Miguel Sánchez
PHOTOS RÜNGE CARS: CARS INSIDER
Along with the vast panorama of small British racing teams from the XNUMXs and XNUMXs, Italy may have been the place where the most artisan workshops have built sports by hand. As proof of this we have the etceterini. Those little cars normally based on FIAT mechanics and frames, equipped with modifications and hand-sculpted bodies. However, this artisan taste for competition It has also occurred in other countries such as Germany. Something that is perfectly evidenced by the history of the early years of Porsche.
Using mechanical foundations from Volkswagen, Porsche managed to become a massive company starting with small manual jobs where craftsmanship was the trademark of the house. Obviously the years have passed and right now, in Stuttgart, there is no trace of all that. But nevertheless the narrative of those seminal years is still present in the imagination of not a few fans. So much so that, beyond specific interventionsSome of them have started to create their own company in which to pay tribute to those tiny Porsche from the early hours.
We are specifically talking about Christopher Rünge. A young American who, at only 26 years old, decided to establish his workshop Runge Cars. Little by little mastering the art of panelwork by hand, Chistopher just reached ten units assembled over about six years. All of them faithfully tribute to the lines and shapes of the Porsche 550 of the early fifties. An example of how, in the era of mechanization and series production, they are still passionate about making their car by hand.
RÜNGE CARS. BORN FROM A PORSCHE FANS
Christopher Rünge's story is curious. First of all because of his youth, since he founded the workshop with only 26 years. But also because of its origins far removed from mechanics. Far from having studied engineering or having grown up among nuts, our protagonist was an outstanding snow athlete. That is why the radical turn taken by the surround yourself with books on how to work metal panels to make a car by hand. Because yes, Christopher Rünge seems to have had no teacher other than pure trial and error.
Of course, as nothing comes out of nowhere this initiative to make a car by hand did not come just because. Apparently, it all started with the purchase of a Porsche 912. Forgotten for years, this missing link between the first 911 and the last 356 was responsible for initiating the founder of Runge Cars in the Porsche universe. Anyway, the most important thing is that everything was included in the purchase an arsenal of tools with which to shape the body working metal plates.
That's when the idea came up: to coach their own handmade cars in the style of the Porsche of the fifties. His first handmade car was a restrained attempt with an engine of only 40CV recycled from a vehicle of the 60s. However, the confidence in his creations grew until incorporate old 356, 912 engines and even devices with their own modifications that raise them to 180CV. Not bad data for cars that, even not knowing their exact weight, we doubt that they exceed 700 kilos.
A HANDMADE CAR TO CATCH AN AGE
Anyone thinking of Rünge Cars as replicas or restomods is dead wrong. Far from it, these handcrafted cars try to capture the essence of an era of motorsport on a handcrafted basis. Beyond the mechanics - usually based on old Porsche engines - the chassis is always handmade, calibrating all the parameters that will govern the driving of the car. Driving surely one of the most frenetic, with many traits in common with what a kart can mean.
Christopher Rünge takes about seven months to make each car, slowly shaping the metal. All from the previous creation of a shape in sheets of wood, on which the bodywork is made in the same shape and manner as the old artisan bodybuilders. All from an own design in which motors are always mounted centrally. Outcome? A handcrafted car that is a real treat. Lightweight, with good weight distribution and a fifties character that exudes authenticity on all four sides.
