Would you have your grandfather...

[Shaun @ Tru6]

drive your early 69E?

Pretty much decided against selling the E, my grandfather convinced me not to, and he loves the car, so I was thinking that I should give it to him for the rest of the driving season.

He's 82 but you'd swear more like 65. He drives his Buick LeSabre like a demon.

With the early mechanicals, notably MFI and the 5-speed, do you think it's a good idea to hand over the keys? Steering and brakes are great.

Car is very strong and can withstand a lot, I am mostly concern about start-up with the hand-throttle and then backing it down appropriately.

[North Coast Cab]

Do it. I'm sure he'll appreciate an early car. He will probably drive it very conservately anyway. Worst case the tranny might need a little work.

John

[pjv911]

I would resist it . It would make more sense to sell it to him cheap with the promise of it being left to you in his will . You could use the money for your ST project .

Kurt Williams

[Jgordon]

I'd be very surprised if any of us could offer a more informed opinion of the situation than the one you would make.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally posted by Jgordon
I'd be very surprised if any of us could offer a more informed opinion of the situation than the one you would make.

J, is it really possible to be that cynical? The depth and breadth of this board, and the good-natured within have nearly limitless experience... loaning cars to family members, teaching non-sports types how to run a car properly, etc.

[Early_S_Man]

Shaun,

My suggestion is to take him on an extended test drive, first, for about 30 minutes where you drive, easy at first, then ring it out to redline for five or ten minutes in some 'twisties' ... he will probably see that it is fully capable of both Jekyl/Hyde 'personalities' in the right hands ... and may want to try some of both!

Your greatest fear should be that he will drive it ten miles lugging the engine ... all the way!

[Andy Ring]

Let me tell you a story about my dad. His whole life whenever a birthday or xmas came around his reply to what he'd like was "oh, just buy me a Porsche." He was a university professor and could never afford one on his salary. When I was a kid I bought him a couple matchbox versions as a joke. However, a couple years ago I bought a 73 International Scout on eBay. The truck was/is great and got me browsing around looking at other models. That's when I spied a very nice 1973 911T. I bought it, fixed it up a little bit. I told my mom what I was planning and invited my parents down for a visit.

We parked the car in front of a very popular sunset bar in Montauk, NY during the day. At sunset we returned to find the lot so filled with cars that we had to park on the street above the parking lot. From 100 yards away my dad spots the Porsche and says "hey, there's my car--see it that Porsche up there." We approached and walking around the car admiring it. After we had walking around it a couple times, my mom reached over and opened the driver's side door. This freaked my dad out. "Betty, what are you doing? You can't get into someone elses car!" She turns to him and smiles and says "its not someone else's car, its yours". I handed him the keys and he was speechless for at least 15 minutes.

That was 2 years ago. At the time he was recovering from a heart attack, recently retired, and depressed. Now, he really enjoys his Porsche and despite the fact that he has never worked on a car in his life and is not a great driver, has had nothing but fun with it and as far as I can tell has done no damage to it. He has been known to offer female students rides across campus (he has a pretty good success ratio too--chick magnet??).

Anyway, that's my long winded answer. I say give it to him.

[Mike O'Meara]

Nice story, Andy. One of my favorite Porsche memories is the time I handed the keys of my 67 912 to my farmer grampa. He was more used to Allis-Chalmers tractors and Olds Toronados, so the sight of his slouch-hatted head just barely peering over the steering wheel of a german sports car remains with me some 20 years later.

[Bob's Flat-Six]

Great story and gift, Andy

[Shaun @ Tru6]

This is what I was looking for, thanks everyone, Andy, you are truly an inspiration.

My grandfather is pretty old country Italian, was a farmer most of his younger life, coming back from the War, he went into the postal service and became a small-town postmaster (Haddam, CT).

He is the kind of guy who makes sure everyone else has what they need before himself, just try to get him a Christmas present, you'll be sorry! Framed photos work well though. When you go out to breakfast and wonder aloud where all the blueberries are in your pancakes, he calls the waitress over and gets a bowlful for you. He is a great guy!!!

Hi birthday is Sept. 3, so this is perfect.

Now I just need some empathy purchases (early fenders, doors, lots of stuff Carrera stuff too) so I can at least get the car painted and rolling. Here's the project in his garage, will work on it together this winter.


Excellent fenders from the car will be on the block to get GT-Racing ST fenders and matching 9 inch S bumper.

[vash]

dad's and grand-dads are great. nice one andy.

[azasadny]

Let him drive it! I would love to let my grandfather drive my car, but he's dying and isn't able. You may not get another chance to share this experience with him, you'll be glad you did!!

[ChrisBennet]

Most of only wish we could give our Dads a gift like that. I would make sure that he understands that driving it at 2000RPM is not "babying it" - it's lugging it. My Dad bought a new Miata a while back and loves it but he tells me he will never drive it over 4000rpm. Sigh.
-Chris