In 1954, the newly expanded German military had a need for a domestically sourced, four-wheel drive, quarter-ton transport vehicle. Bids were solicited from Auto Union, Borgward, and a most unlikely third German supplier - Porsche. While Porsche's 597 exceeded the expectations of testers, its complexity and cost relegated it to also-ran status, forcing the manufacturer to recoup its investment by selling the "Jagdwagen," or "Hunter's Car," to affluent civilian buyers. Just 71 were built, and of those, 15 are thought to remain; on March 11, a 1958 Porsche Jagdwagen currently owned by Jerry Seinfeld will cross the auction stage in Amelia Island as part of the Jerry Seinfeld collection.

As explained by Jeroen Booij in issue 183 of Excellence, the Porsche magazine, the Porsche 597 can trace its roots back to a pair of earlier Ferdinand Porsche-designed military vehicles, the rear-drive Kübelwagen (which would later go on to inspire the Volkswagen Thing) and the amphibious, four-wheel-drive Schwimmwagen. During the Second World War, an estimated 55,000 Kübelwagens were built, along with 15,000 Schwimmwagens; given the NATO military buildup during the Cold War era, Ferry Porsche, Ferdinand's son, quite possibly envisioned a similar production run for the 597.

Just another Porsche-built military vehicle owned by Jerry Seinfeld getting sold, no big deal.