Dutchmann Porsche Weekend Racer
This 1970 Porsche 911 was originally built as a competitive racing car by the late Peter Gough in the 1990s and driven competitively by Clive Wooley on the South African classic racing circuit.
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The three numbers 911, are usually associated with an emergency, but in this case, they are referring to one of the best things to ever come out of Germany, the Porsche 911.
Photos and article by Stefan Daniël Kotzé
The car then sat dormant for close to 10 years before Dutchmann acquired the vehicle. Dutchmann entered the then red-coloured car into the 2014 Kalahari Desert Speedweek race where they had loads of fun with it. A few years passed and then they decided to completely restore the car for the 2017 Knysna Hillclimb. It competed in the pre-74 Marque Cars Class where it took first in class up the hill.
So, for those of you wondering what and who Dutchmann is, here goes. They are a bespoke company that connects contemporary designers with master craftsmen to produce globally recognized automotive, lifestyle and art-related objects. A great example of their work is this amazing Porsche which has truly been turned into a work of art.
This air-cooled beauty received the full Dutchmann Weekend Racer makeover, which includes exterior, suspension, interior and performance upgrades. Starting on the outside, all the exterior trim was refreshed with OEM parts and was treated to a new lick of paint. An off-white, period-correct hue whilst both sides of the car were Porsche branded. The wheels are silver and black 16-inch Fuchs in 7 and 8-inch widths. The tyres are meaty Bridgestone semi-slicks and fit into the wheel arches perfectly.
Under the hood is a magnificent 1973 2.7 litre. An air-cooled motor which has Mechanical Fuel Injection (MFI) and runs standard compression. But it has custom cams that produce approximately 255 BHP. This is more than enough to make this neat little Porsche an absolute blast to drive. For quicker gear changes, there is a short-shift 915 gear shift. Furthermore, the brakes have been swapped out for Porsche 930 Turbo callipers with ventilated discs to have increased stopping power. The suspension has also been tweaked and lowered to make it more responsive. The inside of this car is simply stunning. The entire interior was re-upholstered and beautifully restored. The VDO gauges are complemented by the black dashboard.
On the passenger side, the Dutchmann logo is beautifully highlighted in perforated brown leather. The steering wheel is a classic 380mm 1973 RS piece. And finally, you cannot miss the timeless 1969 Heuer Monte Carlo Rally dash timer. There is also a full race-spec roll cage that is painted black and positioned behind the rear seats. The real piece de resistance must be the custom Kevlar/carbon composite racing seats that are modelled on the design of the legendary Recaro Pole-Position seats. They come complete with SABELT four-point race harnesses.
This car has no aircon, no electric windows and no traction control. But you know what, it doesn’t need any of that. This is a real driver’s car that moves your soul. It feels alive and makes you feel a real connection to true gentleman old-school style – a feeling that most modern-day cars can never give their driver.
Go check out the rest of their projects online at www.dutchmann.co.za.
