If you aspire to own a Porsche for the rest of your life, imagine how it feels to be a proud owner of around 50 Porsches and see them parked at your home daily. Well, Johan-Frank Dirickx from Belgium is living the dream in style, as he currently owns around 50 Porsche models of different types and manufacturing years. From his first acquired Porsche, the 911 RS in Rubystar shade, to the Brewster Green-colored Panamera, his daily driver, Johan-Frank Dirickx, owns some jaw-dropping Porsches of all time.
Johan-Frank Dirickx’s collection of Porsches graces a brightly lit garage named '911 Motorsport' in Antwerp, Belgium, with all parked on specially-constructed platforms. In addition to the beauties from Stuttgart and Leipzig, Dirickx’s garage has cool-looking walls decorated with automotive posters and graffiti art, making it a treat for an automotive enthusiast.
The Moment When The Porsche Obsession Started For Dirickx
Johan-Frank Dirickx got his passion for collecting cars from his grandfather, Jim Delwiche, a renowned car collector of his time. He recalls a few Porsches acquired by his grandfather – a 2.0-liter 911 Targa S, a 2.2-liter 911 S, and a 2.4-liter 911 S, all of which made him an admirer of Porsche. However, his obsession with Porsches hit a new high when a bright-yellow Carrera RS 2.7 joined the collection, a car which was also owned by the late actor Paul Walker.
It was only a matter of time before Johan-Frank Dirickx completed his driving test and got his driving license, post which he started having access to the keys of these Porsches. At 18, the first car, which Johan-Frank Dirickx added to his collection, was a used Porsche 911 T. However, due to a lack of funds to restore it, Dirickx had to sell it, though he continued driving his grandfather’s vehicles during his studies.
The Perfection Of Art Of Collecting Porsches By Dirickx
When Johan-Frank Dirickx's career progressed, it was that moment when he perfected the skill of collecting Porsches. The first car which he added, which continues to grace his collection of Porsches, is a beautifully-restored 964 RS in Rubystar. Dirickx always wanted to add a 911 RS as his first car, as he used his grandfather’s yellow-colored Carrera RS 2.7 during his study days. According to Dirickx, the 964 RS showcases the true spirit of a race car, and he accredits its lightweight design for that.
However, the moment which ignited the spark of collecting Porsches for Johan-Frank Dirickx was when he found his grandfather’s Carrera RS 2.7 in a sad state outside Barcelona. He found that the RS was far from its original state, with its the-then owner restored it based on the body of a Porsche 911 T. It was that moment when Dirickx decided to have more and more Porsches in the condition in which he wanted to see them – restored and admired.
The Stars Of Porsche Collection By Johan-Frank Dirickx
The Porsche in the collection of Johan-Frank Dirickx, which immediately catches the attention of a true collector, is the limited-run 1967 Porsche 911 R. Painted in a shade of white, this 911 R is one of the few 20 examples of the car ever built. Dirickx feels that it is so valuable that he shouldn’t drive it anymore and admire its beauty by just watching it parked safely. Other limited-run Porsches which Dirickx owns are two 911 SC/RS models.
Most of the Porsches in the collection of Johan-Frank Dirickx are air-cooled RS models, including the RS 3.0, the 3.0 RSR, and the recently acquired 934. He also owns a rare RS 2.7 homologation lightweight sportscar and two 911 Turbo (type 930) – a 3.0 and 3.3 in ideal conditions.
Apart from the air-cooled Porsches mentioned above, Johan-Frank Dirickx also owns some water-cooled Porsches like the 911 GT3 RS (type 996) and 2019 935. Talking about this 935 from recent times, it is inspired by ‘Moby Dick’, a 911 race car from the 1970s.
Dirickx’s Philosophy For The Impressive Porsche's He Owns
While there are a few water-cooled models in his collection, Johan-Frank Dirickx still loves his air-cooled Porsches more, as they are lightweight, early-era race cars, which might be not so easy to drive, but have a fascinating character that new water-cooled Porsches do not match. He also believes that vehicles, especially the older ones, should be in their original condition, and with time, if needed, they should be restored to perfection.
While it is a treat to watch all the Porsches parked in Dirickx’s garage, the Belgian is also an avid driving enthusiast, as he drives his Porsches the way they should be driven. Dirickx has competed in racing events like 12 Hours of Sebring, Le Mans Classic, and 24 Hours of Daytona. He also loves honing his drifting skills on the frozen lakes in Scandinavia.
Source: Porsche