Amelia Island Auctions: Porsche Preview 2017

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The upswing in the Porsche market shows no sign of stopping. While the upward curve is not as accelerated as it once was, the general upward trend continues. Less universally-loved Porsches are beginning to feel some of the 911’s momentum in the classic car market. This year at Amelia Island there are no less than 60 Porsches offered, ranging from a 1987 924S all the way to a 1998 911 GT1 Strassenversion.

Compared to last year’s 930-heavy showing, this year’s auctions are wonderfully diverse, with cars for nearly every budget and niche. Each auction house has at least one Carrera GT on offer, but the on the whole each auction house has something different to offer than the other two, which should make March 9th and 10th very exciting days for Porsche collectors.

RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s is bringing some of the most hardcore 911s to market, alongside some humbler Porsches, making for a very intriguing selection of cars. Alongside a trio of 911RSs, a pair of yellow 1973 2.7l cars and a 1974 3.0l, are a quartet of transaxle cars. Does this perhaps herald the arrival of the transaxle models on the radar of Porsche collectors? Check out RM Sotheby’s catalog for complete details on each Porsche for sale.

1987 Porsche 924S (Est. $20,000-$30,000)

VIN: WP0AA0922HN452147

There are four transaxle cars crossing the block with RM Sotheby’s at Amelia Island, and this 1987 924S is arguably the most interesting of the lot. It is also unique across all four auction houses as being the lowest-spec Porsche on offer. That is not to say that the 924S doesn’t punch above its weight in terms of enjoyment, it certainly has a lot to offer, but seeing it alongside more illustrious machinery is very unusual.

1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Lightweight (Est. 800,000-$1,000,000)

Chassis no. 9113600336

Engine no. 6630312

Gearbox no. 7830329

The 1973 911 Carrera 2.7 RS has long been a holy-grail car for Porsche collectors, and this factory lightweight car is the absolute top of the heap. Of the 1,585 2.7RS models produced, just 200 were factory lightweights. This example is extremely original with known history back to new, and has been repainted once in its original color.

While most Carrera 2.7s received the M472 touring package, which added most of the standard 911S comfort features back, this Porsche is about as basic as an RS can be. The only original option was Dunlop performance tires, so this car has the bare minimum of interior trim to accompany the other weight reduction measures, which include thinner-gauge sheetmetal, thinner glass, and reduced sound deadening material.

The 2.7l flat six in this Porsche is unmodified, and was gone through mechanically in 2002. All of the original factory warning labels remain in place and the engine bay is extremely tidy. Porsche recently ranked this mill as one of the best sounding they’ve ever produced.

Other Porsches offered by RM Sotheby’s:

Lot 281: 1963 Porsche 356B Carrera 2 Sunroof Coupe (Est. $600,000-$750,000)
Lot 279: 1965 Porsche 911 (Est. $275,0000-$325,000)
Lot 288: 1992 Porsche 911 America Roadster (Est. $100,000-$120,000)
Lot 290: 2016 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Rennsport Reunion Edition ($200,000-$250,000)
Lot 250: 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Touring (Est. $550,000-$650,000)
Lot 262: 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.0 (Est. $900,000-$1,100,000)
Lot 227: 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS (Est. $375,000-$450,000)
Lot 277: 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 (Est. $475,000-$550,000)
Lot 219: 1989 Porsche 911 Speedster (Est. $180,000-$220,000)
Lot 280: 1994 Porsche 911 Speedster (Est. $120,000-$150,000)
Lot 224: 2011 Porsche 911 Speedster (Est. $275,000-$350,000)
Lot 287: 1968 Porsche 911 Sportmatic (Est. $225,000-$275,000)
Lot 234: 1991 Porsche 911 Turbo (Est. $180,000-$220,000)
Lot 283: 1989 Porsche 911 Turbo Flatnose Cabriolet (Est. $275,000-$325,000)
Lot 270: 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo S (Est. $400,000-$450,000)
Lot 273: 2005 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet (Est. $70,000-$90,000)
Lot 215: 1988 Porsche 944 Anniversary (Est. $30,000-$40,000)
Lot 286: 1986 Porsche 944 Turbo (Est. $30,000-$40,000)
Lot 282: 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (Est. $40,000-$50,000)
Lot 275: 2004 Porsche Carrera GT (Est. $575,000-$650,000)
Lot 256: 2005 Porsche Carrera GT (Est. $750,000-$850,000)

Gooding & Co.

Of the three auction houses, Gooding’s selection of lots is the most motorsports-heavy this year. Alongside a bevy of motorsports-derived road cars are two genuine racers of exceptional provenance: an Ex-Hurley Haywood 924 GTR and a 1000km of Nurburgring class winning 934/5.

1977 Porsche 934/5 (Est. 1,400,000-$1,600,000)

Chassis: 930 770 0956

Engine: 677 2808

The Porsche 934 is the Group 4 racing derivative of the Porsche 930 street car, and this late-production car features extraordinary provenance along with original performance upgrades making it even more potent than its Group 4 brethren. This 934/5 competed in numerous events in Europe from new through 1979, and continued its racing career in Australia in 1980 and ’81. In the 1980s the car was converted to road specification and used on the street in Australia. In recent years this 935 has been re-converted to racing specification in its 1979 livery.

This car is unique among the ten 934/5s produced, and includes the 600hp Group 5 engine, 930/51 transaxle, and 935-style oil cooler wrapped in the original Group 4-style bodywork.

