didn't know what he has

[sammyg2]

One of the machinists that works for me told me recently that he has a "porsh". I asked what year, he said he thinks it's an 83. It was obvious he didn't know hardly anything about the car.
I asked him to bring it in to work so I could check it out.

I can't believe it, he has a factory 1989 turbo look speedster with 35,000 miles on it and it is flawless except the chrome is pitted on his rear wheels which look to be 8"?
He asked me what it was worth, I said i have no idea but I'd try and find out. Any guesses?

[kach22i]

50k and up...............................think I saw one for $83,000 not too long ago.

[sammyg2]

I already told mim I'd trade straight across, that way he'd get an increase of around 60 hp
He didn't bite

BTW, I cranked the boost up to 8 psi last night, the drive to work today was....... interesting Nothing like serious rear tire squirm under full accelleration.
I'm trying to remind myself how much I like my car, somehow it doesn't shine quite as bright when parked next to the speedster.

[Zeke]

So, Sam, is he seriously considering selling? If so, get a hold of me, I might have a buyer (not me). I'm sure my buyer will go 40K if the PPI checks out. In the deal, I will probably end up with the guy's current project, a 356 A coupe. Let 's get rollin' on this!

[sammyg2]

AFAIK it is not for sale or if it is he'd want waaaay more that he'll get for it. he's just been sitting on it for 8 years.
He complained that he has to charge the battery sometimes before he drives it, I asked him how often he take it out, he said about once a year!
He's worked for me for 8 months and this is the first time he's driven it in that time.
Something doesn't add up, he has a car that he treats like a collector investment car, but doesn't know anything about it. At first I thought he was playing dumb but that aint the case. The guy he bought it from told him that there were only about 500 of them (I think that's low, they made just over 2000 and imported 800) and that some day it will be worth a fortune so that's the only information he has on it. He paid $55k for it.
Ignorance is bliss. If it were mine I'd drive the snot out of it and forget about the so called investment value. I figure he'll prolly have to sit on it for at least another 10 years to break even.

BTW he told me it had 35k on it, I just checked, the odometer reads just ovr 29,000 miles. He doesn't even know how many miles are on the darned thing. It's got me shaking my head.
He's originally from Cambodia and does not fit the mold of who I would expect to have one of these cars at all.
I guess instead of starting a 401K he bought this car. I say it's a waste of good steel and aluminium.

[atlporsche]

had a guy pull that on a mountian drive...

"You guys going into the mountains?"

us: "yeah"

"mind if I join you...I have a convertible at home that the wife doesn't like riding in because her hair blows too much"

us: "sure"

he drives off. and returns in a guards red speedster, much like that one...

we're all like

sjd

[sammyg2]

I just found out something else that's interesting, it is not the original paint on the right front fender at least.
There is a very small bit of overspray on the rubber gasket that's at the back of the front fender. Looks like they didn't mask quite perfectly.
A car with so few miles that has been repainted sounds fishy, I'm gonna check for evidence of a front end collision/repair.
I bet a re-spray will bring the true value down quite a bit.

[Shuie]

Is it really his car? I cant imagine not knowing what year my own car was made.

[Eric Mckenna]

He might be playing with you..but then againmaybe it willed to him.. from a passed family member.. who knows.
someone loved it.....because it's NICE!

[sammyg2]

Yep, it's his car all right. He's one heck of a machinist and works as my day shift leadman, but he's not exactly "Americanized". He came to the U.S. from Cambodia when he was a teenager. It would be very hard to find someone more dedicated or hard working or trustworthy. He doesn't make a whole bunch of money per hour but makes up for it by working way too much overtime so he can put his daughter through USC.

Much of his heritage and upbringing is evident and in many cases seems strange, but he probably thinks the same about me.

The details sounds very unusual but this guy is someone I trust and believe. He's not making it up, it is just one of those off the wall things.
If it was anyone else I would call BS but not when it's coming from him.

[kach22i]

Originally posted by sammyg2
He came to the U.S. from Cambodia when he was a teenager.

