WhatsApp co-founder to auction 10 of his Porsches

Stable of Stuttgart rarities set to sell this March

As first-world problems go, having enough money to own a fleet of Porsches but no time to drive them is pretty much the ultimate. 

Such is the case for WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum who, faced with too many rare German sports cars and too few hours in the day, has chosen to sell 10 of his Stuttgart rarities with Gooding & Company at Amelia Island in early March.

What’s up for grabs? Here are the details of all the dream machines – from a trio of ’90s air-cooled icons to a bevy of nearly-new living legends.

1992 Porsche 964 Carrera RS

First up and oldest of the Koum Porsches on offer is this 1992 Carrera RS – one of four not-so-mellow yellow machines available at the Gooding sale and a highly original example of the race-bred ’90s featherweight.

1993 Porsche 964 Carrera RS 3.8

One year younger and a good deal rarer, this next lot is one of just 55 964 Carrera RS 3.8 machines ever built – arguably the ultimate track-derived Porsche and a proper performance icon, with 300bhp at its disposal.

The WhatsApp co-founder’s example sold new in Japan and features in a newly released book about the model.

1995 Porsche 993 Carrera RS 3.8

Last of the ’90s legends in the Koum sale, this second RS 3.8 represents the final air-cooled Carrera RS model – and it’s an example with all the trimmings. It goes under the hammer in impeccable, original condition, finished in – what else? – yellow.

2008 Porsche 997 GT3 RS 3.6

Skipping forward a decade, here’s the first of four 997 coupés on offer from the former WhatsApp CEO at the Amelia Island sale – a stunning example of the GT3 RS 3.6, a race-ready featherweight, stripped back and sold in very limited numbers.

Koum’s is one of 53 North American machines finished in RS Green and goes under the hammer with a scant 12,000 miles on the clock.

2010 Porsche 997 GT3 RS 3.8

Next of the 997s is another racing number – a GT3 RS in even more powerful 3.8 guise, complete with carbon ceramic disc brakes and eye-catching black and red finish, as used by Porsche at the launch of the game-changing machine.

2011 Porsche 997 GT3 RS 4.0

You might be able to see where this is going: it’s another track-ready 997, another GT3 RS – only this one is the 4.0 variant, the definitive GT3 machine and arguably the ultimate Porsche of the pre-hybrid era. Just 600 were built, with a mere 158 made for North America – but that wasn’t rare enough for Koum.

See, this is the only one of those 158 specified with carbon ceramic brakes, red and black interior, and sports seats. Oh, and it’s got fewer than 150 miles on the clock. 

2011 Porsche 997 GT2 RS

The last of Koum’s 997 machines on offer with Gooding is this GT2 RS – a 612bhp featherweight built to the tune of just 500 examples, only 142 of which made it to North America.

Optioned with rare carbonfibre fenders and still pristine, it’s essentially brand new, with fewer than 500 recorded miles – proving the WhatsApp man’s claim that he’s barely driven his Porsches.

2015 Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach

Into the modern era and it’s yet another rare masterpiece – a pristine example of Porsche’s 875bhp hybrid hypercar, complete with Weissach performance package (as fitted to just 162 US cars).

Koum bought it new and has covered fewer than 20 miles in the world-beating machine – it’s virtually unused.

2016 Porsche Cayman GT4

Another lightweight yellow racer, this Cayman GT4 shipped with carbon ceramic brakes, carbonfibre bucket seats and a trimmed-down battery – all in the name of performance.

Again ordered new by Koum, the WhatsApp co-founder drove this a little further than the 918: just under 500 miles.

2016 Porsche 911 R

Last up and, you guessed it, it’s a very rare Porsche – a three-year-old 911 in 4-litre, 500bhp R guise.

Already a legend, this example of the unrivalled race-bred sports car is – like most of Mr Koum’s machines – incredibly low-mileage, shipping complete with its factory packaging and window sticker.

Ordered in radio-free lightweight guise, it’s as close as you can get to brand new.