Week 37: Porsche 911 GT2

Going back some 25 or more years ago, I had stubbornly told myself that I would know I had "made it" when I was driving a black Porsche 911.

I don't feel that way now, and I'm not certain why I selected that particular car (the diecast pictured above is a 911 GT2, which didn't debut until 1994, but the 911 Turbos go back all the way to 1963), but that became my symbol.

In truth, I have generally not been motivated by material possessions and now feel that stuff in general is often more of a burden, but that symbol of the black Porsche 911 failed to acknowledge my lukewarm response to possessions. That was the car I wanted. That was the car that said success.

Over the years the symbol eventually hardened up like a Play Doh pizza to become less of a symbol of what I actually wanted to more of a symbol of what I once wanted, a kind of materialistic caricature (car icature?) of old arbitrary markers of success.

Finding this Hot Wheels car was satisfying to me because while I still love the recognizable European look of the Porsche, I realized I no longer saw success as measurable by what I or anyone else own. Hey, I thought, maybe I have learned a thing or two over the years.

For some reason, having let go of this car as a symbol of success made acquiring its diecast persona even more rewarding -- the enjoyment was pure without feelings of regret, frustration or judgment.

I like that.

Now, my little Hot Wheels is a symbol of symbols, a toy to enjoy but not covet, an understanding of the ebb and flow of material success, a reminder of growth. All that in a shiny little sports car. A shiny little sports car I can hold in my hand.

Now that is a lot of value for $1.07 with tax. Maybe the Porsche 911 was a symbol of success after all.


Photo of my youthful dream car by Phil Pekarcik. Tell me you're not impressed with the reflections.