Luftgekuhlt 4, Million Dollar Porsches Hit the Dock
Photos and words by Coby Gewertz
On a recent rainy So-Cal Sunday, vintage air-cooled Porsche enthusiasts came together in an airy warehouse down at the Port of Los Angeles. Warehouse #10 specifically. The rallying cry is Luftgekühlt and this was the 4th such avant-garde gathering of Porsche purists. The rain only added to the appeal. Perhaps it will be known as Porsches and Puddles but that’s for history to decide.
In the Porsche vernacular, Luftgekühlt represents all the air-cooled cars in the manufacturer’s history, from the Pre-A 356 through the 993 model line, which ended in 1998.
The Luftgekuhlt brand is the brainchild of two-time Le Mans class winner Patrick Long and noted Southern California creative director Howie Idelson. A true Porsche happening, Luftgekühlt is an experiential car culture event centered around a tightly curated list of historically significant or interesting cars, both race, and street. Among those cars in attendance were the 917’s and a recent 959 restoration from Canepa among other hitters. The commoners parked outside for a rain-soaked show & shine.
The organizers state, there’s no set formula for their events, but they’re excited by cool venues, fun people, and creative expression. In their words “We like coming up with wild ideas that celebrate the passion we have for all things air-cooled, and we love collaborating with like-minded people and brands.”
If you’re thinking high brow meets show & shine, you’re on the right track. This year chandeliers hung above some of the million dollar boutique cars while the commoners caught rain drops outside.But it was all strewn together in an artful, thoughtful way. It’s clear these guys know their Porsche’s and are equally adept at branding and creating a cool environment.
“Our idea was to combine a car show with the best elements of a fun weekend in LA,” co-organizer Long said in a recent interview. “We’ve had insanely creative people and companies involved, and it’s those collaborations…energy sparking off incredible people…that have defined Luftgekühlt.”
One of the coolest brand guys we know, designer and hot rod evangelist Coby Gewertz of Church Magazine crashed the party and brought along his camera capturing a different look at Luftgekühlt 4.
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