Need Help with Jo Siffert's 1970 911S

[King's Lead Hat]

I own a 1970 Porsche 911S, VIN = 9110301059 --- had it since 13-Feb, 2009. For waaaay more details, there’s a long/detailed/rambling thread that's been going-on over on The Early 911S Registry site . . .

http://www.early911sregistry.org/forums ... Fifty-nine

Anyway, in researching the car’s history, I found out recently that . . . .

1) The car was originally ordered/built for + delivered to the Versuch (Experimental) department . . .



. . . and, later . . .

2) Sold to Jo Siffert



The car had/has a number of unusual features --- paintwork, markings, accessories, personal touches, etc . . . that I’m trying to determine the origin of, so . . .

I’m trying to contact The Siffert Family --- Simone, Veronique, and Phillipe . . . to see if anyone remembers the car or any of its peculiarities

I’m trying to keep my inquiry as a low-key sort-of thing . . . but I hope all of you can appreciate my intense curiosity about all this. Cars like this just don’t turn-up very often --- and to have one sitting in the garage? . . . well --- I’m still in shock





Anyway --- any help or suggestions or contacts to help me find out more about this car would be most appreciated. I usually post over The Early 911S Registry site, but ---- any information that I turn-up . . . I’ll post here, as well

Thank you for reading

[johnM]

Welcome to the forum and what a great looking car, (2.2 are the best) I am afraid I can not help with your question but I hope some one can.

Kind regards.

[King's Lead Hat]

Thanks, John . . .

I've been digging into the car's past for a while, now --- so, I expect all of this will take some time

Meanwhile? . . . . please feel free to pass me along

Siffert's name is probably more-recognized in Europe --- and so I'm hoping someone will have a way to contact his family + descendants

My name's Rick, by the way . . . and good to be here

[stretch]

Hi, and welcome.

you can contact phillipe through this forum.
http://www.autodiva.fr/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=109

You will need to register. If you have any trouble i can send a PM for you.

Dave

[210bhp]

Hello Rick
Welcome to DDK.

If you have the stomach for it you should take a look at this thread. I would make a cup of coffee because it will be a while before you get to the section on the versuch models. You will be surprised at the connection with your car. Brendan and I (who found the car in the thread) will try to answer any questions you may have.

I would think your first port of call is to drop your knee bar and check the build number next to the ash tray.

Have fun!
http://www.ddk-online.com/phpBB2/viewto ... +barn+find

Regards
Mike

[King's Lead Hat]

Hello Rick
Welcome to DDK . . .

. . . I would think your first port of call is to drop your knee bar and check the build number . . .

Hello, Mike . . .

Got that . . .



. . . and thank you for the link!

(I'll get started)

[King's Lead Hat]

Hi, and welcome.

you can contact phillipe through this forum.
http://www.autodiva.fr/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=109

You will need to register. If you have any trouble i can send a PM for you.

Dave

Hello, Dave --- and thank you for that link

And yikes! --- my French is, like . . . misérable

But I'll give it a shot

[964RS]

Just use google's translator

http://translate.google.com/

[King's Lead Hat]

OK . . .

Got some addresses

Next steps are to . . .

1) Write-up some letters --- in French

2) Run down to CVS w/ my thumb-drive + knock-out some photos

3) Put-together + mail some packages overseas

4) Cross my fingers

[sonflowerinwales]

I think this was was sold at auction here in Germany last year. I have the catalgue at home, I'll dig it out next weekend.
Bit of digging has led me to this page if it's any help....
http://www.autotechnikauktion.de/mg/arc ... IONID=&L=2
Cheers
Paul

[King's Lead Hat]

. . . I think this was was sold at auction here in Germany last year . . .

Different car --- VIN = 9111301180

Jo Siffert owned at least four 911s, that I know of --- including the '71 that you're referring to. See post #491, below . . .

http://early911sregistry.org/forums/sho ... ine/page50

The '71 car was sold by Thomas Seydoux, at auction last year. Extensive restoration --- in the manner of the McQueen car . . . including a color-change from metallic green to slate grey, then discovered to have been Siffert's. Currently here . . .

http://www.psautomobile.de/?mod=fahrzeugangebote&aid=20

This earlier car --- VIN = 9110301059 . . . is different. Originally ordered/built for Porsche's 'Versuch' (Experimental) department in early '70, it was sold to Siffert in Apr '71, then --- following his death in Oct . . . sold out of Davos. The car lived in Switzerland for a few years, then was exported to the US in the '80s. I found/purchased it in North Carolina, four years ago. 1059 has been repaired + re-painted, a few bits changed-out --- but is otherwise mostly original + un-restored

From what I can tell, I'm the 8th owner --- the 6th since Siffert. (Porsche KG = OO) And until a few weeks ago --- no one knew what this car was . . . or to whom it had once belonged. Now, I'm trying to contact the Sifferts . . . . to find out what I can

!

[King's Lead Hat]

Regarding the Sifferts . . .

Thanks to a French-speaking/writing friend, I sent letters --- in French + w/ photographs . . . to Phillipe + Veronique, Jo Siffert’s children, as well as Laurent Missbauer --- a journalist + reputed authority on Matters Siffert

Expensive effort --- ~$150 for all three packages w/ tracking

V’s + L’s packages show delivered 24-Jul . . . but P’s only shows 'arrived'

As yet, I have received no responses

[King's Lead Hat]

I have a pretty strong suspicion that 9110301059 was w/ Mr Siffert when he was track-side during the filming of the movie 'Le Mans.' There are several photos of a dark-green 911, carrying Swiss-registered plates 'FR 10032' . . . which seem to be personal plates issued out of Fribourg --- his hometown. Here's a thread . . .
http://forums.motorlegend.com/vb/showth ... 590&page=2


Anyway, I’ve been reading through ‘A French Kiss with Death’ --- Michael Keyser’s book about Steve McQueen and the making of the movie. Came across the following passage . . .

‘. . . Another day after filming, Jo (Siffert), Steve (McQueen), and Derek (Bell) were sitting around the tent at Solar Village sharing a bottle of wine when someone got the idea to stage a race.

“I can’t remember exactly what lead to it, but I’m pretty sure Steve was the instigator," Derek remembers.
The area around Solar Village was paved with loose gravel and Hubert Froehlich (the German production manager) was fastidious when it came to keeping it looking prim and proper. Early each morning he had a crew raking the gravel and tending to the flower beds he’d had planted.

After a few glasses of wine the trio decided they’d have a little race around the area. They jumped in their 911s and began dashing around the village, doing great slides and spinning the cars in circles.

"I’ll never forget, Jo suddenly whipped his car around and blasted right through one of the flaps on the side of the tent,” says Derek, chuckling.

By the time they were finished it looked as if the 10th Panzer Division had just come through . . .’ (p327)



Keyser doesn’t mention who won that race

But all I wanna know is . . .

. . . what color was Jo’s car?


Can someone please help me contact Derek Bell?

[King's Lead Hat]

One more thing . . . .

In 1970, Mr Siffert's Porsche concession was located at Route Nueve 1700, Fribourg Suisse

This is not the address that's on the Kardex

That address appears to be a residence

[Mathew R]

That's the correct address for his garage, sadly demolished a couple of years ago. I worked about 100 metres away for years without realising it. Only found out a few hours after it was demolished when the local press ran a story. I know fribourg pretty well, if you want me to check out the other address let me know

Cheers
Mathew