Just in case you needed a reminder or have been living under a rock (assuming you are a Porsche fan of course) the new RS 60 Porsche Boxster Spyder “officially” goes on sale today. I say officially because it is my understanding that Porsche has been taking orders/deposits on them for quite some time.
You too can have one of 1960 (marketing can be so cute some times, can’t they) being produced assuming you’re willing to pony up the almost $65k (that’s the base price) for this tribute style Boxster. That’s a lot of money for a Boxster.
Anyway, press release is below for you to read for yourself. I plan on taking a ride over to my local dealer just to see if they happen to have one in the showroom (only 800 of them are to make their way to the US/North America).
The latest Porsche Boxster pays tribute to the 1960 12 Hours of Sebring winning Type 718 RS 60 Spyder
SEBRING, March 14, 2008 – Winning against a bigger and more powerful opponent is exactly what drivers Hans Herrmann and Olivier Gendebien did at Sebring in 1960. Their racecar, the mid-engine Porsche Type 718 RS 60 Spyder, propelled them to victory in the 1960 12 Hours of Sebring and helped solidify Porsche’s growing reputation as the “giant killer.”
The 2008 Boxster RS 60 Spyder, to be introduced to the public next week at the New York International Auto Show, pays tribute to the legacy of the original RS 60 with style and substance that is worthy of its ancestry.
The 303 horsepower 2008 Boxster RS 60 Spyder bloodlines are reflected in its enhanced exterior and interior design cues. The front end is taken from Porsche’s SportDesign Package and when combined with 19-inch Porsche SportDesign wheels on spacers, helps distinguish the RS 60 from the current Boxster S. When you combine this extra power and aero package with standard Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and a dual tailpipe sports exhaust system, the reward is confidence-inspiring performance in all conditions.
The exclusive GT silver metallic paintwork is further accentuated by the contrasting colors of the Natural Leather interior in Carrera Red with a matching red convertible top. An alternative of Dark Grey Natural Leather in conjunction with a black roof will also be available.
Interior features and equipment of the new RS 60 Boxster reflect the racing heritage of its ancestor: door entry guards made of stainless steel that show off the model designation, a race-inspired gearshift lever, special surface texture in the center sections of the sports seats and center door linings as well as on the steering wheel rim and handbrake lever.
The instrument cluster also gives the impression of a racecar as the cover has been removed, prominently displaying the GT Silver Metallic instruments which have been set wider apart.
Other special features include a black windscreen frame, red taillight lenses, GT Silver Metallic center console, rear sections of the seat backrests and roll bars that blend perfectly with the seat belts finished in silver.
The RS 60 Spyder comes equipped with a VarioCam Plus six-cylinder Boxer engine, which features increased horsepower over the Boxster S. Installed just ahead of the rear drive wheels; stability, agility and control are maximized. These attributes are expected from Porsche and delivered with such efficiency that Boxster models, like all other Porsche sports cars, are certified as low emissions vehicles and not subject to a gas-guzzler penalty.
Designed to be a world-class roadster, the Boxster family can accommodate two people with cargo in a small, agile, open-top, and powerful sports car. A true engineering feat in itself, the Boxsters soft top can be operated at moving speeds of up to 30 mph. Boxsters are all equipped with three point inertia-reel seat belts as well as six airbags. In addition to two-stage frontal airbags, Boxsters feature the Porsche Side Impact Protection (POSIP) system with torso-protecting thorax side-impact airbags mounted in the outer edges of the seatbacks and special head-protecting side-impact airbags which deploy from the doors’ windowsills.
Reflecting its model designation, the new Boxster RS 60 Spyder is limited to 1,960 units worldwide, each number displayed on a silver-colored placard on the lid of the glove compartment. Less than 800 of the 1,960 units produced will make it to North American showrooms.
The new 2008 Porsche Boxster RS 60 Spyder goes on sale March 22, 2008 in the United States with a MSRP of US $64,900
Irony, you’ve gotta love it. In this post a few days ago I thought I was helping to “set the record straight” with regard to a Porsche 993 Turbo S previously owned by Jerry Seinfeld. As it turns out, despite my best efforts, I only helped to add to the confusion. To prepare for this article, I contacted Richard Sloan (previous owner/seller of the car) along with TruSpeed Motorcars (current owner/seller of the car). The information I printed in that article was taken directly from those conversations.
