Magazine Extras:
Patina is a funny old thing. Depending on which side of the fence you reside, patina is either age-related wear and tear to be preserved at all costs, or it’s damage to be thrown out and replaced, old for new. Some put a high value on patina. Some don’t. It's an argument far from exclusive to the classic car world. The Fender and Gibson guitar companies, for example, will charge you a bucket-load of cash to make your brand-new instrument look worn, but hit eBay and the same guitar with genuine age-related wear is considered to be damaged, resulting in negative impact on value.
Whatever your view of patina (I’d love to hear from you), it’s safe to assume all of us recognise the need to preserve historically significant Porsches for the enjoyment of future generations, which is why I was thrilled to discover Porsche recently treated one its 1986 Paris-Dakar entries to sympathetic recommissioning and light restoration. No, I’m not referring to the winning 959 of René Metge and Dominique Lemoyne, which is stored under lock and key at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart. I’m talking about the sister car, number 185, driven to second-place by Jacky Ickx and Claude Brasseur.
The starting line-up of the 1986 Paris-Dakar was dominated by trucks and all-terrain vehicles. The trio of Rothmans-liveried 959s entered into the competition certainly stood out. Incidentally, the third participating works entry, a service car driven by Roland Kussmaul and Wolf-Hendrik Unger, took sixth place.
All three cars are in the custody of Porsche. To commemorate launch of the new 911 Dakar series production model, rather than restore the 1986 Ickx/Brasseur 959 to as-new condition, the Porsche Classic team decided to recommission the car, preserving its hard-won battle scars in the process. “Only by keeping damage sustained during the event can we tell this car’s story authentically,” says Kuno Werner, head of the Porsche Museum’s restoration team. The work is showcased in the pages of the very magazine in your hands.
Issue Summary:
Starring a 356 A formerly owned by speed record merchant, Donald Campbell, to a 964 Carrera RS N/GT prototype, this issue covers a huge variety of air-cooled classic Porsches.
Top 3 Issue Features:
TRUE BLUE - Following years of speculation surrounding its identity, this recently restored 964 has been confirmed by former Porsche factory engineer and legendary works racing driver, Jürgen Barth, as being one of two surviving N/GT prototypes assembled under his watch back in 1990.
TURN OF SPEED - Owned by land and water speed record breaker, Donald Campbell, this Meissen Blau 356 A coupe was used by the world-famous sportsman to assist holiday park entrepreneur, Billy Butlin, in 1959’s highly anticipated London-to-Paris Bleriot anniversary race.
SIX POTS GOOD, FOUR POTS BETTER? - Inspired by his wife’s enthusiasm for four-cylinder Porsches, on relocating to New York, Donald Hall went from owning 911s to buying a 912. Fettled by Heathrow-based marque specialist, Revival Cars, this well-travelled classic Porsche now resides with its master in the UK.
Magazine Extras:
Patina is a funny old thing. Depending on which side of the fence you reside, patina is either age-related wear and tear to be preserved at all costs, or it’s damage to be thrown out and replaced, old for new. Some put a high value on patina. Some don’t. It's an argument far from exclusive to the class....
