Porsche’s Priceless One-Off Prototypes And Concepts | Secret Stash

Some manufacturers crush old concepts and never let one-off prototypes see the light of day - but not Porsche. No, instead the German sports car company keeps them together in a priceless warehouse of wonders.
We, of course, wanted to see what this special place was like, so dispatched Top Gear Magazine’s Tom Ford over to Germany.
Join him, in the second episode of a three-part series, as we uncover Porsche’s oddball ideas and curio what-might-have-beens.
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#TopGear #Porsche
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:36 1989 Porsche Panamericana Concept
02:17 1987 Porsche 911 Speedster Concept
03:29 Porsche’s Tyre-Noise Testing Mule
04:05 1987 Porsche 928 H50 Concept
05:15 Porsche 932 Saloon Concept
05:53 A Mercedes Mash-Up Hiding a Porsche Saloon
07:26 The Merc G-Class Porsche Entered In the Dakar Rally
08:35 Conclusion
WATCH MORE TOP GEAR:
First Looks: bit.ly/TGFirstLooks
First Drives: bit.ly/TGFirstDrives
American Tuned ft. Rob Dahm: bit.ly/TGAmericanTuned
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[@TopGear]

Which prototype should Porsche have made?

[@C.Fecteau-AU-MJ13]

The W124 with the Porsche V8... If I could own any of them, that would be the one I'd want to take home. Although I guess it wouldn't be as special if it made it to production, so what would be the point? And which factory would have built it? So many questions arise from that hypothetical scenario. But I'm almost tempted to look into doing a replica... I mean, how hard could it be? 🤔 Yeah I said it, never forget the TG glory days.

[@MICHGO1]

WHY IS THE MUSIC DRONING ON IN THE BACKGROUND, FIGHTING FOR OUR ATTENTION? THUMBS DOWN FOR THE BAD EDITING.

[@premiumroach495]

@@MICHGO1 wow you've made a huge dent in this channel's revenue, congratulations

[@anhackett17]

904 Living Legend

[@TwinZpeanuts]

the one with penis on the tyres

[@coreyk288]

Would love to see a modern rendition of the Panamericana. So cool

[@justmejustme4444]

the slashes over the wheel arches remind me of the Fiat Coupe.

[@SPProduction02]

It's the safari ;)

[@ChilliJonCarne]

The 928 with the RX8 style doors should have been made. Very cool

[@mr.chapel4179]

Probably the only one, that would actually work as a car on the road and in daily use. Shame.

[@isaaccan3155]

I wasn’t sure untill I saw it was a wagon. 🤤 . The only front engine new Porsches I like are the Turismos.

[@kaigordon2900]

The panamericana is nuts…and that’s why it’s so great!

[@turbochargedfilms]

It's so deeply hideous to look at I love it so freaking much

[@matthewshaw3144]

Looks great in the metal. Saw it in the museum in Stuttgart

[@Smilingpolitely553]

Not building it was a mistake

[@bradwhite5884]

Agreed, so nuts that I'd love to see a modern representation of it if Porsche ever do that tbh

[@stimulantworld]

@@turbochargedfilms i think its really aesthetically pleasing actually

[@SayakMajumder]

The Dakar Porscedes G-928 is the coolest of them all.

[@jaywhite15_AL]

Just the name Porscedes is the coolest name of them all. It's bad ass!

[@taidee]

@@jaywhite15_AL yep, sounds like something that should be in production.

[@agressive26]

definetly :)

[@dlemon90]

This dude did not do this amazing collection any justice

[@sukhdevr3489]

Wrong

[@onazram1]

I couldn't watch past 2 min....

[@Jlw1539]

He was terrible, I agree

[@MisterOwling]

him saying it's the ugliest car I've ever seen LOL... lost all credibility of a car reviewer.

[@Nika-ib8eg]

bizarrely actually apparently you are correct!

[@saadganie3558]

Who else thinks the host is the weirdest thing about the video

[@Handsomegrandson]

Total chomo

[@riccosuave1975]

He’s not just weird, hes bloody weird.

