Also known as the 60K10, the Type 64 is the predecessor of all things Porsche, starting with the 356. Except it’s not a Porsche in the truest sense of the word because it features parts from Volkswagen and Fiat. Be that as it may, the vehicle in question is the most collectible Porsche ever, full stop! To make a long story short, RM Sotheby’s blundered the auction for the silver coupe by starting the bidding from $30 million instead of $13 million. At one point, the Type 64 soared to $70 million because collectors with more money than sense are like that.
But at climax, the auctioneer did a “oops, silly me” by claiming he had meant to start at a much lower price. Bad joke or lack of professionalism, it’s up to you decide after watching the video at the end of this story. Even though the bidding got to $17 million at one point, people in the crowd started to boo, losing interest, and the one-of-a-kind prototype from 1939 didn’t sell for the pre-auction estimate of more than $20 million.
Chassis no. 38/41 features engine no. 38/43, and what those numbers mean is that Ferry Porsche used to own the vehicle. The Type 64 numbered three examples of the breed, but this fellow here is the first and sole remainder of the lot. Even Ferdinand Porsche is thought to have driven the car, which was thoroughly inspected by Porsche specialist Andy Prill before auction.
Raced in Austria after World War II by Otto Mathé, 38/41 was sold for the second time in its existence to Thomas Gruber in the 1990s. The third owner immediately proceeded to restore the vehicle, and the Type 64 was showcased at events such as the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 1998 and the Austrian Ennstal Classic in 1999.
A consignor bought 38/41 in 2008, described by RM Sotheby’s as “a dedicated enthusiast with one of the largest car collections in Germany.” So why is this car so important and why was the blunder so huge? Simply put, such a mistake isn’t allowed when you’re dealing with the first public offering of the Type 64 in no fewer than eight decades.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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