Will this Porsche Typ 64 become the most expensive Porsche ever sold?
The Porsche Typ 64 is the car that can be seen as the real predecessor for all the Porsches that were developed later. Even before the legendary Porsche 356, number 1 that saw the daylight June 8th 1948, Professor Ferdinand Porsche designed the Porsche Typ 64. To promote the German Autobahn and to celebrate the launch of the KDF-wagen, a race from Berlin to Rome was set up. The 1500 kilometers races should take place in September 1939. Volkswagen, owned by the government at the time, commissioned 3 special versions of the KDF-wagen to take part in the Berlin-Rome race. Internally, the car was known as the Porsche Typ 64. However, none of the 3 cars would ever race. Even more, at the moment the first Porsche Typ 64 was completed, the War was declared and the Berlin-Rome race was canceled. The first cars became the property of the German Labor Front.
Ferry Porsche, son of Ferdinand Porsche, however, continued with the 2 remaining Porsche Typ 64 to serve as experimental cars while Porsche was further developing its own sports cars. One of these 2 cars was the personal car of Ferdinand Porsche. When the Porsche company was forced to reallocate to Gmünd (Austria) the 2 Porsche Typ 64 were kept at the family estate in Zell-am-See. Only the 3rd car survived the war. In 1946, Ferry Porsche applied the letters “Porsche” on the nose of the car, when he had it registered in Austria under the new company name.
Otto Mathé and the Porsche Typ 64
In 1948, the Porsche 356 Number 1 was demonstrated on public roads near Innsbruck, with the Porsche Typ 64 on its side. Otto Mathé, a private race driver, completed some demo laps in the car, and completely fell in love. 1 year later, Otto Mathé bought the car. The Porsche Typ 64 remained in Otto Mathé’s ownership until his death in 1995. During that decade long ownership, Otto Mathé raced the Porsche Typ 64 extensively and with great success. Later, the car was owned by one of the authors of the legendary Carrera RS book, Thomas Gruber who is known as one of the most reputed Porsche specialists worldwide.
Father of all Porsches
Without the Porsche Typ 64, there would not have been a Porsche 356. This Porsche is probably the most significant Porsche in the history of the sportscar manufacturer. The car retains the original aircooled flat-4 engine, producing 32HP. It comes with a collection of spare parts, documentation, photographs and collectibles. At the RM Sotheby’s auction in August, you will have the unique opportunity to buy a piece of history. But be aware, you’ll have to dig deep, very deep in your wallet. Personally, we hope the car will end up in the collection of Wolfgang Porsche or the Porsche Museum. And moreover, we hope the car will be shown to the public, as it was shown before at several occasions like the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Classic Days Schloss Dyck and more.
Pictures courtesy RM Sotheby’s
