While the name Ernst Paulsson is unfamiliar to latter-day sports car enthusiasts, he was an up-and-coming figure when a racing accident tragically cut his career short at age twenty-five. Paulson, described as among Sweden’s best young drivers of the day, was competing in an event in 1965 when his Elva-Porsche collided with another entrant. The Elva’s minimal roll-over hoop wasn’t tall enough to protect him from severe head injuries. Sadly, following the accident, he never drove again. 

Prior to racing the Elva, Paulsson was successful in an Abarth Carrera but also owned this 1960 Porsche 356B Super 90 coupe. Its factory Kardex says it was delivered new to Swedish distributor Scania Vabis on October 6, 1960, finished in Signal Red and Paulsson took ownership a few days later. It appears to have been last registered in the 1970s and was then simply parked under a makeshift outdoor shed in northern Sweden and left to deteriorate. 

In 2016, it was discovered by Swedish muscle-car magazine Gasoline, whose editors decided to bring it back to life. Knowing nothing of its past ownership at that point, the magazine partnered with a Stockholm auto restoration school and a speed shop known for building American-style hot rods to rebuild the car. Progress reports were published on a regular basis, and readers soon provided a historical context. The goal was to properly rebuild the chassis, but retain the body’s patina. The badly rusted floors and some other panels were replaced and a new gas tank with a through-the-hood racing gas tank filler was fabricated. The body was pretty much left as found, although some severely rusted areas were creatively patched. A special coating was applied to the “rusted areas” to preserve its special appearance. The shop also added hood and engine lid straps, hand-painted logos, pinstriping, and a racing number. An engine acquired with the car, a replacement unit believed to be from a 1964 356 C 1600, is described as having been rebuilt and running well. 

Real Super 90s are rare and desirable, and this example’s fascinating story and patina certainly lend to its allure. The car has been the visual star of the consignor’s collection and has attracted lots of attention from visitors of his collection.