From Steve McQueen to Jo Siffert

In an incredible stroke of luck, while researching the first owner of my "slate gray" 911, Porsche Germany confirmed to me yesterday that they first send the car to their experimental department before delivering it new and tweaked to its first owner, Mr. Jo Siffert himself!
I always suspected the car came from Siffert's garage as it was first registered in Fribourg Switzerland, but I never imagined it could be his personal car! I'm now checking with the factory the precise circumstances/reasons for this factory gift to Siffert....

Milou - What does this have to do with McQueen? Is this one of the cars Siffert loaned or sold to Solar Productions for the movie?

How in the woprld do you get the factory to tell you who the original owner was? The info we get stateside from Porsche CRAP.

I started with Steve McQueen because the car was originally restored to match the 911 used by Steve McQueen in the movie Le Mans (see other post).

While reading a French kiss with death, I found out that Jo Siffert provided most of the cars in the movie with the help of his Garage Director Paul Blancpain (Siffert owned a large Porsche garage in Fribourg).

Living in Geneva, I contacted Paul Blancpain to find out if he knew the whereabouts of the garage archives (to trace down the first owner of my 911 which originally was painted green). That's when Paul Blancpain told me that Siffert had receive from the factory a green 911S which he (Blancpain) drove back from the factory into Switzerland.

I then contacted Mr. Landenberger, the newly appointed director of the historic archives at Porsche headquarters in Germany, provided him with the above story, and the full details of my car (chassis number, etc...) and asked him if the story was true and if by any chance my car was the one (since it matched the description)...A few weeks later, not only did I get an email confirming that my car was prepared for Jo Siffert and delivered to him but I even got a scanned photocopy of the original register showing me the chassis number the mention "versuch", the modified engine number above the crossed out original number and the written inscription "Jo Siffert". Not only super efficient and friendly but simply unbelievable.....

Oh Jeez. That is cool. I wish my German didn't suck.

That is a great story, Milou. Thank you for sharing it!

Very cool!

What on the car is experimental and tweaked vs a normal '71 S?

The engine was changed. From the reference numbers, it looks like they removed the original engine and replaced it with an early version of the 2.4. I don't have this engine however but I hope to find it soon!

A true piece of history! You lucky SOB :D

I know! Really lucky....I was hoping to prove the car was sold through Siffert's garage but never imagined it belonged to the man itself!

Scored from some Old Lady at Walmart....Factory Dinoco Sponsored. Raced in Cars movie.

Attachment 21264I Forgot Pic

No wonder you get no feedback from the factory!

PS: Was forced to see Cars by wife and daughter because it featured a Porsche....

Here's Siffert's dealership.

Maybe my car is the one outside? it's so weird...I'm written to the Siffert family to see if they had any available photographs and a record of when the car was sold.;)

that dealership sure looks like the good old days when worlds population was half of what it is today and their was personal service.

Funny you say that, I was thinking the same thing....put a photo of a modern dealership next to it and the choice of where you'd prefer to go is obvious. I guess"it's all about the cars" has become "it's all about the buying"...

At last I was able to track down the last owner of my 911 2.2S (originally a 2.2S chassis sent new by the factory from the production line to their "werks" department to be modified for their driver Jo Siffert). This last owner, now living in Basel, owned the car from 1981 until 1985.

After that the car was dismantled and kept in a garage. It was painted yellow and an ambitious project of an RS replica began but was quickly aborted and the car left as is. Not yet aware of its original provenance, we began the full restoration in 2004.

The last owner kindly sent me (cool) photographs of the car during his ownership, and I finally discovered the car as it originally left the werks department when new (in April 1971): The car delivered to Siffert was actually a 2.4S prototype with a sportomatic transmission!

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/2438/porsche1bz7.jpg

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/3678/porsche2ls3.jpg

I sent the pictures to Paul Blancpain (Siffert's director until 1971) who remembered the car except for the Mahle wheels....I guess I should now revert the car back to its original condition, but I think I prefer the car in slate gray and as a 2.2S....

The story just keeps getting better. You've got to put the Sporto back in now!!

