There is no substitute.

We at Elferspot Magazine are constantly looking for exciting vehicles and their history behind them. Of course, we are particularly interested in the people who, driven by love and passion, turn these cars into special vehicles. This time we were allowed to talk to Paul Zimmerman, who owns some really nice Porsches.

We met through Instagram and if I interpret your profile correctly , then you’re a real Porsche freak. Is that over the top or does that describe you right?

It’s great meeting you and thanks for the feature in your Magazine. I’ve  been a Porsche guy since I was a kid, and I’ve been through enough of them that I feel pretty comfortable calling myself a true Porsche enthusiast; I had a poster over my bed from a young age with the slogan “There is no substitute”. Those 4 words really sum it up. As I’m often made aware by my friends, I’ve made a few car mistakes along the way – never buying a Ferrari again that’s for sure, but I always come back to the Porsches. To me, the 911 is the greatest car ever made. As a designer I appreciate the challenge and effort in making something purposeful look simple. Everything about that iconic 911 shape screams minimalist, but it has the highest level of functionality on the road.

I had a poster over my bed from a young age with the slogan “There is no substitute”. Those 4 words really sum it up.

I consider my ‘77 911 Targa the crown jewel of my art collection.  The Continental Orange clicked with me the moment I saw it—it’s a rare color and I have no regrets about placing that car in my living room. You leave a car in a garage and you see the same thing each time you get in. With my Targa, depending on the time of day, the sunlight is always focused on a different aspect of the car, so I get to admire it from a constantly shifting perspective. As a photography student I’m constantly experimenting with light and texture.

What else can you tell us about you as a person?

I grew up in New York and moved to Florida in 2003. I’ve been manufacturing clothing going on 30 years now.  I have a good eye for smart design, clean lines and pure timeless style. I travel to NY often and stay on the lower east side. I get inspired by art , fashion and music culture.

Besides cars, my free time is consumed by interior design projects, photography, art, movies and collecting watches and sneakers. I love dogs, and yes, I would let mine ride in my car if he had a life threatening injury and needed to get to the hospital ASAP . My friends jokingly compare me to a Porsche 911…. I’m not the prettiest or the fastest…I am constantly evolving, humble, taking lessons from the past, staying relevant but also true to my roots. I’m an open-minded guy and I think I’ve done well in business because I can acknowledge my mistakes, and build on them. My personal style? If I see something’s cool and hard to come by, it usually ends up on my wall my wrist or my feet. It doesn’t need to be the most expensive piece just the one nobody else has. I’m  not a flashy guy; most days I roll around in jeans and a vintage tee. I’m always wearing a vintage Rolex sports watch. I love Rolex their approach to design is like Porsche, consistent, simple and pure. I get a lot of compliments on my style, not in spite of that, but probably because of it.

I get inspired by art , fashion and music culture.

What was your first Porsche?

A 1994 964 Carrera 2 cabriolet. White with Black interior. It was my daily driver with a three hour commute to work. Like every 964 on the planet the front fender was bent, the car seemed to smile. It never bothered me that the radio was broken, the sound of a flat six air cooled was my favorite song. Sadly I had to let it go in 2003 to fund my fledgling business. If anyone reading this comes across a white 964 with a broken radio and a cigarette burn on the rear bumper (not my doing), please call me.

It never bothered me that the radio was broken, the sound of a flat six air cooled 3.2 was my favorite song.

Its seems like you like original . What are you particularly looking for in your selection, what is important to you? 

I’m a purist and I’m not caught up with perfect matching number cars; I enjoy driving them, and I recognize that things break and need replacing.  My collection is almost entirely made up from cars of the 60s and 70s.  I’m very particular when it comes to period correct cars; everything from the engine to the carpets has to be exactly how it was when it rolled off the assembly line. It’s either period correct or it’s not, there’s no half-stepping. But there are of course exceptions to every self-imposed rule. I own a 1969 “Outlaw”. It took me 2 years to finish, was a nightmare but a labor of love at the same time. I struggled with modifying a Porsche, it’s not my nature to try and improve on perfection, but I’ve always been a fan of the Outlaw vibe and culture. The final result has an RS front bumper, ducktail spoiler, H4 Headlights and a 2.7 from a later model. The car was painted a muddy slate grey by a local legend Angel Diaz in Miami. Angel convinced me to knock back the factory chrome by nickel plating it, install a powder coated roll bar and paint an off center pearl metallic ghost stripe the entire length of the car. It only visible in direct sunlight it’s really wicked. My friend Joe Safina owns the shop and helped me source the parts. We covered the RS door panels in ballistic nylon and the Recaro seats in duck canvass before sending the car to Rodger Hawley at Orbit Racing.  Rodger sorted out the 2.7 motor with Webbers. Rodger is the real deal both on and off the track. He’s a perfectionist and an encyclopedia on Porsche. Last year I purchased my blue 1971 911T  2.2 from Orbit Sales, it’s an amazing car.

What does driving a vintage Porsche mean to you? 

I’ve always considered the 60-70s the greatest era in American design history. Americans were breaking free from suburban post-war monotony. The rules that influenced fashion, film, music, and design were pushed to the limit in ways that our culture is still focused on over 50 years later. Today the world is moving faster than ever. There’s an arms race in technology to make things faster and less complicated, which somehow makes things, to me, move slower and take longer.  Driving a vintage Porsche is a way for me to disconnect from that for a few hours a week. My ‘69 outlaw and my ‘71 911T don’t have radios, let alone air conditioning or working clocks. 5 gauges, 3 pedals, it’s nice to just simplify existence, if only for short bursts. The Porsche design team are the most disciplined at staying true to “function over form” it makes  sitting behind the wheel of any Porsche familiar.

What about your family do they enjoy cars as well?

My uncle first introduced me to Porsche at a young age. He owned one of the first 1974 Carreras in New York. It was exciting watching him wash it, he seemed so passionate and meticulous about every square inch of the car. He would always ask me “Isn’t she beautiful?” followed quickly by “Get away you’e standing too close”.  My cousin and I are the same age and have talked about cars together almost every day since we could speak. Same with a lot of my friends. To say I’m passionate about cars seems a bit trite—I live for them.  Debating the best car on the road or the best model 911 Porsche is a constantly evolving conversation and my favorite to have with friends over coffee. Ill even discuss Porsche with the flat bed Driver taking my car and I home afterwards ha (it only happened once) These cars are incredibly reliable.

My uncle first introduced me to Porsche at a young age. He owned one of the first 1974 Carreras in New York.

If you could choose another 911 right now which would you take?

I’m actually on the hunt for my personal holy grail: a 1976 930 Turbo Carrera, slate grey just like McQueen’s. Let me know if you find one.

Thank you Paul, it was a pleasure! 

Pictures: Christian Wong