Don Meluzio — The Man Who Saved The Porsche 901 Prototype

by Mike Gulett –

Don Meluzio died recently. He was a friend of mine and the long time president of the Iso & Bizzarrini Owner’s Club where I first met him. He was generous with his knowledge and time and man did he love cars. Don helped me in my search for my

own Bizzarrini GT 5300 more than 20 years ago. He allowed a car inspector that I hired to visit him at his home in Pennsylvania and take detailed photos of his own Bizzarrini GT 5300 because almost no car inspectors in the US were familiar with a Bizzarrini at that time, or even now. I also spent 10 terrific days with him in Italy on an Iso & Bizzarrini adventure in 2013.

As a tribute to Don I thought writing about one of his most important classic car success stories would be a good idea instead of an obituary. He is well known as the person who found and saved the Porsche 901 Prototype (chassis number 13327) when everyone, even Porsche, thought all of the 901 prototypes had been destroyed.

It is certainly the oldest Porsche “911” in existence. And we owe its survival to Don Meluzio.

The Birth of the Porsche 901

In 1963 Porsche unveiled the successor to the Porsche 356 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Internally designated “901,” the new car represented a major step forward: a longer wheelbase, a more refined chassis, a modern body style, and, most importantly, a new flat-six engine that would become one of the most long lasting motors in automotive history.

But before the world came to know it as the Porsche 911, the 901 existed as a series of prototypes and early production cars—hand-built, experimental, and still evolving.

A Name Change

Shortly after its debut, Porsche was forced to rename the 901 due to a trademark dispute with Peugeot, which held rights to three-digit model names with a zero in the middle. Thus, the 901 became the 911, and the handful of early cars bearing the original designation quietly faded into obscurity.

Many prototypes (maybe 11) were created—tested, modified, and eventually destroyed (or so it was thought). At the time, they were not seen as future collectibles, but as stepping stones toward the production cars.

Which is why this story is so fascinating.

Don Meluzio’s Discovery

In the late 20th century, American Porsche enthusiast and car collector Don Meluzio came across what most would have dismissed as a derelict, rusted shell. It was incomplete, worn, and far removed from the sports car that had debuted in Frankfurt decades earlier.

But Meluzio recognized something others did not. He told me that one thing in particular caught his attention – the way the sunroof opened and closed was different than any 911 he had ever seen. A light bulb went off in his head and he proceeded to acquire this important relic.

Through careful research and an instinct for authenticity, he identified the car as one of the earliest surviving 901 prototypes—a direct link to the 911. At a time when even Porsche itself had not fully cataloged or preserved all of its early experimental cars, Meluzio understood the historical weight of what he had found. He also spent some time at Porsche convincing them he had found a lost 901 Prototype that they thought had been destroyed.

The Long Road to Restoration

Restoring a prototype is not like restoring a production car. There are no manuals or definitive specifications, and often no clear “correct” end state. Every detail must be researched, interpreted, and sometimes rediscovered.

Meluzio undertook this challenge with patience and rigor. He sourced rare parts, studied period photographs, and worked to preserve as much originality as possible. The goal was not to over-restore, but to respect the car’s history—including its imperfections.

His work transformed the 901 from a forgotten discarded hunk of metal into an important piece of automotive archaeology and what is believed to be the oldest “911” in history, one of the most popular sports cars ever made.

Why It Matters

This Porsche 901 Prototype won the Porsche 911 Street Car Class at Amelia Island in 2013 and best in class at Pebble Beach in the Porsche 911 Road Car Class and the award for “Most Historically Significant Automobile” at Pebble Beach that same year.

Today, the Porsche 901 Prototype stands as a bridge between concept and legend. The 911 would go on to become an iconic sports car. Without early prototypes like this one, that lineage would be incomplete. And without people like Don Meluzio, some of those links might be lost entirely.

A Quiet Hero in Automotive History

Classic car culture celebrates designers, engineers, and racing drivers. But preservationists—those who recognize significance before the market does—can play an equally vital role. Don Meluzio was one of those people.

He didn’t just find and restore a car; he rescued a moment in time. He put his own time and money on the line to save something important. His work ensures that enthusiasts, historians, and future generations can see, study, and appreciate the origins of the 911—not as an abstract idea, but as a physical, imperfect, and profoundly human creation. This prototype is unlike any other Porsche, it has unique body panels and experimental air flow features inside the cabin plus maybe others I do not know about. It also has something I have never seen before – a round gas cap opening instead of the usual oval opening on a 911. This is one way you can tell from the exterior that this is not a normal 911.

Conclusion

The Porsche 901 Prototype is more than an early version of a famous car. It is a reminder that history can be fragile—and that sometimes, it survives not because of institutions, but because one person cared enough to save it.

In the quiet persistence of Don Meluzio, the first chapter of the 911 story was given a second life.

May Don rest in peace and may his memory be a blessing to his family and friends.

Let us know what you think in the Comments.

Research and some text by ChatGPT 5.2. Unless otherwise noted all photos by Mike Gulett.