Looking for this car

smshirk · smshirk's Garage

I sold this car to a guy in PA in 2000 who later sold it to another guy in MI around 2003. I've been looking for it since 2005 to try and buy it back. IF anyone has seen it or happens to see it someday please let me know. VIN WP0EA0916CS161475

Jrboulder · 01-01-2011, 01:19 PM

1982? I will keep an eye out for it for you.

Jackson

smshirk · smshirk's Garage

Yes it's an 82. Thanks.

Jrboulder · 01-01-2011, 01:48 PM

A carfax might point you to the state and their DMV might be able to give you some good info

A930Rocket · 01-01-2011, 02:47 PM

I did a Google search of the VIN and from earlier posts, the OP had the Carfax listing the car as registered in MI last (2005?). A state trooper friend was unable to come up with an owner via the VIN as well.

smshirk · smshirk's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

I did a Google search of the VIN and from earlier posts, the OP had the Carfax listing the car as registered in MI last (2005?). A state trooper friend was unable to come up with an owner via the VIN as well.

That was the last time I've actively searched for it other than just watching autotrader, forums and such. I'm afraid it's been totalled or gone back to the faterland. I sunk a pile of money into the cAR, and had to sell it during a divorce for a huge loss. It had about 280 RWHP without the paxton blower, 350 with it, twin plug, FI, MAHLE P&C, rods, crank, cams, you name it. Even the AC worked to about 90 degrees. The guy I sold it to overfilled it with oil on his drive home, even though I explained in great detail how not to check the oil with the engine off. He called me about everyday for a couple of months and was supposed to have given me first dibs when he sold it, but he didn't find me in time. I bought a Weissach about 3 years ago but it's just not going to scratch that itch.

IMR-Merlin · 08:23 PM

All I can say on this is don't give up. The car that I bought this year was a car that I drove at the track in 1993 and offered to buy as a project in 1995.... The owner refused and even though the engine was a total loss in 1995, he vowed that he would rebuild it someday.

I found it at an impound lot this summer, 15 years later and scooped it up. Not the greatest deal of my life, but the nostalgic value is there.

Good luck with your search.

smshirk · smshirk's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by IMR-Merlin

All I can say on this is don't give up. The car that I bought this year was a car that I drove at the track in 1993 and offered to buy as a project in 1995.... The owner refused and even though the engine was a total loss in 1995, he vowed that he would rebuild it someday.

I found it at an impound lot this summer, 15 years later and scooped it up. Not the greatest deal of my life, but the nostalgic value is there.

Good luck with your search.

thanks I'm not. If it's still around it will show up someday

douglas bray · 01-01-2011, 10:34 PM

I've been looking everywhere for that car. Still can't find it.

Believe it or not I found this picture of me next to a similar ride back circa 1987 in NoVa. Good luck with the hunt. Would love for you to find her.

smshirk · smshirk's Garage

As a result of this thread I just found out who has been servicing the car for the last five years, and wrote the service manager a letter. Crossing my fingers that I get a response. Thanks for everyone's help. It has been in Ann Arbor all along. I can't figure out why the DMV check didn't work when a Rennlister MI trooper ran it for me a few years ago. Any way I will be able to contact the guy one way or another. There is a paid service that says it can look up DMV records, but I don't know whether it's a scam or not.

I've been running a similar thread once a year on RL for a long time. If I had run it here to begin with I wouldn't have bought my last three Porsches most likely!!

A930Rocket · 01-02-2011, 09:29 AM

Sounds like good news! Hopefully it will pay off now or soon. Keep us posted.

jsveb · jsveb's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by smshirk

If I had run it here to begin with I wouldn't have bought my last three Porsches most likely!!

So It is a good thing you didn't do it sooner...

I really hope you find it.

Best of luck.

Jesper

smshirk · smshirk's Garage

That's a good point, but I think I'll put some stuff up for sale just in case. I'm already garage challenged to say the least.

smshirk · smshirk's Garage

I not only found the car, but the current owner is willing to sell. I should be ecstatic except he wants too much for the car. He's asking 5k more than I sold it for 10 years ago, and while it's only about 14k miles older, it has a small oil leak and the valves haven't been adjusted since the last time I did it 25k ago. Other than that it is about in the same shape, or so I think. I am still thinking I will buy it, but I'm struggling with it. Any opinions? I guess it's time to sell my Weissach, motorcycle, and even the 968. All three will pay for it!