Much to my surprise and chagrin I recently received an email from none other than Sam Cabiglio himself (he left me his phone number in order to validate his identity) with some changes to the “facts” as I had posted them and as they had been told to me by the people involved. After a lengthy, enjoyable, and insightful conversation with Sam it seems I can now, truly, say I’ve spoken to all the sources. It would have been great to hear directly from Jerry too, but that might be asking for a bit too much.
Here is What I Originally Posted
The car was originally ordered for Jerry Seinfeld through Circle Porsche of Long Beach California
Seinfeld had the car as part of his collection until sometime in late 2005 early 2006
It was then offered for sale by Seinfeld’s fleet manager (Sam Cabiglio) through Richard Sloan of Sloan Cars in CT (Richard has sold other Seinfeld cars in the past)
Richard sold the car to a private collector
The car then returned to Sloan (via the unnamed private collector) and was subsequently sold to TruSpeed about six (6) months ago
The car is fully documented as to provenance, ownership and service history
Here are the Changes to those Statements Based on my Conversation with Sam
The car was not offered for sale by Sam through Richard Sloan. Instead, the car was sold by Sam to a private collector in April of 2005. Sam does not sell cars “through” Richard Sloan or anyone else for that matter.
The private buyer above then sold the car to Richard Sloan in February of 2006
All other points/facts remain the same. This has been an interesting learning experience for me. I made it a point to go out of my way and call the people involved to get the facts. It just goes to show there are at least three sides to every story.
I hope this “sets the record straight” for all. Special thanks to Sam for the extra information!
Designed by Ferdinand Porsche and built by Volkswagen the Kübelwagen was used by the German Military during World War II. Surprisingly enough, this German version of the Allied Jeep was based heavily on the Volkswagen Type I (what we know today as the Beetle) another of Ferdinand Porsche’s legendary designs.
The initial concept for the Kübelwagen (literally translated to mean “bucket-seat car) was proposed by none other than Adolph Hitler himself in a 1934 discussion with Porsche about the possibility of a military application for the aforementioned Volkswagen. However, the project did not formally move forward until 1938. At that time Ferdinand was approached by high ranking officers to design an inexpensive, lightweight vehicle that could transport four fully equipped soldiers over rough and rugged terrain.
Originally developed as the Type 62, the first prototype was showcased in November of 1938. Given the transports light weight (715kg or 1578lbs) and self-locking ZF differential the vehicle faired extremely well in rough terrain despite its lack of four wheel drive.
Porsche Designed Kübelwagen Performs Better Than Expected
Initial field testing in 1939 proved the Porsche designed Kübelwagen to be a competent and reliable aid in the field. However, certain key modifications were requested prior to the beginning of full-scale production in 1940. These included a reduction in the lowest speed possible (so the transport could keep pace with marching troops) and an increase in off-road capabilities. Off-road prowess was complemented by the introduction of new axles, 16 inch wheels, and a limited slip differential. These key items, combined with many other small improvements, completed the build and resulted in full-scale production of the now renamed Type 82 beginning in February of 1940.
From 1940 to 1945 over 50,000 Kubelwagens were produced. While there were other slight modifications made over the five year production run, the basic concept and build quality remained true to Ferdinand Porsche’s original design. Most important to the Kubelwagen’s success was its efficient and reliable air-cooled engine (typical Porsche) and more surprisingly, its smooth, flat underbody allowed the transport to outperform all the competition in snow and ice by acting as a motorized sled and propelling forward when the wheels would sink into mud, snow, ice or sand.
Concept and Quality Remain True to Original Porsche Design
Over 60 years later it is not uncommon to see an original Kübelwagen still being driven or shown by the enthusiasts that enjoy the model. In addition, the Type 82 was the inspiration for the instantly recognizable VW “Thing” (“Trekker” in the UK and “Safari” in Mexico). So, like most things Porsche, it seems even those items designed with a utilitarian purpose in mind are still classic and timeless in certain circles. In fact, just like a number of other Porsche classics, the Kübelwagen is available as a true-to-original reproduction at InterMeccanica.
