Jalopnik
Apparently unsatisfied with the rarity of his Honda Coupe 9, Junkman also keeps a pair of Porsche 597 Jagdwagens. With only 71 made, Porsche's off-road military machine is a rare site indeed. Make the jump for Junkman's description.
Some pics (maybe in a couple emails) of our Porsche 597 Jagdwagens. As you probably know, a grand total of 71 were made between 1955 and 1958. All were handbuilt in the race shop right next to the 550 Spyders (I've got picstures) as prototypes, so no two were exactly alike. They were originally developed as a proposal for a light utility, Jeep-type vehicle for the German Army when it was reorganized ten years after WW II. Unfortunately, the DKW Munga was chosen instead of the 597. Some people say it was politics but it was probably economics. The Munga was a very basic, throw-away vehicle with a simple three cylinder, two-stroke engine. The 597 was typical of all Porsches; technologically advanced for its time (five forward gears, amphibious, the ability to climb a 65 degree grade, shift-on-the-fly 4wd, etc.) and, as a result, much more expensive.
When they didn't get the German Army contract, Porsche tried to market the vehicle to NATO countries. Finally, as a last ditch effort, it was marketed to consumers as a personal hunting vehicle for sportsmen. Hence the name "Jagdwagen" which roughly translates to "hunting car". OK, so it wasn't one of their greatest marketing successes but the people who griped about Porsche building the Cayenne when it came out sure didn't know the corporate history very well.
The green project 597 you see is the oldest existing model and was the one used for promotional brochures and press testing. We have all of the original parts. The restored green 597 is representative of what the majority looked like when new. Notice the Spyder seats and the 24v dynamo. It is also a matching numbers vehicle. The Speed Yellow Jagdwagen has been modified for modern day street use (lowered, 911 seats and dash, roll bar and 110 hp 912 engine). We have run a 1500 mile rally in it and it really upsets the Porsche purists. It is one of the very last ones made and we have all of the original parts so that it can be restored to its original configuration.
Comments
Cool, but it still doesn't justify the Cayenne's existence.
Well now we know where Nissan got the inspiration for the GT-R's roofline.
@DannyBN: Nothing does,nothing!
Like what the hell, Junkman? Seriously.
"OK, so it wasn't one of their greatest marketing successes but the people who griped about Porsche building the Cayenne when it came out sure didn't know the corporate history very well."
You mean, the part where they built a failure?
I'd own a Porsche like that. Gulf Oil colors!
My first thought was that this was a VW Thing prototype.
I guess you could still say that, though.
Raise your hand if you a just a bit jealous of junkman's garage....
Some of the other vehicles in the background are simply awe inspiring as well. Are we ever going to have a tour of the entire garage (with contents) soon?
That is like the anti-Cayenne, though. It's not a slush-boxed, luxury-lined, bloated piece of crap.
I really dig the Porsche 597 Jagdwagen and wish there were enough made that I could pick one up to hoon around in. I can't imagine ever feeling this way about the Cayenne.
I LOVE this thing!
LOVE the interior. It's like the designer was thinking, "well, I suppose we can put in a speedometer, but THAT'S IT."
@UDMan: "TheTooth raises hand"
@UDMan: Yes and yes, please.
@UDMan: I raised both of my hands. My cars in storage consist of a 74 Monte and a 56 Jeep (snub-nosed thing). I want a tour of the garage too! I thought we were promised that after the last post.
@UDMan:
Yes, I want to hear more about the Pacer wagon in the background. Seriously.
@UDMan: Aye
I love you, man.
I'm confused why the in-progress shots of the body don't have ribs on the sides and dorsal surfaces, but the finished example does.
Did the body have two layers sandwiched together or something?
Needs more truckbed coating.
Is that a Powell pick-up lurking behind the yellow one??
Seriously? A POWELL???
Like...whoa.
