ALEX MANOS
An air-cooled Porsche is like that of no other sports car. And whether you’re visiting a well-attended high-profile gathering of classic Porsches, or are simply catching up with fellow owners and enthusiasts in a local car park, the excitement and energy generated by these vehicles is second to none...
What takes a car from just a vehicle to get from point A to point B to this is the car I will tell my kids about? The answer is simple: love. A car you love will be in your stories for years to come. On average, North Americans spend just over four years of their lives behind the wheel. I truly believe it’s important to make sure that time is spent in a cherished vehicle. A Porsche is the obvious choice. Why wouldn’t you want to spend all that time driving a speed machine from Stuttgart?!
We are becoming more connected to our cars than ever before. Classic cars, especially, remind us of a time gone by — a time when life seemed much simpler. But what if you don’t own a car? Or maybe you have a car, but it isn’t one you love? Now might be the perfect time to invest in a piece of automotive history. Post-pandemic, less people are out on the roads and we all have more time on our hands, meaning you’ll have plenty of opportunity to really get comfortable behind the wheel of a classic car and familiarise yourself with its road-holding characteristics. Trust me when I say driving a classic Porsche is an experience like no other. If you get the opportunity to do so, you may never want to drive a modern car again.
Buy carefully, though. I recently bought a 964 in tremendous mechanical condition. Considering this was the case, why was the paintwork so scruffy? Because it was the product of a divorce, that’s why. The wife had enjoyed the car as her daily driver, but she knew that come the final divorce settlement, she wouldn’t be able to hang on to her prize Porsche. Her response to this situation was to leave the car unwashed in direct sunlight every day, a decision involving a large amount of ‘raising the middle finger’. Thankfully, in every other regard, the car was in fantastic shape.
The 964 in question was an America Roadster, a Us-only drop-top variant of the Carrera 2. It’s thought only 250 examples of this model were produced between 1992 and 1993. The America Roadster had the same mechanicals as the Carrera 2, but its fender flares, brakes, suspension and wheels were Turbo-spec, delivering a distinctly wider body than most other normally aspirated 964s. The stance of the car commanded attention.
I like to think I’m good at what I do at Beverly Hills Car Club — no time for false modesty in these circumstances, I believe. I have to attribute this as the reason why, in recent weeks, I have had five America Roadsters in my showroom. In a world where modern classics have become extremely collectible, these vehicles represent a fantastic opportunity for acquisition. Of course, they’re also fine examples of the air-cooled 911. As we know, there is an almost cult-like adoration of these cars, crystalised by Luftgekühlt, an annual celebration of Porsche’s air-cooled history. The name literally translates as ‘air-cooled’. To date, event organisers, Patrick Long and Howie Idelson, have staged several Luftgekühlt meetings in different locations around the world. At first, their intention was to bring together a few fans of vintage Porsches, but the idea quickly grew — by the third event, close to five hundred classic Porsches were on display, amounting to the biggest air-cooled Porsche show in the United States. A true Porsche happening, a blend of art and life, Luftgekühlt is a conceptual car culture event centred around a curated list of historically significant or interesting vehicles, both road and race. Think Burning Man and you’ll be somewhere near the target.
In truth, any time Porsches come together, even in a supermarket car park, there’s bound to be an interesting exchange of sound and energies. It’s like a mini-luftgekühlt, except you have to remember to pay for your shopping.
All air-cooled Porsches are tremendous cars. Every time you get behind the wheel, you can feel solidity of construction and a certainty about chassis dynamics. Additionally, air-cooled engines have advantages over water-cooled units. For a start, an air-cooled engine is lighter and simpler in design. Plus, with no radiator or water pump, there are fewer parts prone to failure. Such raw simplicity, combined with impressive build quality, is a huge part of the appeal.
These are very basic automobiles — it’s just the driver, engine, transmission, steering wheel and brakes. Not a lot else, and all packaged into a vehicle which is very small by today’s standards. There are, of course, those who will always define a true Porsche as being air-cooled, and while it’s true to say no engine has quite as much character, distinctive sound or history as varied as a classic Porsche flat-six, the rising values of these cars in recent years is also an undeniable fact.
Fortunately, there are still bargains to be had, especially if you’re prepared to spend time holding out for the right car and look in less obvious places. Believe me, you’ll be pleased you did. ●