This worked out much better than I could have ever hoped for. Last week in this post I offered myself out as your free Porsche research assistant (the offer still stands) and I’ve received a number of question this week via email as a result of that post. Yesterday, in this post, I discussed Seinfeld’s 1997 Porsche 993 Turbo S that is currently for sale at TruSpeed Motorcars. So, how very appropriate is it that the first question I get to answer was/is “What are the main differences between a 993 Turbo and a 993 Turbo S?”
Porsche 993 Turbo vs. a 993 Turbo S
The Porsche 993 Turbo S is a product of the Porsche Exclusiv department (more on this in a later post)
The Turbo S has two larger K-24 Turbo chargers
The Motronic engine control unit received an electronic upgrade
The Turbo S has an additional oil cooler installed
The dual exhaust was modified and included Quad round tips vs. the dual ovals on the standard turbo
Combine the above with a few other minor engine improvements and this created an engine that produced 424 hp or 25 hp more than the standard turbo
There is an ongoing debate as to the weight of the Turbo S vs. the standard Turbo. Supposedly due to the larger turbo chargers, full leather and carbon interior that was standard on all S models, the weight could possible be 66lbs heavier than the 3307lb standard Turbo, thus negating some of the HP gain
The info above captures most of the mechanical differences between the two cars. That leads us to the second part of this post
What are the styling difference?
Yellow brake calipers vs. “Big Reds”
European front spoiler with brake cooling ducts
Full-leather (including air-vent louvers) and carbon fiber interior with aluminum gauges was standard
Carbon fiber door sills with Turbo S script
Carbon fiber shock tower braces
Aerokit II rear spoiler from Porsche Exclusiv
Quad round exhaust tips (instead of two ovals as noted above)
Air scoops in rear fenders
Wheels were matt finish vs. gloss
I’m pretty sure I’ve captured the major differences, but if I’ve missed anything let me know. Tomorrow’s post takes a look at one of Porsche’s earliest (and perhaps most ugly) designs.
While a proven racing provenance will usually help to lift a car’s value, can the same be said for celebrity ownership? Case in point, Jerry Seinfeld’s ’97 Porsche 911 Turbo S; currently listed for sale at TruSpeed Motorcars, in Costa Mesa CA, for $225,000. That’s a pretty pricey premium for a model that would otherwise sell in the $135k to $150k range.
Is the price justified?
Scott McCloud (sales manager at TruSpeed) doesn’t think that previous celebrity ownership should play a big role in the pricing and sale of the car. In fact, he believes the car’s other, more unique features are what set it apart from the very few Porsche Turbo S’s on the market.
1997 Porsche Turbo S Features
1st Turbo S built and imported to the US
The only one produced in Turquoise Blue (the color is slowly growing on me)
Factory cell phone with special console
Low miles (only 8,000)
The first of only 175 built in 1997 and one of only 345 total between ’97 and ‘98 (production numbers vary by a few cars depending on source. My numbers are courtesy of (Adrian Streather’s “Porsche 993 The Essential Companion”)
As it happens, past sales may prove that celebrity ownership can provide a premium. One of Seinfeld’s beloved 356’s sold at a Barrett Jackson auction in 1997 for $82,950 or, almost twice the then going market price. The new owner didn’t mind the additional expense as they too thought the celebrity provenance would help to increase attendance at the museum where the car would be shown. See the full article here.
On-line rumor mill
There has been a lot of discussion regarding this car on various web forums – such as Rennlist and 6Speedonline. I have read significant speculation on provenance, pricing, and length of time it has been for sale (in fact, some think it has been for sale continuously for the past two years). In order to put some of this to rest, I decided to make a few phone calls and find out directly for myself. Here’s what I learned:
The car was originally ordered for Jerry Seinfeld through Circle Porsche of Long Beach California
Seinfeld had the car as part of his collection until sometime in late 2005 early 2006
It was then offered for sale by Seinfeld’s fleet manager (Sam Cabiglio) through Richard Sloan of Sloan Cars in CT (Richard has sold other Seinfeld cars in the past)
Richard sold the car to a private collector
The car then returned to Sloan (via the unnamed private collector) and was subsequently sold to TruSpeed about six (6) months ago
The car is fully documented as to provenance, ownership and service history
Bottom line, this is a unique car and unique cars require unique buyers. As the first in a production series, along with the only one of its kind color, low miles, and factory options this will make a very nice addition to someone’s collection. My only hope, as a true Porsche enthusiast, is that it gets driven and enjoyed the way a car of this caliber should be. Please click on any of the additional thumbnails below for full-size images.
