THE ROLLING MUSEUM

The Rolling Museum

How a simple restoration shop accidentally turned into something more

Parked side by side beneath Barcelona’s Museo del Barroco, Stéphane Vrinat’s red and yellow Porsches make for a very striking couple. So striking in fact, that you’d be forgiven for thinking they were a little too good to be original. Admittedly, that was our assumption when we first asked him what he “modified” on his cars to make them the way they are. We were quickly put in our place.

“Your question is amusing” he began, “we’ve changed nothing at all, these cars are in strict original configuration! They may be the two cars we’ve worked on least in the collection.”

One a 964 Speedster and the other a 968 Clubsport, both are from the Typ901 collection, a venture Stéphane began a decade ago as a simple restoration shop that he candidly admits was “a significant commercial failure”, though that’s hardly telling the full story.

"There are countless ways to restore a car, but I wanted to approach the job without compromise. It took us two years to restore the first car to the standard I wanted, a fantastic ’74 2.7 in lime green, which we spent so much money and time on that it became impossible to sell without losing money. We kept trying, restoring cars one after another. Each had unique features that made them worth doing. A prestigious engine, a rare paint colour or an unusual interior. For 7 years, we stored all the finished cars to avoid losing money."

Over that period, Stéphane amassed quite the collection of Porsches to not sell and it was about time to dream up a new purpose for them. This is how he arrived at the “The Rolling Museum”, an experience in which you’re invited to try each car one after the other, sampling a complete picture of Porsche.

“The collection represents a perfect mix of models, ranging from a 356 to a 964. There’s also a ’77 928, a ’72 911 2.4S and a mythical 2.7 Carrera. All are in perfect condition to enjoy a road trip across some of the most beautiful roads in Spain. Over the course of 3 days, participants will have the opportunity to drive and compare all 10 cars in the collection, making for a truly unforgettable experience.”

Perfect specifications like those of the 968 CS and 964 Speedster are exactly the sort that Stéphane looks for when making additions to The Rolling Museum and as you might imagine, they aren’t easy to find.

“We’ve changed nothing at all, these cars are in strict original configuration! They may be the two cars we’ve worked on least in the collection.”

“The body coloured wheels and seats were actually standard configuration for both of these cars, but the comfort electric seats and grey rims were free options. Most of the buyers who ordered these cars new had conservative tastes, so very few were equipped in this configuration. I definitely wouldn’t have bought them if not for these eccentric non-options!”

Building the cars up to standard was pretty straightforward for both of them. They received refreshed wheels and brakes, electrical repairs, some paint and polish, a gearbox rebuild for the 968, but nothing especially invasive overall. For Stéphane, the pair make an indispensable contribution to The Rolling Museum’s complete picture of Porsche history.

"Most of the buyers who ordered these cars new had conservative tastes, so very few were equipped in this configuration."

“Before the 968 CS I had a 968 ‘Comfort’ in the same colour. The 3.0 engine was impressive and the handling was incredible but when the Clubsport came up for sale I jumped on the opportunity. It’s the same car, but much better. We’ve talked about the aesthetic details but mechanically, it has a M220 LSD, M030 big brakes and sport shock absorbers, all of which make a significant difference. It’s almost a race car, but it’s fully usable on mountain roads. The 968 CS is the ultimate 4-cyl transaxle, the chassis is truly exceptional.

I was never a big fan of the 964. It’s the first ‘modern’ 911; heavier, faster safer… I like to use my cars flat out, but it’s hard to do that in a 964. I was aware of the Speedster but I’d always seen it in boring configurations. When I saw the ad for this yellow car with RS trim however, I realise I’d missed the appeal all along. I had a crush! The overall experience of this car is just a dream.”