Photos by Jeff Willis & Seth Geller
Luftgekühlt is a magical, one-of-a-kind, vintage Porsche-centric car show dedicated to the air-cooled models of Porsche’s past. The event was started by two-time Le Mans class winner Patrick Long and creative director Howie Idelson. Launched in 2014, it was followed by seven more highly anticipated, perfectly curated shows. Held at the Port of Los Angeles at San Pedro, Jeff Zwart provided the creative direction for executing the layout of the cars at this year’s event, and absolutely knocked it out of the park. Every single area that could be used, was. There were safari builds on dirt and rocks under the trees between the buildings.
Gunther Werks showed wildly fantastic builds on loading dock ramps. Singer Vehicle Design, or Singer, as they’re popularly known, displayed vehicles standing in industrial doorways. Retired race cars were perched in wooden crates. A 910 was apparently driven on the public roadways to get here, causing a minor commotion along the way. There was a gorgeous 550 in a dark corner alongside cases of Chopard watches. And then there were the rows upon rows of 911s in every livery and color imaginable. There was not a single space in the entire venue that was not creatively and cleverly utilized. This was a show unlike any other in the world. Simply put, the greatest Porsche event I have ever been to.
The Port offered many opportunities for simple, yet very creative direction for an off the charts experience. The family friendly event featured food, craft beer from the onsite brewery, and all the Instagram photo-worthy cars and placements you could handle. Thank goodness for media credentials, or my attendance might have been thwarted. I heard Matt Farrah say on Spike Feresten’s podcast that this was the first show he had ever heard of where people were actually scalping tickets in the parking lots before the show. Tickets were going for upwards of $500 each. The value of exclusivity is in part what the event is based on.
However, the pretentiousness and braggadocio were not. Exclusivity formed harmoniously with inclusivity. Every single person I met there was friendly, happy to be there, and wearing jeans and t-shirts. Celebrities and well-known automotive personalities, as well as normal average Joes like me, were all enjoying the laid back, quietly electric atmosphere (as laid back as it could be with thousands of people in attendance). The show was limited to a set number of tickets, so there is no telling how many people would have showed up if it were unlimited and open to the public. This limited-ticket approach furthered the feeling of exclusivity. The graffiti on the walls, the industrial buildings, and the perfect juxtaposition of the fantastic Porsches on display made for a wonderful mixture of beauty.
I got the chance to meet automotive personalities I have only ever seen on Instagram, including my white whale. The dirty old white 911 with one red door. The Joshy Robots Porsche. I have enjoyed seeing the exploits of this dirty little fantastic speeder for years on social media. But every time I think I am going to be somewhere it is, it vanishes without a trace. Well, not any longer. I finally saw it. And got a photo of it. In person. Trip complete. I am positive that many other people had similar experiences, as many of the Porsches on display would not be able to simply be visited in person up close without ropes or bulletproof glass ensconcing it. Due to the value, most of these cars are either tucked away in private collections or in museums or displays at some corporate headquarters.
Luft truly is an air-cooled Porsche promise land. Personally, I have been spoiled by this event, and will now measure any future car show I attend against this perfection. If you wish to know more, visit their website, www.luftgekuhlt.com, or simply type the name into any social media outlet and prepare for the flood of photos.