Sorry I meant ATS wheels. Looking at the Cardex, all the options are visible on the photographs but it does not mention the ATS wheels. They could have been added later or where not listed as an option? I believe ATS wheels came out mid 1971? It's funny because by april 1971 the 2.4 model was actually only a few months away...
I've decided to put it back only if I find its original 2.4 engine otherwise I'll keep it as is.

Put the sporto back in. :D And the 2.4S. :) A prototype 2.4S sporto with that history - that is a rare beast indeed!

I think the entire door was replaced by Marc and the new one had holes for a second mirror.

When Marc purchased the 2.2S it was dismantled and 70% complete. The last owner told me that when he "got rid" of the car in 1985 it had considerably rusted so I imagine the doors where too damaged to be kept...

I went to see Florian Vetsch, who sold the car in 1981 this morning (garage Auto Rallye Grand Saconnex). He remembered the car (the sticker on the engine cover is his), and its Sportomatic transmission, and will research his archives to find out where the car was before 1981. The real odd thing, is that his garage is 10 yards away from a street in Geneva named "Jo Siffert".

Milou,

Great detective work on your car's history. It certainly makes ownership more fun and interesting. All the better to find out that Jo Siffert had Porsche install a unique motor/trans combo. I certainly hope you are successfull finding these and putting them back in your car. Thanks for sharing.:)

The previous owner of the Siffert 911 finally accepted to sell the original engine and gearbox back to Marc....he just got it back this weekend after a year's effort.

It's all there with its original Sportomatic transmission and engine "6329003", matching the engine number the factory gave me.

Before delivering the 2.2S to Siffert in the Spring of 1971, the factory removed the original engine and placed the 3rd Sportomatic 2.4S engine produced...

I will try and take photos next week.

I don't think I will change the engine back (not crazy about the Sportomatic shift) but I'm glad the original engine is back with the car....

Milou,

Here's another image of Siffert in front of his dealership.

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/6...e917pa4em0.jpg

The mere fact that you have the original (to the car as delivered) engine and tranny available for the car is enough. Enjoy that thing and pass it all along together to the next 'custodian' of it when the time comes. :D

I went to see the engine this morning and it's really incredible:

A hybrid between a 2.2S and a 2.4S, one of the first experimental 2.4 engine built. It doesn't even seem to have been opened:

Here is a copy of the factoy registry page I received from Porsche (chassis 1180):

http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/1...fferts1ot6.jpg

The engine number has been crossed out and replaced with "6329003" by the "versuch" department for Siffert.

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/1...fferts2sq3.jpg

Here is the engine:
http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/444/img3322fl0.jpg

Engine number (no "star" stamped on either side):

http://www.hebergement-images.com/04...2_IMG_3323.JPG

It's all there:

http://www.hebergement-images.com/04...3_IMG_3329.JPG

Even the sportomatic gearbox:

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/9021/img3327po8.jpg

milou,

Agreed, this is a huge plus for your Siffert 911. It is so cool to see the Factory documents and the unique engine # stamping. Do you think you could take and post a clear photo of the engine stamping? I am curious about the stamping font compared with other '71 engines. Thanks for sharing.:)

Thank you. I tried and took several photographs of the engine number and it just wouldn't come out....I'll try again next weekend when I return to the garage.

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/5673/img3332aq8.jpg

At last, I found a period photograph of the 911 belonging to Siffert. The photograph was taken at le Mans in the Gulf paddock. "FR10032" were Siffert's plates:

http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/7194/911pk7.jpg

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/2...nstitreeh1.png

Thanks.

Well now that I have the original transmission and the original engine, I think I should put it back the way it was, and probably the color as well.


I tried a Sportomatic today for the first time, and I have to say I was really impressed by how easy and smooth the gearchange was. It took me about 20 miles to get used to it.

Well Marc de Siebenthal fixed the Sporto transimission on the car I tried yesterday. It was smoother than my regular gear change...I guess the technology fascinates him so he worked it out.

I have to say, I'm most impressed by what Porsche people did 40 years ago. The Sportomatic transmission is really a well-engineered innovation, and I really can't believe people switched them back to manuals.

Hello Milou!
Is there any more to this wonderful story...?
:D
Thanx!

Haven't restored the original engine yet. Marc has been busy with other projects and I'm not in a hurry to put the engine back, as long as I have it.