@Bumblebee: Good eye! The picture of the unrestored body is actually a third 597 we have which is the oldest existing example. Only the first 2 prototypes were smooth sided; the other 69 all had ribbed body panels.
Very cool indeed. We need a full inventory tour of Junkman's garage.
@Hart88: I think the Thing prototype is the circa 1943 Kubelwagen/scout car used by the german army. I'm no expert, but that's what I'd always believed was the genealogy.
Junkman, you rock.
@maxforrest32:Great guess! I'm continually amazed by the arcane automotive knowledge of the Jalopnik community. Actually, this Powell is a station wagon, which is quite a bit more rare than the pick up.
@markov - type gna(R):
hahahahaha. Nice callback.
I gotta have more truckbed coating. Really explore the garage space. I like what I'm hearing.
[/appropriation of tired SNL sketch]
@junkman: I'll be damned...I never even knew there was such a beast as wagon version.
When I was younger, I scoured every single page repeatedly of Crestline books 'American Automobiles 1946-1959', with the wonderful section in the back with one-off marques. I can picture that black and white image of the Powell pickup as clear as a bell. Don't ask me why, but that and the Gaylord, the Stout, and those refrigerator looking trucks by Martin are all firmly embedded in my head.
I knew that information would come in handy someday!
@staircar: Guess what?! I got a fever! And the only prescription... Is more truckbed coating!
(It's Friday and everyone's tired).
I just have to know, are you adopting?
That is like the most Jalopnik garage ever, seriously. There is no emoticon for the jealousy I am feeling.
Very nice, Junkman! I bet these things eat Mini Mokes for lunch. I never knew such an animal even existed before now. Kubelwagens, Scwimmwagens & Things sure. That's too cool. Thanks for sharing.
@UDMan: Yeah, add me to that list. Junkman's garage easily gets three thumbs up.
Okay, one rare military Porsche is awesome. Hell, one rare Porsche is awesome. Two rare Porsches? You're a demi-god.
Two rare military-spec Porsches parked in the middle of dozens of other awesome and rare cars?
Now you're just showing off.
Can I be in your will?
I wanna see a Junkman/Jay Leno/George Barber three-way thunderdome deathmatch.
Just so I can be pleased about not one of them for a little while.
@j6r: Naw man, Martini livery!
Junkman, will you adopt me?
I say we start a petition to have Junkman host the American Top Gear. Who's with me?
I'd be jealous if junkman didn't come across as a great guy in addition to having cool cars. OK, I'm a little jealous.
How about a JGCOTW feature? Looks like there's at least a year's worth of entertainment there and the j-man can use it as the basis for a coffee table eidtion of "The Big Book of Little Cars".
@VW_SollteMichAnstellen:
I'd be more than happy to do the photography for that book...
@Pope Dearthair the Awesometh: Um, there are THREE rare military Porsches there. The yellow one, the green one, and the green project. About 5% of the total production. The equivalent of having 20 something GNXs.
@UDMan: My hand is up, and that ain't all.
Seriously, who among us hasn't said to him/herself, "You know, one of these days I'd like to get a [insert weird-ass cult car here.]" Junkman is living that dream...he's the personification of the JFG ideal.
@PatFromGundo: Absolutely. Thanks for showing us some of your toys Junkman.
Would it be too much to request a new weekly feature called the Junkman Reality Garage?
@junkman:
oh... my god.
I feel so empty inside...
I have spent my entire life studying porsches motorsport history and i have never even seen this gem.
By the way... how much did those cost?
Oh and nice 356.., and targa..., and 914-6,
and... those 550's are replicas... right?
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so.. so cold.
I still want to put together the Jalopnik World Tour--two essential points of interest are Junkman's Garage and of course Alameda. In fact, that could be the whole tour right there.
@UDMan: I think it would be easier to ask Who didn't want a full tour of Junkman's garage... the list will be much, much shorter.
i wouldnt be surprised if the Ferrari F333E Lizard military vehicle suddenly showed up in junkmans garage... if its real that is.
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