[@leddygee1896]

That video should have been at least an hour long!!😁 The 4 door 928 was my favorite... Thanks Mr. Ford.

[@hughoxford8735]

Hard to believe now but there was a time when the idea of a four door Porsche was the stuff of a fever dream.

[@KennethArntsen]

Did someone have a bad day? Most of these are weird, but to blast most of them for being ugly is a bit of a stretch. I personally love the quirky, bold and fun experiments that they did. The world of cars can be extremely conforming, especially Porsches. I'm all for honesty as a reviewer, but I perceive this as a mocking attempt at humor, which is missing the goal.

[@jamesengland7461]

I don't think this guy adds anything to the channel.

[@MH-ev3wr]

Thought the same thing. He rolls into the Porsche Heritage Center and then proceeds to bag over EVERYTHING. I saw the Panamericana at the Chicago auto show and LOVED it. Piss on this guy. The Speedster literally is what the 1989 Speedster was save for maybe the shell over the rest of the interior. The 928 was the shit and is basically a very early Panamera. They’re concepts for a reason. They’re test mules for the future.

[@YusufEbr]

They need to move this guy back to behind the scenes. His really giving them a bad image. Seriously did such a crap job. His imposing his own crappy opinions on everyone.

[@jessehofsteenge4733]

Someone having a bad day? There is only one car he actually calls ugly, which also cannot objectively be called pretty. About the other cars he just tells interesting stories. I don't think he did such a bad job and definitely doesn't deserve such a comment

[@Sabrermk42]

Pretty much every car is either praised or talked about as something of a wonderful oddity. Take your Porsche fanboy hat off for just a moment and chill out.

[@bicyclist2]

I'm old enough to remember when the Panamericana was new. It was on the cover of several car magazines. I've been a big Porsche fan since the early 80's. Thanks.

[@TheSFMCreators]

Great video BUT, I wish there was more b roll showing of these beautiful machines. It feels like every car was only shown at one or two angles and that I’ve only seen about 9.11% of every car

[@Teeveepicksures]

It's edited for people who were raised on iPads. They have a hard time handling anything longer than 18 seconds and get bored. It's unfortunate because I'd watch a narrator-less video of this in a 70mm print if I could.

[@DG_427]

Exactly what I thought. I had to google the cars he was talking about so I could see what they look like...

[@jol_spots]

I NEED THAT PANAMERICANA

[@KHKGJGJJDFJDSAGKLDAAZ]

The panamericana looks sick 💯

[@1SaG]

I remember some of those from car magazines I read as a kid in the 1980s. I never got that Panamericana out of my head (especially those bespoke tire-treads and the fact that Ferry hated it), but I had forgotten the four-door, four-seat 928. Seeing that one again here, I wonder if Mazda were thinking of that car when they were designing their RX-8.

[@stevemurrell6167]

That Panamericana is insane. Love it.

[@eric1234912]

928 wagon hell yea

[@althejazzman]

There's a rear engined, air cooled 944 on one of the upper levels of that museum.

[@offgridislandfamily]

Saw the thumbnail car and many of these others at the new museum. Amazing experience.

[@ElPierdolito]

PANAMERICANA!!!!! They should make / sell it, AWESOME!

[@UncleManuel]

"This isn't a prototype - this is a floor cleaning machine." 😂😂😁😁

[@wills2140]

7:11 lol, hehaha 🤣 Good catch. 💵

[@juankid8802]

I was fortunate enough to see the Panamericana in person over a decade ago when in a Porsche exhibition at our state museum. It’s quirky in the best ways, and I love it.

[@chronablitz]

So glad Top Gear did a runner-up video, I hope in the future they'll go to other heritage museums like Ferrari or something.

