‘Capturing brakes’ have an actual mystique about them. Whereas the primary automotive examples will be traced again to the early 1900s, the coach-building idea of incorporating a cargo space into the again of an present coupe design was actually made well-liked in the course of the Nineteen Sixties and ’70s.
Whereas curiosity in taking pictures brakes has come and gone since then, they’ve by no means gone away. Whereas attending the 2024 Nürburgring Basic a few weeks in the past, I got here throughout a surprising instance.
I used to be about to go away the Nürburgring GP circuit when the strange-looking Porsche 944 caught my eye. My curiosity was immediately piqued, and after taking a superb have a look at the ‘DP Cargo’, I met with Patrick Zimmermann, the pinnacle of DP Motorsport, and his father, Ekkehard Zimmermann, who based the corporate in 1973. Patrick was very happy to speak me over the particular machine.
DP Motorsport is maybe most well-known for the bodywork it designed and constructed for Kremer Porsche race automobiles again within the day, however there’s way more to the corporate than simply that spectacular accolade. DP has put its title to quite a few race-inspired roads automobiles too, like this one-of-one 964 Turbo.
The DP Motorsport Cargo’s story started within the late Eighties when Ekkehard determined to suit the rear roof piece of a Volkswagen Passat onto the again of a Porsche 944 to successfully create a customized taking pictures brake. The automobile was used for every week to see how sensible it was in the true world, and off the again of that quick check, the consensus was that “it needed to be constructed,” says Patrick.
Correct growth started shortly after, and eight DP Cargos – two 924s and 6 944s – have been ultimately constructed and offered to prospects. This explicit automobile, quantity 9, got here later in 1991 and has remained with DP Motorsport ever since.
In manufacturing kind, the DP Cargo conversion required the rear half of the roof and hatch part to be eliminated and a fibreglass rear panel with customized home windows fitted of their place. Unique Porsche tail lights have been used however break up into two components to permit for a wider and decrease opening into the redesigned trunk house. The rear hatch mechanisms have been taken from Mercedes-Benz 124 Wagons
Whereas the cabin options customized touches, it has an actual ‘manufacturing unit’ really feel. Ekkehard selected the crimson inside scheme for this automobile to match the crimson exterior, which might have been proper in style on the time. Purple on crimson appears fairly loopy by fashionable requirements, however I like it.
Exterior-wise, from the entrance finish to midway down the automobile, the DP Cargo appears like an unique 944 with some refined touches. The aspect mirrors are DP Motorsport gadgets, whereas the door handles have been taken from the Porsche 968, which was model new when this automobile was constructed. Additional upgrades have been made later in its life, together with the 18-inch Fuchs wheels and cross-drilled brakes from a 993 Turbo.
Speaking to Patrick, I discovered {that a} tenth DP 944 Cargo will quickly be constructed to revive the mannequin. This will occur as a result of all of the tooling required to construct the DP Cargo – together with the unique fibreglass mould for the rear part – nonetheless exists. Patrick additionally talked about that the opportunity of a DP Motorsport 944 Cargo continuation mannequin is at the moment being thought of, so much more of those taking pictures brake 944s could possibly be on the highway earlier than lengthy.
Steve Edward
Instagram: stevedwrd
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