What the HECK is a "Luftgekuhlt" and Why did I go to One?

NMS live at Luftgekuhlt 11 in Durham NC!

Bottom line up front: "Luftgekuhlt" is German for "Air Cooled." Specifically, Porsche cars built before 1999 were all air cooled, meaning they didn't have a radiator and coolant. Fast forward to today, and "Luftgekuhlt" is a special once a year showcase of air cooled Porsche automobiles. The Luftgekuhlt folks started these events in 2014, and they've all been held out on the west coast until this year, when they came to Durham NC. So, let's take a look around Luftgekuhlt 2025. 

There were Porsches all over the joint!

Unlike a museum exhibit, most of the cars did not have any signs or placards telling you what they were, so to be honest all I can say is that here's a bunch of air cooled Porsches! The location was also unique, the American Tobacco Campus, which judging by the huge chimney from the power plant building, was where they made Lucky Strikes. The industrial type of setting was huge, and it was still packed with people, and there were Porsches all over the place! 

They had something for everyone, like race cars!

From what I know about these events, car owners have to apply to be accepted to display their classic Porsches, and the event sponsors pick and choose what cars get put on display. 

World famous racecars, like the Porsche 906! If you've seen the Ford Vs. Ferrari movie, when Ford finally won LeMans in 1966 and took the top 3 places, Porsche 906s took the next 4 places. They only built 65 of these 1,300 pound cars. 

Cars all over the place!

Approved for all ages!

Porsche 917 Can Am racecar! Porsche 917s won at LeMans in 1970 and 1971, and had been introduced with a 12 cylinder flat engine. They have sold at auction for over 10 million dollars. 

The sign on the dash says "Mama I'm Goin Fast!"

Driven by Hurley Haywood. Mr. Haywood won at LeMans three times, five times at the 24 Hours of Daytona, twice at the 12 Hours of Sebring, as well as a Can Am title, two IMSA GT championships, and plenty more. 

The American Tobacco Campus, now an event center. 

Widow Maker license plate

Old conveyor belts leading to the power plant building.

Porsche 914 turned into an off-roader I guess. 

Now here's a design you don't see every day!

Thanks to the Pirelli Tire folks for handing out free event posters too!

IMSA racecar. I don't know what could be more German than a German racecar sponsored by Jägermeister. 

The classic Porsche "Pasha" interior. 

This indoor area featured cars that had driven in La Carrera Panamericana race. Display sponsored by watch maker TAG Heuer. 

Another Panamericana racer. 

Need a special color? Porsche offers a wide variety, and their Paint To Sample where you can get ANY color you want. For a price. 

The Luftgekuhlt was so large you needed a map to figure out where all the cars and exhibits were hiding! At the bottom of the map and right across the street from the Porsche event is the Durham Bulls baseball stadium. 

These crate-like platforms were a nice touch for the really cool cars. 

More Carrera Panamericana goodness. 

Porsche advertising. 

There were cars everywhere, and the brick buildings made a nice backdrop. 

Not to condone smoking, but it was a cool venue. 

The fine folks from Bilstein shocks had this small display. Sorry, no free shocks. 

Surprise, another racecar!

And another car driven by Hurley Haywood, and some young guys named Foyt and Unser. 

And there were dogs! Next to the classic "whale tail" 911. 

This old VW bus must have been used by a Porsche race team somewhere. 

Rally lighting anyone?

Singer interior. 

The Singer folks had several cars on display. If you're not familiar with them, picture a company in California that specializes in restoring and improving air cooled Porsches. For a price! These cars had a huge crowd all around them. 

A look back from my parking garage before heading home. This was a fun event, and I didn't have to go to California for Luftgekuhlt 11!