[@P-I-D-D-Y]

I really liked Toms presentation on this. Good stories and his passion really came through. Any one how can make porsche - brilliant but dry as a marque - interesting gets a thumbs up from me

[@Bmontepeque11]

Oh my god, these are all so cool 😂 Listen man, I love Porsches in general, but my absolute favorite is that G-Wagon just because of the story, they couldn't bring a support car so they just entered another race car that had the supplies AND STILL GOT 6TH PLACE. That is just amazing man 😂

[@mybestfriendisamonkey173]

The 928 is my favorite Porsche. I love that concept. Very very cool I wish they did make it cuz then the age of it it would have been easier for me to afford.

[@stimulantworld]

the panamericana is incredible wow

[@godchi1dvonsteuben770]

That damn Panamericana Targa is freaking amazing...(and yes, that IS a Targa top, do the research. That EXACT retracting roof mechanism was used in Porsche Targa models only).

[@phil_p]

Not shown this time, but I adore the van/mpv concept Porsche did a few years back.

[@RossCuth]

The Porsche concept car that i've absolutely fallen in love with is the Porsche 904 Living Legend. The styling is very much a supercar version of the Cayman, with hints of 918 Spyder in there. The powertrain seemed questionable though, but my god, I want Porsche to make that concept a reality, even if it's a one off.

[@crocknyldcrock1931]

I love concepts cars and their gimmicks. Coming from an engineering background these conceptual designs are responsible for pushing innovation further and further, in order to achieve greater efficiency, which is the main philosophy at Porsche.

[@redlineste4283]

I like the Risky Business style music. 😀

[@pablorages1241]

2:18 ... I'd LOVE one of those !

[@jonathanjames1864]

Thanks for doing the Panamericana. Most kids had Lambo or Ferrari posters, I had this Porsche. It didn't show the whole car, & being before the Internet, I didn't know what it actually looked like. It's better than I imagined!

[@user-ue1wu9uu2l]

The ‘87 Speedster is beautiful and you know it!

[@C.Fecteau-AU-MJ13]

Oh that W124 with the Porsche V8 is the one I'd have to have... If they'd let you choose one. I'm all about having the only one of something at a car show and there's no way someone else is showing up in one of those.

[@jaywhite15_AL]

Also, the name "Porcedes" is just golden.

[@C.Fecteau-AU-MJ13]

@@jaywhite15_AL I'm almost tempted to look at building a replica... I mean, how hard could it be? 🤔 Yeah I said it, never forget the glory days of TG. But seriously, I am tempted to look into that.

[@adefusitemiloluwa3648]

W125 500Es with porsche V8s do exist. They were built in the late 80s. A notable alliance, You should look up on them

[@C.Fecteau-AU-MJ13]

@@adefusitemiloluwa3648 Yeah I know about the E500, but it didn't have the Porsche V8 did it?... I thought they had the M119 Merc V8 and they just built them on the Porsche production line because the Merc one was too narrow and they'd have had to retool the whole joint just to make that specific model... Wasn't that the story there? Also.... I'm an arts director for a theatre company nowadays, why do I even know all this? I mean, all these engine codes and stuff... It's literally useless information my brain is absorbing lol. Nah I kid, this stuff fascinates me to no end, I just love big human endeavours and fine work produced in highly developed teams. And don't nobody do that quite like ze Germans do. It's all inspiration in my book.

[@adefusitemiloluwa3648]

​@@C.Fecteau-AU-MJ13 I read that porsche helped make the engines for the W125 because they were too narrow, like an alliance. Just some little divergence. Anyways... beautiful beautiful stuff. I'm into medicine; anaesthesia and intensive care but I love daring feats and proper engineering & yh, ze Germans do it best

[@zsoltzsemba]

Would have been good if we could have seen more of the cars🙄

[@scooby45247]

"If one is not failing at times, then one is not challenging oneself." - Ferdinand Porsche

[@neilperry2224]

Loving the 928 estate, similar to the 944 bib estate produced in the 90s.

[@marcogonzalez8908]

The badge in the tires pattern, the Panamericana 😅

[@timwilks666]

Love the oddballs. That Panamericana is ace. Love the 924/944 DP Cargo's too.

