FOR FUN: Where did your Porsche obsession begin?

[Davie Boy]

I just thought it'd be fun to hear the "where it all began" stories.

My story is kinda goofy, but true. I owned a 914 in college, but didn't really get hooked until I saw the film The Big Chill. I watched it on TV for the first time in 2001. William Hurt's character drove an early 911 (or 912) Targa. I remember seeing (and hearing) it and thinking "Those 911s are beautiful cars. I wish I could own one." When it was over, I searched online - just for fun - to see what they were selling for. I didn't expect them to be so affordable. Within a couple of weeks, a clean '88 924S popped-up at a local community display lot. I bought it and never looked back. I've since owned an '80 SC, a '90 964, and a '71 T.

[Netspeed]

When I was 7 while watching the 1971 24 Hours of Daytona on TV. 917k baby!

[jjwood]

in 1973 I went to Lotus dealer in Austin to buy my then dream car, a Louts Eurpoa. I was too damn big to get into it (6'4", 200lbs) so the dealer sent me down the street to try on a 914 and the rest is history, I've owned at least one Porsche ever since.

[bart1]

Mine is funny, too. When I was a kid I had a Martini Racing Hot Wheels. Read a lot about Porsche, but never really had plans to get one (didn't grow up wealthy at all). When I was 16, I got a Jeep and got further incolved in offroading along the way. By the time my 3rd Jeep was set up pretty well, it was not very practical, so I needed a street car. Got a 944 and started getting really into the Porsche thing. Went to a 968 which I still have and then got my 993 a couple years ago. Still have that last Jeep, but it never gets driven. From now on when I buy a car, I will always see how much 911 I can get for the amount I plan to spend and then decide if I can live with it for what I will be using it for. A 3.2 will likely be the next one.

[80-911SC]

Mine started when I was about 14(1983) a new family moved across the street and he had more than a few things that caught the eye of a young teen

1- Porsche 911
2- Two beautiful daughters, a year and two years older than I

and when they started driving

3- they later added a Guards red 944
4- and then a White 924 with Martini stripes
5- I think the wife had a BMW but thats a blur

they were all beautiful in their own way , just different ways

(even the BMW was nice)

I had a VW bug , and I don't think they ever looked twice ..................

[Nine17]

I was 14. I sat through Steve McQueen's "Le Mans" three times in two days in a darkened theater in June of 1971. Afterwards, the Old Man came up with the bright idea that taking me to a real race might provide a good means of distracting me from the peace, love, and dope prevalent back then. We drove down to Laguna Seca for Friday practice and I walked over to the edge of the circuit just as the cars were taking to the track. Out from under the bridge popped Jo Siffert winding-out the day-glo STP 917/10 for all it was worth (there was no Turn 5 before the bridge in those days). Wow. Are Porsches cool, or what?

[Canada Kev]

I don't remember a specific angels singing, beams of sunlight cascading from the sky moment when my infatuation began.

I recall being about 13 or 14 when I purchased a discounted book about the history of Porsche cars. It didn't cost all that much, but probably lightened my pocket of every penny I had at the time. There were quite a few examples of 356s in there. Their swoopy aerodynamic looking bodies enchanted me. I may still have that book almost three decades later.

My high school locker was filled with pictures of 911s, the brand new 959 and Porsche ads carefully cut from magazines. Doodles of the elongated squarish, Bauhaus influenced Porsche text covered far too many pages in school books. Hours of my youth were (mis)spent almost drooling over the pages of VW & Porsche magazine.

Ahh, those were the days...

Now I have my very own. I can hardly wait until the roads clear of the winter crap.

[gsmith660]

"Raise the Titanic" Dirk Pitt driving the early 930 silver and then I dont even know why I was down there but I see this off to the side of the street when I wouldn't normally be down there.


And it was on after that then I saw that widebody in flashdance and the black turbo Chuck Norris drove in one of his movies.

[R K T]

Guess I'm th old fart here......
I was seven years old, 1956, on vacation with my parents, in the backseat of the 54 Chevy. Going across the country on old route 66. No brothers or sisters, so Mom got me a puzzle/game to keep me occupied. It was one of those U.S. maps with the different states and you kept track of the out-of-state plates that you see.
So, somewhere along the way I'm looking out the back window for my next plate to record, and I see this low red car coming up behind us fast. Now, in 1956 and 7 years old, I could tell you ALL about Chevy's and Ford's and how much horsepower, and the name of the paint color etc etc. But I had no idea what this was coming up behind us. As it passed us, all I saw was "SPEEDSTER" on the front fender. How cool could a car be if it was called SPEEDSTER?!?!
When we got back home from vacation, I bought a magazine, probably Road&Track, and found out what a Speedster was and I was then infected with the Porsche Virus.
I saved every penny, worked mowing lawns, washing cars and going to "real" work when I was 15 1/2 so I could buy a Porsche. When I was 17 I bought a year old 66 911 (with a little loan from M&D). I'm now on my 15th Porsche.
One of those, I think number 10, was a 55 Speedster. Very cool car, but besides everyone thinking it was a replica, I just didn't fit. I'm 6-4 and no matter how much I scooted down in the seat, my head was still above the windshield.
Now this is funny.....I put it up for sale at 85k. Our host, Wayne inquired about the car and thought it was a little high. It sold to Nicholas Cage. Now it's for sale again for 195K!
Anyway, I don't see any cure for the Porsche Virus anytime soon.

