Starting work on the 959 Project Car...

[Wayne 962]

Originally Posted by Editor@Excellence

However, I am VERY curious to see what the COA (though these are sadly suspect these days) says, as Canepa told me he has the only non-metallic black 959 ever made.

I'd say that's pretty unlikely, as I have several posters of black ones. There's a factory poster with a black 959, and then there's Jeff Swartz's poster of the 959 on ice that's black too. That one looks like one of the prototypes.

-Wayne

[Wayne 962]

Originally Posted by Editor@Excellence

Have fun with it Wayne, but if you're gonna track it, may I suggest installing the Sport suspension instead of fixing the height-adjustable setup? It still rides FINE on the street but completely transforms the 959. Of course, such a move would render your car's "extra" oil-flap-like door useless...

pete

Maybe if the leveling-shock systems stops working - right now it appears to be working well, although at least one shock appears to be leaking...

-Wayne

[Wayne 962]

Originally Posted by Editor@Excellence

Man, looking at that poster, why would you want to change the wheels again?

Oh, and have you gotten around to looking at the wheel locks yet?

pete

Yup, we took the wheels off for the PPI. Very cool setup. I would maybe put the 961 wheels on there, if I happened to find a set lying around somewhere...

-Wayne

[Pete000]

[QUOTE=
I'm also getting a list of parts together that I will be ordering from Porsche as spares (brake discs, caps & rotors, etc.). Not cheap, but I want to have a small stockpile just in case something happens to Porsche's supply.-Wayne[/QUOTE]

WOW at these prices this stock pile could easily cost more than my C2 !

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts

I'd say that's pretty unlikely, as I have several posters of black ones. There's a factory poster with a black 959, and then there's Jeff Swartz's poster of the 959 on ice that's black too. That one looks like one of the prototypes.

-Wayne

Maybe the key word there is "non metallic." I think metallic black is hard to determine in photos/posters.

You'll know soon enough, but, personally, I wouldn't care. Black done right is very nice. If there's been a question about this so far, it's been done nicely.

[Tsunamiboy]

Wayne,
Check this 959 out!
http://www.dls-automobile.de/view.php?idx=193&picview=1&pic=t_1186664535.jpg

[the]

What are the little fans under the decklid for? To pull air in? Seems like given the volume of air sucked in by the intake and the cooling fan, putting additional fans on the underside of the grille would just get in the way.



These are such cool cars. The threads on Wayne's new baby are truly automotive porn. I can't stop looking, and waiting for the next pics. )Hopefully it doesn't cause blindness like real porn).

[stout]

Originally Posted by Tsunamiboy

Wayne,
Check this 959 out!
http://www.dls-automobile.de/view.php?idx=193&picview=1&pic=t_1186664535.jpg

Hmmmnmina...

Anyone notice what is missing behind the driver's door? Iz a 959S.

You know, Wayne, if you want to do something "different" on your new toy, you could do white wheels. Normally, I do not dig them, but white wheels on a black (or red) high-end car sometimes look great. And the white wheels on this car are, well, stunning -- and they'd pop even more on a black car.

Just a thought.

And, as far as the color change is concerned (*if* it's a color change), I'd leave your car the way it is if the job was done right. Black looks phenom on the 959.

Again, congrats!

pete

P.S. Oh yeah, and Milt is right. The key "word" was non-metallic black. Bruce said how many *metallic* black 959s were made (I don't remember what that # was) and then told me how his was built for a racer as a special favor. Apparently, Porsche didn't want to do true black in production due to the various body materials on the car and their effect on a uniform finish in such an unforgiving color. Again, this is *not* verified by me. Just passing it on.

[the]

Originally Posted by Editor@Excellence

You know, Wayne, if you want to do something "different" on your new toy, you could do white wheels.

Nah, if he really wants to be different, he'll put some Hyper black Rota Fox's on it.

