Photos courtesy RM Sotheby’s
An incorrect engine and older restoration contribute to a disappointing result
Chassis number DK28 was one of the handful of WD Denzel 1300s supplied new by Auto Portuguesa. This example was registered on April 15, 1954, to first owner Mr. Joaquim Filipe Nogueira, with the license plate “FH-20-49.” Nogueira was a famous Portuguese racing driver and found success with his new Denzel, competing in 13 events in 1954.
For 1955, Nogueira went on to race a Porsche 550 Spyder and a host of Ferraris. By February, he had parted ways with his Denzel, selling it to Renato Azevedo. Changing hands again in January 1956, the Denzel was acquired by José Teixeira, who had racing driver Daniel Magalhaes drive it with great success for the season. Come the end of 1956, Magalhaes had purchased chassis DK28 and he continued to race in 1957. He sold the car to fellow Portuguese racer Rui Marinho de Lemos on October 24, 1961. This Denzel remained in Portugal throughout the 1960s, and every owner is documented up to January 14, 1999, when chassis DK28 was registered by the vendor.
Remaining in his care for over 27 years, this 1954 WD Denzel 1300 presents an extremely rare opportunity to own one of the 65 examples of Wolfgang Denzel’s answer to the Porsche 356. This example has fabulous Portuguese period competition history and, above all else, fully known ownership from new. Furthermore, the car still sports its first registration plate that was issued back in May 1954. At some point, the car’s engine has been replaced with a factory-exchange Volkswagen unit, a common modification for air-cooled motors and especially for those that have been raced.
(Introductory description courtesy of RM Sotheby’s.)
