Oldest 911 found in a turbo lookalike

[ficke]

This is one of the best stories I have heard. On Early S site.
30 year owner of a 911 turbo clone decided to check vin# and finds it to be may the oldest 911
Hiding in plain site; Oldest 911 in USA? Historian help please.

[Matt Monson]

Neat story but doesn't Seinfeld own number 1?

[ficke]

Jerry's I believe was the first completed 911. The cars before that were 901's and the first 15 were prototypes. The prototypes were not completed in order of their serial number. It is all very confusing and I am not an expert on this and it is still being decided.
All in all all a very interesting discovery for a fellow to find in his own garage, a very rare car hiding under that boyracer body work.

[TPorsche912]

This reminds me of a post placed here several years ago.

I think I found a '64 911 in my backyard

The owner of that car hasn't posted anything in quite awhile. Does anyone know anything about the current state of the car?
Pretty amazing story about getting the original motor reunited with the car through the power of Pelican Forums.

Perhaps the owner of this latest find will have the same luck.

[Matt Monson]

Details are thin but this says first 901.
2014 Porsche Werks Reunion | Track Thoughts

Either way that guy has a heck of a car.

[ficke]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

Details are thin but this says first 901.
2014 Porsche Werks Reunion | Track Thoughts

Either way that guy has a heck of a car.

"1966 Porsche 356 SC Cabriolet c/n 162175 – Dutch Police Car – The Last 356 (Foreground)
1964 Porsche 901 c/n 300049 – The First 911
Jerry Seinfeld Collection"
I copied and pasted this from your link, found at the bottom of the page.
The serial number on the car just found is 300005
Pretty interesting!

[puddy]

Wow, such a cool story!! What luck!

[periodr3]

Sienfeld's car is claimed to be the first 911 as Porsche and Peugot argued about the 901 moniker with Porsche relenting badging their 901 a 911. But I do remember a story where the car is questionably number one 911 badged car? Does any one have clarity on this issue?

[techweenie]

Originally Posted by periodr3

Sienfeld's car is claimed to be the first 911 as Porsche and Peugot argued about the 901 moniker with Porsche relenting badging their 901 a 911. But I do remember a story where the car is questionably number one 911 badged car? Does any one have clarity on this issue?

At one point, some guy set up a web site to challenge the provenance of the Seinfeld car. There was also widespread talk of a 'body swap' turning the "restoration" into a "re-creation." I have no opinion on this, except to say that if I were restoring a 1964-65 901/911, I'd rather have it done by a company like Carparc or Gunnar Racing than the Porsche Classic department.

[jturbo3.6]

amazing story,

[dienstuhr]

Originally Posted by techweenie

I have no opinion on this, except to say that if I were restoring a 1964-65 901/911, I'd rather have it done by a company like Carparc or Gunnar Racing than the Porsche Classic department.

Interesting comment - can I ask why? Cost, or is there a concern that PC might fudge something or is it a work quality issue?

Cheers

d.

[Matt Monson]

I'm definitely learning something.

[CountD]

Reminds me of the story over on The Samba about the guys who went to the Eastern Block a couple years ago and found one of the original Split Window Bug prototypes that was at Wolfsburg when Hitler dedicated the factory. It had been sawed up, plastered over, and had a different drivetrain - essentially the body was placed on something Communist and it went from there. They went nuts on the car and brought it back to what it looked like in the '30s.

Amazing how you can have one of the very first 911s, bolt and rivet all the stuff on it, put in a different engine, etc and it looks like a later 911 - only to find out it was probably one of the first. Crazy times. Everyone start checking those VINs on the eyesores that frequently come up on Craigs...

[CountD]

Originally Posted by dienstuhr

Interesting comment - can I ask why? Cost, or is there a concern that PC might fudge something or is it a work quality issue?

Cheers

d.

According to that Euro guy who has the very early 911 site said there were some shady shade-tree mechanic shenanigans going on at Zuffenhausen on Seinfeld's car.

The guy with the site has a very early car that came from the western US in the early '90s. He seems very knowledgeable and gives Komenda his due with the 911 design, which is a big plus for me.

I was always wondering about Seinfeld's 'first 911' - on the early pics it had a rear window wiper on it, and on the later years it and the whole mechanism were gone. I am sure people answered it somewhere.

[CountD]

oh, and sorry about this third post.

Thumbs up for the guy who has it who really got it together, pooled the money, lived the dream, only to now live the dream of dreams.

[Matt Monson]

Really make me kick myself for selling 912 3507xx to Ivan Dutton for $500. Car was even RHD. Car was technically a '66 but still '65 spec with 5 gauges (including outside temp) and wooden dash.

[ficke]

The funny thing is these were all low budget entry level cars 10 years ago, and now....

[Alan Brase]

Has there been any more discussion of 300049? that car has been known for many years. I'm shocked anybody would have Porsche restore it. The are very good people here in the US.
Al