Article by Eugene Gouws

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Brief History

MANUFACTURED JANUARY 1958

Chassis number: P84407
Engine number: P610222
Original registration: TJ 59530
Original owner: Lindsay Motors, Dr Kaye
Used by Eric Hump. 1958 to 1961

Subsequent owners:

Alois Klesse. 1961 to 1964
Jan Els. 1964 to 1969

Taken off the road.

Shaffer. 1969 to 1970
Philip van Dijkhorst. 1970 to 1974
Willie Springhorn. 1974 to 1993
Eugene Gouws. Under restoration. 1993 to 2007

On the road

Eugene Gouws. 2007 to ???

All Speedsters

Model
Number Made
Model
Num,ber Made
356 PRE A
1900
356A
2922

Remaining RHD Speedsters

South Africa Australia United Kingdom
Owner
Chassis Number
1
Gouws
84407
2
VD Walt
84434
3
Langeveld
4
Langeveld
Damaged in fire
5
Lindsey
84500
6
Smit
84687
7
Assad
84701
8
Blacher
84885
9
Stevenson
84886
10
Dorfer
84498
11
Brews
Owner
Chassis Number
12
Webster
80174
13
Unknown
82420
14
George
83809
15
EX Gunn
84892
16
Unknown
83829
17
Unknown
84512
Carrera
18
Bowden
82459
19
Henderson
83558
20
Unknown
837270
Owner
Chassis Number
21
Unknown
82721
22
Unknown
84394

RHD Speedsters in South Africa

Owner
Chassis Number
Status
1
Gouws
84407
Running
2
VD Walt
84434
Running
3
Langeveld
Running
4
Langeveld
Damaged in fire
5
Lindsey
84500
Running
6
Smith
84678
Running
7
Assad
84701
Almost Running
8
Blacher
84885
Running
9
Stevenson
84886
Running
10
Dorfer
84498
Restoration
11
Brews
Running

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Birth Certificate

Certificate, early service history and chassis plate proving authenticity

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1958 to 1961

Porsche P84407 was imported by Lindsay Motors and registered in the name of Dr Kaye.

Eric Hump, the Porsche representative in South Africa, used it as his personal car.

The car was fitted with a 1495cc four-cam motor and entered in various races during this period.

The most notable achievement was overall winner of the inaugural 9-hour race held at the Grand Central track at Halfway House.

Car No
Year
Race
Drivers
Position
8
1958
1st South African 9-Hour Endurance Race
Fraser-Jones / Fergusson
1st
14
1960
3rd Rand Daily Mail 9-Hour Endurance Race
Fraser-Jones / Fergusson
4th

9-Hour Grand Central

Thirty eight cars started. Cars included Ferrari, Austin Healey, Triumph, Mercedes 190ML . MGA, Alfa, Volvo, Peugeot, Lancia, Saab, Prefect, Anglia, Renault and Jaguar XK 120. Ferrari led for the first three laps and was then overtaken by Porsche P84407. The Ferrari passed away in the 6th hour. Porsche P84407 driven by Fraser-Jones and Fergusson went on to win on distance covering 560,42 miles. The second place car, an Austin Healey driven by Love and Pfaff, was 16 miles behind. The Porsche also came second in the Index of Performance classification, beaten by an Alfa T.I.

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9-Hour Grand Central

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1961 to 1964

Porsche P84407 was purchased by Alois Klesse who entered the car in various races in Rhodesia, Moçambique and South Africa. The car was damaged in an accident in Belfast returning from a 4-hour endurance race held in Lourenço Marques.

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1964 to 1993

Porsche P84407 was purchased from Alois Klesse by Jan Els. The car was repaired and was subsequently entered in the hill climbs at Lourenço Marques and Krugersdorp.

In 1969, Porsche P84407 was involved in an accident at Mooi River in Natal whilst towing an Alfa that broke down. The accident occurred when the driver of the Alfa left the road and plummeted down a ravine. During this episode, the tow-rope broke, the Porsche overturned and skidded bottom-up on the tarred road. The car was extensively damaged and had to be taken to Pretoria on a trailer.

The car then had various owners, each starting but not finishing restoration.

1969 to 1970: Shaffer
1970 to 1974: Philip van Dijkhorst
1974 to 1993: Willie Springhorn.

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1993 to 2009

Porsche P84407 was purchase in 1993 from an amount of R100 000 by Eugene Gouws. The car was in boxes, but most parts present.

Restoration commenced in 1993, consecutively by two outfits that will remain nameless for fear of slander and too many swear words: The car was taken from the first after too many cracks appearing in the floor of the body shop, suspectedly from the weight of the lead and body filler. It was taken from the second because op a lack of progress.

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Restoration

In 2004, Porsche P84407 was taken to Carrera Motors who undertook the final restoration.

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Restoration – Carrera Motors

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Restoration Racing History

During restoration, the racing past of Porsche P84407 became evident. Alois Klesse was involved with the preparation of the car for the inaugural 9-hours in 1958. He confirmed that various modifications were necessary to accommodate the 4-cam motor that was used when racing.

These included:
Cutting of the louvers in the engine lid to improve ventilation;
Installing an additional fuel pump behind the floor board on the passenger side;
Cutting holes in the engine bay to accommodate the oil cooler and pipes;
Installing the two switches to isolate each of the sets of spark plus of the 4-cam motor.

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Concourse 2007 / 2008

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Speedster Prices

Prices of 356 Speedsters have risen on average 30% per year with the biggest rise between 2004 and 2009 when prices increased by between 40% and 44% annually

The prices of right hand drive 356 Speedsters are on average about 22% higher than the equivalent left hand drive cars.

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Porsche 356 (Cars-on-the-Square)

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Porsche 356 (Cherry Festival & Cars-on-the-track)

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Porsche 356 Run To CASA DO SOL 2008

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Porsche 356 (CASA DO SOL)

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