A whopping 18 classic cars from comedian Jerry Seinfeld's collection – most of them Porsches – will go under the hammer at Gooding & Co’s Amelia Island auction on 11 March, just weeks after three of the group’s star lots went on show in Scottsdale.
A 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder, 1974 911 Carrera 3.0 IROC RSR and 1958 356 A 1500 GS/GT Carrera Speedster were all put on display at Gooding’s Scottsdale sale in January to whet buyers’ appetites for the big feature in Florida.
The 1955 550 Spyder is one of the most valuable cars from Seinfeld’s collection and is estimated to sell at $5-6m, while its wonderfully patinated and original condition will be the main draw for potential buyers. The 10,500-mile classic has been owned by just three collectors in the past half century. The first, Lou Hilton, held onto the car from 1963 before eventually selling to 356 Registry founder and long-time Porsche fanatic Joel Horvitz, from whose estate Seinfeld bought the car in 2007.
Expected to draw a similar level of interest is a 1959 718 RSK, which could sell for as much as $4,200,000. The car boasts an extensive competition history having been driven in period by Roger Penske and Lake Underwood, adding to the allure of owning one of only 34 examples ever built.
The 718 RSK was most recently exhibited at Carmel-by-the-Sea’s Concours on the Avenue in 2014, having previously been put on show at the 2003 Colorado Grand and 1998 Monterey Historic Races.
Following the 718 is a slightly earlier 356 A Carrera Speedster, estimated at $2-2.5m. The 1958 A 1500 GS/GT variant is powered by the extremely rare Type 692/0 four-cam engine and is thought to be the only example finished in Auratium Green.
In total, 151 Carrera Speedsters were built between 1955 and 1959 – less than 3% of total Speedster production. Of those cars, fewer than 100 were finished in GS/GT trim, with almost half that number fitted with lightweight aluminium panels. Seinfeld’s Speedster boasts a number of other competition features such as a long-range 80-litre fuel tank and 60mm front brakes.
If you prefer your Porsches with a racing flavour, a 1990 962C estimated at $1,500,000-2,000,000 should be right up your street. The works example was campaigned in the 1990 FIA World Sports-Prototype Championship by Joest Racing with support from the factory. It scored two podium finishes in the series, as well as winning at Siegerland in the Interserie the following year.
The car was fully restored in by Joest Racing in the ultimate Doppelflügel specification in 2001 – modifications that could see the racer reach 370kph on the Mulsanne Straight. Since Seinfeld bought the 962 in 2006 it’s only been used for occasional private outings at Willing Springs.
Also from Stuttgart’s competition stable is a 1974 911 Carrera 3.0 IROC RSR, which is expected to fetch as much as $1.5m. The car was one of 15 examples built for Roger Penske’s IROC series and was raced in period by Revson, Johncock, Follmer, Forbes-Robinson and Minter.
As well as a comprehensive race history, the IROC 911 has enjoyed even greater success on the show field, having won its class on more occasions than it has races.
A 1958 597 Jagdwagen is a rare and often overlooked example of Porsche’s early history. The four-wheel-drive amphibious vehicle was designed as a Federal Army proposal for NATO but was passed over in favour of the DKW Munga. It features a pressed steel monocoque and is powered by a Porsche 356 engine.
Jerry Seinfeld’s late example is thought to be the most original and complete of the 15 vehicles that survive. It owes its incredible condition to first owner Wendell Fletcher, a distributor of industrial engines who used the car as his demonstrator but failed to drum up any business. Fletcher kept the Jagdwagen until 1987 when, at the age of 92, it passed to Porsche collector Prescott Kelley. Seinfeld then bought it in 2010.
