On 9 March at Amelia Island, Florida, Gooding & Co will offer 18 cars from the Drendel Family Porsche Collection, most of them turbocharged, including the ultimate 917, a 1973 Porsche 917/30 (chassis 917-30-004) which carries an estimate of $3,250,000 to $4,000,000.

Matthew Drendel, although often racing a non-turbo Porsche Cup car, was addicted to the effortless push of the ‘blown’ cars from Stuttgart. He started with a 930 road car and over the years gradually amassed a collection almost unparalleled outside that of the factory museum.

Joining the 1000bhp+ 917/30 are other significant racing Porsches that include a back-to-back Daytona 24 Hours-winning 1984 962 ($1,750,000 - $2,225,000), a 1975 Porsche 934 (first in class at Le Mans in 1982, $800,000 - $1,000,000) and the 1980 924 Carrera GT works entry at Le Mans, driven by Derek Bell and Al Holbert to 13th overall, for $450,000 - $600,000.

The latter is ‘Without Reserve’ as are 10 other Drendel Porsches.

In pride of place, though, to this writer’s eyes is the ex-works, Martini Racing 1976 Porsche 935/76, the first 935 built and regularly driven by Jochen Mass and Jacky Ickx. It carries an estimate of $1,700,000 to $2,000,000 – worth every dollar, cent and dime.

The Gooding Amelia Island sale will take place at 11:00 AM on 9 March 2012 at the Racquet Park, Omni Amelia Island Plantation, 6800 First Coast Hwy, Amelia Island, FL 32034, USA.

Photos: Gooding & Company