First and last air-cooled Porsches
As an interesting factoid, among the other Porsches owned by Seinfeld are the first air-cooled 911 and the last air-cooled 911 (both pictured here).
Quick update: As you can see from the comments below, the information I was given may not have been 100% accurate. Check out this post for the most up to date information on Seinfeld’s 993 Turbo S.
Stuttgart. Dr. Peter Schäfer (48) and Malte Radmann (54) have taken over as Managing Directors of the Porsche Engineering Group GmbH and Porsche Engineering Services GmbH, two subsidiaries of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart. Both appointees have held general management responsibilities at Porsche Engineering since 2005. Until now Wolfgang Dürheimer,Porsche AG’s Executive Vice President of Research and Development, had held the combined directorships of both companies.
Schäfer (shown above) has been appointed Executive Chairman and is responsible for technical management. The mechanical engineer came to Porsche in 2003. Previously he was head of automobile chassis design at Volkswagen. Radmann (shown below) will be in charge of the commercial department. He has been working for Porsche since 1996 in various managerial functions in customer development. Before this, he worked for Daimler-Benz Aerospace Dornier.
Porsche Engineering Services GmbH, which has its head office in Bietigheim-Bissingen, came into being in October 1996. The main task of its engineers was to strengthen the customer contract business of the Development Center at Weissach. In 2001, the Porsche Engineering Group GmbH was then founded in Weissach. Since then, all development projects for customers worldwide have been managed from there.
A lot of Porschephiles might say they are not fans of the Porsche Cayenne. To some, the truck is an insult to the Porsche racing heritage; others say it is simply not right to have an SUV in the line-up of what is otherwise the most revered sports car company in the world. To all of you, I say hogwash.
The Cayenne GTS’s stats speak for themselves
405 HP
0-60 in 6.1 seconds
Top Speed of 157 (with a curb weight of just under 5000 lbs)
21” wheels
Those are sports car like specs (well ok, not the weight part) if you ask me.
With Fifth Gear’s most recent review and comparison of the Porsche Cayenne GTS vs. the BMW X5, it is perfectly clear that the boys from Stuttgart have once again created a car (or in this case a truck) worthy of wearing the Porsche Badge.
Watch the video and see for yourself
The key points I took from this review were pretty simple, and I quote:
“The Cayenne looks and feels more expensive.”
“Leaving it in sports mode gives stiff dampers and no body roll for perfect on-track performance with faster throttle response.”
“It loves being chucked from left to right.”
Remember, this is an SUV we’re talking about. So, if I were a soccer mom (or more correctly if I were buying an SUV for my soccer mom wife) it seems quite clear that the Cayenne GTS would be at the top of the list.
Email
Just in case you needed a reminder or have been living under a rock (assuming you are a Porsche fan of course) the new RS 60 Porsche Boxster Spyder “officially” goes on sale today. I say officially because it is my understanding that Porsche has been taking orders/deposits on them for quite some time.
SEBRING, March 14, 2008 – Winning against a bigger and more powerful opponent is exactly what drivers Hans Herrmann and Olivier Gendebien did at Sebring in 1960. Their racecar, the mid-engine Porsche Type 718 RS 60 Spyder, propelled them to victory in the 1960 12 Hours of Sebring and helped solidify Porsche’s growing reputation as the “giant killer.”
Over 60 years later it is not uncommon to see an original Kübelwagen still being driven or shown by the enthusiasts that enjoy the model. In addition, the Type 82 was the inspiration for the instantly recognizable VW “Thing” (“Trekker” in the UK and “Safari” in Mexico). So, like most things Porsche, it seems even those items designed with a utilitarian purpose in mind are still classic and timeless in certain circles. In fact, just like a number of other Porsche classics, the Kübelwagen is available as a true-to-original reproduction at 
Stuttgart. Dr. Peter Schäfer (48) and Malte Radmann (54) have taken over as Managing Directors of the Porsche Engineering Group GmbH and Porsche Engineering Services GmbH, two subsidiaries of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart. Both appointees have held general management responsibilities at Porsche Engineering since 2005. Until now Wolfgang Dürheimer,Porsche AG’s Executive Vice President of Research and Development, had held the combined directorships of both companies.
