He learned to drive in a Porsche 901 with chassis number 35. Since then, Jeff Zwart has driven and photographed hundreds of sports cars—and won Pikes Peak eight times.

by Eric Lund

At Rennsport Reunion in California, there was an opportunity to sit down with Pikes Peak winner, photographer, and Porsche enthusiast Jeff Zwart. Photo: Andreas Lundberg.

Do you remember those candy discs called flying saucers that melted in your mouth, releasing a sour powder that fizzed on your tongue for a second or two? That's how most of Instagram feels. It gives you a quick jolt, you scroll on, and all you're left with is an odd aftertaste, like a dry wafer.

Many “Instagrammers” are skilled at creating polished exteriors, but surprisingly few have anything substantial to offer. However, there are accounts that have both a sleek appearance and a solid foundation. In that regard, Jeff Zwart has a significant advantage:

1. He is a professional photographer, filmmaker and director. 2. He competes in rally and has won the Pikes Peak Hill Climb eight times. 3. He owns a collection of classic Porsche cars. 4. He lives in an extraordinarily beautiful location. 5. He travels extensively for work and to attend exciting events, such as the Rennsport Reunion at Laguna Seca in California. 6. On this day, he’s wearing a work shirt with a "Legend" patch embroidered on the right arm.

Born in 1955, he has long been a well-known name in American car circles. In Europe, he is not as widely recognized, but YouTube offers many filmed glimpses into Jeff Zwart's life and work. Some of them are linked further down on this page. Photo: Andreas Lundberg.

Simply put, Jeff Zwart doesn’t need to go out of his way to make his Instagram account exciting to follow, especially since social media isn't his main focus—just a fun side project for someone who has dedicated his life to creating images. For the rest of us, the glimpses he shares offer a fascinating insight into the everyday life and high-octane history of cars.

Just a few hundred meters from the table where we’re seated, Jeff’s Porsche 906 stands. He’s owned it since 1996, and this weekend he's competing in one of the many classes that rotate at the Rennsport Reunion. Considering that a similar 906 sold for over $2.2 million in spring 2024, it's not an obvious choice to risk the small fiberglass car in a battle at Laguna Seca. But Jeff Zwart doesn't see it that way.

"I don’t worry about my cars or their value; the foundation of my collection is that I can drive the cars wherever and whenever I want. They don’t have to be spotless, and as you may have seen on Instagram, I have winter tires for all of them. Where I live, no chemicals are used for de-icing, which makes me quite fortunate."

The Porsche 906, also known as the Carrera 6, was the six-cylinder successor to the 904 Carrera GTS. A total of 65 examples of the homologation version are believed to have been built between 1966 and 1967, and Jeff Zwart’s example (pictured) has chassis number 906-109. Ferdinand Piëch, who later became the top executive of the VW Group, was responsible for its development. Photo: Eric Lund.

Winter and slippery roads don’t stop an outing with a canoe on the roof of a 1953 356 pre-A. Not an unusual sight on Jeff Zwart's Instagram account. Photo: Jeff Zwart / Porsche.

Jeff Zwart’s property is located high up in the Colorado mountains, "at the end of a 15-kilometer-long road." The distance to civilization is perfect for running errands with one of the vintage cars. Stationary trophies don't seem to be his style; regularly using the seven or eight classics in his collection benefits the health of both the cars and their owner. Check out, for example, the video Piëch to Peak (at the bottom of this page), where Jeff and some friends take their Porsche 906’s on a long road trip.

For over a decade, he owned one of the Porsche models often considered the most difficult to maintain: the 959. For instance, the sequential turbochargers require deep knowledge for proper calibration, and the "active," adjustable four-wheel drive would have needed the processing power of the 2020s to function perfectly.

"I loved approaching the car; it really felt special. When you closed the door, the feeling was completely different because it wasn't made of steel like a regular 911. You really wanted to drive the car and feel the turbos push you into the seat. At the same time, everything happened so smoothly and pleasantly, never violently. My wife and I used to go on long trips with it."

“Putting on miles and risking stone chips on a Porsche 959 Sport? Not many would even think of doing that...”

