John Z. Goriup Posted April 3, 2014 Share #1 Posted April 3, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) During a visit to Canepa's shop last year, I spotted these two icons of German car design in close juxtaposition. The owner of the M-B 300 SL 'Gullwing", who had inherited the car from his father, the original owner, had commissioned a complete nut and bolt restoration and intends to drive the car regularly. The Porsche 959, which Canepa imported originally and 'federalized' to make it legal for legal operation in the U.S., is a daily driver and was in for routine regular service., Both are painted in the traditional German metallic silvert and in my view represent the absolute pinnacles of sports car design of their respective eras. I took the picture because the natural backlighting outlined them so effectively and instantly caught my attention, but chiefly, because to see one of these outside of a Concours or museum setting is tantamount to a cultural event in my opinion, to see them together like this is a very special treat, not likely to be repeated soon. JZG Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 10 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/224622-why-we-love-german-sports-cars/?do=findComment&comment=2561515'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 3, 2014 Posted April 3, 2014 Hi John Z. Goriup, Take a look here Why we love German sports cars. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Berth Posted April 3, 2014 Share #2 Posted April 3, 2014 Wonderful picture, black & white it should be. Wonderful automobiles. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pauledell Posted April 3, 2014 Share #3 Posted April 3, 2014 John, Excellent composition, great lighting and tones as well as sharpness. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Echo63 Posted April 3, 2014 Share #4 Posted April 3, 2014 trying hard to not drool on my keyboard. one of my favorite cars, i absolutely love the gullwing mercedes (both the old one and the new AMG) and the porsche isnt bad either. as for the picture, nice use of light, and a nice sharp image. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Martin Posted April 3, 2014 Share #5 Posted April 3, 2014 Lovely picture and great cars. I think the Mercedes is stunning, and really like the current Porsche latest 911 shape although this is a classic. It's nice that the new Mercedes SLS has taken some style ideas from this beautiful,car Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rona!d Posted April 3, 2014 Share #6 Posted April 3, 2014 the beauty and the biest Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuny Posted April 7, 2014 Share #7 Posted April 7, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Fabulous subjects and shots. I always look at Canepa's ads in Autoweek, and for good reason Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcraf Posted April 7, 2014 Share #8 Posted April 7, 2014 Nice shot. I have always loved the 959 - it remains a technical tour de force with phenomenal performance even today, nearly 30 years on. Is that a second 959, in a darker colour, jacked up just behind? I thought I could see the characteristic vents ahead of the front wheel...... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Z. Goriup Posted April 7, 2014 Author Share #9 Posted April 7, 2014 John, thanks, and Yes, that is another 959. Canepa imported a total of about 25 of them, if I recall correctly there were a couple of the Lightweight Sports models, the rest were the Touring version, and federalized them, in the process making them even more capable and bullet-proof than the standard model. You're entirely correct, these cars had / have phenomenal performance, but what is particularly remarkable is the improbably wide range of readily accessible performance this car offers. There is not one area of the dynamic envelope where a 959 isn't significantly superior to every other car in the category………especially including today's so-called, (and definitely alleged) 'supercars'. A 959 isn't my flavor of Porsche, I much prefer the old air-cooled, lithe, hand-built "giant-killers", but I will admit that I genuine admire the utterly German, incredibly well thought-out and complete packege which was the 959 when introduced. For your enjoyment I am attaching some additional shots of another daily driver 959 in Canepa's shop……too bad it had to be Pearl White. JZG Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/224622-why-we-love-german-sports-cars/?do=findComment&comment=2564262'>More sharing options...
jcraf Posted April 7, 2014 Share #10 Posted April 7, 2014 Thanks John. Great shots of wonderful cars. I'm with you on the lightweight 911 thing - although I have long since sold my last (air cooled) one. Here is a shot of 959 I took back in 2002 at a UK Porsche Fest at the Brands Hatch circuit. It was in some pretty distinguished company, including a couple of 917s which you might just make out in the background. Of course, in the UK, all 959s had their wheel on the wrong side........ Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/224622-why-we-love-german-sports-cars/?do=findComment&comment=2564343'>More sharing options...
otto.f Posted April 7, 2014 Share #11 Posted April 7, 2014 'We' love *some* German sports cars, not all of them more than others, Very nice shot! , the first in the thread Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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