[@SparksLP]

The Panamerica is Gurple in color, definitely. 🤔

[@DinDjarin777]

Fantastic video, I’d love more videos of secret car vaults !

[@yammt3148]

The fact that Porsche refuses to do a limited production of the "917 Living Legend" concept is beyond heresy.

[@Nick-kv7yi]

The panamericana down to the colours is insane. I actually discovered my new dream car

[@Nick-kv7yi]

Shit. Just came across the 928….. I’ll have that as my other please

Great video. Thank you Tom.

[@karlfontanari2169]

Great insight and really well presented, wished it would have been a lot longer as there are a lot of interesting cars there.

[@mattmatthews5414]

Panamericana should’ve been in full offroad race setup. Ferry might’ve dug it if they committed.

[@sdalt001]

The four-door 928 is awesome

[@bentickner1]

those bespoke tires are pretty cool on the Pramerica

[@TimInertiatic]

Those 'freaks' are far more interesting and desirable than 99% of Porsche models. I love stuff like this

[@MikeLaRock88]

That first Porsche was 80s Baja all the way. Thing would've been a hit for boomers in southern California back then

[@DanoFSmith-yc9tg]

That 4 door 928 is so damn cool! I wish that was the normal 928 we got everywhere.

[@timothyherlihy6480]

1:37 this car is the coolest one, I want it!

[@RemoteViewr]

That Panamericana is glorious!

[@AliasHSW]

The world would be a whole lot better if Porsche comes out with a proper 3-box sedan!

[@ciaranburke3243]

Very interesting place I really want that panamerica 😫

[@gerhaldlaubscher8321]

Great video!

[@Nicer_Ricer_JDM]

Porsche fanatic and I’ve never seen, the blue one 💯

[@user-bc2ie5uh1v]

Oh man that 932 front end is perfection, much nicer than the panamera…

[@scarlettsgarage1]

They rotate the display in the museum, not really secret?

[@VISHALSINGH-ii3mu]

That blue one at the start caught my attention 😂❤

[@mouse5178]

Great video

[@AC-wl7ve]

i tihnk that first on is cool as hell

[@Skooby59]

Idk, maybe i’m just dumb but this feels half assed

[@afoolandhismoneychannel]

The large tonneau on the white G-Series Speedster was actually hinged and raised up to allow ingress/egress... why the presenter thought that you'd have to crawl in under it is a mystery.

[@Teeveepicksures]

I think they gave this guy 20 minutes and said "Get what you can then leave." It's rushed and disjointed.

[@curtisbotzet7579]

Fortunately, I remember all of them. Unfortunately, I'm old enough to remember all of them...

[@MrMfaust5]

The G-Wagen 928 woud've been formidable! I think that Porsche designed the Type 955/957 with that wonderful concept and experience from the G-Wagen 928 at the Dakar Rally in mind; performance of the 955/957 can be seen at the Transsyberian Rally!

[@buddhavskungfu]

Gimme that W124. I miss my old one.

[@daenglishpatient]

Very nice, Tom.

[@enriquejaviercastillomonta1783]

Great Cars and great report 🍩

[@shoedil812]

8:40 Mom, can we have a Porsche? No son, We have a Porsche at home.

[@MrClearme]

Porsche at home: 7:10

[@shoedil812]

@@MrClearme No that's a Tesla...

[@moralobjection4836]

Ya know what I love? The oil spots under all the cars.

[@DogPrinctz]

Can I do your show? I could get excited about the most unique one off Porsche any day of the week.. even on my heaviest day😮, I’d be stoked…😂

[@SkitPete]

Shows that Porsche doesnt do shortcuts...3 generations of development to get to the Panamera, and that's why it came out perfect❤❤❤

[@MelodyOo]

THe 928 H50 oh my god that is awesome!! honestly beats the Panamera!

[@markd1810]

The first one, minus the zipper top (targa top instead) and yes the interior colors were a bit much. White with black accents would have popped.