[glewis80SC]

12 or 13, next door neighbor bought a 1973 911t it needed a lot of work, so I would spend any spare moment I had being his helper as he restored the car. He did a great job, and I remember getting to ride around it is, the power was amazing to me. I was hooked.

[Kidasters]

When I was 5, my parents took my sister and I to Seattle for a vacation. While there - Dad bought be a toy car - light metallic blue - a 1971 911. Still have it today (that was 1978).

Fast forward to 2005. Bought a 1989 964. Way lemony car. But I loved it, and I hated it. Sold it after multiple mechanical maladies. Miss it ever since.

Recently bought a 1984 911 Targa. So happy to be back in Porsche.... This will be better than last time.

[wolf76]

Mine started when I was 10. I went with my Dad to pick up his brand new 1986 944. As cool as I thought that car was, it was the 911 in the showroom that I could not forget.



Chris

[mickey356]

1974-75 my dad rolled into the driveway in a brand spankin new 914 (white with black interior), that was it.

[Kaliv]

Once I moved out of the house, my parents started looking for thier dream car. My dad went out and bought a Corvette. While we were looking, the Corvette dealer had a lone '89 White 911. I was hoping he would buy that instead...as it seemed to have more appeal than all the other cars on the lot. A few years later I was out looking for my own car (college grad-e-ate and all)...something cheap. I happened to have stumbled over a Corvair and thought it was awesome that the engine was in the back...nicknamed a poorman's Porsche. My dad talked me into a more practical Pontiac Grand Prix...but I was always on the lookout for a nice Corvair. By the time I saved some money to buy me a play car...I said heck with Corvair and went straight to the real deal...'87 911. Once I had the taste of driving one...well, you all know.

[Jim Horton]

My dad's dental office was right down the road from Roger Penske's old shop outside Philadelphia. Dad would take me by there after work so that we could both drool over the various "toys" they had.

[turbobrat930]

When did it begin?? WHEN I WAS BORN....

[NOLAsc]

Me... I got hooked and all but unhooked over the course of about ten months.

I was working full time and in college part time in 1983 when I bought a 1971 914 that desperately needed time and money. I did tons of little things culminating in a few big things: rebuilding and installing the engine (with new seals and bearings, a big bore kit, reworked heads and Solex carbs), new paint job (great non-Porsche dark slate gray metallic--I didn't know any better--with white lettering on the sides), new tires and wheels.

I had it on the road for about a week. My girlfriend (now wife) and I were on our way back home from a St. Patrick's Day parade when someone in an RX-7 ran a stop sign and totaled the car that I'd poured so much energy into. I vowed never to get attached to a car again. But I could never shake the love for the brand and the desire for a "real" one. I got another 914 (a '73 and put the big-bore engine in it).

I eventually changed jobs and ended up working for a guy with an sc Targa. He let me drive it once, and I never forgot the feel, the view from the driver's seat, the contour of the fenders. I knew that sooner or later....

Anyway, after a great '73 BMW Bavaria and a series of Jeeps and newer VWs, I ran across my current project: an 82 Targa. I never lost the love. In fact, I think I've broken my vow and am getting attached to this car. I just need to reclaim the energy for all-nighters in the garage like I had in my college years.

When I bought the Targa, it dawned on me that it is nearing 30 years old. My 914s were less than half its age when I had them, and they were a lot of work. But it's worth it.

I'll need another 914 (but a 6) someday. Gotta get the 911 where it needs to be first.

[Noah930]

Growing up in L.A. is a dream for a car guy. You're definitely exposed to quite a bit of automotive exoticism. I've always loved the friendly, frog-eyed "face" of the 911. And the flat-six music is unlike anything else out there; you can hear a 911 coming from a block away. But probably what sealed the deal in my childhood was the next door neighbor who purchased a black 911 (probably an SC). The 911 has been my (affordable) dream car ever since.

[jlr69s]

At Daytona watching the 24hr race in the late 80's with the Porsche's, Nissan's, and Jaguar's all battling it out. Still wish the racing was as cool and good as it was then!

[G450X]

I was too little to understand (the non-existent) plot, but the cars, racing, and the glorious sounds are still embedded in my memory....