NOT FOR SALE

The world-famous classic car dealer Simon Kidston knows the power of time and has built his career on time’s ability to infuse desire. Kidston, who was born in the UK, but grew up in Italy, has been selling classic cars for more than 35 years and has even been known to fall under their spell himself. In fact, he has a very special relationship with Porsche sports cars. Most notably, a 911 Carrera RS 2.7, the only vehicle he’ll never sell.

“I love how it feels like a glove.” 

Simon Kidston

“My dad was always into cars,” recalls Kidston. “Growing up, two magazines would always arrive at home regularly: The Motor and Christophorus. And there was always a fast car in the garage at home.” There’s also the fact that his father, Home Kidston, a former Royal Navy officer, was an avid race car driver. Just like Simon’s uncle Glen Kidston, who was a renowned British motorsport competitor and pilot in the early 20th century.

“That’s the one that got away.” Other Porsche sports cars have helped fill the void. “I owned a black Carrera GT,” says Kidston. “And I previously bought a 911 in Amethyst Metallic.” He found that 911 Carrera RS (964) under a tarp in a customer’s garage. “When I saw it was registered in Siena, which is where I grew up in Italy, I immediately fell for it. I owned it for a few years, and it was great fun.” 

And then there are the extraordinary Porsche stories that Simon Kidston will never forget for as long as he lives, such as the experience he associates with the brand’s first super sports car. “Some years ago, I was in Stuttgart when my wife went into labor back in Geneva. My colleague and I jumped into his Porsche 959, and I will never forget driving fast at night in the rain. I arrived in time for my son’s birth.”

But there’s another car that’s even more important to Kidston. “Without a doubt, it’s the 1973 911 Carrera RS 2.7 in Signal Yellow,” he says, referring to the Touring version his father ordered as a new car. It was Kidston senior’s second Porsche model and replaced his Polo Red 1967 Porsche 911 S (original 911). The RS 2.7, however, is the first Porsche model in Simon Kidston’s life that he can remember. “In 1985, my father and I drove the RS on the German autobahn to get the car serviced in Zuffenhausen. I had never been that fast in my life, in any car,” he says. The 911 has been a member of the family forever and has helped create new memories over the years.

The 911 passed into Simon Kidston’s hands when his father died in 1996, ensuring the unforgettable drives would continue. Kidston even drove his father’s ashes to their final resting place in Wales in the Carrera RS. And after visiting his girlfriend’s parents in Scotland, Simon Kidston asked for her hand in marriage on the way home. “Before she could reply, blue lights appeared in the rear-view mirror,” says the collector. “Her answer had to wait. Despite getting six points on my driver’s license for speeding, in the end it was ‘Yes.’”

And the 911 played an important role in the next milestone of his life as the Kidstons’ wedding car. Moreover, as the first car that Kidston’s son was able to drive legally on his 17th birthday, the 911 has also provided unforgettable experiences for the third generation of the family.

Today, the sports car has 112,000 kilometers on the odometer and is kept in England, where Kidston has a home. “I love how this car feels like a glove,” he says with excitement. And it’s difficult to let go of anything that rewarding. According to Kidston, the 911 Carrera RS 2.7 is the one vehicle that should always stay with his family – and never be sold. “This 911 is a part of my family’s history. It’s the car I grew up with,” explains Kidston. “It’s the car that gave me my appreciation of sports cars. I like to think my kids will keep it forever.”