The Story Behind the Photos
Vasek Polak Sr. is located on the right wearing glasses. He is pictured here along with his staff members and Porsche Spyders at his shop, later dealership, at 356 South Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach, California. This is the view from Longfellow looking North. Circa 1960.
Vasek Polak Collection celebrates Porsche racing heritage through storytelling, memorabilia, and expertise.
All text and photos populating the Vasek Polak website are curated by the Polak family from personal archives.
In 1956, Vasek Polak moved from New York to California in his Volkswagen van and opened a repair shop at 356 South Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach, California.
In 1959, this location became the first stand-alone Porsche dealership in the United States. In 1966 Vasek purchased the building at 199 Pacific Coast Hwy. in Hermosa Beach, CA. and moved the dealership to that location. The move was completed in 1967.
Vasek Polak Senior and mechanic Mila Sagner with Jack McAfee’s Porsche Spyder in Vasek’s shop at 356 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach, CA. In this period Jack was sponsored by Johnny Von Neumann’s distributorship Competition Motors. Vasek’s favorite racing number was 88 and he enjoyed a long partnership, strong friendship, and many victories with Jack.
The first stand-alone Porsche dealership in the United States, Vasek Polak Porsche, was located at 356 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach, CA. This is the view from Longfellow (looking NE) with Vasek’s Lotus Elite courtesy car and a Volkswagen Karmann Ghia parked on the street in front of the service area. Early 1960s.
Jack McAfee and Vasek Polak Sr., circa 1960. On the encouragement of Jack, Vasek moved to California from New York in the mid 1950’s in his Volkswagen van with a box of tools.