Porsche’s first model - the 356 - was no one hit wonder. From a humble workshop in Gmund Austria to a thriving works in Zuffenhausen, Porsche produced approximately 76,000 of its Volkswagen inspired sports car. Although most 356s are over sixty years old, many continue to grace roads all around the world.

356 customers were wooed by hand-built construction and the remarkable reliability of Porsche’s first sports car. Hollywood megastars Sean Connery, James Dean and Steve McQueen all owned Porsche 356s. Back in the rural surroundings of the Scottish Borders, a farmer by the name of Ian-Scott Watson acquired a second hand 1955 Porsche 356 1600 Super. Like any machinery purchased by a member of the Scottish agricultural community, Scott-Watson made sure he got his money’s worth with ‘UUL 442’. This 75-horsepower machine would have to provide Scott-Watson with daily transportation, compete in twenty-eight races, and travel all over Europe.

A benevolent figure in Scottish motorsport history, Scott-Watson is best known for his instrumental role in launching the career of Scotland’s greatest ever driver – Jim Clark. Following a few outings for Clark in a quirky DKW Sonderklasse, Scott-Watson’s upgrade to a Porsche set his great friend on the path to greatness.

Clark’s first race in the Porsche was a pivotal moment in the Scot’s career. On the fifth of October 1957, Scott-Watson entered the Porsche for Clark to compete in the inaugural BMRC trophy at Charterhall. Clark raced with a team of local farmers known as ‘Ecurie Agricole. Taking liberal inspiration from the Ferrari prancing horse, Scott-Watson designed the Ecurie Agricole logo with the horse replaced by the ‘tractor rampant’!

*Photograph courtesy of Jim Clark Trust*

‘Jimmy’ swiftly mastered the Porsche, clinching the BMRC trophy in dominant fashion. Watching closely from the side lines, was the owner of the mothballed Border Reivers race team, Jock McBain. Clark’s performance peaked McBain’s interest and a meeting was duly arranged to discuss the return of the Border Reivers to the racetrack. Following the meeting, efforts focused on finding a car that Clark could compete with on a grander scale. The trusty Porsche was already earning its keep.

Once again, the utilitarian Porsche was dispatched to Cambridge to collect the team’s new challenger - a Jaguar D-Type. With no race transporter at their disposal, Clark drove the purebred racer back to Scotland, while Scott-Watson kept pace in the Porsche.

The Border Reivers were back in business with Clark at the wheel and Scott-Watson as team manager.

One of Clark’s early outings in the Border Reivers Jaguar was at Full Sutton in Yorkshire. Preparing for the drive south on Good Friday 1958, a frozen-up farm lorry and snow nearly thwarted the D-Type’s debut. An open top race car with hopelessly dim headlights, the D-Type wasn’t necessarily intended for road use, particularly in wintery Scottish weather. While most of their contemporaries decided to stay at home, Clark and Scott-Watson forged south into the snowy night. Clark behind the wheel of the D-Type, with Scott-Watson running ahead in UUL 442 to provide illumination!

In the early hours of the morning, the Borderers finally arrived at a frosty Full Sutton. Once again, the little white Porsche’s multitude of talents came to Clark and Scott-Watson’s aid. Long before the days of business class flat beds on airlines, Porsche 356 seats conveniently reclined flat, allowing a weary traveller to recharge their batteries. This feature was certainly welcome to two exhausted farmers!

Recharged by a few hours kip in the Porsche, Jim Clark jumped into the D-Type and set the first ever 100mph lap recorded in a sports car in the British Isles, generating much publicity in the process.

A month later, the Border Reivers descended on the continent and the notorious Spa circuit in Belgium. Despite pre-warning from David Murray of Ecurie Ecosse, Scott-Watson persuaded Clark to take on world class drivers like Olivier Gendebien and Carroll Shelby on one of the fastest circuits on earth. It would be quite a test for the 22-year-old Kilmany-born rookie.

Once again, the little Porsche pulled double duty. Not only would UUL 442 provide comfortable transportation to and from the Ardennes, but also put to work in the GT Specials under 2 litre support race. Clark ran well in damp conditions, which the Porsche relished. However, as the track dried, the AC Bristols proved unstoppable and Clark faded to fifth.

In the main event, self-preservation commanded Jim’s mind behind the wheel of the intimidating D-Type. Bemused by the risks taken by his competitors, the former Loretto School pupil showed maturity well beyond his years and drove to a fine eighth place amongst elite competition. Simply happy to have survived Spa in one piece, Clark and Scott-Watson climbed into the race worn Porsche for the first of many long drives home to Scotland.

Jim Clark’s triumphant performances with the Border Reivers D-Type and Scott-Watson’s Porsche continued to raise eyebrows throughout 1958. In true Porsche style, which persists today, the Stuttgart firm kept close watch on the competition exploits of their customers. Now aware of Clark’s exploits in a 356, Porsche sports director Huschke von Hanstein, invited Scott-Watson to the factory. After a tour of the factory, UUL 442 was whisked away for the full ‘works’ treatment. Three days later, Scott-Watson returned to Stuttgart following a tour of Bavaria in von Hanstein’s own 356. Scott-Watson’s 356 had been completely overhauled for the equivalent of £120.

Lotus frontman, Colin Chapman, was yet to witness the incredible Scottish rookie. At a test in October 1958, the Border Reivers travelled to Brands Hatch to sample the Lotus F2 car. Border Reiver’s owner, Jock McBain, believed F2 was the path that their young superstar should take. Clark wasn’t convinced.

Despite being totally uncomfortable with the tiny single seater’s ergonomics, Clark matched the pace of Lotus’ works drivers within ten laps of a previously unseen circuit. Convinced that this young hot shot would surely run out of luck or talent, Chapman prematurely pulled Clark out of the F2 Lotus.

Following some gentle persuasion from Scott-Watson, Chapman allowed Clark to run some laps in the pre-production Lotus Elite sports car. Clark immediately fell in love with the Elite and felt infinitely more comfortable than the ragged single seater.

Ambition and benevolence soon overwhelmed Ian Scott-Watson. Whilst offering to order a Lotus Elite for his great friend to race in 1959, there was just one condition. Clark would have to buy the Porsche, which he gladly did.

Over the next two years, Jim Clark travelled over 80,000 miles in UUL 442. Through every step of this great Scot’s meteoric rise to stardom, the loyal as a Labrador Porsche was there to carry him along the way.

For Ian Scott-Watson, watching his pal from the local young farmers club become a double world champion, 25-time Grand Prix winner and Indianapolis 500 victor must have been the greatest pleasure. At the root of this success was those formative years with the little Porsche 356. One feels Scott-Watson got his money’s worth with UUL 442!