You would have had to be either wilfully ignorant or living beneath a particularly large, hype-resistant rock not to be aware of Tuthill Porsche and its formidable reputation for building some of the world’s finest air-cooled Porsche machinery. Renowned for creating exceptional road cars alongside world-class historic race and rally builds, the company has become synonymous with engineering excellence and motorsport success — as its enviable record at the East African Safari Classic Rally readily demonstrates.
With that in mind, it came as no surprise that our Club visit to Tuthill proved both heavily oversubscribed and eagerly anticipated. Fifteen Club members gathered at the company’s Banbury headquarters for an exclusive tour of the facility and workshops.
Those in attendance were universally impressed by both the scale of the operation and the breadth of capability offered by what remains a relatively compact enterprise. From immaculate restorations to competition-ready builds, there was plenty to admire — and more than a few members departed with a newfound desire for a jacked-up, bullbar-shod 911 rally car of their own.
As befits a Retropower Club gathering, the cars brought along by members were every bit as interesting as the destination itself. Porsches were, naturally, well represented, but they shared space with a McLaren supercar, several sporting Renaults and even a beautifully presented Ferrari 250 GT California. Together, they created a suitably eclectic backdrop both to our visit to Tuthill and the pub lunch at the nearby Hare & Hounds that preceded it.
The variety of machinery on display served as a reminder not only of the enthusiasm at the heart of the Club, but also of the remarkable breadth of automotive interests shared among its members.
Retropower would like to thank everyone who joined us for the day and extend particular thanks to Tuthill Porsche for their hospitality and for making us all feel so welcome.
