Mecum Kissimmee: Our Top 5 Porsches to Watch
Sean Rooks | January 9, 2024
The collector automobile sales year traditionally kicks off in Florida with the Mecum Kissimmee Auction, a sunny daydream for those of us blanketed in snow from Winter’s first big storm.
2024 marks Mecum Kissimmee’s 25th anniversary and is the world’s largest collector car auction, with more than 4,500 vehicles crossing the block during 2 weeks of automotive spectacle.
Mecum is a high-volume auctioneer with a diverse, but muscle-car heavy selection. However, German gems can be found among all the American metal. Wolf and Mare has selected 5 Porsches from this year’s sale that we consider interesting buying opportunities or potential indicators of 2024’s future market. We welcome your thoughts on our choices in the comments below!
The 996 Carrera 4S was a poster car for many of us growing up in the early 2000s. Its distinctive and aggressive looks, relative to other early water-cooled 911s, could position it as a future investment. The wide, vented Turbo-style body fitted to the Carrera 4S created an imposing rear silhouette that still looks great today. Showy but functional side vents were GT3 and Turbo-only options, but the full-width taillight panel was unique to the C4S and was not carried on to the later 997 C4S models, adding further exclusivity.
Prices are climbing for the 996 C4S and while 4-wheel drive Porsches date back all the way to 1989 with the first Carrera 4, this model stands apart for its sophisticated, yet muscular looks and relative affordability in the special 911 world. We think it could be a great buy.
Many enthusiasts would love to own a factory lightweight car, but they command a premium. Prices of 911 Carrera RSs and 964 RS Americas have gone stratospheric, but one car remains attainable: The Porsche 968 Club Sport. Transaxle Porsches, those with the transmission in the rear and the engine up front, continue to sit on the more entry-level end of the price spectrum.
Built as a stripped down racing version of the 4-cylinder 968, the Club Sport boasted a stiffer suspension, special wheels, reduced sound deadening in the cabin, crank windows and lightweight seats. There were quite a few options to keep an eye out for: Color-matched hard-backed Recaro sport seats are a desirable if less comfortable option over the cloth buckets. A roll cage was also an option, as was a sunroof, A/C and a stereo.
Bonus: the Club Sport wore some of Porsche’s most exciting colors such as Maritime Blue, the color of the vehicle on offer at Mecum Kissimmee this year.
While the car was never offered in the US, thanks to the 25-year import rule these are making their way to our shores and represent a potential entry into the lightweight Porsche club for under $100,000. Keep an eye on this one.
Bob Snodgrass was a legend in sports car racing, and is well-known as the President and CEO of Brumos Motor Cars, Brumos Porsche and Brumos Racing. Bob made a name for himself as a team manager and racing driver, winning the Historic Sportscar Racing Rolex Endurance Championship 6 times.
Both the Brumos Porsche and Snodgrass connections are what make this 914-6 race-prepared car a special lot at Mecum this year. Given its history, it would appear this car would grant the owner entry to exclusive racing events such as the Monterey Historics and Rennsport Reunion—a highly coveted achievement in the Porsche enthusiast community.
While the 914-6 on offer at Mecum Kissimmee is almost exclusively a track car and can only be driven by an owner or individual with the proper racing credentials, this is a beautifully prepared vehicle, and being a 914-6 an already rare and desirable Porsche on its own.
Early short wheelbase 911s are ridiculously hot right now, with some cars fetching a quarter of a million dollars or more. These are cars that not 10-20 years ago were trading for 1/10th of their current market rate.
The Targa, created as a response by Porsche to legislation anticipated to ban the convertible, typically brings a slight discount over coupes when looking at long-hood or G-body 911s. Things change a bit when we start talking about Soft Window Targas, which were produced only in the early years of Targa manufacturing until 1969 (or as a special option until 1971).
The zip-out rear window added a less draggy and more open experience compared with the large wrap-around rear window on standard Targas, and was produced in much smaller numbers. You’re guaranteed to be one of the only 911s with this spec at a collector car event. While the exclusivity of the soft window is balanced a bit by less desirable Polo Red paint, this 911 could go for very big money.
Singer, known to all Porsche aficionados as creators of what many consider the ultimate 911, has been converting 964 Porsche 911s to carbon-bodied screamers since 2009. The cost of entry into the Singer club is astronomical, and you’ll be waiting years before your car is finished.
If you want to skip the line, now is your chance and it’s one that doesn’t come along very often. This 1990 C2 911 at the Mecum auction boasts many of Singer’s signature features, such as an Ed Pink-built powerplant, updated interior with finely crafted details and upholstery, and 6-speed manual transmission. Be prepared to pay handsomely to be handed the keys, but we can think of worse ways to spend a million dollars.
Honorable Mention
Obviously an incredibly beautiful and rare specimen of Porsche racing history, but this car is being offered on private sale and not as an auction, so we felt it should not be included.
While an incredibly rare and iconic Porsche and a gorgeous car by any measure, the 959 is a well-known model with a ton of awareness. We certainly wouldn’t say no…