The story of the forgotten Porsche folded-roof 911 HLS

Weird ONES This time we're going to talk about the story of the forgotten Porsche 911 HLS. Maybe you will ask, how can this happened to one of the Porsche 911 models? As we all knew the 911s are widely known to the world's automotive enthutiats to be one of the most successful models ever made by the Stuttgart-based car manufacturer.

The unique bright green colored Porsche 911 HLS futuristic racing coupe with folding roof (due to lighting conditions the car looks yellow in this picture) is designed by the students of the automotive engineering department of Aachen University. (Picture from: ClassicDriver)

Before we start talking about it, we will ask you, 'Have you ever heard about the Porsche 911 HLS?' We'll be sure you've never heard about this Porsche sports car before. That's okay, considering a big manufacturer like Porsche, over the years had built a lot of concept cars, most of which are beautiful and very cool.

The most intriguing design characteristic of the Porsche 911 HLS was the hinged cockpit canopy looks integrating perfectly into the body just like it truly belonged there. (Picture from: Rennlist)

And it's a natural thing that there are some of the concepts considered as the fail ones, then over the time forgotten and lost to history. And the Porsche 911 HLS is one of those considered fail concept cars, that's why now the model considered as one of the forgotten Porsche models. Perhaps the most interesting (and odd as well) about the Porsche 911 HLS is the fact that the Stuttgart-based automaker didn't build it by themselves.

The Porsche 911 HLS bodywork made out of aluminum, which even includes the rear louvers and Targa bar. (Picture from: Rennlist)

According to the Rennlist, the car started its life as an ordinary Porsche 911  (some say it was the model of the 1964), which was then sent to the automotive engineering department at Aachen University by Porsche in 1966. So that the students of the Aachen University could made it as the futuristic racing coupe with folding roof. The concept car seems to take some inspiration from the legendary Porsche 904 racing car and its rear engine cover, which could be seen as a kind of retractable roof.

The Porsche 911 HLS left rotten outside the body shop for over 40 years, after got no blessing of the Porsche top brasses for further development stages. (Picture from: ClassicDriver)

At the first, the students came up with a series of design sketches on paper before mocking up a mini model of the car. After that they started making a new body for the 911 out of aluminum, which even includes the rear louvers and Targa bar. As you can see here, the most intriguing design characteristic of the HLS was the hinged cockpit canopy looks integrating perfectly into the body just like it truly belonged there.

This forgotten and left outside for four decades, the Porsche 911 HLS concept car was almost lost to history. (Picture from: ClassicDriver)

Since the Porsche has the true racing blood in its veins, it could be seen from the arrangement of the instruments on the dashboard were pinned on the right (while the steering wheel on the left). Once all bodywork is completed, the the car sent to the Hans-Leo Senden (HLS) coachbuilder in Würselen, Germany which also explains the model name came from. Here its bodywork was refined and given the bright green color and the lettering of 'Porsche HLS' in black letters on both sides.

The Porsche 911 HLS wreckage while on display at the 2015 Techno Classic in Essen, Germany with the plans to restore it to its original condition. (Picture from: ClassicDriver)

Unfortunately, the slightly eccentric styled racing coupe as the result of the students' hardwork failed to get the Porsche top brasses approval in the Zuffenhausen headquarters.😭 Since then the concept car was simply parked outside the bodyshop, left there for over 40 years until Manfred Hering, the 911 expert was asked whether he could restore the long-forgotten Porsche concept to its original condition. At that time, Hering did not accept the request for the concept car restoration, instead wanted to buy it in such a condition. In short short, finally the unique 911 HLS concept car wreckage has become his.

And the concept car wrekcage had displayed at the 2015 Techno Classic in Essen, Germany with the plans to restore it to its original condition. At least as close as possible, because the main problem is the scarcity of spare parts for the only-one-of-a-kind model such this Porsche 911 HLS concept car so not easy to find ones which is certainly very different with existed today.🙏

Today, after almost 6 years, we haven't heard any words about the 911 HLS, but we hope that Hering has remained consistence with his plan to bring this interesting and unique part of Porsche's history back to life. And if we has any luck, the car could be seen again by us someday, looking just like it did the day those proud students finished its construction. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CLASSICDRIVER | POPULARMECHANICS | ROADANDTRACK | RENNLIST | AUTOMANIA.LIFE ]

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