Pilgrimage to Bohemia, 1980 SC Targa

[petr916]

To All Targerians.
It is probably good time to say officially hello to this fantastic group of Porsche fanatics as I am using this huge source of information more then 2 years.
Firstly - sorry for my English, it is not my mother language, I will try my best.
My car is finally here, in Czechia. Here are pictures from picking the car from ship container.

[petr916]

Here is my story. I hope that you will like it, as I like it a lot.
I am 54 old and I have spent the majority of my life in Czechia (or in Bohemia if you want :-)).
Air cooled Porsche 911 Targa was always my not reachable dream.
In the middle of 2018 I came to Detroit as expat - working in automotive industry many years, it was only logical step.
Second half of 2018 year was running very quickly to its end. The departure date of my plane back to Prague was already visible in my calendar. In that time I was regularly looking into "Bring the trailer", "Craig list", "Pelican Parts", "Hagerty" and into other sources to entertain pictures of Porsche cars "for sale" or "ready for biding". Typically - final cost was way over my budget.
I spent nice Christmas with my larger family and returning back to Detroit in January. After checking what is new here on forum, I have seen this car:








After quick call with Tate, I was booking first flight to Atlanta and renting the car to final destination. Target for this mission was clear - to check the car in person.
I spent whole rest of that day & night there. And I met very good guys! The car was far away from perfect. But I was not searching for the perfect one. I like some reasonable project. And the journey itself. In summary, the car was running, without major corrosion, probably with some broken head studs (in reality - a lot of them), without targa roof and with tired Braun Pasha interior in back seats(these looked as original), front seats ware completely wrong. The paint is good from 10fts- some areas have very bad overspray. But color looks original - Coper Braun Metallic.

So, next day I was returning back to Detroit as THE OWNER of my first Targa.

[petr916]

The first task was - to pull out engine and make at minimum Top end rebuild. These Dilavar damn studs. Only 2 of them was OK, all others was broken. Engine had 120 000 miles. With no documentation.
I agreed and make the deal with guys from Porsche racing garage local in SC. They made very good job. And I was not in hurry, as the winter in Detroit was in full motion. We have started with this:



And quickly going to this:















Here is final engine as I have reached 10 pictures limit:





Saga will continue.

[constaf]

Petr, this a cool story. Thanks for sharing! You picked a car with the best factory original color from that era in my opinion. Owning a SC Targa is also something i want! Good luck with the work on the car.

[petr916]

The clutch is new - Sachs Alu Perf.
We opened tranny and exchange Synchro Ring for 1st, 2nd, 3rd-5th gear. 1st & 2nd gear wheel & Main Shaft Bearings.

Start:








Finish:

[petr916]

Yep, this part was missing. I was able to buy targa roof in status - before rebuilding. Literally this roof has broken vinyl in bending area, but mechanically OK.

Thanks to Dan - his service was famous and roof is just now like new. The problem was only wrong old sealing - known problem.





I have from him the new one, but old is still on its place, modified with knife. Not ideal but good enough for the moment.

[Lyle O]

Congratulations, Petr! Well done, and the journey is truly just beginning. You must connect with proporsche here on Pelican (Ivan). He lives near you for sure, and will be a wonderful connection...lots of great experience and knowledge.

PS, I hope you enjoyed your time in the Detroit area (still my home in the warm months). Lot's of great "car people" there, including Porsche friends. Did you ever attend the Woodward Dream Cruise? Hard to explain how cool that is unless you have experienced it.

[petr916]

In May 2019 the previous work was finished. There was small chance that I will take my car back to Detroit on its wheels.

During our travel (with my better half) we visited also this place (Tail of the Dragon)



Finally at the ocean, Challenger was relaxing as well:


with perfect sunrise.



Porsche was driving like hell, shifting was a little bit problematic, but everything was fresh. There was quite difficult decission if I will drive the car back to Detoit or not.
After all this not sufficient brake-in time for engine & tranny, we have decided to return home only with Challenger and "Paša" was delivered 14 days later to my address in Detroit.

