“Johan, what kind of car do you think I should buy?” asked Jim Delwiche, looking at his ten-year-old grandson. He then narrowed down the choices: “A Porsche or a Corvette?”

Little Johan-Frank Dirickx’s answer would have a lasting impact on his life. “My grandfather drove a British sports car – but didn’t feel it was practical for everyday use,” says Dirickx. “That moment would change everything.” Anyone who’s visited Dirickx’s collection in Antwerp, Belgium, knows at once which sports car manufacturer he ultimately chose. The spacious, brightly lit garage houses around 50 Porsche models, all lined up neatly on special platforms.

It was his grandfather who first began purchasing the cars, guided by his grandson’s instinct. “The first 2.0-liter 911 Targa S was followed by a 2.2-liter 911 S and then a 2.4-liter S,” recalls Dirickx. “When a bright-yellow Carrera RS 2.7 joined the ranks, I realized I was officially addicted to the 911.” The big moment came when Dirickx passed his driver’s test – and was given access to the ignition keys. If he’d required such a thing, this moment could be referred…