Words: Tyler Rampersaud
Photos from 2021 and 2023 Luftgekühlt: Kris Clewell
Of course, there are few cars in the world quite like an air-cooled Porsche, what with their timeless charm, honored legacy, and engineering excellence. In kind, there aren’t many car shows quite like Luftgekühlt. Its sophisticated-yet-laid-back atmosphere, culture-rich displays, unique venue, and enthusiast-catered premise make it an undeniably premier Porsche event, and one that, for the most part, has been exclusive to the West Coast.
Save for Luft 7, which took place in the racing capital of Indianapolis, as well as some international Luft events that have taken place in the UK, Germany, Denmark, and Poland, the celebrated and anticipated shows have almost entirely taken place in the Golden State, while the budding companion to Luftgekühlt, Air|Water, has stretched further.
Air|Water’s name indicates its larger scope and inclusivity, celebrating both the old-school air-cooled models from Porsche alongside the manufacturer’s modern marvels, which, while lacking the intangible splendor of something like a beautifully preserved 964 911 Speedster, for example, are impressive, beautiful cars in their own right, with captivating stories of their own. It’s worth noting, too, that including water-cooled models means that the iconic Transaxle models are in on the fun, and Porsche’s oldest water-cooled Boxsters and 911s are about to be 30 years old (do you feel old yet?)
Alongside the growth and cult following that Luftgekühlt has achieved over the past decade, Air|Water has enjoyed favorable reception after three iterations, being put together by familiar names to Luftgekühlt: Patrick Long and Jeff Zwart. Thousands gathered for an Air|Water event earlier this year in California, and as the possibility of Air|Water becoming a regular event is being explored, another event in Poland brought more than 250 cars together between June 13 and 14.
The venue was a historic location in Poland’s capital of Warsaw, the Stacja Railway Museum and Nocny Market. There, over 4,500 people gathered to see cars like the 918 RSR, the Boxster Bergspyder, and the one-of-two 909 Bergspyder thanks to the Porsche Museum, as well as the Cayenne S Transsyberia, the 911 GT2, the 911 S/T, the 964 911 Carrera RS, a one-off 911 Dakar, and many more. Like previous Air|Water events, the atmosphere was full of car culture, art, camaraderie, and shared passion for Porsche excellence, with Porsche Polska even partnering with the team. Next spring, Air|Water is coming back to Southern California, and the future may bring more traveling Air|Water events, as well.
Above Photo Courtesy of DuPont Registry
It’s not just Air|Water that’s exploring new frontiers, though. On the heels of the success of the Poland event, Luftgekühlt has announced that its eleventh event is coming to Durham, North Carolina for its first East Coast appearance. Making good on a promise that was meant for Luft 7 but dashed by the global pandemic in 2020, Luftgekühlt is finally coming to the East Coast, arriving at Durham’s historic district that showcases the city’s former role as a tobacco capital in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Finally coming to the East Coast at long last, the upcoming Luftgekühlt in Durham is set to give air-cooled Porsche enthusiasts and collectors across the Eastern Seaboard access to the iconic event, showcasing incredible air-cooled Porsches from car scenes in places like New York, Florida, and other states that haven’t gotten a chance to be showcased at Luftgekühlt as easily in past events. As Luftgekühlt prepares to announce car registration and ticket sales details for Luft 11, the anticipation builds to see what the groundbreaking first East Coast version of the cherished Luftgekühlt is going to bring.
