Going to write about this one. I checked the purported SN advanced by a historian for this Porsche pre-A. I wrote Porsche and they say that was the SN of a Speedster sold in white but they oddly didn't record owner when it was bought new in BH A guy in France was claiming he owned it and though he sometimes puts racing number 23F on it as James Dean did when he is competing in some club event, as far as I know he hasn't furnished any proof I've seen that it was Dean's car, the one he traded in on the ill-fated 550. A fellow named Lew Bracker, once room-mate of James Dean, bought the car from the dealership's used car dept. but I wonder how many owners there have been inbetween him and the owner in France. Ten? Twenty? Lot of water went under the bridge since that time but if one of the subsequent owners kept it for 40 plus years that might tighten the ownership chain... Any opinions?
This information from the book authored by Steve Heinrichs, et. al. named; Porsche Speedster TYP 540: 80126 was painted enamel white (603) and had engine of 528/2 (1500 Super). Built date of: November 26, 1954. Interior is # 367, black leatherette. Carpet is #3697, brown. The top is 3501, black as was the tonneau cover. Engine # is 41014 and is a 1500 Super. This, a significant engine as it is the first 3 piece, cast-aluminum crankcase fitted to a 356. Transmission is a 519 with gears of 1B, 2B, 3A, 4B. This car delivered without the following: Drivers side mirror, radio, antenna, and no stabilizer bar. Lew did get the car from Competition Motors. Raced it and street driven. The original engine was removed and installed into an identical looking white car and was used as a back-up car for racing and was owned by Bracker's sponsor, Morley Kasler. Bracker finally traded in 80126 on a black Carrera Speedster and never saw 80126 again. Yes, lots of water under the bridge for owner history. Hope you get the full story. You probably have all this info. DJ
I can confirm that 80126 is located in the French Riviera, I worked on the engine of this car about 15 years ago, this car has been bought in USA as a crashed car. The Speedster showing the number 23F in France is another car, not 80126. Image Unavailable, Please Login
http://forum.porsche356registry.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=46260&sid=267085f50074197226a5dd12e50454a3&start=15
