"A time-capsule vintage race car;" that's how Mark Powell described the old Porsche he discovered while visiting European Collectables in Costa Mesa, California, in 2003. Powell was immediately drawn to the 1960 Porsche 356 Super 90 roadster, wearing decades-old metallic blue paint, dented, cracked and faded, still adorned with old racing numbers. It looked as if it had just rolled off the race track, and for all practical purposes it had – some 30 years earlier.

Originally sold new in San Diego, 88078 had been driven hard for 25,000 miles by its first owner, who gladly sold it to the mechanic charged with its welfare. The mechanic drove it for a while, planning to rebuild it later, but was forced to sell when he was drafted. The buyer was Dieter Vongehr, a well-known San Diego Porsche shop owner. Vongehr drove it for a short while, but when the engine failed, replaced it with a later 356C engine. He also installed a set of C disc brakes. Testing the car with racing tires