The car’s period racing history is extremely impressive, and includes overall wins in eight of the twenty six races it entered in-period. Of the remaining eighteen races many resulted in podium finishes, class wins, or top-five class finishes. The car was issued an FIA Historic Passport in 2015, and should be eligible for a wide array of historic motor racing events.

1981 Porsche 924 GTR (est. $250,000-$300,000)

Chassis 924-004 (Holbert)

Porsche produced 17 factory 924 GTR racers. This is not one of those cars. This is an Al Holbert-built car built in the same vein as the factory built originals, and is number four of six produced. This 2,000lb, 400 horsepower 924 has extensive period racing history with Hurley Haywood at Trans Am, and others at a wide variety of other events, including the 24 Hours of Daytona. This restored car wears a very handsome Lowenbrau livery, and remains an active participant in historic events.

In standard tune the 2.0l Audi-derived inline four produces around 400 horsepower, though in period it was tuned for as much as 600 horsepower. This car’s full race history is documented on Gooding & Co.’s website, and highlights include six Trans Am finishes with Hurley Haywood in 1981 and ’82, appearances at the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring, and numerous additional Trans Am appearances with John Schneider in 1985. More recently the car has participated at Rennsport Reunion V and numerous HMSA and SVRA events. The car is also eligible for Le Mans Classique, making this a very versatile historic racer.

Other Porsches offered by Gooding & Co.

Lot 074: 1954 Porsche 356 Pre-A Cabriolet ($250,000-$300,000)
Lot 067: 1958 Porsche 356A Speedster ($475,000 -$550,000)
Lot 077: 1962 Porsche 356 Carrera 2 Coupe ($500,000-$600,000)
Lot 027: 1964 Porsche 356 Carrera 2 Coupe ($550,000-$650,000)
Lot 058: 1966 Porsche 911 ($180,000-$200,000)
Lot 036: 1969 Porsche 911E ($100,000-$125,000)
Lot 048: 1970 Porsche 911ST ($750,000-$900,000)
Lot 020: 1971 Porsche 911 2.2 S ($180,000-$220,000)
Lot 001: 1986 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 ($60,000-$80,000)
Lot 078: 1988 Porsche 959 Komfort ($1,000,000-$1,250,000)
Lot 007: 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera Speedster ($275,000-$325,000)
Lot 014: 1989 Porsche 930 ($175,000-$225,000)
Lot 082: 1992 Porsche 964 Carrera RS ($250,000-$300,000)
Lot 075: 1993 Porsche 964 Carrera 3.8 RSR ($1,200,000-$1,400,000)
Lot 044: 1993 Porsche 964 Turbo S Leichtbau ($1,300,000-$1,600,000)
Lot 033: 1997 Porsche 993 Carrera 3.8 RSR ($750,000-$950,000)
Lot 019: 1997 Porsche 993 Turbo S ($350,000-$450,000)
Lot 086: 1997 Porsche 993 Turbo ($300,000-$350,000)
Lot 042: 1998 Porsche 911 GT1 Strassenversion (Estimate on Request)
Lot 050: 2005 Porsche Carrera GT ($875,000-$1,100,000)
Lot 041: 2011 Porsche 997 GT2 RS ($550,000-$650,000)
Lot 043: 2011 Porsche 997 GT3 RS 4.0 ($650,000-$750,000)
Lot 066: 2011 Porsche 997 GT3 RS 3.8 ($175,000-$250,000)

Bonhams

The twelve Porsches offered by Bonhams this year are all road cars, and primarily consist of early aircooled cars. With no less than four 356s and two 1960s 911s available, Bonhams’ offerings are on the whole the earliest of the three auction houses. The selection is rounded out by a Carrera GT and a 964 Turbo 3.6, which represent some of the newest Porsches with a degree of infamy.

1994 Porsche 964 3.6 Turbo (Est. $180,000-$240,000)

VIN. WP0AC2964RS480107

Engine no. 61P00760

This 1994 Porsche 964 3.6 Turbo is a two owner example which stayed with its original owner until late 2015. While the 964 platform was heavily revised from the preceding G-Series cars, the Turbo originally launched with a lightly revised version of the old 3.3l 930 engine. This car is fitted with the 3.6l engine which Porsche had always intended for the new car. With nearly 360 horsepower on tap the 3.6l Turbo was substantially more powerful than its predecessors, and with just 1,500 produced it is one of the rarest.

The cabin is every inch traditional 911, and shows minimal wear consistent with the car’s 50k miles. No interior modifications are present, and the car even retains its original radio.

The centerpiece of the 3.6l 964 Turbo is its engine. The M64 mill provided greater power, smoothness and flexibility than its predecessors.

2005 Porsche Carrera GT (Est. $600,000-$700,000)

VIN. WP0CA29855L001164

While the Carrera GT may not have the motorsports history of many Porsche models it remains a dynamically challenging analog supercar in its own right. The 5.7l V10 used in the Carrera GT is the centerpiece of the car, and produces some 612 horsepower at a remarkable 8,000 RPM. This example is unmodified and shows just 8,500 miles from new. Though the Carrera GT was never raced, the chassis is very racecar-like, with pushrod actuated coilovers and massive 6-piston aluminum brake calipers.

This Porsche has a very striking color combination, with black paintwork over a Terracotta leather interior. A matching Terracotta leather luggage kit is included, and this Carrera GT bears the number 0542 on its numbered dash plaque.

The 5.7l V10 is one of the most extreme naturally aspirated units ever installed in a road car. With its origins in a stillborn early 1990s Formula effort, this unique mill revs beyond eight thousand RPMs, and produces one of the wildest engine notes on the planet.