This was Jim Clark's Porsche 356
Jim Clark’s name is synonymous with one marque: Lotus. But before his professional career with the British team, Clark cut his teeth with a Porsche 356. It was bought when it was almost new by his mentor Ian Scott Watson, who entered into the inaugural Border Motor Racing Club meeting in October 1957 for Clark to drive. His natural talent shone through and he took his first victory.
Clark went on to use the Porsche as his road car and in competition for two years, clocking up entries in hillclimbs, sprints and circuit racing along the way. However, by the time he landed his works drive with Team Lotus he was persuaded to sell the car by Colin Chapman – driving a car from a rival manufacturer not being a particularly good look.
When the 1970s rolled around, the car came very close to being scrapped. Instead, it was bought for a mere £30 before its owner at the time died, and it remained in storage for several decades. It was eventually discovered by Porsche specialist DSD Motorwerks who realised its provenance on behalf of the vendor, and a suitable new owner was found who would quickly get the car restored. That was Tom Pead, whose collection of 356s also includes the car owned by motorsport journalist Dennis Jenkinson and used by him to travel to grands prix all over Europe.
The first public appearance the car made after its discovery was at the Goodwood Revival in 2000, and it has since made several more appearances at the circuit. Over that time, Tom has tweaked the engine and suspension geometry, but in terms of its specification it’s still the same car that Jim Clark would have known. Aside from a race seat and rollcage for safety, the interior would have familiar to the Scot, too, complete with carpet and trim. It gives the car a 100kg handicap when compared to a similar race-prepared Speedster, but it also gives the car a wonderful character and maintains a sense of its important history.
What’s it like to drive? “Great fun and it’s pretty quick,” says Tom, “but like most 356s it’s a little tricky on the limit. But it’s a really good car to drive, I enjoy it. It’s not quite as quick as last time, but some other drivers have said it’s a bit slippery today.” And, despite the weight penalty of the full trim, it was the fastest 356 around Goodwood for three years, and also set the lap record for the model at Le Mans.
It’s somewhat poignant that the Tony Gaze Trophy, the race at Members’ Meeting in which the 356 was competing, took place 51 years to the day since Jim Clark’s untimely death at Hockenheim.
77MM
Jim Clark
Porsche
356
Members Meeting
