Jerry Seinfeld may be known for being one of funniest comedians in the business, but those in the auto industry also recognize him as one of the most famous Porsche->ke1 collectors in the world. The star of the legendary sitcom bearing his name reportedly owns up to 50 Porsche models from a number of different eras. It’s laughable to think that Seinfeld’s collection of Porsches is so impressive that he can auction off 16 of his Porsches and still have a collection that’s the envy of every auto collector in the business.

This isn’t a joke. Jerry Seinfeld really is auctioning off a part of his massive auto collection at the Amelia Island Auction on March 11, 2016 in Florida. In addition to the 16 Porsches, he’s also auctioning off a 1960 Volkswagen Beetle and a 1964 Volkswagen Camper, two old school VWs->ke94 that are expected to get serious bids themselves.

But, the real prizes here are the Porsche models, some of which will probably net bids in the seven figures. Without jumping into every one of the 16 Porsches, a few do stand out for obvious reasons. There’s the 1966 Porsche 911, a card-carrying member of the first-generation 911 models that have come to be known today as the 911 Classics. There’s also the 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 IROC RSR, one of only 15 models in existence. The car traces its origin to 1973 when Roger Penske ordered 15 911 Carreras->ke574 that Porsche built specifically for the International Race of Champions (IROC).

How about the 1973 Porsche 917/30 Can-Am Spyder, arguably the most powerful Porsche sports car->ke506 racer to have ever been built? A lot of people may be too young to remember, but the 917/30 packed a twin-turbocharged, 5.4-liter, 12-cylinder engine that could produce as much as 1,200 horsepower. It really was the wildest race car for the wildest racing series of its time.

Then there’s the coup de grâce of the collection, which is saying a lot considering the other Porsche models that haven’t been mentioned. It’s a 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder, a car that has proven to be a million-dollar seller at an auction setting. In fact, one of its brethren sold for a staggering $3.685 million at the same venue back in 2012. That was four years ago. Care to imagine what Seinfeld’s haul is going to be on this car alone?

Continue after the jump to read the full story.

Why it matters

The obvious question here is this: why exactly is Jerry Seinfeld auctioning off all these classic Porsche models? Someone brought that question up to Seinfeld himself and this was his answer: “I’ve never bought a car as an investment. I don’t really even think of myself as a collector. I just love cars. And I still love these cars. But it’s time to send some of them back into the world, for someone else to enjoy, as I have.”

That’s a nice way of putting it and for someone who has quite the auto collection, there is a lot of truth to that statement. Seinfeld, after all, isn’t after the money considering how much gets from NBC and Sony these days. This is about one man who has thoroughly enjoyed owning these cars and plans to share them with another auto collector who might still be dreaming of owning a 550 Spyder, a 1957 356A Speedster, or a 2000 Porsche Carrera GT Prototype. Seinfeld is letting go of some of his prized pieces in part because he wants others to know the feeling of owning any one of these classics.

I’m a collector myself, although my collection doesn’t even come close to approaching that of Jerry Seinfeld. Bu,t I do know what the “thrill of the chase” feels like. There’s an indescribable rush that happens when you take ownership of a piece, be it a car or a toy, that you’ve been waiting your whole life to own.

That’s what this is about, and I couldn’t prouder of Jerry Seinfeld for having this kind of attitude. He’s owned them. He’s loved them. He’s had fun with them. Now it’s time for somebody else to do the same thing. As for the people who end up with these Porsches, enjoy them as much as you can and for the love of Stuttgart, please take care of them like the treasures that they are.

1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 IROC RSR

Read our full review on the 1974 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 IROC RSR here.