Two 1973 Porsche 911S - One Sold for $128,000 More. Why?
Updated: Mar 29, 2020
Two 1973 Porsche 911S crossed the Gooding & Co Collector Car Auctions at Amelia Island this year: one sold for $280,000 and one sold for $151,200. One was a stock, original Silver Metallic 911S while the other was also a Silver ’73 911S but with Brumos stripes and the history of being owned by the famous Brumos owner and Racer, Peter Gregg.
The stock ’73 Porsche 911S sold for $151,200 that seems about normal while the Brumos 911S sold for $280,000, more than a $128,000 than the stock 911S. Is the Brumos history worth this much? Let’s look a the spec for each car.
1973 Porsche 911S Peter Gregg Brumos Porsche
Color: Silver with Brumos stripes (first time they appeared on a production car
Ownership: Peter Gregg, famous Porsche racer followed by a well-documented ownership chain
Condition: Pristine, restored condition
Specs: One of a kind, Porsche Factory approved modifications of Carrera RS flares, bumpers, ducktail spoiler, Cibie headlamps and handling features
1973 Porsche 911S
Color: Silver Metallic
Ownership: Three owners including one who kept the car for 35 years
Condition: Older re-paint but brought up to spec and detailed by the consigning dealer.
Specs: This 1973 Porsche 911S was optioned with an electric sunroof, Koni shock absorbers, auxiliary oil cooler and sport seats. It contains original window sticker, manuals and records back to 1980.
The Tale of Two Sales
The two cars sold at the same Gooding & Co Amelia Island Auction. A premium of $128,000 seems like a giant premium for Peter Gregg and Brumos provenance, but it is one-of-a-kind in Porsche history and sold in the Jacksonville area; home to Brumos and Peter Gregg. I believe the buyer paid all the money for this car, plus some.
It was noted on Facebook that this is the new owner’s first air-cooled Porsche for his collection and he intends to use it. References were being made to show it at Luftgekühlt 7 being held this Spring in Durham, North Carolina. When you are dealing with owners who can spend $200,000 plus for a collector car, the rational buying decisions often go out the window. In this case it sounds like the new owner wanted to gain entry to a prestigious event and wanted the bragging rights of having this unique one-of-a-kind car.
The Silver Porsche 911S was actually sold a little low according to the Sports Car Market Price Guide that states the median price for such a car is $178,000. In this case the new owner bought a very nice, clean, well-documented 1973 911S that can be driven, shown and enjoyed without regret.
Gooding & Company Catalog Description of the Peter Gregg Brumos Porsche 911S
In the decades since the untimely passing of Peter Gregg, much has been written about his rare driving talents and sharp business acumen. In the early 1960s, Gregg began his illustrious professional racing career and his accumulation of automotive dealerships almost simultaneously. Most notably, he acquired Brumos Porsche in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1965. Behind the wheel, Gregg posted an incredible list of victories, including multiple championships in SCCA, IMSA, and Trans Am divisions and three Overall wins at the 24 Hours of Daytona.
In late 1972, Gregg hatched a plan to create a very special 911 S to serve as his personal road car. In keeping with Gregg’s notoriously exacting nature, all modifications made to his car by his Brumos service department were to be in consultation with and approved by the Porsche factory, and strictly limited to the use of Porsche factory parts. Porsche took careful notice of the project and incorporated many of these upgrades into future models.
The building process began with the addition of Carrera RS steel flares and modified rear bumper, with the Porsche Racing Parts Department supplying a ducktail rear-deck spoiler. In front, the bumper guards were deleted and then-exotic Cibiē quartz-iodine headlamp units were added. Handling was enhanced by Fuchs 15″ x 7″ and 15″ x 9″ wheels as well as larger sway bars and stronger stabilizer bars. As a finishing touch, the famous Brumos stripes, largely of Gregg’s own design, were added to the silver S, bordered in white. This 911 S was the first road-going Porsche to wear these iconic stripes.
In 1974, Gregg sold the Porsche to a long-term client, who traded it for his 916 and retained the car until 1979, before selling it to a friend and colleague, who drove it approximately 80,000 miles as his daily transport over the next seven years. Then in 1987, showing over 130,000 miles, it was reacquired by Brumos and treated to a thorough bare-metal restoration to its original specifications. At this time, the windshield wipers were modified to park on the right, matching the specification of Porsche racing cars of the period.
Upon completion of the restoration in 1989, it was purchased by Brumos manager Bob Snodgrass for his personal collection. The 911 then passed through the hands of several appreciative owners, who cumulatively added approximately 50,000 miles, before it was acquired in 2012 by the consignor, a Porsche dealer in the 1970s. He soon embarked on a no-expense-spared refurbishment of the 911 S by one of the most respected Porsche shops in the country, Automobile Associates of Canton, Connecticut.
Invoices show that the work included a complete windows-out strip and repaint with Glasurit materials; a complete rebuild on the matching-numbers engine; disassembly, inspection, and resealing of the transaxle; all-new brakes; and a complete suspension rebuild. A prior owner increased the displacement of the engine to 2.7 liters, and it remains so today. The engine was dynamometer tested in 2013 at 199.8 rear-wheel hp at 7,142 rpm. Following the restoration, the owner entered the car on various rallies including the New England 1000, and has enjoyed the car for nearly 10,000 miles.
Presenting today in pristine, restored condition, this important and historic 911 is documented with a tome of original paperwork and receipts dating back to new, beginning with the original invoices from Porsche memorializing the initial build. Additionally, a precious handwritten note from Peter Gregg to Dr. James Simpson has now been reunited with the car, and serves to further authenticate its unique history. The original manual set, with the maintenance record booklet bearing Gregg’s name; a certificate from Porsche dated 1991, confirming the 911’s drivetrain numbers; and a rare set of Fuchs 15″ x 7″ front and 15″ x 9″ rear wheels accompany the sale. This is the first public offering of this special 911 S, a car that helped shape future Porsche road car specifications for generations to come.
Gooding & Company 1973 Porsche 911S
This Silver Metallic 911 S was completed in May 1973, and delivered to Kendon Porsche-Audi in Wilmington, California. Built to US specifications, this Porsche was optioned with an electric sunroof, KONI shock absorbers, auxiliary oil cooler, and desirable sports seats trimmed in black leather. Documentation includes the original window sticker, factory manuals, and records dating back to 1980, noting three prior owners, including one who kept the Porsche for nearly 35 years. The original steering wheel, Sekurit glass, and period Blaupunkt radio remain intact, and the car retains its matching-numbers engine and transaxle per the accompanying Porsche Certificate of Authenticity.
Repainted in its original Silver Metallic by a previous owner, the 911 S was acquired by the consignor in 2019. During his ownership, the Porsche has benefited from a service and compression test, which recorded 130-135 psi in each cylinder. Additionally, the Fuchs alloy wheels received new Michelin tires, a new muffler was installed, and the car was carefully detailed throughout. With its matching-numbers driveline, attractive original colors, ideal factory options, and recent attention, this 1973 2.4 S is an air-cooled classic worthy of serious consideration.
Tags: 1973 Porsche 911S, Gooding & Co sales of Porsche 911S, Amelia Island Porsche Sales
תגובות