Later this month, just a few days before Halloween, Porsche and RM Sotheby’s will be serving up some treats during the Porsche 70th Anniversary Auction in Atlanta, Georgia. With 123 lots of Porsche goodies, ranging from original dealership posters and children’s cars to a low mile 924 and a full-blown 959 Dakar racer. No matter what era of the Porsche history you appreciate most, there will be something in store for you to bid on. This is the largest Porsche-only auction I’ve ever seen come to fruition, and it could seriously set the market in the near future. Every car here carries an incredible backstory, and any of them would be welcome additions to a Porsche nut’s garage! Can you imagine any other marque that can put together this kind of collection from their back catalog?
You can bid on these cars yourself through RM’s phone bidding process, or you can get yourself to Atlanta and pick up a paddle. You know you want to.
Lot 162 – 1984 Porsche 944 – Pre-Auction Estimate: $35,000 – 45,000
Porsche’s 944, when it was new, was the perfect college professor car. You likely had a college professor with a slightly quirky car that nobody else in your town had. They were never top-of-the-line models, but they’re usually good handling imported sports coupes. I think of Datsun 240Zs, Saab 99s, BMW 2002s, and any transaxle Porsche as being the ideal professor car. Especially in the 70s and 80s, professors made decent money, but not enough that they could jump on a new 911 or better. They are also intellectuals and could not justify dropping that kind of money on a car anyway. It’s premium, but not premium enough to be a turn off.
JoAnn Stark purchased this gorgeous 944 when she was hired to her dream job in the English Department at Northwestern University. From 1984 through 1999, Ms. Stark drove the car just 10,262 miles before moving to Seattle. They retained the 944 as a fair weather driver when they came back to Illinois, and the car was professionally maintained, even while they were not in town. I’ve never seen a set of color-matched Cookie Cutter wheels, but they work incredibly well on this car. This car is the gold-standard of early 944s, and look for it to fetch a nice premium.
Lot 173 – 1958 Porsche 356A 1600 Super Speedster Barn Find – Pre-Auction Estimate: $125,000 – 150,000
The words “Barn” and “Find” when put together are the equivalent of printing money in today’s car collecting world. The buyer isn’t buying a car, they’re buying a story. They’re making sure their collectible car is more of a conversation piece. This Speedster’s story isn’t all that exciting, if I’m honest, but I’m sure it’ll still fetch a premium. The car was originally imported through Max Hoffman’s distributor in New York. The early history of the car is a bit foggy, but it is believed to have spent that time in Texas. It racked up 70,000 miles through 1984 when it was purchased by the current owner who intended to restore the car. Somehow, even in Texas, the 356 developed rot in the floorpans, trunk, and battery box. The owner had intended to restore the car, and stripped it of its paint before clapping his hands together and walking away for 35 years. Allegedly the 1600 Super engine does run, but the brakes are not mechanically sound enough to drive the car.
Is that story worth a premium to you? Personally, I’d rather spend that kind of cash on a Speedster with twice as many miles, and more patina in the original paint to tell its own story. But, regardless of my feelings, this will surely sell for well more than a nice example that doesn’t need a full restoration.
Lot 178 – 1980 Porsche 935 Kremer K4 – Pre-Auction Estimate: $850,000 – 1,100,000
It doesn’t get much more Group 5 exciting than an original Kremer K4 as-raced by Ted Field and Danny ‘On-The-Gas’ Ongais. While Porsche had left 935 racing to non-factory teams at the tail end of the 1970s, they exploited a few rules to create the iconic 935-78 Moby Dick. The Group 5 rules essentially only covered the bodywork between the front and rear bulkheads. In order to retain the group appropriate bodywork, they had to have the roof, rear window profile, front and rear firewalls, and doors. That’s pretty much it. So the Moby Dick kicked off a series of wilder and wilder builds. Porsche wouldn’t sell the Moby Dick to privateers, so they build their own. Kremer’s answer to that concept was the K4. A much wilder version of their K3 that had won Le Mans overall in 1979.
The car raced with Interscope in IMSA’s GTX category for a couple of years to varying success before it was sold to Vasek Polak, who stored it for several years in California. In 1997 it was restored by Gunnar Racing and returned to racing in vintage categories. Then, Ted Field’s nephew, Marshall Field purchased the car and gave it a no-expense-spared update to modern standards. The chassis was stiffened with bonded-in honeycomb aluminum, a brand new twin-turbo 935 powerplant, new Penske shocks, and a Motec dash/telemetry system were installed. At that time, the car was returned to Interscope livery, and the GT1-style mirrors, and an aluminum splitter were added for aero efficiency. The current owner purchased the car in 2003.
