Thought I'd share this quick article from our friends at The Drive.
http://www.thedrive.com/vintage/2960/how-gen-x-will-blow-up-the-vintage-sports-car-market
Gen X To Blow Up vintage Sports car Market.
Special Porsches of the 1980's - 1989 Speedster
Collectors have taken notice and this has become one of the hottest air-cooled cars to watch. In fact at the Amelia Island Gooding & Company auction this past weekend, comedian Jerry Seinfeld offered his white over black Speedster with 3800 miles, final hammer price including premiums brought $363,000. Some star appeal built in to that price? Yes for sure, however these low production special models are heating up as the next generation of Porsche collector is here and ready to recapture the cars they remember fondly from there younger days.
Contact us for more information on this 1989 speedster
The 1989 Speedster was styled by Tony Lapine, and like its ancestor (the 356) it featured a cut-down, sharply slanted windshield and a thin fabric folding “emergency” top and being a minimalist car roll up windows. Also, echoing the lightweight 356, there would be no rear seats, as that area was now covered by a fiberglass tonneau.
Porsche offered a lengthy list of factory-installed options, but the most popular check-off was probably the wide-body, “Turbo-look,” which gave this low and menacing convertible broadly flared wheel arches in the front and rear and was highlighted by the Turbo’s trademark wider (7J and 9Jx16) Fuchs forged alloy wheels and larger tires. Only 823 Speedster were imported to America during the one model this was available.
Late Porsche historian Paul Frère wrote, “As the price and sophistication of the 911 rose, an even stronger demand came up, especially from America, for a simpler and lighter open model, on the lines of the 356 Speedster…” As the 1990s approached, he continued, “…hardly as soon as the first Cabriolet left the assembly line, work started on a simplified model.”
Thus, an iconic model that had long been associated with Porsche was revived. The whole idea, recalled Frère, was to offer an open sports car that could be enjoyed by owners living in markets with fair weather; in fact, the original concept did not include a top of any sort. A prototype on a 911 SC chassis was finished in barely six weeks, and when it was unveiled at the 1987 Frankfurt Auto Show, response was so positive that the factory decided to make it part of the next-generation L-Program 964-based Carrera. When unexpected manufacturing delays stalled the 964’s launch, Porsche introduced the new Speedster. It first appeared in late 1989 and was on the 3.2-liter K-Series Carrera chassis, which was about to go out of production.
Speedsters are like rolling art. We currently have the 3900 mile, 1989 Speedster pictured here available. Please contact us for more information.
A Visit to the Spyder Factory.
photo Courtesy of Bold Ride
Porsche built approximately 79 550 Spyder from 1952 – 1956, it was a small two-seat competition car fashioned with hand rolled aluminum panels for lightness. Dubbed the giant killer because they were able to take on the much larger displacement engines from the likes of Jaguar, Ferrari and others for overall wins in some of the most famous endurance races of the day like, The Carrera Panamericana in Mexico
Perhaps the car was made most recognizable by the late James Dean who was tragically killed behind the wheel of his 550 Spyder. Dean, a fledgling racer himself, was looking for something a little bit faster. He traded in his 356 Speedster, paid an additional $3,000for an estimated $6,800 purchase price. Tragedy occurred around dusk in early September on route 466 driving to a track event in Salinas when he collided with another vehicle.
Aluminum shaped to the wooden buck.
Today prices for these rare 550 Spyders are in the millions, and most of us will never have the opportunity to purchase one. Throughout the years, companies have built replicas to capture the essence and originality of the elusive 550, some achieving the character, details and ambiance more than others.
On the quest to achieve pristine replication, a man has dedicated his life and passion to the most accurate reproduction of a 550 – ever. Nestled on a hilltop in New Hampshire, yes, New Hampshire not Germany is The Spyder Factory. Mr. Rainer Cooney’s remarkable workshop has all of the tools and knowledge needed to build a 550 Spyder. Each replica is exceptionally accurate, precise details beautifully displayed in every curve, stitch down to the nuts and bolts. To successfully accomplish this feat requires copious amounts of research, even for someone who have been around these cars for decades, the process is slow and painstaking parts that are no longer available are created within the workshop!
A few very fortunate clients patiently wait for their masterpieces, production time is approximately five years. Like the original these 550 Spyders are hand built in aluminum. A process done by fitting and shaping the bare metal body to a mold made of wood called a buck. These forms are beautiful enough to be considered works of art in their own right.
A rare opportunity to meet an inspiring man, in the most unique setting, creating the most beautiful pieces of art and for me, one of the most exquisite cars created Porsche 550 Spyder.
Future Collectibles? What are your thoughts?
Porsche Caymen GT4
Nice Esprit Video.
We love light cars and light bikes. Sharing this video on one of our Underdogs the LotusEsprit.
80's Poster Cars: The Underdogs!
#4 BMW M5 (E28)
You may be saying how the heck does a 4dr sedan make it into the 80’s poster cars.
Because the M5 really started it all. The very thought of a 4 door sedan nearly matching the 0-60 times of a sports car like the 911 made all the other manufacturers sit up and take notice. In 1988 it was the fastest production sedan in the world.
