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From classics and modern-day exotics to race cars, the 'Selected Car Collection' has some truly rare and desirable machines that will make any Porschephile go weak in the knees
by Amrit Balraj on August 14, 2024, 20:00There are car collectors and then there is Torben Østergaard-Nielsen. The Danish billionaire and shipping magnate has been collecting cars since the early 90s and owns a private collection of 200+ rare and exotic cars. He is also the founder of the Selected Car Group, Denmark’s largest luxury car leasing and sales organization. As luxury cars are taxed at 150% in Denmark, leasing them is a more popular option than buying them. This makes his enterprise a highly lucrative one, which is evident in his company’s success.
While Torben has amassed a diverse car collection, his true passion lies with Porsche, owning 90 of these iconic vehicles. Axel Catton of the Porsche Club of America recently got exclusive access to the Porsche wing of the Selected Car collection. He met with Claus Ebberfeld, Commercial Director of the Selected Car Group, and spent the day taking in the exquisite assembly of vintage and modern Porsche classics.
- The Selected Group’s private collection consists of 200+ cars and was started by Torben Østergaard-Nielsen.
- The collection comprises 90 Porsches, including both road and race cars.
There Are Some Stellar Examples In The Collection
Torben is a true connoisseur of Porsche, with his collection being assembled and arranged in the chronological order of their release years. Claus claims the exact number of cars in the collection changes, almost daily. Some of the more note-worthy models in the collection include
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The Porsche Carrera GT (2004 - 2006) - Developed as a limited run of just 1270 units, the Carrera GT is Porsche’s first V10-powered supercar. Its 5.7-liter V10 engine was derived from an experimental racecar engine developed by Porsche for the 24 hours of Le Mans.
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The Porsche 918 Spyder with the Weissach Package (2014) - The Porsche 918 Spyder is Porsche’s first hybrid supercar. Its 4.6-liter V8 engine generates 607 horsepower, paired with two electric motors, contributing an additional 279 horsepower. A seven-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox distributes this combined force to all four wheels. Only 918 units of the Porsche 918 were produced.
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Porsche 935/78 ’Moby Dick’ (2019)- The name comes from its dramatic whale tail spoiler which seems to go on forever. The 935 pays homage to the 935/78 racecar from 1978. A limited-run car of only 77 units, the 935 was unveiled at the 70th anniversary of Porsche at Rennsport Reunion. Underneath the skin, it is essentially a 911 GT2 RS with a 3.8-liter twin-turbo flat-six with an output of 690 horsepower.
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Porsche Carrera RS 2.7 (1973)- First developed as a homologation special in 1978, the RS was the first time Porsche ever used the Carrera nameplate. Historically it was also the first car the company patented its ’ducktail’ spoiler for. One of 200 lightweight versions, the RS in the collection came with bucket seats and did away with door panels, rear seats, floor mats, glove box, and passenger sun visor to save weight.
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Porsche 991 Club Coupé (2013) - Created to celebrate the Porsche Club’s 60th anniversary, the Club Coupe is a collaboration between Porsche Community Management and Porsche Exclusive. Honoring the original 13 founding members and the global Porsche community, the 911 Club Coupe is finished in Brewster Green, a nod to the Porsche family heritage. Limited to just 13 units, this exclusive model features a 3.8-liter engine with an output of 424 horsepower, a SportDesign package, 20-inch body-colored SportTechno wheels, and an interior adorned in espresso-brown leather.
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Porsche 356 (1953) - The oldest car in the collection is also one of the first Porsches, a ’Bent Window’ Porsche 359 Cabriolet which came with a 1.5-liter Air Cooled Flat-4 with an output of 70 horsepower and 75 pound-feet of torque. This same type of engine is present on display in the collection, mounted on a system that can be used to turn the engine on for demonstrations.
The Racecar Section Is Next
Racecars are a more recent addition to the Selected Car collection and are also arranged systematically based on their year of release. The collection features a GT3 RSR racecar which spent its life as a backup car and was hence never competed. Starting the group of race cars that saw some actual racing action is the 1965 FIA 911 racecar with a 2.0-liter engine with an output of around 200 horsepower, the line-up progressively moves up the model years until the 911 GT2 RS Clubsport. The tour of the collection ends with a special treat for Axle in the shape of a ’Salmon Pink’ Porsche 959, which he got to get in and take for a spin.
You might be wondering as I did at this point, what was the first car in the collection? The car that kickstarted this obsession is still present in the collection - a 1988 Porsche 930 Turbo Slantnose. The Slant Nose’s distinct front fascia immediately distinguishes it from the regular 930 and is the rarer version. The 930 generation is equipped with a turbocharged 3.3-liter flat-six engine generating 282 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque. The Selected Collection is a truly special assemblage of some of the rarest and most beautiful Porsches ever made. I get the feeling that we have not seen the true depths of the collection and just scratched the surface in the Porsche Club Of America video. If you want a more detailed look at the Selected Car Collection worth hundreds of millions, YouTuber Schmee150 got an incredible opportunity a couple of months ago. Check it out to truly see the scope of the Selected Group’s collection.
Amrit Balraj
When not reading up or watching videos about obscure and rare automobiles, Amrit spends his free time planning imaginary road trips on some of the best driving roads in the world, preferably in an old truck with a motorcycle strapped to the bed. Read full bio
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