Sebring Poster 12 hours of Sebring Porsche poster 1958 – Erich Strenger
This bold, 12 hours of Sebring Poster was produced to acknowledge the company’s successes in the 1958 Florida International twelve hour Grand Prix of Endurance. It was designed by Erich Strenger,the German freelance graphic designer heavily associated with the Porsche company. Strenger’s image features an illustration of the unforgettable Harry Schell in his beautiful Porsche 718RSK. Strenger’s 1958 Sebring poster provides details of the Porsche racing team’s achievements at the race. It details that Harry Schell and Wolfgang Seidel came first in the 2000cc Racing Car category. With a second place for Index rating and third in the overall classification. It also states that Huschke von Hanstein along with fellow driver Herbert Linge also took the victory in the 2000cc Grand Touring or Gran Turismo category as well as third place for the overall classification.
It was good news for Porsche who immediately engaged Strenger to produce this red, blue and white poster Sebring was a big event for Porsche as they broke into America.
The Florida International Twelve Hour Grand Prix of Endurance
The Florida International 12-Hour Grand Prix of Endurance, better known as the 12 Hours of Sebring, is an annual motorsport endurance race. It is held at the Sebring International Raceway. The Sebring racetrack is one of the classic race tracks in North America and one of the oldest continually operating race tracks in the United States. The track is a road racing course styled after those used in European Grand Prix motor racing in the 1950s. The race track and facilities were constructed on the site of the former Hendricks Army Airfield, an old World War II air base. The race track hosted its first competition, a six-hour endurance race on New Year’s Eve 1950. The next race held 14 months later was the first 12 Hours of Sebring. The race is famous for its “once around the clock” action, starting during the day and finishing at night.
Sebring has proved to be a good stomping ground for Porsche over the years. With 18 wins, in 1960, 1968, 1971, 1973, every year between 1976 and 1988, and again in 2008, the Porsche racing team has had more victories at Sebring than any other manufacturer.
The 1958 Florida International Twelve Hour Grand Prix of Endurance
The 1958 12-Hour Florida International Grand Prix of Endurance took place on 26 March. It was the seventh time the 12 hour race had been held at the Sebring International Raceway. The 12 hours of Sebring was one of the most popular American car races attended by European drivers and manufacturers.
The race was the second round of the F.I.A. World Sports Car Championship and a total of 73 cars had registered for the event. Of these, only 70 turned up with 65 qualifying for and starting the race. New regulations for the championship saw engine capacity increased to 3 litre.
Maserati were not in attendance. The company were not only on the brink of financial crisis. They were also still reeling from an incident during the previous year’s Mille Miglia. The accident took place in the village of Guidizzolo when Spanish driver Alfonso de Portago’s Ferrari veered off the road and tore through a group of spectators, killing the driver, his co-pilot and nine bystanders, five of which were children. It was too much for Maserati and they withdraw from racing, instead focussing on building road-going grand tourers.
The race included six Ferrari 250 TR’s. Three of which were works cars being driven by Phil Hill & Peter Collins, Mike Hawthorn & Wolfgang von Trips and Luigi Musso & Olivier Gendebien. Aston Martin were represented by Stirling Moss & Tony Brooks and Carroll Shelby & Roy Salvadori, each team driving the two DBR1’s that had been shipped over from England. Of course, the event was attended by Porsche, although with the change in engine classification the 2000cc cars were no real match against the 3 litre race cars. Other manufacturers included Lotus, Jaguar, Triumph, Austin Healey, Alfa Romeo and Fiat Arbarth.
According to Wikipedia, the race finished, with Collins and Hill, winning almost a lap ahead of their team-mates Musso and Gendebien. The winning pair in their Scuderia Ferrari took an impressive victory having completed 200 laps after 12 hours of driving. They covered 1,040 miles, averaging a speed of 86.501 mph. Second place went to the second Ferrari, albeit one lap adrift. The podium was completed by the works Porsche of Schell and Seidel who were seven laps behind the winners.
This poster tells us that in this race, Schell and Seidel took first place in the S2 class, Second place in the index ratings and third overall in the race, only losing to 3 litre cars. The poster also acknowledges von Hanstein’s and Linge’s own success in the Gran Turismo race again being the first 2 litre car to finish, with an overall race standing of third place. The win helped launch Porsche to an American marketplace.
How much is an original 1958 12 hours of Sebring Porsche poster worth?
Porsche cars! You either love them or love them! The Porsche 911 is one of the most desirable cars in the world. It’s a design classic. The sports car has been in continuous production since 1963 and after five decades, it’s appearance has changed very little since its inception. How many automobiles or any other kind of product can you say that about? The Porsche 911 today is still essentially, the same design that made its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1963, more than 50 years ago. And it still sells! It is the perfect example of the age-old adage that says ‘if it ain’t broke – don’t fix it’.
When the Porsche victory posters were originally produced they were intended to be short-term, constantly changing promotional items. They were displayed in Porsche showrooms and workshops across the globe. Now, the posters have become much sought-after collector’s pieces by poster collectors and loyal Porsche enthusiasts with a passion for the iconic sports cars. The demand for original Erich Strenger posters is considerable. It’s also fair to say that his later photographic or photomontage posters don’t command as high a price as those containing his paintings.
At the time of listing (2019) an original copy of this fantastic Sebring 1958 victory poster was listed on an online poster site with a guide price between $5,000 to $15,000! At $15,000 you are talking about being able to buy a real, second-hand Porsche! You need deep pockets for some other Strenger designed posters as well. For example, we tracked down a 1980s reprint of his 1966 EHCC (Grand Touring) Porsche 911 poster and that sold in 2021 for over $3,000. We’re not able to give a definitive price on an original copy, but if a relatively modern reprint now commands over $3,000, exactly how much would an original be worth? Another of Strenger’s posters the 1964 Porsche World Championship poster featuring the race helmet was listed on an online poster site for just shy of $5,000.
There’s no argument from us, if you can find an original print and can afford to buy it, you’re on to a winner. There’s nothing like owning an original vintage poster and they often make a great investment. Chances are in just a few years you’ll be able to sell it for more than you paid for it. Unfortunately, for most of us, an investment, even at the entry-level prices of the collectible poster isn’t even close to being a possibility. This is where our stunning high-quality reproductions come into their own. They cost a fraction of an original and look absolutely fantastic when they’re framed and hung on your living room wall.
If this Porsche 911 gets you’re motor running, get into gear, rev your engines, and race over to that buy button! You’re on to a winner!