[jclporsche]

Browsing the 959 section of the Pel parts catalog, wondering what I can get to upgrade the Carrera. First thought I could get a whole engine for $959.50! Cool.. But then realized that's not the price, and just another nla part,



Have fun Wayne! I am, just watching

[Wayne 962]

Originally Posted by Editor@Excellence

However, I am VERY curious to see what the COA (though these are sadly suspect these days) says, as Canepa told me he has the only non-metallic black 959 ever made. I must say I always take such "gems" with a grain of salt, but I have to admit I've never seen another non-metallic black *production* 959 besides Bruce's.

The mystery has been solved. My car's original color *was* black metallic, and they repainted it black.

-Wayne

[dtw]

How did you find out, Wayne?

Will you be returning it to that color?

[Zeke]

I only saw it in the dark, but it looks fabulous. My own unsolicited thought would be to leave it as is since further paint work is just further paint work. I'm sure many 959's have been painted by now, and some probably not as nicely as Wayne's.

[Wayne 962]

Originally Posted by dtw

How did you find out, Wayne?

Will you be returning it to that color?

Black metallic = black to me, there's no need to put any more paint on the car. The current paint job looks very, very good.

-Wayne

[stout]

Totally agree that there is no need to paint this car (again). And, while I think metallic black and black are pretty dang similar, I think I dig the true black better on this car.

On to far more important things. Now, about that suspension...

Enjoy it, Wayne!

pete

[group911@aol.co]

Wayne, what's this tag about?

[Wayne 962]

I'm not sure. I haven't researched that quite yet. It appears that tag is on all of the 959s. I'm guessing that they built the body for Porsche? Here's a Wiki entry:

Baur is a Karosserie or coachbuilder in Stuttgart, Germany, which has been building BMW convertibles since the 30's. Currently, they are the body and assembly works for IVM Automotive, a member the Ed Group. They enjoy an excellent reputation for quality and do prototype work for many manufacturers such as Porsche, Audi and Ford.

The Baur family received a patent for the design of a folding top for luxury automobiles about the time BMW was building the first car with the BMW name.

Baur was established in 1910 and produced, among others, 1682 1600-2 Cabriolets, 200 2002 Cabriolets, 2597 E110 700 Sport Cabriolets and most of the 450 or so M1's (after Lamborghini could not fulfil its contractual obligations).

In 1971 they began production of the safer "targa" style body with the 2002. (Targa was a registered Porsche name, so they had to call it something else) Originally an after market option available through BMW dealers, the E21 3 series TC1 was built with full factory authorization, and covered in the factory warranty. The roll-bar version or "Top Cabrio" (TC) continued with the E30 TC2 even after Baur developed the BMW E30 Convertible design for BMW, and which BMW built.

The Opel Kadett C Aero was produced from 1976 to 1978, with a Baur top.

Then there was the Baur TC3 of 1987, which was stopped by the production of the BMW Z1. The cars were aimed at the same market.

Even though BMW now had its own E36 convertible, you could still get an E36 Baur TC4 conversion.

These TC cars can be built for the owner at any time, after-market; you supply the car to be converted.

Interestingly enough, all Porsche 959's were actually produced at Baur, not at Porsche, on an assembly line with Porsche inspectors overseeing the finished bodies. Most of Porsche's special order interior leather work was also done by the workers at Baur.

At one time all suspension components for the Audi Quattro suspension unique to that model were produced by robot welding equipment at Baur.

In 2002, the Baur G-Cabrio XL, a convertible based on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class was shown at the Geneva Auto Show.

I'm not sure if this Wiki entry is 100% accurate, as there are many photos of mostly assembled 959s outside the main factory in Stuttgart.

-Wayne

[the]

Originally Posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts

I'm not sure. I haven't researched that quite yet. It appears that tag is on all of the 959s. I'm guessing that they built the body for Porsche? Here's a Wiki entry:



I'm not sure if this Wiki entry is 100% accurate, as there are many photos of mostly assembled 959s outside the main factory in Stuttgart.

-Wayne

Interesting.

This is what I think of first when I think of Baur! They made these (and similar Targa style convertibles) for BMW through the 70s and 80s, as noted in the Wiki article.