It's well known that Jerry Seinfeld, host of the web video series "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee," has a particular fondness for Porsches. In fact, he owns so many that he sold some to make room in his rather capacious garage for more. The auction firm Gooding & Co. offered 16 of the Porsches at an event near Jacksonville, Florida. All but one sold.
2012 Porsche 997 GT3 Cup 4.0 —
It's well known that Jerry Seinfeld, host of the web video series "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee," has a particular fondness for Porsches. In fact, he owns so many that he sold some to make room in his rather capacious garage for more. The auction firm Gooding & Co. offered 16 of the Porsches at an event near Jacksonville, Florida. All but one sold.
Gooding & Co./Mathieu Heurtault
As Porsche's first purpose-built race car, the rare 550 Spyder "ranks among the most desirable sports cars ever built," according to Gooding. Given that most of these cars had a hard-driven life, it's rare to see surviving examples in this sort of condition. (The 550 Spyder is probably best known as the Porsche model in which James Dean died.) This particular car has been driven fewer than 10,500 miles.
1955 Porsche 550 Spyder —
As Porsche's first purpose-built race car, the rare 550 Spyder "ranks among the most desirable sports cars ever built," according to Gooding. Given that most of these cars had a hard-driven life, it's rare to see surviving examples in this sort of condition. (The 550 Spyder is probably best known as the Porsche model in which James Dean died.) This particular car has been driven fewer than 10,500 miles.
Gooding & Co./Mathieu Heurtault
In 1973, race team owner Roger Penske had Porsche build 15 identical (except for the colors) Porsche 911s for a new racing series called the International Race of Champions, or IROC. The idea was to pit the world's top race drivers against one another in identically equipped cars so that only the drivers' skill and courage would give them a winning edge. According to its series number, this was the first of those 15 cars built.
1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 —
In 1973, race team owner Roger Penske had Porsche build 15 identical (except for the colors) Porsche 911s for a new racing series called the International Race of Champions, or IROC. The idea was to pit the world's top race drivers against one another in identically equipped cars so that only the drivers' skill and courage would give them a winning edge. According to its series number, this was the first of those 15 cars built.
Gooding & Co./Brian Henniker
As a member of NATO, Germany had to rebuild its military capabilities in the 1950s. A number of German automakers, including Porsche, submitted proposals for new military support vehicles. Porsche's prototype, which put a special variant of the Porsche 356 sports car's engine in an all-wheel-drive machine that could ford streams, was passed over by the German military.
1958 Porsche 597 Jagdwagen —
As a member of NATO, Germany had to rebuild its military capabilities in the 1950s. A number of German automakers, including Porsche, submitted proposals for new military support vehicles. Porsche's prototype, which put a special variant of the Porsche 356 sports car's engine in an all-wheel-drive machine that could ford streams, was passed over by the German military.
Gooding & Co./Mathieu Heurtault
The Porsche Carrera GT model most recently came to fame as the car in which "Fast and Furious" star Paul Walker died. This was a prototype car Porsche built during the development of that model.
2000 Porsche Carrera GT Prototype —
The Porsche Carrera GT model most recently came to fame as the car in which "Fast and Furious" star Paul Walker died. This was a prototype car Porsche built during the development of that model.
Gooding & Co./Mathieu Heurtault
The Porsche 962 is one of the most important models in the history of endurance racing, according to Gooding. Porsche 962 race cars and the model's predecessor, the 956, won LeMans six times between 1982 and 1987, finishing 1-2-3 every year but one. This car is actually an early 962 with aerodynamic features from a later car, including the bi-plane tail wing, added on.
1990 Porsche 962C —
The Porsche 962 is one of the most important models in the history of endurance racing, according to Gooding. Porsche 962 race cars and the model's predecessor, the 956, won LeMans six times between 1982 and 1987, finishing 1-2-3 every year but one. This car is actually an early 962 with aerodynamic features from a later car, including the bi-plane tail wing, added on.
Gooding & Co./Mathieu Heurtault
Only 34 of these lightweight early Porsche race cars were ever built. This particular car was once owned and driven by the famous race car driver -- and, later, businessman -- Roger Penske, who won a number of races in it. Later, this car caught fire while in an owner's garage, which ended its racing career.
1959 Porsche 718 RSK —
Only 34 of these lightweight early Porsche race cars were ever built. This particular car was once owned and driven by the famous race car driver -- and, later, businessman -- Roger Penske, who won a number of races in it. Later, this car caught fire while in an owner's garage, which ended its racing career.
Gooding & Co./Mathieu Heurtault
Porsche developed the 917/30 Can-Am Spyder in collaboration with race team owner Roger Penske. With its turbocharged 5.4-liter 12-cylinder engine capable of producing more than 1,200 horsepower, the 917/30 could go from zero to 60 miles an hour in 2.1 seconds and had a top speed of over 240 miles an hour.