I really enjoy the 2.2S engine for now, planning a road trip to Germany to the Techno Classica and the Porsche Museum.

Great Milou!
Are you going to the OldtimerGP in August this year? I'm planning to go and meet the Euro RGrouppe guys. Maybe we can meet!:D

It would be very interesting to find out what vin #s were sold from his dealership and where those cars are today. Any idea where the sales records from the dealership are?

A thread about the engine work . . .
http://www.early911sregistry.org/for...e-Rebuilt-2.2S

For some reason, I missed this thread.....I understand from an old factory driver that Porsche gave those guys (or sold at a very discounted price) a new car every season. Most of the drivers (including the one I know) sold their cars after owning it a short period of time....most needed the cash....So I guess there are factory driver cars all around...we just need to find them.....If Porsche had the paperwork for this car, gotta think they have the paperwork for the other cars they sold / gave to other factory drivers...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by boxster03

It would be very interesting to find out what vin #s were sold from his dealership and where those cars are today. Any idea where the sales records from the dealership are?

---

As many times recorded, all Vin numbers of Swiss Porsche's are stored at Switzerland's only and exclusive importer, called AMAG. Today their Porsche archive is transferred to Porsche Zurich/Schlieren.

This also includes all Porsche imported by AMAG and then sold trough (today defunct) Siffert dealership, Siffert had two.
However, on a few occasion Siffert was able to bypass AMAG and imported some Porsche directly from the factory, most likely for personal use or cars received as a factory gift.

Two cars have been reported not having an AMAG number but being imported by Siffert himself, ex-Milou's 1971 911S (now in Germany) as well as Long Ranger's 1970S "1059" (today in US).
Recently, an 1969 911E was reported being owned by Siffert too. http://bringatrailer.com/2012/09/06/...-porsche-911e/. Another was an 1967 ex works 911R, http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/13162/lot/305/.

Somehow also an 917 made it too his dealership in Fribourg, although not street legal. To the right a 911 with german export plates, i.e straight from the factory.
http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/...psbf64b05c.jpg
http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4fa92a5d.png

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dmill

. . . I understand from an old factory driver that Porsche gave those guys (or sold at a very discounted price) a new car every season . . . So I guess there are factory driver cars all around...we just need to find them . . .

---

Yup . . . and that's why everyone needs to get their car's Kardex

Jo Siffert and Pedro Rodriguez received cars in 1971 --- sequential VINs? Several of Siffert's cars have turned up, since --- including his '71 . . .

. . . but Rodriguez's is still out there . . .
http://www.early911sregistry.org/for...edro-Rodriguez


So, get those Kardexs, 'cause . . .


. . . you never know . . .

Pedro used an old Bentley as his personal car in London.
All of the cars he was given as partial payment for driving were imported into Mexico under a personal dispensation from the mexican President, (imported cars were prohibited from about 1962 until recently).
He sold these at a huge premium, usually above 100%. The last car I saw was a metallic bottle green coupe.

When I visited the Museum archives, I was allowed to look at the registry and found out that chassis number 911 130 1184 (a few numbers after mine) was also a 911S metallic green and was given to Pedro Rodriguez. To the best of my knowledge, this car has not yet been located.

Outta order, maybe --- but here's where it all started . . .

http://www.early911sregistry.org/for...ber-says-hello!

. . . by PSA . . .
http://www.psautomobile.de/?mod=fahrzeugangebote&aid=20

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 67er911S

. . . something around 370EUR, but I am sure he never gets this . . .

---

€370k = $506k = £309k

:eek:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Milou

. . . Here is a copy of the factory registry page I received from Porsche (chassis 1180):

http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/1...fferts1ot6.jpg

The engine number has been crossed out and replaced with "6329003" by the "versuch" department for Siffert.

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/1...fferts2sq3.jpg

. . .

---

Images are gone, now . . .



. . . but maybe Thomas can put these up again?


.................

Rick -- This one is for you. Not sure if you have seen this image. It was from Automobile Year 1968-1969.

Olde thread alert…

Love rediscovering these wonderful threads…

First posted almost 20 years ago! Well the passion is still there!