Photography courtesy of Gooding & Company
We can debate until the sun goes down just which of the ex-Jerry Seinfeld cars you’d bid on at Gooding & Company’s upcoming Amelia Island sale, but I think more discussion-worthy is just how well-curated Seinfeld’s collection of cars is. From the same owner, bidders are able to throw their hands up for just about anything: a well-preserved 1966 911; a like-new 2011 997 Speedster; a 1964 Volkswagen Camper; or a 1974 911 Carrera 3.0 “IROC” RSR. Want a 550 Spyder? Carrera GT? A civilian-spec, one-of-15-in-the-world 1958 597 “Jagdwagen” amphibious 4x4s? Chances are that Jerry may have something you’d be interested in…
This is to say that the Porsche 962C you see here, fully restored and in its final specification complete with “Doppelflügel” rear spoiler, is the car you’d want if you were interested in experiencing the ultimate evolution of one of the fastest sports racing cars ever built. A bit breathless to say, but where else will you buy a race car capable of running nearly as quickly as today’s LMP1 machines?
In bare white paint, without a livery, I think it looks even more striking and obviously beautiful—just as a Ferrari 250 GTO’s various vents, slots, and louvres wears the technology of its time, so too does the 962C. But if you wanted to buy a proven winner, you’d pick the Porsche every time. Its bloodline is responsible for six 24 Hours of Le Mans wins, three each at the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring, and enough podiums and various other triumphs to no doubt fill a cube van with trophies.
Make no mistake, however: this is a race car. The Porsche factory completed this example, chassis 962-012, for the 1990 racing season. The Joest Racing Team had it entered into the Suzuka round of the FIA World Sports Car Championship that April, where it did not finish. Its results in that series were no better than third, but the car’s best success came in the Interserie Championship. Indeed, this chassis finished first at the Interserie Siegerland race in September 1991, finishing third for the last two events of that season before being retired from racing. Jerry Seinfeld became the car’s second owner in 2006.
Since, Gooding & Company reports, it’s been restored to “as-new” condition fitted with the most advanced bodywork to grace the 962, and has been used sparingly during “private outings at Willow Springs Raceway”. So you buy this car to drive quickly—and there are no shortage of historic racing series who’d send you an invite.
As for the lack of a livery, why not leave it just the way it is?
History
– Works 962C Run by Joest Racing with Porsche Factory Support
– Campaigned in 1990 FIA World Sports-Prototype and 1991 Interserie Championships
– Driven by Bob Wollek, Frank Jelinski, “John Winter,” and Bernd Schneider
– Restored in 2001 to ultimate Singer Doppelflügel “double-wing” specification
– Just Two Owners from New – Joest Racing and Jerry Seinfeld
Specifications
~750 horsepower 2,999-cc type 935/85 flat 6-cylinder engine with Bosch Motronic fuel injection, twin KKK turbochargers, 5-speed manual transaxle, 4-wheel ventilated disc brakes, and fully independent suspension with shock absorbers. Wheelbase: 104.3 in.
Vehicle Information
Chassis: 962-012
Valuation
Auction house: Gooding & Company
Estimate: $1,500,000–$2,000,000 Usd.
Price Realized: TBD, Auction on March 11th, 2016