The car has been out of commission for long enough that the buyer should definitely get the mechanicals rebuilt again, but this could be an incredible car for vintage racing. Possibly the most modern and wildly-built Kremer 935s in the world.
Lot 196 – 1985 Porsche 959 Paris-Dakar – Pre-Auction Estimate: $3,000,000 – 3,400,000
The Dakar-entered 959 is one of only three cars built in 1985. These examples were built with a naturally aspirated Carrera 3.2 engine for simplicity and longevity in the desert racing venue, plus an advanced all-wheel-drive system, a high rise suspension, and 959 body panels. Chassis no. 010015 was driven in the 1985 Paris-Dakar as #186 by René Metge and Dominique Lemoyne. Metge won the Paris-Dakar in 1981, ’84, and ’86. Unfortunately, while aboard this car, he was forced to retire early with an oil line failure. 1985 was not a good year for Porsche, as the other two 959s entered suffered accidents. While the car didn’t actually finish the Dakar journey, it provided much-needed development for the 1986 running of the event, where Porsche placed 1-2-6 overall. Since retiring from competition, it has been shown at many vintage events, including Goodwood and The Quail, as owned by Jacky Ickx.
More Awesome Porsche Lots From RM Sotheby’s
Lot 155 – Porsche 356 Speedster Junior Children’s Car – Pre-Auction Estimate: $18,000 – 25,000
Lot 156 – Porsche 550 Spyder Junior Children’s Car – Pre-Auction Estimate: $18,000 – 25,000
Lot 157 – Porsche 904 GTS Junior Children’s Car – Pre-Auction Estimate: $20,000 – 30,000
Lot 158 – Porsche 917 Junior Children’s Car – Pre-Auction Estimate: $50,000 – 60,000
Lot 161 – 1956 Porsche 356A Training Car – Pre-Auction Estimate: $100,000 – 150,000
Lot 163 – 1994 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Turbo Look – Pre-Auction Estimate: $125,000 – 150,000
Lot 164 – 1994 Porsche 928 GTS – Pre-Auction Estimate: $90,000 – 120,000
Lot 165 – 1989 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe – Pre-Auction Estimate: $125,000 – 175,000
Lot 166 – 1969 Porsche 911E Coupe 2.0L – Pre-Auction Estimate: $70,000 – 90,000
Lot 167 – 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo S – Pre-Auction Estimate: $300,000 – 400,000
Lot 168 -1971 Porsche 914/6 – Pre-Auction Estimate: $100,000 – 125,000
Lot 169 – 1995 Porsche 911 Cup 3.8 RSR Evo – Pre-Auction Estimate: $250,000 – 275,000
Lot 170 – 2006 Porsche 911 Carrera S Club Coupe – Pre-Auction Estimate: $120,000 – 160,000
Lot 171 -1971 Porsche 911E Targa 2.2L – Pre-Auction Estimate: $125,000 – 150,000
Lot 172 – 1988 Porsche 911 Turbo S Slant Nose Coupe – Pre-Auction Estimate: $250,000 – 300,000
Lot 174 -1965 Porsche 911 – Pre-Auction Estimate: $200,000 – 250,000
Lot 175 – 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7L Lightweight – Pre-Auction Estimate: $875,000 – 1,100,000
Lot 176 – 1977 Porsche 911 Turbo Carrera – Pre-Auction Estimate: $140,000 – 180,000
Lot 177 – 1993 Porsche 911 RS America – Pre-Auction Estimate: $150,000 – 200,000
Lot 179 – 1996 Porsche 911 Carrera RS – Pre-Auction Estimate: $500,000 – 600,000
Lot 180 – 1968 Porsche 911L Coupe – Pre-Auction Estimate: $125,000 – 150,000
Lot 181 – 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 2.8L – Pre-Auction Estimate: $2,400,000 – 2,800,000
Lot 182 – 1996 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S – Pre-Auction Estimate: $100,000 – 125,000
Lot 183 – 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0L – Pre-Auction Estimate: $800,000 – 1,000,000
Lot 184 – 1951 Porsche 356 Split Window Cabriolet 1300 – Pre-Auction Estimate: $560,000 – 800,000