Perhaps it's a cultural thing, a quirky sense of humor. Also some cultures are very secretive. I knew an eastern Indian guy (moved here when five years old) for six years, before he told me he had a daughter. I mean we saw each other and hung out together at least once a week for five years, you would think he could of shared this information? I did go to her wedding ten years after found out she existed, guess that makes up for it.

[MotoSook]

My former brother-in-law's brother was like this guy. He always bought the hottest car he could afford and would polish it and store it when the humidity went above 80%. Technically he could give a hoot. If it were me, I would be hot rodding it as soon as it hit the driveway. But he was happy waxing and tooling around in his hot car. It was a status symbol amongst his peers, all of whom would never have owned a car in their lives if they had not come to America.

Anyhow, it IS definitely a cultural thing with guys from the old country. I was a kid when I came to America, and I was drawn to hot cars much like these guys, but the engineer in forces me to bastardize them

I can see where this guy is coming from. Most Asians don't worry about 401K's or retirement, they rely on their kids to take care of them as they grow older. My father is getting to the point of retirement, so guess who will be the 401K..yes, that's right...401Souk! I don't mind.

It's a difference that most Americans have a hard time understanding, but our parents dump all their effort and money into growing us into successful people so they can walk around with pride, then one day, there they are...at the front door with all their bags

Sammy, my dad is a little like this guy. Works everyday in a crummy job and doesn't complain to us or his peers...takes the overtime when he is offered it and stashes the money away but he can't seem to grow it. He drives a sports car (to him! A Celica..and loves to tool around in it). To him, it's his Speedster. Yep...I love my old man...one day I'm buying him a Porsche to replace that Celica.

[VaSteve]

Dammit Souk. A story like that makes me think my priorities are all messed up!

[jstgermaine]

Originally posted by Souk
Yep...I love my old man...one day I'm buying him a Porsche to replace that Celica.

...um...you have two....

Seriously though...your dad has done a fine job.



Back to the topic...great looking speedster! Race him for titles Sam!!!

[MotoSook]

Jerry, he's not ready for a 911 yet. I have to modify one to be drawn by a couple of water buffalos first

Steve, we all do it differently, but hopefully we are doing the best we can.

And that wide chopped look is what my next Bastard will be like! I love it!

[juanbenae]

i am with eric, he is dicking with you.

[sammyg2]

I think he may be playing dumb so as not to appear to be bragging, kind of like falsely acting humble.
It really doesn't matter, he's a really good guy with a really good car. I'm happy for him, I just think he should be out tearing up the streets instead of having a garage queen but it's his car and he can do whatever he wants with it. I was just surprised when I saw it. I expected a ratty old 924 or something. Not that there's anything wrong with that......

[VaSteve]

How long has this guy worked for you? Knowing you drive a "porsh" he only brought it up now? Are we the one's being snowed here ?

[sammyg2]

he's worked for me for 8 months but has been with the company for 15 years. I just took over the shop in April.

I was there about a week when one of his co-workers told me that Lee had a really nice porsche, I asked him about it and he didn't know any details or at least he acted like he didn't, i dropped it until recently when the subject came up again and he agreed to drivve the car in. That's the first time i had any idea what kind of Porsche it was.

[A Quiet Boom]

A little off the topic. My lab assistant is a 79 year old grandmother, works for us to get out of the house. This past summer she drove her car to work rather than her small SUV. I was floored when Doris pulled in a beautiful midnight blue drop top 1970ish Olds 442! She proceeded to tell me her mother complained it was too loud when she bought it BRAND NEW! At least she's driven it, to the tune of about 200,000 miles but she doesn't like to drive it on the freeway which she takes to work everyday. Can you imagine the look on my face when I saw a 79 year old woman pull into the lot in a '70's bigblock musclecar with a fourspeed? Anyway, knowing I'm a car guy she took me for a ride, what a thrill, she's taken such good care of it over the years, it almost felt new.

Anyway I'm sure your friend appreciates his car in his own unique way.