One of the primary tenants of Porsche Classic is to champion the idea that vehicles are meant to be driven.
During this year’s National Concours d’Elegance at Porsche Parade, the annual gathering hosted by the Porsche Club of America, Porsche Classic presented the ORIGINALE Award to three deserving sports cars currently included in the Classic portfolio that capture the vision of the Porsche Classic catalog, "ORIGINALE.” ORIGINALE is more than a catalog, it’s where stories about the vision of consistency in concept, design, and production are shared. This understanding of the significance of each individual part and their perfect interaction is what makes a Porsche.
“We were looking for sports cars that exhibit a strong connection between owner and machine, where memorable experiences produce Porsche Passion,” said Jonathan Sieber, Manager Porsche Classic. “Driving is experiencing a classic Porsche, therefore to win the ORIGINALE Award we were focused on vehicles that are driven and have their own story to tell.”
Three judges representing Porsche Classic –Sieber; Ray Shaffer, Market Development Manager; Uwe Makrutzki, Head of Porsche Classic Factory Restoration at Porsche AG – were joined by special guest judge Brock Keen (@996roadtrip) to identify original production street vehicles that articulate the benefits of using Porsche Classic Genuine Parts. The model range supported by Porsche Classic includes the 356, 914, 959 and 911, up to and including the Type 996, as well as the transaxle series (924, 928, 944 and 968), Boxster (Type 986), Carrera GT and the first generation Cayenne (E1).
After walking the show on Monday at the Kalahari Resort in the Poconos and judging eligible rides on six criteria, Sieber presented ORIGINALE awards to three winners at the Porsche Concours d‘Elegance and PCA National Awards Banquet on Tuesday.
First place - 1983 928 S
The overall ORIGINALE winner, a 1983 928 S belonging to Lara Dant, made a striking foil when staged in the banquet hall for the awards presentation next to a 2023 911 Sport Classic. Dant’s Schiefer Blau Metallic (Slate Blue Metallic/661) example has more than 427,000 miles on the odometer and original engine, about 50,000 of which Dant added herself as the car’s third owner, and shows off the character that comes with many miles of asphalt.
“She’s got a good amount of patina now, but we subscribe to the Ferry Porsche philosophy of our cars are meant to be driven,” said Dant. “And wow, what a pleasure it is to drive.”
Second place - 1980 924
Jeff and Alice Miller’s 924 is special for a number of reasons. Its Monaco Blue (LA5D) paint is extremely rare. It’s been driven across the country several times. And it’s been in the family since being purchased new more than 40 years ago by Jeff’s father, Hampton. The Millers are quite well-known in the PCA, as Hampton and his wife Susan were awarded the PCA Family of the Year Award in 2020.
Third place - 1998 Boxster
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Along with passion comes pride, and Rudy and Nancy Samsel’s Zenith Blue Metallic (F1) Boxster is something to show off. Rudy has put a lot of miles on the Type 986 and says approximately 95% of the parts are Porsche Classic Genuine, every one of which is dutifully documented.
