DESERT FOX

Desert Fox

A long abandoned 911 Carrera 2.7 rescued from the brink and returned to the road.

From the look of it, it’s unsurprising to hear that this Porsche 911 spent a good 40 years of its life sitting unused in a Californian driveway. Decades of exposure have made their mark on the paintwork and the car never moved an inch. Why? Whether you buy the story that it was done as a form of artistic statement or not, the end result is a truly unique car, one that’s now thankfully awakened from its long slumber.

Let’s start in 1974, when this car arrived on US shores. It was one of 528 Carreras 2.7s built for the US market, but only one year and 5,619 miles later, a small tree fell on the car. The damage was only cosmetic, but it sealed the 911’s fate; the owner decided he kind of liked the look, so there it sat as his own little modern art installation, seeing out the years beneath the baking heat of the California sun.

“For years my friend Chuck tried to get him to sell the Carrera, but the owner was adamant,” current owner Benjamin Hendel recalls. “The situation changed in 2015, when the Department of Transportation and parking violations entered the picture. The car finally had to be removed from the unpaved driveway for legal reasons. Chuck finally got his chance, but at the age of 78 it was probably one of the last things he needed. So he called me, and I did not have to think twice.”

Over the years, the elements made their mark on the car. What was once a gleaming Bitter Chocolate paint developed a striking patina, creating a unique blend of shapes and colours on the bodywork. “I’ve named it Wüstenfuchs, a Desert Fox. It’s not my only Porsche, but it’s definitely my favourite. I just love cars that tell a story. A lot of people ask me about the restoring 911, but don’t you worry, I would never do that. It’s part of its history and I’m not here to spoil it.”

Over the years, the elements made their mark on the car. What was once a gleaming Bitter Chocolate paint developed a striking patina, creating a unique blend of shapes and colours on the bodywork.

"A lot of people ask me about the restoring 911, but don’t you worry, I would never do that. It’s part of its history and I’m not here to spoil it.”

Today the car has made it back across the Atlantic and now lives in Germany. It has undergone a minor engine refresh, some repairs to the seats and EU headlights to comply with regulations. Otherwise, it remains original and does what it missed out on doing for most of its life: providing the joy of driving pleasure.