1973 Porsche 917/30 Can-Am Spyder —
Porsche developed the 917/30 Can-Am Spyder in collaboration with race team owner Roger Penske. With its turbocharged 5.4-liter 12-cylinder engine capable of producing more than 1,200 horsepower, the 917/30 could go from zero to 60 miles an hour in 2.1 seconds and had a top speed of over 240 miles an hour.
Gooding & Co./Mathieu Heurtault
Porsche's RSR models were factory-built race cars based on the 911 sports car. This particular car, designed for endurance racing, was built for the Japanese market and was delivered to a dealer there in 1997. It never entered competition, though, and still has fewer than 3,700 miles on the odometer. It remained in Japan until Seinfeld purchased it and brought it into the U.S. in 2015.
1997 Porsche 993 Cup 3.8 RSR —
Porsche's RSR models were factory-built race cars based on the 911 sports car. This particular car, designed for endurance racing, was built for the Japanese market and was delivered to a dealer there in 1997. It never entered competition, though, and still has fewer than 3,700 miles on the odometer. It remained in Japan until Seinfeld purchased it and brought it into the U.S. in 2015.
Gooding & Co./Mathieu Heurtault
This Porsche 356 Speedster has a set of special high-performance options, including a racing-derived engine. It has lightweight alloy body panels, a special louvered deck lid and Plexiglas windows. This car is believed to have been exported to the U.S. and raced here in the late 1960s and early '70s.
1958 Porsche 356 A 1500 GS/GT Carrera Speedster —
This Porsche 356 Speedster has a set of special high-performance options, including a racing-derived engine. It has lightweight alloy body panels, a special louvered deck lid and Plexiglas windows. This car is believed to have been exported to the U.S. and raced here in the late 1960s and early '70s.
Gooding & Co./Brian Henniker
This car, which Seinfeld bought new from a Manhattan Porsche dealer, is a modern version of the Porsche Speedster formula. It's a Porsche 911 -- the number 997 is Porsche's designation for this particular generation of 911 -- stripped down for performance and with minimal comfort features. Even the the convertible top is manually operated. The 997 Speedster's original base sticker price was just over $200,000.
2011 Porsche 997 Speedster —
This car, which Seinfeld bought new from a Manhattan Porsche dealer, is a modern version of the Porsche Speedster formula. It's a Porsche 911 -- the number 997 is Porsche's designation for this particular generation of 911 -- stripped down for performance and with minimal comfort features. Even the the convertible top is manually operated. The 997 Speedster's original base sticker price was just over $200,000.
Gooding & Co./Brian Henniker
Through careful restoration, this car has become a nearly pristine example of one of Porsche's most prized sports cars. At a Porsche show in 2010, it tied the highest score ever given to a car of this type. Seinfeld bought this 356 Speedster later that year.
1957 Porsche 356 A Speedster —
Through careful restoration, this car has become a nearly pristine example of one of Porsche's most prized sports cars. At a Porsche show in 2010, it tied the highest score ever given to a car of this type. Seinfeld bought this 356 Speedster later that year.
Gooding & Co./Brian Henniker
Jerry Seinfeld calls this "pure car heaven."
1966 Porsche 911 —
Jerry Seinfeld calls this "pure car heaven."
Gooding & Co./Brian Henniker
This version of the Porsche 356, created as the model neared the end of its life, had a newly developed engine with more pulling power. This particular car was created for competitive track use and has lightweight aluminum body panels and high-performance components. It represents "the ultimate development of the 356 range," according to Gooding & Co.
1963 Porsche 356 B 2000 GS/GT Carrera 2 Coupe —
This version of the Porsche 356, created as the model neared the end of its life, had a newly developed engine with more pulling power. This particular car was created for competitive track use and has lightweight aluminum body panels and high-performance components. It represents "the ultimate development of the 356 range," according to Gooding & Co.
Gooding & Co./Mathieu Heurtault
"Flachbau" means flat-nose. It was a special body design for the 911 with a flatter sloping nose and pop-up headlights. This car was also equipped with a special 385-horsepower racing-derived engine. Top speed is 175 miles an hour. These cars were built for Porsche's best customers, including the Sultan of Brunei and Michael Jordan. This particular one was originally owned by a Florida doctor.
1994 Porsche 964 Turbo 3.6 S Flachbau —
"Flachbau" means flat-nose. It was a special body design for the 911 with a flatter sloping nose and pop-up headlights. This car was also equipped with a special 385-horsepower racing-derived engine. Top speed is 175 miles an hour. These cars were built for Porsche's best customers, including the Sultan of Brunei and Michael Jordan. This particular one was originally owned by a Florida doctor.
Gooding & Co./Mathieu Heurtault
This two-seat Speedster has a luggage compartment in place of the rear seats. To save weight, in keeping with the Speedster philosophy, it isn't equipped with air conditioning. If you get too hot, put the top down and drive faster.
1989 Porsche 911 Carrera Speedster —
This two-seat Speedster has a luggage compartment in place of the rear seats. To save weight, in keeping with the Speedster philosophy, it isn't equipped with air conditioning. If you get too hot, put the top down and drive faster.
Gooding & Co./Brian Henniker