997 GT3 vs early 911 hot rod?

[lynnmmay]

Ok, this may sound like a goofy question at first, but follow me on this one. I have a 2008 GT3 on order. It will be one of only 105 or so to be sold in the U.S. I am buying it as a weekend fun driver, occasional DE type of car. I do not spend hard core time at the track. None of the other newer 911s has ever done it for me, but I believe this car to probably be the most that Porsche will ever get out of the 3.6 NA engine. A real drivers car, pretty simple/pure on the inside (I have it optioned with very little).

However --- I have also always been interested in purchasing a properly restored 911S or maybe even a high standards RS/R type of recreation... well documented and using the very best stuff.

For me, while these two cars may seem totally different, both fill a niche of fun/raw weekend Porsche driving. Obviously the GT3 will be a much safer car, with good A/C, warranty, etc. But then a 70s car will tug at the emotions with the air cooled, light experience (no HP can make up for weight)

My last Porsche was a 993 S, and I loved it, but just not quite fast/raw enough for me.

I figure that if the GT3 is approx. $110k, the 70s 911 that I describe here could easily be in the $60s.

So the question is -- has anyone ever considered the GT3 as a semi-suitable substitute for the early 911 experience? If $40k wasnt enough to make a big difference in either direction, what would you do? Obviously this is a personal choice, but I am just curious if anyone else has wrestled with it...

Other than this board, what are some good resources for the type of 70s 911 that I am describing here?

thanks for any info and/or opinions

[Steve@Rennsport]

The only person that I know who could offer first-hand information is a local fellow who has many early 911S's, one of which is a 2200 lb car with a 327 HP 3.8 Varioram engine in it, as well as a 996 GT-3.

He is a VERY sharp fellow.

E-mail me directly and I'll get you his contact info.

[RWebb]

You might also consider building an outlaw - find the set of threads on Jack Olson's car and red them for fun. Some tricks were done in the making of that one. A high hp early car will get closer to the hp/mass "slingshot" factor of a modern GT3, tho it will never approach the suspension & chassis sophistication.

Then, one might hotrod a Cayman to get the recent MY sophistication. I feel certain that chassis can be built to the level of a GT-3.

Ultimately, you will have to do some driving comparisons. And the answer may change as you get older or change on different roads...

It is a fun 'problem' to have however.

[BMWDavid]

Wow...I was thinking along the same lines the past few weeks. I have driven a 2004 996 GT3 and was absolutely taken by it. I've driven a couple of 997 Carrera S's and while they are great cars I'm not sure I'd want to order one.

Realizing that Porsche probably won't be bringing in the current design GT3 in much longer made me think long and hard about ordering one.

My current '89 Carrera is my first Porsche and I've been kicking myself for not getting into Porsche ownership long ago. I love the rawness of the 3.2 and I'm sure the current GT3 is more refined in many ways but still has that edge.

It would be a major financial commitment to get the GT3 for me but I'm sure it would be worth it. My dealer says it would be a stroke of luck though to actually get one from Porsche.

Maybe it would be better to pick up a nice '04 996 GT3 now and then get a 997 GT3 later as a used car. Decisions...

David

[jbt1125]

David, the skinny on the 997 GT3 is that I dont think you will find one to purchase new now... I think that they are all spoken for... but there is no doubt that they will be available in 1-2 yrs at $30k less... the RS might be a different story...

[ericwitte]

I am fortunate to have driven a friend's gt3-rs, have owned a modified 996, and have just completed a 2200 lb 260+hp 72 911rs replica...the differences are great, yet the 2 rs's share a brutality of acceleration and noise! I expect the gt3 will appreciate over time, whereas a clone likely will have a marginal improvement. The 997gt3 is pretty incredible, but you will have to drive well in excess of the legal speed limits to truly enjoy her( and these limits are exceeded in a few seconds!). the great thing about the early cars is the rawness and enjoyment at any speed. If you are planning mostly track time, I suspect the gt3 will be a more reliable/predictable/safer choice, while still activating both your sweat and adrenal glands fairly quickly. The early cars clearly require a higher degree of alertness, and will take time to master. However, once you do learn to finesse the early cars, the experience is like no other. To sum up, the gt3 is an easier car to drive really fast, will allow you to become a smooth track driver, and will likely be a sound investment. The hotrod will require nomex"depends" at speed, will give you a great deal more feedback, and, with practice, will make you a superior driver...a porsche driver! Good luck!

[RWebb]

You might want to go to:
http://www.penaltykicker.com/911/data/

and download the Word doc I put together:
Lightweight 911 Models (MS Word doc.)

- it is a chart of some light wt. hotrods and factory models. Read the footnotes on some notable cars like Jack Olson's, paying attention to the things Tyson did to it esp. in terms of wt. transfer. Also the yellow car out of Jeff Gamroth's shop... was very powerful. That may help your thinking evolve somewhat.

You have the funds to put together a very special hotrod. Say a 3.8L RS motor driving a stripped 964 chassis (which will be stiffer than an early car but weigh almost exactly the same).

There are a lot of real rocket sleds out there, and a lot of very light wt. cars, but no one IMHO has built the real ultimate car yet. It would be expensive to do so, but it sounds like you have adequate funds to really push things forward. Something similar in certain ways to JO's car but with more motor, stiffer chassis (hence the 964 shell) and maybe an erp Front suspension. If you dare, there are several parts that could be fabricated out of Ti sheet metal to save more wt. than anyone has before. There will be a $$ cost for that...

I emphasize light wt. because - other than the placement of the engine at the rear - it is the most important factor influencing overall handling dynamics.

I think you will want to stick to an experienced race / hotrod shop - there are several on the W. Coast. Be sure it can still be serviced by the guy you mention at your home location tho.

If you modify an existing hotrod, or build your own, you will then have the equivalent of a hand fitted British shotgun -- something unique in all the world, and made especially for you. That is true luxury.