[@Nord_Mann]

Heaven is a place on earth❤

[@StoffelDilligas]

Tyre noise tester? What about the wind noise created by the plumbing and boilers attached to the outside? How did that work?

[@char1737]

How about the vs transporter with the the Porsche power plant?

[@DanoFSmith-yc9tg]

The Mercedes collaborations are a bit odd considering they've always been somewhat related to Volkswagen and Audi, and those companies both had vehicles that probably could have provided similar results, particularly Audi Quattro sedans and wagons.

[@ndivhorambau1149]

Porsche knew what they were doing with those tires on the Panamericana Concept

[@clubsobri]

Pretty cool!

[@mogglie]

1:21 looks cool i think

[@nathangregory_]

As for that purple color, it could be a darker shade of mauve.

[@AndrewKay-fg1bj]

I ❤ how this video is 9:18

[@MannikinFreezTag]

Love how many of these are 928 derivatives!

[@secretsquirrel3793]

Interesting stuff. But why show us only the front of the 4 door 932?!

[@isaaccan3155]

I could spend an entire day in this place.

[@pihermoso11]

They should make a modern version of the WW2 Volkswagen Schwimmvagen, an amphibious roadster way back from World War 2

[@user-jf8gd3lv7q]

Schwimmwagen. "w"..... "w"..... Just try again, dude!

[@user-jf8gd3lv7q]

It's just the "Schwimmwagen". It definitely isn't a "vagen"... Because there isn't such a thing existing in the German language. It's really amazing, that so many "Anglo-Saxons" very often are so damn arrogant, ignorant and fu.....ng lazy, that they can't even pronounce just one simple German word with correct letters in the right order. I just imagined, as a German, if I ever had such problems with simple English words and terms. Putting letters in the right order...

[@JustPit]

Usually I like Porsche design, but with Panamericana.. Were Porsche designers trolling Ferry? Actually, car is not that far from being a good-looking. Take a look - this took me literally 10 minutes in Paint, and +10 to charisma of the car: /watch?v=H5JsE4rey3M All you had to do: - "install" missing front halves of both fenders - front and rear (this would improve aerodynamics and visual appeal) - add air duct on the rear for brake/engine cooling (and to keep that styling "fender line") - and swap the headlights:)

[@Happymali10]

Porsche actually pulled their three four-door concepts from the museum and from their website just before the Panamera was announced, in order to advertise that thing as "the first four-door porsche EVER. A German car-magazine still reported on "the panamera's family tree", and a few weeks later Porsche "un-hid" the cars.

[@WayApp]

Luxury elegance

[@JMJoubert]

Love the suicide door shootingbrake

[@ucarst]

Porschedes sounds like the coolest thing in history

[@odiseven]

That one Porsche that removes all the engine noise and exhaust noise, did they think about the wind noise? Because it's definitely louder than a normal Porsche

[@FMB2X]

Awesome just awesome 🙌

[@moonliteX]

that looks like the disco volante!

[@jamesengland7461]

Many thanks to Porsche for their hospitality, this poor presenter notwithstanding.

[@Sabrermk42]

Put some respect on Tom Ford’s name! The guy has been in the industry an age and brings his own unique perspective to things. I think you’ve seen too many journalists constantly praise whatever they get their hands on because they don’t want to annoy manufacturers. “Many thanks to Porsche for their hospitality” are you taking the piss? How cringeworthy can you be. Take your Stuttgart tinted glasses off and see the world for what it is. Enjoy diversity or thought and interesting conversations around cars, even if you don’t always agree.

[@Teeveepicksures]

​@@Sabrermk42 Nobody cares about his resume but you. The rest of us would've liked some more footage and less of him.

[@porterknutson1733]

Agreed

[@AmericanMuscles]

Absolutely, diversity is what keeps the automotive world fascinating! While some may find these pickups unconventional, others see them as bold expressions of creativity. It's all about perspective, and your insight adds depth to the discussion. Here's to embracing the quirks that make each vehicle unique! 🚀

[@anidiotinaracingcar4874]

What was that motorcycle all about?