Easy on the eyes and hand built, with power coming from a 3.5 litre engine based on the BMW M1. This was good for 256 hp and 243lb-ft of torque. You could cruise at autobahn speeds be swathed in a luxurious leather interior and take your family with you. Dads everywhere rejoiced.
Just over 1340 of these were destined for US shores but at the time BMW was talking of limiting it to 500 cars only. Collectors sued and got a 4k check from BMW as part of class action lawsuit. Choice of color is easy black with tan interior. That’s how all of them were delivered for the US market.
If you are like me there is something about this car that hit’s all the marks. Get one now because values are up over 60% from Jan 2015.
#5 Lotus Esprit
The Lotus Esprit gets a bad wrap at least on this side of the pond. It’s an underdog though. That’s ok if you are like me and thought they looked fast standing still and like me had a poster of one that hung proudly in my room. Admittedly, to help cover up the Old Ironsides nautical themed wallpaper that was out of fashion by 1983.
Introduced in 1975 the Esprit by 1980’s been know as the Turbo Esprit here in the states. If was good enough for James Bond in For Yours Eyes Only it was worthy of some space on the wall. Designed by Giugario’s Ital Design concern it was the epitome of the wedge or folded paper design. Not the most powerful but a lightweight comparably at around only 2500 lbs.
Lotus Esprits had great handling and F1 DNA from its creator Colin Chapman. So why have they not taken off and seen huge increases like the 308 Ferrari?
Perhaps it’s perceived that the build quality wasn’t as good as some others, or that the car came with a turbo 4 cylinder in the 80’s instead of an 8 or a 12.
Here’s what I say if you like this car can wrench a bit, or would like to go find a well sorted version of one of these and enjoy driving the car. Who knows you might be ahead of the curve.
80's Poster cars Day 3!
#3 Porsche 911 (930) Turbo
As a kid growing up in the 80’s you might have actually laid eyes on a 911 turbo. Unlike our 2 previous models the (Testarossa and Countach). That’s because it was the most mass-produced of the bunch so far but that has not hurt the 911 turbo not at all. The air-cooled turbo’s were at the top of the 911 food chain. Introduced at the Paris motor show in 1974. Porsche, was really just looking to take it racing and to do so had to homologate the car and produce just the needed amount of cars to be able to go racing. The turbo had instant success and the rest as they say is history.
Our favorite of the 80’s was 1989 the last year for the 930 and it came with the G50 5spd transmission to help keep you in the power band. Available as coupe, targa or cabriolet, the reason we loved them was that wide body and tea-tray spoiler. All of this was done with a purpose for packaging and cooling. 3.3 litres, 300 hp and single turbo produced a rush of power once you spun the tach past 4k. The 911 turbo had incredible build quality and a robustness that holds up. Just close the door on a 911 and you’ll get the sense that the car was built alongside bank vaults.
The 911 is a car you grow with as a driver and therefore is a very rewarding car to drive and own. Air-cooled Porsches are hot property and are poised to be the darlings of the 2016 auctions.
80's Poster Cars: Day 2
#2 Ferrari Testarossa:
Today’s 80’s Poster Car is the mighty Ferrari Testarossa. The car that really defined the 80’s. Produced from 1984 -1996 the Testarossa is another fantastic Italian, mid-engined, 12 cylinder supercar. It’s striking design with a purpose left an indelible mark on automotive history. This supercar however, is more a GT compared to say the Lamborghini Countach but that’s not to say it lacks performance. Motivated by a 4.9 litre Ferrari flat 12 producing about 390 hp the Testarossa was and is a car you can cover long distances in with minimal fatigued. So popular was the Testarossa back in the day it actually outsold Ferrari’s lesser expensive 8cyl models. Ferrari created 7177 examples of these including the 90’s 512Tr. The good news is there are still some very nice examples available. These have really moved up over the last year or so but they may just have been undervalued. Testarossa’s saw a 35% increase over the last 12 months, according to Haggerty. The lift has come partially from the overall market and Ferrari market but also because these cars languished in the 50-60k range right up through 2014.
We always say buy what you love first not because you expect a big return. Owning an 80’s poster car that is an icon sounds great to us however and we hope you share our enthusiasm. Bella macchina!
Please feel free to contact us to find out more about finding yours.
80' Poster Cars.
This week we are celebrating The 80’s Poster Cars. And why you should buy one now. These are the poster cars that hung proudly in bedrooms back in the day.Now some 30 plus years later they still get the blood flowing.
1. Lamborghini Countach
Probably one of the most recognized cars of all time. A true iconic dream car from the future.Some prefer the clean lines of the early cars. For me it’s wild and winged 5000 LPS. Looks and performance to match for the day. One amazing fact is that they produced this car for 16 years. They other is over that time they made just around 2000 examples. 658 of those were at the end of the run and are the 25th Anniversary Models. With its 5.167 four valve 455hp V12 the Countach was good for a 0-60 sprint in under 5 seconds. Make no mistake there are compromises compared to today’s cars but come on it’s Countach! Values have moved up considerably since 2011 and this trend may continue as more Gen Xers come into the marketplace.
Our Take.
Old Porsches: Good For Investors, Probably Bad For Drivers http://ow.ly/39R6qG
Sharing this article. However your passion should lead you to buy the car you desire, not just because it is a good investment. Certainly that is a nice benefit.