The Collector
Are you like me? Do you have prejudices and perceptions about certain automobiles? As much as we like to think we don’t, we all have them. The most common recent ones have to do with electric vehicles. In America at least it has become almost a political issue. If you have an electric car, then you’re a vegan who is a Democrat. And if you’re against them you’re a gun-toting Republican who loves Trump.
In my case people think I don’t like Ferraris. Nothing could be further from the truth. The F40 is still one of the most exciting cars I’ve ever driven. And the 330 GTC is a car I’ve lusted after since I first saw one in 1966. Back in the day, I found most of the dealers to be very dismissive of the customers. For example, you couldn’t buy the Ferrari you wanted unless you bought two Mondials first. To be fair, I’m told that they’ve gotten away from that kind of thing. Or maybe I was just mad because at the time I couldn’t afford one.
Recently I find myself doing it again, pre-judging a car before I get to drive it. Growing up, there was nothing I hated more than wheel-and-stripe packages. And that was something we Americans did better than anybody. Think Vega or Pinto, for example. Two stripes and some hubcaps that looked like mags and a couple of GT designations and you had yourself a sports car. If you were lucky enough to have a bigger engine option to go with your drum brakes and lack of power steering, they added a popular cartoon character to the front fender.
This is what I foolishly thought when I first saw the Porsche Dakar. I’ve always viewed the 911 as the quintessential sports car. Precise handling with aerodynamic efficiency and a six-cylinder engine that was better than most V8s.
I have three Porsches in my collection: a 1962 four-cam Carrera sunroof coupé, a 2004 Carrera GT and a modified 1971 911. And when the Audrain Museum acquired a Dakar I smugly thought to myself: they fell for the hype!
Then I drove it. Transformational! I should never listen to myself because I’m always, always wrong. After about a 40-minute drive I’m now convinced that this is easily my favourite 911.
I always say all the fun is between 40 and 120mph – and this is where this car excels. Imagine a 911 you can’t break. Aft
