Heigo-Porsche 911 SC Resurfaces After Three Decades

Family Reunion

The original Heigo-Porsche rally car, campaigned by Dieter Röscheisen, disappeared nearly 30 years ago, ten years or so after it was originally built. After three additional models were constructed, the original car finally reemerged in England, thankfully no worse for wear. So it was obviously a great time to catch up with this fascinating story, which Porsche legend Walter Röhrl was happy to do recently.

Photos: Porsche

Expensive Hobby

Röscheisen began working at Porsche as a mechanic in the running gear test department in 1976. He later built this Petrol Blue Metallic and Grand Prix White Heigo-Porsche 911 SC with the help of a few friends in 1979. Together with Klaus Hesse, the master mechanic entered the car in several national and international rallies in 1980. But racing is, of course, expensive. And the pair were forced to sell the car after just one season of competition.

Photos: Porsche 

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Chance Encounter

A whopping thirty years passed after the car was sold. And then, in 2009, Röscheisen received a phone call from Stephen “Steve” Davies from the Midlands town of Stoke-on-Trent in England. Davies had recently found the Porsche in a garage, covered in rags. It was, at the time, painted in a Rothmans livery. After competing in a few rallies, Davies began to wonder what lies under that exterior. So he took a few paint samples and began doing some research.

Photos: Porsche 

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Perfect Match

Davies soon discovered that his new ride had once been driven by Röhrl, so he gave the Porsche legend a call. He immediately recognized the car and gave Davies Röscheisen's contact info. "I couldn't believe it at first that this vehicle still existed. I thought that it had been scrapped long ago," Röscheisen said. "During a rally in Marktredwitz, it was snowing heavily while I walked through the parc fermé to take a look at the vehicles. The snow line on my car exactly matched the white part of the paintwork, an unbelievably harmonious sight."

Photos: Porsche 

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Emotional Moment

Davies decided to do the right thing and restore the 911 to its original condition based on the creator’s photos. The car that was lost for almost 30 years was finished and debuted in 2010 at the International Historic Motorsport Show "Race Retro" in Stoneleigh Park in Coventry. "Steve told me on the phone to pack my racing clothes, and that we would drive a special stage together. That was a very emotional moment for me because I thought that I would never see my car again," Röscheisen said.

Photos: Porsche 

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Carrying On

That feeling was obviously a big part of what made Röscheisen want to recreate some of the magic of his old rally car. Together with his friend and restoration shop owner Rafael Diez, the duo transformed a white G-model that was sitting around Diez's shop into a perfect recreation, though better than the original. Since then, two additional cars have been constructed. 

Photos: Porsche

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Full Circle

And now, 40 years later, Röscheisen's childhood dream has come full circle. With three new cars competing in the rally world and the original that inspired them back in its rightful condition, all seems right with the world. 

Photos: Porsche

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