Jeff’s 959 was also in the Sport variant, of which only 29 were made. (You can one of the other examples in this E11 roadtest article, unfortunately only in Swedish so far) Unlike the "regular" 959 Komfort, the 959 Sport does not have height-adjustable suspension, which means one of the potential, complicated failure points is absent. But it also means that his red 959 Sport was even more unique—hardly something the average car collector would consider putting miles on and risking stone chips.

Perhaps it was his upbringing that laid the foundation for Jeff Zwart's unpretentious relationship with exclusive cars. Many of us car enthusiasts may feel a connection to certain brands or products, but few can demonstrate a relationship with Porsche’s cars as long and profound as his. In 1964, Jeff’s father bought a new, gray 356 C. Two weeks later, he took the family on a trip to the Indianapolis 500, coincidentally on Jeff’s ninth birthday.

Three years later, Jeff’s father fulfilled his dream of owning a 911 when he “bought the cheapest one he could find.” It happened to be a Bali Blue 901, built in September 1964 and with chassis number 35. In plain terms, it was one of the very earliest 911/901s, and it was in this car that Jeff learned to drive at the age of 15.

"My dad probably didn’t realize what a unique car he had bought; it just happened to be one he could afford. It became our family car; my mom drove it to work, and I often drove it once I got my license. In today’s perspective, it’s really special, and I wish the car had been preserved, but after my dad sold it, it was stolen and probably dismantled for parts."

A unique original photo: a young Jeff Zwart with his father Robert “Bob” Zwart and the family’s blue Porsche 901 with chassis number 35. **Photo published with permission from** **D. Asahina** **© (all rights reserved).**

That Porsche cars would become both a livelihood and a sporting tool for him was something Jeff Zwart could not have predicted as a young man in California. True, he bought his first own Porsche at 18—the yellow 914/6 seen in another video clip below—and he still has it today.

"Some cars are special, but I’m always curious about new things," Jeff says about why he sold his 959 Sport, for example. But no matter how many cars he has owned, it’s still a trickle compared to all the ones he has driven, raced—and photographed. In his early adult years, Jeff Zwart lived in Europe, worked at a veterinary clinic, and aimed to study veterinary medicine in Germany. Weekends were spent visiting racing events at various tracks in the country.

"I wanted to race but didn’t know how to get started, and I didn’t have the right conditions to become a mechanic. But I noticed that those who got closest to the track were the photographers. I also had an interest in photography from home, so it was a natural fit."

After just a few years, he had shelved his veterinary plans and established himself as one of Road & Track’s most notable photographers. Such a career pivot is a rare privilege, but Jeff Zwart's life has been an almost unbelievable sequence of events. He has had the luck and skill to be present at many special moments. For instance, when the first test drive of the Porsche 959 took place in Germany in 1986, it was Jeff Zwart behind the camera (and Dennis Simanaitis and Paul Frère at the typewriter, events described in my 959 article).

Once upon a time, it was the Canon New F1 for photo assignments around the world. Nowadays, Jeff Zwart takes most of his photos with his mobile phone; artistry isn’t in the equipment. Check out his Instagram account. Photo: Eric Lund.

"Road & Track sent me to Weissach, and we took photos at 200 miles per hour [just over 320 km/h, ed. note]. You can imagine what such an experience meant for a young photographer; it was pretty exciting to sit in the back seat of a 959 on the Autobahn. A big moment. When I much later had the opportunity to buy a 959 Sport, it really lived up to my expectations... especially since the 959 was developed for Group B, and in Group B, all my rally idols had competed."

His interest in car racing was deeply rooted, but Jeff Zwart had no realistic expectations of participating himself. Not until another car magazine sent him on a special assignment: to participate in and write about several driving courses at different racetracks. There, it turned out that Jeff not only had a natural talent for image composition—but also for driving.

"They said I should do something with my talent, but I replied that I didn’t know how to go about it. It still ended with me starting to drive Formula Ford, and I went on to represent one of the driving schools in the Pro Formula Ford series. At the same time, it was really rallying that attracted me the most, and one of my best friends happened to be Rod Millen, who was the U.S. rally champion."

