[Show as slideshow]

◄1234

Story Update 7/4/2010

Dr. Jackson Wins Touring Restoration Class: 1st in Class 233.4 out of 235 at 2010 Porsche Parade.

Dr. William Jackson, today a very well-known and respected collector of Porsches and Porsche memorabilia, sat down to chat with us Road Scholars boys. Some hours later, we had gained a significant appreciation for why October 12th, 1963 was a good day for Porsche enthusiasts, and ultimately us too.

That was the day that young medical corps Army Captain returning from Korea had trouble with his Alfa Romeo Spyder just as both it and the new 1964 Porsche 356C models were arriving at Gardner Motors in Fresno California. Captain Jackson liked Alfas, this Spyder being his second, but on that Monday it had acted up for the last time. After viewing the new models, Bill was drawn to a striking Symrna Green “leftover” Super 90 in the showroom. Captain Jackson has preferred green cars his entire life. A deal was struck, and the Super 90 was on its way back to Fort Ord where it enjoyed many a winding Northern California road until Dr. Jackson’s duty with the U.S. Army was complete. Used everyday for almost 10 years, the B coupe was always well cared for, even through frequent skiing trips. Dr. Jackson still has the studded snow tires to prove it.

Dr. Jackson’s love for all things Porsche made him one of the early collectors of the marque. His stories are fascinating. There’s the one of him reading Road and Track and finding an RSK for $6,000 in the classifieds. Then there’s the one of Bill buying a 904 in San Francisco and driving it home to Denver. As we listened to the stories we realized the only reason we are in business was Dr. Jackson and a few like him, who literally started this hobby. Bill Jackson was among the first and most discerning of Porsche collectors. Along the way he added a Gmund coupe, two America Roadsters, many four-cam Carreras, and a bevy of 550s, RSKs, RS60s, 904s a 911R as well as a Abarth Carrera and the 2.1 liter Martini “Baby Turbo.”  At one time his collection included several RS60s. At the time, many of those old racecars were washed up, eclipsed by ever-improving technology. Long before those Porsches became collectible, Bill Jackson felt a special affinity for them, for the engineering prowess they represented, for the triumphs they had wrought, and for the thrills they had afforded Porsche fans.

So it was that Dr. Jackson saved large numbers of Porsches until the rest of us figured it out. Bill preserved the proud history of the small sports car company that built the giant-killer racecars, and then became the giant. Because of his passion for Porsche, his cars and his memorabilia have survived the decades. All the while, newly arrived collectors, dealers, and restorers hounded him to sell to them or to let them restore cars for him. After several decades, the scope of maintaining all the cars became too much. Dr. Jackson sold off most of his collection, starting some time back and continuing to the present year. All the while the 1963 B coupe with the Super 90 engine stayed home, still enjoying an occasional romp in the mountains.

Road Scholars is very proud to have been chosen to restore the first Porsche belonging to one of the first Porsche collectors. Thank you, Dr. Jackson for having the foresight to help save our branch of automotive history—-one car, one poster, one sales brochure at a time. Your passion helped create a worldwide love affair for all things Porsche.

See you at the PCA Parade in July 2010 in St. Charles, Illinois. Your car will be ready.

With great respect, Kevin and Cam (Pictures of Dr. Jackson’s Super 90 before restoration)