WPOZZZ · 01-03-2011, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smshirk

I not only found the car, but the current owner is willing to sell. I should be ecstatic except he wants too much for the car. He's asking 5k more than I sold it for 10 years ago, and while it's only about 14k miles older, it has a small oil leak and the valves haven't been adjusted since the last time I did it 25k ago. Other than that it is about in the same shape, or so I think. I am still thinking I will buy it, but I'm struggling with it. Any opinions? I guess it's time to sell my Weissach, motorcycle, and even the 968. All three will pay for it!

How much is he asking? Perhaps chasing a dream is where you should leave it if it is too much. I would hate for you to see her and she was not cared for the way you did. I sold my 79 turbo and it was tragic to see her wasting away with bird crap on it along with paint chips and scratches.

smshirk · smshirk's Garage

28k, It's way more than the car is worth to anyone else and for what the car is, but less than it cost me to build it, and I spent 20 getting to 300 RWHP in my Boxster engine on a car not worth 20, so I have a history of paying for ponies. Me trying to rationalize now....

j930 · j930's Garage

wow congrats on finding it. it seemed this all came together rather quickly once you posted on this board. As far as the price if its affordable to you I don't know how you can say no. You have a car that you know a great deal of history on personally, you yourself have spent a great deal of time and money on the car. THe prices on these cars are quite crazy, I spent a bit more on my 84 slant and I am still improving it. I was at a PCA car event out here in Scottsdale Az a month ago or so and I had a guy tell me he sold his last slant for 80K and he had bought it for 50K. nothing to special as I recall he said somebody just had to have that car. post some updated pics when you get it, which you will. good luck.

smshirk · smshirk's Garage

You're right. I haven't been able to think about anything else for three days. I ran that same thread on Rennlist every year or more since 2005 and never a peep. What I can't figure out is why I wasn't able to find Carfax records previously. The last time I ran it myself the trail stopped in 2003, and now there are continuous records just about every year from 1992 when I first got the car. I have a Carfax that was pulled when I sold the car and the records go back to when the car sold new, and now they stop. I wonder if this is typical of Carfax??? I even got a MI state trooper to run the VIN and he didn't find it.

The current owner looked for me 2 years ago when the blower quit working. He had my name and old contact info all along but I've moved to a different state since selling the car. Apparently Paxton is no longer selling superchargers, but he found one somewhere and replaced it. That makes three, although one failed due to cockpit trouble replacing the bearings. I am checking transporter rates now. I would rather drive it back, but it is in the Northern most part of MI and there is likely salt on the interstate all the way. This guy has taken good care of the car. He took it to the Porsche dealer once a year for service and they told him the oil leak is not worth the expense of the repair, 2k according to their rates. The only time it leaks to the ground is when the car sits all winter, but there is an oil burning smell on start up for a few minutes he says. The heads were redone, new P&C, valves and cams 30k miles ago so I hopefully there isn't to much wrong with it. The car only has 82k on it now, and I am fairly sure the mileage is accurate. It still has the 85 MPH speedo.

smshirk · smshirk's Garage

I was reading another thread about the gray slant nose in Savannah with the 935 plates and it's making me question this purchase. This car has a steel conversion, well sorted SC engine with new FI, MSD, supercharger, et al but it's still a Targa with after market body panels and I've already spent the 25 grand in upgrades once. I sold my 996 last year for 5k less than what I am about to pay for this car. I guess that's why any of us lusting after the 935 look have more money than brains. In my case, not much of either

jsveb · jsveb's Garage

Hi

In todays market there is an abbundance of nice cars at that price.
I don't think this car is worth that kind of money. The current owner wont have a chance to sell it like that in this market. Just look at some of the adds here on PP.
Just take a deep breath, and I believe the right car will show up - for a reasonable amount of money.

Jesper