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**Porschinelle** · 03-30-2015, 04:26 PM

**S.J.Szabo** · 03-31-2015, 09:50 AM

Crikey, that VW taxicab is uber cool. I wonder if there are some of those still running around across the pond. Does anyone know when they went out of production?

Come to think of it, I wonder if any have made it over here.

Wouldn't it be fine to drop a P-motor in one of those puppies.

You spin a fine, interesting thread, Mr.Porschinelle. It's none of my business of course, but it seems a shame to do such outstanding work under a pseudonym, but I'll take what I can get. Many thanks.

**JTR70** · 03-31-2015, 11:07 AM

Gerard, post a link to that video and let me try.
Justin

**Porschinelle** · 03-31-2015, 06:15 PM

my bPorschinelle

My Brasilian Puma certainly one of the beautifulest in the world : 680 kg 2L type 1 VW prepared by an ex_VW cup mecanic
2.7 RS real Fuchs wheels
Better than new

My last toy : a real 914 6 that we curently turning into a GT clone
2.2 S engine 180 HP

**Porschinelle** · 03-31-2015, 06:21 PM

Now back to serious things : The Rometsch-Merkel Porsche
This car is known for those who follow this topic since the beginning as being the first serious race car utilized by the Swiss pilot Heini Walter for the 1955 hill climb season

**Porschinelle** · 03-31-2015, 06:39 PM

Now back to the beginning
We are in Berlin in 1953
A group of race car fanatics known as :"Renngenmanshaft Berlin Halensee" which could be translated into Berlin Helensee(one part of Berlin) race team was very interested by the Porsche 550 spyder who was introduced some months before
We are in East Germany (ie the communist side of Germany) very poor
Although this race team was supported by a wealthy industrial called Friedrich Weber I don't thinck they had the money to buy a real 550
It was then decided to ask the east Germany coach builder Rometsch to manufacture a car based on Porsche technic
One of the team member called Berhardt Cappenberg who had worked for Porsche, followed the build
Originally this car was planned to be entered only in the East Germany car races where engine capacity was limited to 1100 cc
A real push rod Porsche engine was boughyt together with some other mechanical parts
The chassis was designed by Rometsch and the body was aluminium
This car was exensively race in East Germany in 1954 with three different pilots
Berhardt Cappenberg
Helmput Niedermayr and then Harry Merkel

**Porschinelle** · 03-31-2015, 07:03 PM

Re reading what I wrote above I notice a big mistake : The Rometsch Porsche chassis is not a Rometsch design but more basical a VW chassis as on his sport cars

**Porschinelle** · 03-31-2015, 07:12 PM

Now start the mystery :
Apparently Harry Merkel bought this car by the end of 1954 and sold it to Heini Walter
The 2 pictures already posted show that Harry Merkel car and Heini Walter are the same car
The pic of the Rometsch Porsche with the original front are very rare
Here the only other one I found :

**Porschinelle** · 03-31-2015, 07:17 PM

**Porschinelle** · 03-31-2015, 07:32 PM

**Porschinelle** · 03-31-2015, 07:41 PM

So the Rometsch Porsche was built with a 1100 cc Porsche engine to compell with the East Germany race rules, raced in several occasions including in Western Germany by Harry Merkel in the 1100 cc class
Sold early 1955 to Heini Walter as a 1100 cc
Entered by Heini Walter in the 1955 Swiss Hill climb championship
After having won the totality of the races he entered Heini Walter was disqualyfied for having raced a 1300 cc engine in the 1100 class
Heini Walter has always claim he had been screw by Merkel
So first mystery : Did the Merkel Porsche had ever a 1100 Porsche engine or was it a 1300 cc engine since the beginning ?
Now second mystery : Heini W

**Porschinelle** · 03-31-2015, 07:45 PM

Now second mystery : Heini Walter furious against Merkel has certainly asked him to buy back this car
What happened after is not very clear :
All the race pics where the Rometsch Porsche appear show a car with big differences with the original car