One of the most important Porsches ever to leave Stuttgart will play a starring role at the Concours of Elegance this summer.
The original Porsche 911 Turbo prototype, first shown at the 1973 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show, is part of the main concours display.
The 911 Turbo will form part of a lineup encompassing 70 of the world’s rarest cars at Hampton Court Palace in west London.
A legend in the making
Built as a concept especially for Frankfurt, the first Porsche 911 Turbo was intended to let show-goers see how a production car could look.
Overseen by chief engineer Helmuth Bott, a standard Porsche 911S was used as the basis for the prototype. It was painted in a one-off shade of silver, with the white ‘Turbo’ script applied by hand.
Beneath the bodywork, there was no real air-cooled 2.7-litre turbocharged engine. As the production flat-six was not ready, a naturally aspirated engine was used instead. Extra components, including the turbocharger, were made from wood and painted to look real.
The show car also demonstrated styling elements that would be used on the ‘G-model’ 911, along with previewing the 3.0 RS road car and RSR racer. Widened wheelarches, a ‘whale tail’ rear spoiler and larger Fuchs alloy wheels were the major changes.
Travelling the world
Although it lacked a real turbocharged engine, the show car proved effective, generating plenty of interest in a production model. When launched in 1975, the 911 Turbo was arguably Porsche’s first supercar.
Following its Frankfurt debut, the Turbo prototype travelled the world. It was then bought by Alan Hamilton, the Porsche importer for Australia.
Traded between Porsche enthusiasts Down Under, the 911 Turbo was eventually exported to the United States in 2010.
In 2016, it was purchased by its current owner, who returned it to Europe. A genuine turbocharged engine was then fitted, with the car remaining in otherwise original condition.
The rarest cars in the world
The 911 Turbo prototype will certainly be a major attraction at the 2024 Concours of Elegance. The show takes place between 30 August and 1 September 2024 at Hampton Court Palace.
Along with the main concours display, the event will feature other car collections. The Levitt Concours is dedicated to female owners, while the ’30Under30′ section celebrates young enthusiasts.
Live discussions, fine dining and luxury shopping will also be part of the experience. Tickets for the Concours of Elegance are available to buy now, priced from £45.
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