Events: Porsche’s Lost Weekend In SoCal

One of the many display areas at the Phoenix Club in Anaheim. Image Credit: Madeline Stahler (2019)

Events: Porsche’s Lost Weekend In SoCal
By: Tom Stahler

The 356 Club of Southern California put on its 11th Annual All Porsche Swap and Car Display at the Phoenix Club of Anaheim on March 3. As part of one of SoCal’s biggest Porsche weekend, which included Saturday’s Literature Meet, and more than a dozen Porsche-related businesses open houses, the event attracted enthusiasts and industry people from around the world. 

1967 Porsche 912. Image Credit: Madeline Stahler (2019)

The cars on display, mixed with exhibitors from local Porsche Club of America affiliates, parts distributers and manufacturers, dealers and accessories filled the space to capacity. It was like a “mini-Rennsport!”  Several thousand spectators flock to this event all benefitting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

If you like patina, there was plenty of original iron to be seen. Image Credit: Madeline Stahler (2019)

The cult of Porsche is alive and well in Southern California. If you were even mildly interested and wanted to see cars, parts, resources, dealers embedded with the Stuttgart icon, The weekend provided a plethora of shows, open houses and experiences to satisfy your Porsche palate.

A 911 hood pays tribute to the rich history of Porsche at LeMans. Image Credit: Tom Stahler (2019)

The Phoenix Club’s German heritage, made the perfect backdrop for every kind of road-going Porsche and part imaginable covering two acres and the 11,000 square foot FestHalle. As organizer Jeff Track of European Collectibles put it, “This event takes us back to a simpler time in a very unique setting. A time when the Internet was not the primary source for used Porsche parts. There was a time when the local Southern California Porsche owner’s gathered each winter to swap, fender fondle, see old friends and appreciate the breed.”

The swap meet had parts and swag vintage and new. Image Credit: Madeline Stahler (2019)

Top-line restorers and distributers including Sierra Madre, Pelican Parts, Stoddard, CPR Classics, Benton Performance were all on hand, along with many smaller independents and specialty companies.

Jonathan Sieger's beautiful 1958 356A. Image Credit: Tom Stahler (2019)

There were many standout cars, including Jonathan Sieger’s “Matilda,” a 1958 356 A is the most optioned and finest example of a 1958 1600 Super Cab on the road today. The car will be the focus of another story on here soon.

Image Credit: Madeline Stahler (2019)

While 911s abounded across the property, including every conceivable nomenclature, special areas for early 356 and 912 were gathered together with many notable collectors and racers in attendance. The crowd were treated to specimens from patinated originals to beautifully restored examples, as they sat static and accessible after a “morning parade” of air-cooled and water-pumping music of all the participants onto the grounds.

Image Credit: Madeline Stahler (2019)

Contributor's Note: A special shout out to Tom Stahler's daughter, Madeline, just eight years old.  She asked to be coached as photographer for this article while attending the Phoenix Club Porsche Event. She did a pretty good job, eh?

Image Credit: Madeline Stahler (2019)

The clouds threatened rain all day — and even sprinkled a bit. It has been a very rainy year in Southern California. But for the thankful promoters, participants and spectators, major cloudbursts managed to hold off as the last of the display cars left, closing out a genuine lost Southern California weekend of Porsche.





TAGS: 356 Club of Southern California, 11th Annual All Porsche Swap and Car Display, Phoenix Club of Anaheim, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Literature Meet, mini-Rennsport, Porsche Event, Southern California, Tom Stahler, Madeline Stahler