By then, filming rather than still photography had become an important source of income, and when advanced driving was needed in front of the camera, it was often Rod that Jeff hired. It ended with Rod Millen building a Mazda rally car for Jeff, and from there, his path was set.

A feature on Jeff Zwart in the magazine American Photographer from 1987. A license plate befitting an action photographer. Original photo: Jeff Zwart.

"Rallying turned out to suit me very well, and Pikes Peak had always been a goal. My first year I performed well, and in 1994 I competed there for the first time with a Porsche and won the open class. Since then, I have raced there with 14 different Porsches and won eight times."

In recent years, he has competed with a particularly special model: the reinterpretation of the 935, produced in 77 units and not actually intended for competition. But, of course, it drives exceptionally well (see one of the video clips below). Jeff Zwart is also one of the few who have raced and won in all three variants of Pikes Peak: from 1916 to 2002, the entire 20-kilometer course was gravel, then parts of the road were paved, and since 2012 it has been asphalt from start to finish.

"Of course, I miss the gravel era; I love driving when the car moves under me. In 2010, I broke the record with a margin with a GT3 Cup when it was partly gravel and partly asphalt, and since then I have also won on full asphalt. I also compete in the Colorado Hill Climb Championship with a Cup car. In that championship, many have stopped driving Pikes Peak since the road was paved.”

Jeff's love for gravel roads is evident when he describes the sensation of the car moving beneath the driver, how it can be balanced at high speeds on loose surfaces, and how the interaction between car and driver is a pleasure that never gets old. He only partly agrees with the notion that the rear-heavy weight distribution of the Porsche 911 makes it difficult to drive.

Over the years, there were more commercial jobs and fewer journalistic assignments. Jeff Zwart and his company have produced hundreds of commercials for a wide range of car companies. Photo: Jeff Zwart / Porsche.

“Early 911s can be somewhat challenging to drive on regular roads, but at its core, the 911, especially on loose surfaces, is actually very favorable. It turns in nicely and is easy to guide around corners. Thanks to the engine’s placement at the very back, the 911 also has excellent grip—once you get the car turning, a large portion of the weight is over the rear wheels. So even if the first models were a bit lively and oversteered on country roads, the 911 is perfect for rallying.”

As mentioned, Jeff Zwart doesn’t just drive classic Porsches of all kinds (including a tractor), but he also keeps up with contemporary models. Lately, his Instagram account often features a blue 911 Dakar, and over the years, he has driven nearly every version of the model.

“With modern 911s, none of the old problems remain; I’d say it’s one of the most neutrally balanced car models out there. It’s amazing how the engineers seem to have shifted the balance forward without changing the engine’s position.”

Jeff behind the wheel of his 356-C in Seal Beach, one day on the way home from school. His friend took the photo from a Chevrolet Vega, which is visible in the hubcap’s reflection. **Photo published with permission from** **D. Asahina** **© (all rights reserved).**

Of course, it would be surprising if Jeff Zwart, a guest of honor at Porsche’s own racing celebration, were to criticize the cars’ driving characteristics. However, during his long career, he has undoubtedly had plenty of opportunities to choose something else for both street use and racing if he hadn’t been satisfied. For someone who learned to drive in a 911 and spent much of his youth behind the wheel of a 356, it’s perhaps no surprise that these compact, rear-heavy sports cars feel like an extension of his own senses.

You rarely see Jeff himself in photos on his Instagram account. He doesn't chase likes with flashy self-promotion. Instead, his Bernese Mountain Dogs are often featured, their ears flapping in the wind as they accompany him on his outings (though the most well-known of them, Jezzebel, recently crossed the rainbow bridge). And then, of course, there are the cars. He doesn’t flood the account with images, but he gives us a glimpse of how the vehicles are used—and how stunning they look against the backdrop of Colorado’s mountains.

For an old car journalist in Sweden, the combination of skilled driving and beautiful imagery is inspiring to follow. Jeff Zwart's story as a photographer and sports car driver is likely a dream scenario for many of us. And following his Instagram account is like indulging in high-quality candy: it contains no unnecessary additives and never leaves a strange aftertaste. | e11 |