See vintage Porsche automobiles Saturday in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS — When Bud and Alicia Jackson purchased their 1958 Porsche 356A Speedster in 1968, it had no floorboards, was covered in rust and had major damage to the front end.

They set a goal to one day restore the vehicle after retiring.

Shortly after Alicia Jackson retired in 1999, however, her husband died.

But the plan lived on.

In 2004, the Ivory colored Speedster was completely restored by Stalltek, an automotive repair shop in Wellman to the tune of about $100,000, said Tom Moore, of Shueyville, a friend of the Jackson family, a fellow Porsche owner and the self-described 'best friend' of the vintage Speedster he says now is worth between $350,000 and $400,000.

'It's what they call an 'all matching numbers' vehicle,' said Moore, noting that the factory numbers on the engine, transmission and 'moving pieces' all match, making the car extremely rare.

'It's already one of the most famous and the matching numbers are terribly hard to find,' he said.

The vehicle now makes its home in Cedar Rapids and is one of about 90 vintage Porsche automobiles from 26 states and Canada that will be in Cedar Rapids this week for the annual Porsche 356 Holiday in the Heartland gathering.

The four-day event, which runs Wednesday through Saturday, will be based at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center, 7725 Kirkwood Blvd. SW, and includes driving tours, tech sessions, swap meets and social receptions.

Highlighting the four days is a Concours d'Elegance — a fancy way to describe a car show — from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday on the Second Avenue Bridge in downtown Cedar Rapids. The cars will be grouped based upon the 12 model categories that were produced throughout the 17-year production run of the Porsche 356.

The event is free to the public.

Vehicle owners will be on hand to show off their rides and answer questions. They'll also choose a 'People's Choice Award' winner.

Alicia Jackson's Speedster, which sports a 'For Bud' license plate, received the People's Choice Award at the prestigious Road & Track Concours d'Elegance at Road America in 2008 and First in Class at the 2015 National Porsche Parade in French Lick, Ind.

Manufactured in Zuffenhausen, Germany, the Speedster had a lower price tag than other Porsche models — $2,995 compared to $3,800 — and was designed for owners who wanted to race on the weekends and drive to work on weekdays, said Moore.

'These were really stripped down models,' he said. 'The first had no heaters, no defrosters.'

The 356 was Porsche's first production automobile and is a lightweight, nimble-handling, rear-engine, rear-wheel drive, two-door sports car available in hardtop coupe and open configurations. Production started in 1948 when approximately 50 cars were built and continued until April 1965. Of the 76,000 originally produced, approximately half survive.

The Porsche 356 Registry is a 7,000-member organization of owners and enthusiasts that has fostered the preservation and perpetuation of the Porsche 356 series automobile since 1974. The group organizes one or two 'holidays' each year.

No tour had been organized for this year and that's when John Swanson, a Cedar Rapids resident and member of the Kirkwood Community College board of trustees stepped in, making a bid to host the event.

He was successful and the event has attracted nearly 200 Porsche owners and enthusiasts.

'How many times can you showcase Cedar Rapids and Kirkwood Community College to a crowd like this?' asked Swanson. 'It shows what a strong drawing card we have for an event like this. We have so much to offer that often isn't recognized by out-of-state folks.

'I was just thrilled they agreed to do it.'

More information about the event is at heartlandholiday2017.org.

Moore, who owns two Porsche vehicles of his own — a 1959 Cabriolet and a 1984 Carrera, said he encourages any fan of vintage cars to come check out Saturday's show.

'This is an international club, an international event,' he said. 'This is their one big event this year and it's in Cedar Rapids.'

If you go

What: Porsche 356 Holiday in the Heartland Concours d'Elegance

When: 9 a.m. to noon Saturday

Where: Second Avenue Bridge in downtown Cedar Rapids

Details: About 90 vintage Porsche automobiles will be on display

Cost: Free

Info: heartlandholiday2017.org