AN estimated 250 Porsches turned up at Beaulieu's National Motor Museum on Saturday - and one of them was helped on its way to a new home by Lord Montagu.

The cars were taking part in the Porsche 356 International Rally and headed through Hampshire after a stop-over at Brighton.

They came from as far afield as America. However, the limelight was taken by a 1960-built 356 which was presented by Porsche Cars' marketing director Geoff Turral to the Porsche Club of Great Britain. It was accepted on the club's behalf by Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, who paid tribute to the contribution to the world of motoring by Austrian designer Ferdinand Porsche.

Although Porsche's real passion was for the high-performance sports and racing cars, Lord Montagu said: "He had an enormous impact on the motor industry, with Daimlers and Volkswagens and an awful lot of Beaulieu's cars have had the influence of Porsche's hand on them."

In praising the enthusiasts who run the Porsche clubs and other clubs for other makes, he said: "They do play an important part in keeping the enthusiasm going and they do an excellent job.

"But in the case of Porsche, I don't think there is ever any danger of the marque being allowed to fade away."

The 356 will go on display alongside at the PCGB's headquarters at Cornbury House, Moreton in Marsh.

"There will be an opportunity for people to see it there from August onwards," said club chairman David Newton, who pointed out that the 356s were the first Porsches to be built.

In handing it over to Lord Montagu, Mr Turral said: "It cost £3,000 new in 1960 and fetched £7,615 when it was part-exchanged for a Volkswagen Golf in 1987. It is worth more than that now, but not a lot more. I would say that the Porsches here today would range in value from £10,000 to around £450,000."