10 secret Porsches kept hidden away in – including Spyder with tragic history, first-EVER off-roader & ‘Tardis’ 911
THOUSANDS visit Porsche’s famed museum in Stuttgart every year – such is the global popularity of the acclaimed German marque.
But few get to gaze upon the secrets of the famous sports car maker, hidden away in a nondescript building close by.
Not many fans realise that hundreds of cars are shut away behind closed doors, including prototypes, race cars and one-offs, in a Porsche-owned warehouse.
Here are some of the best, rarest and most unusual examples you might be lucky enough to see inside.
Porsche 550 Spyder
Synonymous with its connection to tragic Hollywood film star James Dean and the ‘Rebel Without a Cause’ star’s death in 1955, the 550 Spyder was once one of the most successful racing cars of the 1950s, and is one of Porsche’s best-loved little motors.
Nowadays, they’re considered hot property, with an example selling at auction in 2018 for £4,115,763 – currently the highest price for a 550 at auction.
Porsche 597 Jagdwagen
In the 1950s, Porsche looked to take on the likes of Jeep and Land-Rover with the military-styled 597, much like the Cayenne was built decades later to take on the Cherokee and Range Rover, respectively.
Produced in 1955, Porsche’s first off-roader was powered by a 356-sourced flat-four engine as part of West Germany’s aim to build a motor that could match the Willy’s Jeep.
However, Porsche didn’t secure the government contract as the 597 was deemed too expensive to manufacture.
As a result, just 71 Porsche 597s were manufactured, 49 of which were built for the civilian market.
Porsche 911 S Type 915
Fancy a family friendly 911?
The Type 915 – with its unique, stretched body – was designed to comfortably seat four adults in a 911, making the famous compact sports car resemble a Tardis inside.
Company executives ultimately chose not to produce the Type 915 as they feared it would cannibalise the brand’s other cars.
Porsche 924 record car
The 924 is one of Porsche’s most famous models and was a hit with many consumers.
To promote the new sports car upon its release, the German marque’s marketing team decided they needed to build one capable of setting a headline-grabbing record.
Taking to the oval circuit in Nardo, Italy, the coupe – with an upgraded 253 bhp engine and a wind-cheating body kit – the aim was to break a world record by averaging over 155 mph for a distance of 10,000 miles.
However, in July 1977, the attempt was cancelled.
Porsche Type 995
Based on the 928, the little-known 995 was designed to be economic, safe and noise-free.
Featuring a 3.0-litre V8 engine with a cylinder deactivation system or a 2.2-litre four-cylinder engine, along with an electronically controlled dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Hess-Porsche Single Track 356
The 356-powered motorcycle, built by instrument-maker Peter Hess, could hit a top speed of 155 mph thanks to its 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine.
While the instrument cluster, shaft drive unit and forks came from a BMW motorcycle, the frame was designed by Hess and was even approved for road use by the German authorities.
But sadly, the idea didn’t materialise beyond the single example tucked away in the Porsche warehouse.
Porsche 959 wind tunnel mule
The famous 959, once the fastest road-going motor in the world, was extensively tested in a wind tunnel in 1982, a year before the model was unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show.
The test mule, which can be found in the warehouse, has its spoiler integrated into the deck lid, and its underbody is equipped with a plastic cover.
To really help with the authenticity, fans can find hand-written notes all over the body – a testament to the numerous tweaks made before its final design.
Porsche 984
Between the end of the 914 in 1976 and the introduction of the Boxster in 1996, Porsche failed to release a road-going roadster.
The mysterious 984 gives a good indication of what an entry-level mid-engined Porsche convertible would have looked like in the 1980s.
Built to be light, aerodynamic and affordable, the 984 was aimed at young drivers – especially based in the US.
However, development stopped after new car sales in the US collapsed in the wake of the 1987 stock market crash.
Porsche 959 Paris-Dakar
The world’s greatest motor race taken on by the world’s greatest supercar?
In the 1980s, former Formula 1 driver Jacky Ickx convinced Porsche to enter the famous Paris-Dakar – the historic off-road endurance race.
While mechanical issues prevented the 959s from finishing, the 1986 team earned a popular one-two finish.
Porsche Panamericana
Looking to freshen up the 911, Porsche envisioned a toned-down version of the beach buggy-like Panamericana.
The concept never reached production, but many of the car’s styling cues, including the slanted headlights, later used on the 993-series 911, and the Boxster.