other major auction houses, and in fact the Paris sale is the jewel in their crown, so it makes sense that they would break down all of the barriers and call in all favors for this one event. Having a 959 will guarantee a certain amount of attention, but when you bring a 2.7 RS into the picture as well, you’ve got a recipe for success. Both Porsches look spectacular, and should bring some big euro bids. These will draw the crowds, who will no doubt be interested in some of their other major listings while they’re in the room. Nice job.
Lot 142 – 1988 Porsche 959 Komfort (Est. 1,200,000 – 1,400,000 Euro)
Chassis: WPOZZZ95ZJS900032
Who doesn’t love a 959? We recently saw one of these, almost identical spec, come up as a no-sale lot in RM’s Scottsdale auction with bidding stopping at only $800,000 dollars. Same color and everything. So will this one sell? And more importantly, will it sell for similar money as more recent 959s have been fetching? The real question is: ‘Is this 959 a million dollar car?’
This 959 has apparently been well cared for throughout its entire life. The Porsche was delivered to a World Champion Motocross racer, André Malherbe brand new in July of 1988. Malherbe had won his championships in 1980, 1981, and 1984, and retired in 1986. In 1988, he decided that he wanted to try his hand at the Paris-Dakar Rally. Unfortunately he suffered a major accident during the trip to Dakar, which sadly rendered him quadriplegic. The car, then, was transferred to the ownership of a friend of André’s, a Swiss racing driver and enthusiast.
This 959 has still not covered even 15,000 kilometers in its life. The new buyer will also receive a large and comprehensive file of receipts and service records for this 959. This Porsche was ordered from the factory with this exact coat of Grand Prix White paint. Inside, you’ll see a set of optional grey gradient striped Sports Seats, something of a rarity. Whether you’re looking for a collector car to chuck away and hold on to for a few years, or you’re looking for a gorgeous Porsche to drive to the shops on Sunday afternoon when it’s sunny, this 959 certainly deserves a second look.
Lot 206 – 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS Touring (Est. 600,000 – 800,000 Euro)
Chassis: 911360440 Engine: 6630430
This 2.7 RS is one of the first run of 500, which makes it one of the much more desirable ‘Series 1’ cars. Production on this chassis evidently began on the first of August in 1972, and the Porsche dealer in Italy took delivery and invoice on January 1, 1973. Seems like a good car to receive on New Years Day, right? It was delivered in Tangerine with black accent, and black leatherette interior, which the Porsche retains today. The 911 was equipped from new with a heated/tinted rear window, an electric retractable radio antenna, and speaker package. The current owner purchased the Porsche in 2007 and began a full restoration on this lovely machine, including body work and a running gear overhaul. The car was completely overhauled from stem to stern, stripped down and rebuilt by a Porsche specialist in Italy. The engine was not fully rebuilt, but rather ‘fully serviced’.
A matching numbers series 1 Carrera RS should bring some big time bidders to the table in Paris for sure. This is a highly desirable Porsche, and people will pay premium prices to own one. I’d wager that this car will end up selling for a bit more than the estimated 800k Euro, if the right people are in the room.
Other Artcurial Porsche Lots For Sale
Lot 139 – 1971 Porsche 911 S 2.4L Targa (Est. 120,000 – 160,000 Euro)
Lot 140 – 1976 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7L Coupe (Est. 220,000 – 260,000 Euro)
Lot 141 – 1970 Porsche 911 E 2.2L Coupe (Est. 60,000 – 80,000 Euro)
Lot 205 – 1995 Porsche 911 ‘993’ Carrera RS (Est. 250,000 – 300,000 Euro)
Lot 207 – 1967 Porsche 911 S 2.0L Coupe (Est. 120,000 – 150,000 Euro)
Lot 208 – 1997 Porsche 911 ‘993’ GT2 Evo (Est. 550,000 – 750,000 Euro)
Lot 209 – 2006 Porsche 911 ‘997’ GT3 Cup (Est. 100,000 – 120,000 Euro)
Lot 221 – 1992 Porsche 911 ‘964’ Carrera RS (Est. 150,000 – 200,000 Euro)
[Photos Sourced From Their Respective Auction Houses]