Lot 185 – 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder – Pre-Auction Estimate: $1,400,000 – 1,600,000
Lot 186 – 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 3.8 – Pre-Auction Estimate: $175,000 – 200,000
Lot 187 – 1963 Porsche 356 B 1600 Sunroof Coupe – Pre-Auction Estimate: $90,000 – 120,000
Lot 188 – 1994 Porsche 911 Speedster – Pre-Auction Estimate: $200,000 – 250,000
Lot 189 – 1991 Porsche 911 Turbo – Pre-Auction Estimate: $225,000 – 275,000
Lot 190 – 1951 Porsche 356 Pre-A Split-Window Coupe – Pre-Auction Estimate: $600,000 – 800,000
Lot 191 – 1985 Porsche 959 Prototype – Pre-Auction Estimate: $1,300,000 – 1,600,000
Lot 192 – 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7L Touring – Pre-Auction Estimate: $650,000 – 750,000
Lot 193 – 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo S X85 Slant Nose “Flachbau” – Pre-Auction Estimate: $600,000 – 750,000
Lot 194 – 1969 Porsche 911E 2.0L Coupe – Pre-Auction Estimate: $125,000 – 150,000
Lot 195 – 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS – Pre-Auction Estimate: $175,000 – 225,000
Lot 197 – 1960 Porsche 356 B Coupe Super 90 – Pre-Auction Estimate: $140,000 – 160,000
Lot 198 – 1989 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet – Pre-Auction Estimate: $225,000 – 275,000
Lot 199 – 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS – Pre-Auction Estimate: $700,000 – 800,000
Lot 200 – 1983 Porsche 956 Group C – Pre-Auction Estimate: $5,250,000 – 6,750,000
Lot 201 – 1970 Porsche 911S Coupe 2.2L – Pre-Auction Estimate: $180,000 – 220,000
Lot 202 – 1992 Porsche 911 Carrera RS – Pre-Auction Estimate: $600,000 – 700,000
Lot 203 – 1956 Porsche 356 A Speedster 1600 Super – Pre-Auction Estimate: $500,000 – 600,000
Lot 204 – 1970 Porsche 914/6 – Pre-Auction Estimate: $80,000 – 100,000
Lot 205 – 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7L Prototype – Pre-Auction Estimate: $1,250,000 – 1,500,000
Lot 206 – 1985 Porsche 911 Turbo Slant Nose Coupe – Pre-Auction Estimate: $250,000 – 300,000
Lot 207 – 2004 Porsche Carrera GT – Pre-Auction Estimate: $650,000 – 750,000
Lot 208 – 1968 Porsche 911 Sportomatic Coupe – Pre-Auction Estimate: $225,000 – 275,000
Lot 209 – 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo S – Pre-Auction Estimate: $775,000 – 950,000
Lot 210 – 1967 Porsche 911S 2.0L Coupe – Pre-Auction Estimate: $175,000 – 225,000
Lot 211 – 2008 Porsche 911 GT2 – Pre-Auction Estimate: $260,000 – 300,000
Lot 212 – 1958 Porsche 356A Speedster – Pre-Auction Estimate: $300,000 – 350,000
Lot 213 – 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 RS – Pre-Auction Estimate: $260,000 – 300,000
Lot 214 – 1968 Porsche 911 Soft-Window Targa – Pre-Auction Estimate: $170,000 – 190,000
Lot 215 – 1975 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.0L – Pre-Auction Estimate: $2,000,000 – 2,200,000
Lot 216 – 1960 Porsche 356B Super 90 Cabriolet – Pre-Auction Estimate: $160,000 – 190,000
Lot 217 – 1996 Porsche 911 GT2 – Pre-Auction Estimate: $800,000 – 1,200,000
Lot 218 – 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo 3.6L – Pre-Auction Estimate: $150,000 – 200,000
Lot 219 – 2005 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet – Pre-Auction Estimate: $120,000 – 140,000
Lot 220 – 2018 Porsche 911 Turbo Classic Series (993) “Project Gold” – No Estimate Provided
Lot 221 – 1980 Porsche 924 – Pre-Auction Estimate: $30,000 – 40,000
Lot 222 – 1990 Porsche 944 S2 Cabriolet – Pre-Auction Estimate: $40,000 – 60,000
Lot 223 – 1979 Porsche 928 – Pre-Auction Estimate: $60,000 – 80,000
Lot 224 – 1959 Porsche Diesel Junior 108 K Tractor – Pre-Auction Estimate: $30,000 – 40,000