Sturgill Simpson Shows Off Restored John Prine Porsche
You might be surprised to learn the legendary folk songwriter John Prine owned a Porsche. You might be even more surprised to learn he bequeathed it to Sturgill Simpson upon his passing.
But after five decades of paying dues and all that hard work paying off, John Prine chose to treat himself to his dream car—a Porsche 911 Turbo in 2019. It wasn’t a brand new model mind you. It was a 2008. But it was said to be in mint condition, with barely any miles on it. If you’re having trouble picturing John Prine in a Porsche, you’re not alone. In fact, according to his wife Fiona, “…neither he nor I could get in or out of [it].”
That really didn’t really matter to John though. In typical John Prine fashion, it’s what he wanted, so he bought it, right around the time Dave Cobb came by Prine’s house with an engineer to capture the final song Prine ever recorded, “I Remember Everything” that is currently up for a Grammy award. Dave Cobb says the purchase of the Porsche “tells you where he was at. He was still ready to raise hell.”
Sturgill Simpson first revealed the story behind the car when he appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on November 10th, 2020. “I just recently became the new owner of his 2008 Porsche 911 turbo,” Sturgill told Colbert. When Colbert was taken by surprise by the idea of Prine owning a Porsche, Sturgill assured, “Oh he’s a total car guy. He had a bunch of old Cadillacs. The 911 was his bucket list dream car. It’s only got about 20,000 miles on it. It’s showroom.”
Sturgill understood this wasn’t just a Porsche 911 Turbo. This was John Prine’s Porsche 911 Turbo. “I like music and cars that go real fast. But I have three children, and I feel like I just had a fourth with the responsibility that comes with this thing. It’s bittersweet, but it will be something I treasure the rest of my life.”
Prine and Sturgill both shared an office together in Nashville in the same complex that David Ferguson’s The Butcher Shoppe recording studio was once located (closed now). The two performers were also close friends—close enough to where when John Prine passed away on April 7th, 2020, he bequeathed the Porsche to Sturgill Simpson.
But up until Friday evening (3-12), we’d never been allowed to lay eyes on the “Prine Porsche” as it will surely be known henceforth.
“I’ve put off posting about/sharing this for a long hot minute for various reasons, most of them falling under ‘personal life,'” Sturgill said. “But a lot of folks have asked for the deets after Colbert spilled the beans so who am I to deny you from such bad-assery?!? With generous help and assistance from Porsche Nashville, Ive spent the last five or six months (and a small fortune) restoring/refurbishing the ‘Prine Porsche’ to brand new/show room condition…complete mechanical/engine overhaul & steam cleaning, fresh paint & ceramic clear coat and bra, front lip spoiler, interior reconditioning/replaced leather, powder coated wheels, etc.”
Though the Prine Porsche was originally sold to us as being in mint condition, it appears Sturgill decided to go for The Works anyway. After all, the 2008 911 Turbo Cabriolet 997, Generation 1.5 is much more than just a Porsche. It’s John Prine’s Porshe, now owned by Sturgill Simpson, which will surely make the value of the thing spike, and ultimately land it in the category of a musical heirloom—and at some point perhaps in the future—a museum piece.
“Got this whip lookin’ like its about to go on a stealth mission bombing run,” Sturgill says. “John would shit his britches..and so would you if you were riding shotgun.”
Big Tex
March 13, 2021 @ 10:23 am
What in the world’s come over you?
What in heaven’s name have you done?
You’ve taken the Porsche that John Prine gave you.
And made it just like every other one.
trevistrat
March 13, 2021 @ 7:39 pm
But is there a flag decal on it?
Big Tex
March 14, 2021 @ 12:49 pm
Sorry, my son, but you’re too late in asking
Mr. Simpson’s repair man done tore it away
thegentile
March 15, 2021 @ 11:09 am
sturg could cure cancer and some of you’d still hate him for it. shame on him for cherishing and taking care of a gift.
Big Tex
March 15, 2021 @ 2:54 pm
Dear Abby, Dear Abby
The gentile is mad
He’s lashing out at me
‘Cause his mood is so bad
Every side he gets up on
Is the wrong side of bed
Instead of a Porsche
He deserves a Moped
Keith Harden
October 7, 2023 @ 6:05 pm
A toast my brother… peace love and music
Barbara Curley
March 13, 2021 @ 2:19 pm
John would love that comment.
Joseph Purshock
March 13, 2021 @ 3:38 pm
Should have left it original.
