Miguel Sánchez
For a few years now, the programs of "barnfind". Programs in which, between a great excitement of the presenter and animated movements of the camera, we discover dream cars forgotten in barns, garages ... Some of these findings they can be doubtful, but the truth is that this seems not to be. Why? Well, Porsche itself acquired the model after its television appearance in 2014.
If the Porsche Museum was interested in the model… Obviously it is because it is a very special unit. And it really is. It is because chassis number 300.057 is one of the few 911s… that are not called 911! This unit, manufactured in October 1964, is number 57 of the 901. Yes, 901. The number that was originally going to have christened the oldest sports car of all time.
HOW PEUGEOT REBAPTIZED THE PORSCHE FOR ANTONOMASIA
1963 was a time of change at Porsche. After years of success, it was time to renew the 356 model. For this, the German brand presented the 901 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Yes, the 901. And, although some of you might be thinking “¿¿what car is that? " the truth is that we all know him well. It was 911. So ... Why this mess of acronyms? It all comes from a demand from the lion's brand: peugeot.
As soon as the 901 was presented, the Porsche legal department received a letter from France. Peugeot had registered the exclusive use of names that include a "0" in the middle. This is how he wanted his models to be recognizable from the name that cataloged them. Come on, Porsche ... had to change the number.
The problem is that the German brand had already invested a large sum in manufacturing a multitude of numbers "9", "0" and "1" for the dashboard and rear. For added expense and ostentation, they were gold. The solution to not lose all that investment was most spontaneous: changing a single number the model would be renamed 911 😉
Anyway, the first batch of 901 had already been built. And although Porsche retired most of them for use as demo vehicles, some or other had already fallen into private hands. That is why those few units are really strange pieces. They are the oldest “911s”.
BRINGING A SINGULAR UNIT TO LIFE
Bought by Porsche in 2014, this car had been forgotten in a barn for more than 20 years. For this reason, the state of conservation was not the most desired. It was even missing key parts like the front wings. As far as possible the original parts have been preserved, and when not, they have been replaced by parts of some 911s of the time. In fact, it is what has been done with the engine, transmission and electrical components. Although, as this unit had never been restored, it has been relatively easy to get it right back to its original condition.
It has been a three-year job. Three years that Porsche celebrates with the exhibition “911 (901 # 57) A legend takes off”. And it is that, It is not every day that a 911 is found in a barn so old that it is not even called 911 ... It is the return of unit 57.
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