£1m Porsche collection heads for auction

Garage of German classics to go under the hammer

Collecting is part of the human condition. For some, it’s stamps, others porcelain models of Arctic ground squirrels. For Walter and Emily Mead? Porsches. Lots of Porsches.

For several decades the couple gathered the German marque’s machines, from late-’70s Turbos to early-’90s Coupés. And, like the best collectibles, they were immaculately kept and barely used.

Now, eight of the Meads’ prized Porsches – all stabled with them since new in the USA – are going to auction at Bonhams’ Quail Lodge sale near Monterey, California, on 24 August.

Want the low-down on this eight-strong troupe of European delights? Read on.

1988 Porsche 930 Turbo Cabriolet

Estimate: £110,000 – 140,000

First up is a fetching example of Porsche’s late-’80s legend: the mighty 930 Turbo in its greatest, fuel-injected 3.3-litre iteration.

Effortlessly powerful, this 300bhp drop-top is probably the most fun you can have with just four gears and, with a mere 3700 miles on the clock today, it still offers plenty of potential thrills.

1988 Porsche 930 Turbo Cabriolet (cont.)

Optioned by the Meads with a host of desirable extras – and finished in metallic paint from a white sample – this US-spec 930 offers the luxury of a Blaupunkt radio, electric soft-top and those all-important leather seats.

Extensively serviced ahead of the auction, it ships with a raft of documents and is up there with the finest 930 Turbos you can buy today.

1989 Porsche 930 Turbo Slantnose Cabriolet

Estime: £150,000 – 190,000

Towards the end of the ’70s, Porsche gave its racing 935 machines the flat nose (‘flachbau’) treatment – and, naturally, marque fans wanted the same for their roadgoing Porsches.

So the aerodynamic Slantnose 930 became available as a special-order option after 1981, complete with flip-up headlights, extra vents and accentuated skirts – as you’ll find on this ’89 example.

1989 Porsche 930 Turbo Slantnose Cabriolet (cont.)

The US$29,000 cost of the Slantnose option meant very few were built, which only adds to the appeal of this low-mileage (3500 on the clock), 3.3-litre cabriolet – complete with a catalogue of extras.

Finished in 1987 and registered in their home state of New Mexico, the Meads’ rare Slantnose has since been kept in climate-controlled storage.

1990 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Coupe

Estimate: £38,000 – 57,000

The most affordable option in the Mead collection is this tidy Carrera 4 – but it’s no cut-price coupe: with less than 14,000 miles on the clock, the 3.6-litre, 250bhp machine goes to auction in ‘phenomenal’ condition, well-optioned and shipping with reams of original documentation.

1991 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 Coupe

Estimate: £38,000 – 57,000

Fancy a pair of Carreras? The Meads have a second in the sale and it’s done even fewer miles – just 4820, to be exact.

Finished in Violet Blue, it’s another heavily optioned runner that was collected by the pair in Stuttgart in 1991 before being shipped back to the US.

1996 Porsche 993 Turbo

Estimate: £190,000 – 230,000

Continuing the trend for turbocharged ’90s numbers, the next lot is a 1996 911 with air-cooled twin-turbo 3.6-litre motor good for 408bhp and a very good time.

Arguably the most attractive 911 variant ever produced by the Stuttgart marque, the 933 blended those familiar, simple curves with a few modern flourishes to great effect – as this Iris Blue example still demonstrates today.

1996 Porsche 993 Turbo (cont.)

As with the other Mead Porsches, this 993 was carefully optioned to create a beautiful package, from the two-tone leather interior to the aluminium/chrome accents.

Well-kept, serviced and maintained, it’s guaranteed to deliver all-wheel drive excitement in spades for its new owner – if they can tear themselves away from just looking at the thing.

1979 Porsche 930 3.3 Turbo Coupé

Estimate: £95,000 – 130,000

Oldest of the Mead Porsches is this early example of the fabled 930 in 3.3-litre guise.

Finished in 1979, this 39-year-old machine still offers all the thrills it promised as a late-’70s performance machine – think a turbocharged 300bhp on tap, 160mph top speed and astounding acceleration, all through the rear wheels.

1979 Porsche 930 3.3 Turbo Coupe (cont.)

What’s more, it was the last word in luxury – not least in Mead spec, with sports seats, electric sunroof and that magical metallic black finish.

With less than 6000 miles on the clock and a life of careful storage, it’s about as close to factory-fresh as you’ll find a ’79 930 today.

1989 Porsche 911 Carrera Speedster

Estimate: £170,000 – 210,000

Inspired by the dashing 356 Speedster, the only-for-’89 Speedster was the last Porsche model to carry the original-style 911 bodywork – albeit reworked with Turbo styling and several nods to the original machine, including a shortened, removable windshield.

Though it came with an ‘emergency’ fabric top, the pared-back Speedster was designed to be driven the windy way – which the 217bhp 3.2-litre engine ensured was always possible.

1989 Porsche 911 Carrera Speedster (cont.)

Ordered in Silver, it was one of just 823 Speedsters to be delivered new to the USA.

Today it’s covered fewer than 3000 miles and goes to auction as a single-owner, all-original slice of late-’80s Porsche performance in ‘time capsule condition’.

1997 Porsche 993 Turbo S

Estimate: £280,000 – 340,000

Last up is the most valuable lot of the Mead collection – yet it arguably looks the least dramatic.

On closer inspection, of course, you’ll notice the yellow brake discs, four-pipe exhaust and larger wing, all of which signpost this as a 933 Turbo S – the final air-cooled, turbocharged Porsche and, arguably, the ultimate Turbo iteration.

1997 Porsche 993 Turbo S (cont.)

Fewer than 200 of the upgraded 993 Turbo were sold, all packing around 450bhp.

This particular example was finished in 1997 and was apparently built for basketball legend Michael Jordan, only for the player to find it too small for his lofty frame. Porsche instead called the Meads and offered them the chance to buy the car.

1997 Porsche 993 Turbo S (cont.)

Finished in Arctic Silver with a Midnight Blue interior, its option list makes it about as luxurious as a Porsche can get – from leather seats (with lumbar support, of course) to rain sensors.

And, with less than 3400 miles on the clock, it remains in immaculate condition, freshly serviced and ready to bring joy to a new owner. Suffice it to say, we’re jealous.

This astonishing collection will be auctioned by Bonhams at its Quail Lodge Auction on 24 August. We’ll let you know how they do.