[petr916]

Originally Posted by constaf

Petr, this a cool story. Thanks for sharing! ...

Hello constaf, thanks a lot

[petr916]

Originally Posted by Lyle O

Congratulations, Petr! ... Woodward Dream Cruise? Hard to explain how cool that is unless you have experienced it.

For sure. I was lucky to experienced Woodward Cruise at 2018 & 2019. Thanks for kind words. Yes, with Ivan - we will definitely go to more close contact.

[boyt911sc]

Petr,

Is the engine in your car a ROW spec? I love the color.

Tony

[Pedro '84 Coupe]

Nice! BTW your English is very good so no need to apologize. Probably better than most people I know
Hope you enjoy the car. Looks like it's already sorted fairly well.

[proporsche]

Hi Petr,cool job you have done..to bad you just could not wait to do the job in Bohemia,could you?......to be done by me;-) .....looks very nice....


you can reach me any time 721 241 241

Ivan

[petr916]

Originally Posted by boyt911sc

Petr,

Is the engine in your car a ROW spec? I love the color.

Tony

Thank you Tony. Yes, it is ROW Correct 930/09 Euro 3.0L SC engine. Engine #6300229. I have listen, that it correspond with VIN number (tranny as well), but I will need to investigate if this is true.

Anyway I am very sorry, that we will not meet in person on your engine training. Distance now is even more prohibitive. So, please use my slot for anybody who will in future participate.

[petr916]

Originally Posted by proporsche

Hi Peter,cool job you have done..to bad you just could not wait to do the job in Bohemia ..to be done by me;-) .....looks nice....


Ivan

I am speechless. I can imagine the surprised face of your wife.
Ivan my phone is 605 707 212.
Do you plan to go on Porsche Meeting Prague 24.4. 2021?

[petr916]

Originally Posted by Pedro '84 Coupe

Nice! BTW your English is very good so no need to apologize...

Thank you Pedro. I am still at the beginning. There is a lot of areas on the car what need my care.

[proporsche]

Hi Petr, i very much doubt it will be on ,the meet...as you know the city borders are now closed nobody goes in Prague or out...same here in Carlsbad....i call you

Ivan

[boyt911sc]

Originally Posted by petr916

Thank you Tony. Yes, it is ROW Correct 930/09 Euro 3.0L SC engine. Engine #6300229. I have listen, that it correspond with VIN number (tranny as well), but I will need to investigate if this is true.

Anyway I am very sorry, that we will not meet in person on your engine training. Distance now is even more prohibitive. So, please use my slot for anybody who will in future participate.

Petr,

No participant is going to lose money with regards to the postponed sessions. As soon as we get back on track and finalized another date to commence the classes, I will begin to refund the money paid by the participants who could not attend. I purchased two (2) motors to be used for these sessions. There are more people interested to join but all the seats are taken. As a matter of fact, too many to accommodate in 6 weeks schedule.

Tony

[capt911]

Petr,
Great story great car best of luck with it, job well done. I bought a 83 SC coupe 26 years ago as a 5 year maximum interim car and still own it today. Every time I drive it puts a smile on my face.

I have the exact same color and love it. Get compliments all the time as it is a bit different. Funny story. When I was shopping for a 911 26 years ago now I probably looked at and drove 12 different ones most were either black, red or a couple white ones. When I went with my wife to look at this one the owner had a cover on it in the garage and when he took the cover off my wife was just starring at the car. He got in it and was backing it out of the garage into the daylight so we could really see it better. My wife is an artist and had a huge smile and said I love that color I think I am going to have an Orgasm!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL SOLD

[Psychepilgrim]

Great story Petr, hope you will enjoy your ride now in your home country!

Hope I will enjoy my US Coupe as well in France in a near future...

Stay safe.