Paul Alge Moore
March 13, 2021 @ 2:54 pm
John would be proud that you liked it so much that you want to take good care of it. I think people are putting to much emphasis on keeping old things looking like hell. Like these 20,000 dollar beat to shit old guitars. Ill have a new one thanks Enjoy it Sturgill That what John would want
Blackh4t
March 13, 2021 @ 3:25 pm
Looks ready to lay strips of rubber down Broadway.
Good on him, legacies should be kept alive, not just kept as museum pieces.
Go make some stories in it.
Luckyoldsun
March 13, 2021 @ 3:41 pm
complete mechanical/engine overhaul & steam cleaning, fresh paint & ceramic clear coat and bra, front lip spoiler, interior reconditioning/replaced leather, powder coated wheels, etc
A man who’s seriously into collecting antique cars wrote that these “collector-restorers” like to “restore” a car to the point where not a single square inch on the exterior or interior surface of the vehicle–paint, chrome, leather, etc.–is original from the factory.
I think that guy was talking about Sturgill.
Johnny Too Bad
March 14, 2021 @ 7:57 pm
As someone who tends toward a neo-traditionalist, if not a fully purist outlook regarding such things, I would have likely kept the car in its original form. That said, I could make the argument that an engine refresh and a new coat of paint are value-added improvements that will extend the life, and therfore the enjoyment of the vehicle, and don’t necessarily reach the ship of Theseus-level changes of so many of today’s resto-mods. Long-winded way of saying I can live with the upgrades/improvements Sturgill made, even if I wouldn’t have made them myself.
Harpo
March 13, 2021 @ 3:56 pm
Enjoy Sturgill.
Kenneth L Davis
March 13, 2021 @ 4:33 pm
I expect the provenance of the car will be considered over the touch-up, down the line.
Brad Parker
March 13, 2021 @ 7:50 pm
Take the air cleaner off that thing and see what it’ll really do!
Dave Decker
March 13, 2021 @ 8:06 pm
I’d rather have the carpet have a slight stale spilled beer stench from when one slid from between my legs when I scared shit outta myself as the porche unloaded it’s overloaded ass as I misread a high speed set up for a low speed turn.
Some shit has to be lived.
Mike Honcho
March 15, 2021 @ 3:29 pm
That porche is all wheel drive. No longer a widowmaker.
Nobody's Home in '21
March 14, 2021 @ 2:05 pm
You know who leaves pissy Porsche comments? Folks that don’t own one. It was John’s and he left it to you, you lucky bastard.
It’s yours now, you run it however you want to. Just do us a favor and make sure you tip thru Philly on the back to life tour. We had tix to see you at The Met about April ’20 so we expect to see you soon. Plus we had tix to see John and Emmylou in June. Crappy year, but we will move on. Enjoy that ride!
Ronald Hagelund
March 14, 2021 @ 2:59 pm
wow…now that Truly is special…Love John Prine Like You more & more Sturgill Simpson…Luck Guy ahoy
Rickie Jon Connors
March 14, 2021 @ 3:27 pm
I just found out yesterday
That Sturgill goes to Mars
Every time he sits behind
The wheel of John Prine’s car
jjm
March 14, 2021 @ 8:03 pm
For all you critics know, the work Sturgill had done was what John wanted to do, himself, but didn’t have the time to do it.
JACOB W.
March 15, 2021 @ 2:35 pm
John Prine also left Jason Isbell his 2007 Stihl weed wacker with the words, “maybe this will help you cut the sh!+”.
Mike Honcho
March 15, 2021 @ 3:24 pm
A real car guy wouldn’t have bought a watercooled Porsche.
Dave Decker
March 15, 2021 @ 5:16 pm
Imagine that: a Porche with training wheels.
Bloody grocery-getter. Please don’t tell me it’s got AT.
Hank Charles
March 15, 2021 @ 8:44 pm
Man, I never thought so many people would have such strong opinions about how a 70 year old man picks out used cars, or whether a 12 year old, used 911 that was barely driven by its second owner should be a museum piece.
I do know that few would take on the burden of regularly maintaining a 10+ year old 911 – which is probably why it ended up where it did. Letting it collect dust in name of “preservation” would definitely be the cheaper option.
Dee
March 24, 2021 @ 9:25 am
Never met John prince but I’ve been a fan who listened to his music starting at the age of 11 I’m now 58 and it broke my heart the day he past he made a. Huge impact on my outlook on life i think he would tell you do what you want with it it’s yours
Edward Guinan
November 10, 2023 @ 11:44 am
Unfortunately I never got to see John perform live but listened to his music. Even when he wasn’t specifically singing about details of my life he was able to put his finger on a humanity we all share and make it feel oh so personal. His songs were seemly simple yet surprising profound. It hurt to hear of his passing. I consider him one of America’s great songwriters and singers.