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may 08, 2018 - Porsche

Don 176

Digging. Panning. Washing. These steps do not apply to Matt Hummel’s rather unconventional search for treasure. The 39-year-old collector is not prospecting for nuggets, but rather for rust buckets. Like his latest find  – a #porsche 356 A 1600 from 1956. The patina on this coupe is so venerable, it has acquired a patina of its own. Coconut fibers stick every which way out of the seats, and bare sheet metal adorns its footwell.

The #porsche is parked on the outskirts of Auburn, a town not far from Sacramento. A classic sports car, it radiates an imperturbable peace with its age.It has traveled far and wide, and has nothing to hide. Hummel’s gaze traces its lines. “This 356 is in precisely the same condition that I found it in,” he says. “I love its authentic quality. The car has lived through so much, and it’s still here. I want to keep it like a time machine – not to restore it back to what we think was its original state.”

No facelift, no makeup

Hummel wants to drive the faded and weary-looking 356 exactly the way it is. No facelift, no makeup. His reasoning is simple. “The #porsche was built to drive, not to sit around in the garage.” In the past, people just put a few numbers on the doors and entered the next race. The cars crossed the finish line with all their scratches and dents, and the drivers had that special smile on their faces. Hummel likes to wax philosophical without taking himself too seriously. He grins and opens the door on the driver’s side, which creaks ominously. “Sounds good, doesn’t it?” Then he waves his hand and says, “Come on, I’ll show you my house and a few more Porsches.”

At the next intersection Hummel sticks his arm out the window to indicate that he wants to turn. After all, who needs turn signals? The 356 barrels down a dirt road. Despite its wild appearance, the car masters curve upon curve with ease, effortlessly climbing the crests of the hills. Hummel reaches his property in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, and the drive comes to an end.