Quick Quick! I need conversion tricks!!!

[Leland Pate]

Holy cow! Hell has officially frozen over!

I just got off the phone with my mother and father (bi-monthly morale call) and low and behold... I think I may be melting the ice!

I've been emailing my father... suggesting that he look at buying a older 911 (will suggest an SC of course) for himself.
Tonight on the phone my father said "It is not outside the wrelm of possibility". And he even made a remark about a "father son project"! Could it get any better???

........ this is big!!!!!!! My father doesn't say just anything is outside of the "wrelm of possibility".
This is a good sign!!!
He might be coming around.
You see, to me it is a perfect fit! He is exactly the kind of guy who can appreciate the engineering qualities and unique personalities of 911s.
I know he can!

There are a few limiting factors that concern me.
First there will be stiff competition from the BMW corner. He has always wanted a '72/'73 BMW 3.0CS... and...well who can blame him... the 3.0 Bimmers are my second favorite car in the world.
But ....pretty..yes, ...a 911? ... no.
So, I need to convince him that it is impractical to restore a 3.0 CS compared to a 911. Due to what???... availability of parts and stuff???

Second, he has really gotten into these antique tractors in the last few years and although they are cool in their own way,... well... they just aren't cars! So, I need to somehow "ween" him of this addiction.

Oh man, I'm plotting now!

I just can't imagine anything greater than spending time with my father under a 911.
It honestly makes it hard not to smile when thinking about it.

As most of you know, my dad is my personal hero and I figure if I can be half the man he is, then I'll do ok in life.


So, .... how do I bring him into the plot???

I must be careful... he's very smart... he'll smell a rat right away... just like how he knew what we did at parties in High School....


There must be a way...

there must be a way...

[Leland Pate]

Should add that first he said he'll have to sell the MGA.

Boo hoo, ok gone.

Now... what to have him look for...

As much as I'd like to see him in a SC.. I have a gut instinct that's telling me he's not going to want an impact bumper car...

....hmmmmmmmmm...
anyone else have any experience with bringing an unsuspecting person into the Porsche web???

Use the Force Leland....use the Force...

[Bobboloo]

Leland,

For your dad. 72' or 73' 911E. He'll never regret it.

Bobby

[Dantilla]

Sell the MG quick before it breaks again!

1. Take him for a ride.

2. Have him drive.

3. Have him drive past a building with big plate glass on front, so he can see how cool he looks driving it in the reflection.

My sister bought a Mercedes SL after we did this (top off, of course).

4. Remark how the P-car did not break down. That will blow the mind of an MG owner!

[J P Stein]

So, sons *do* really enjoy doing the father/son bit? You're a gud son, Leland.

My son claims to .....but he could just being nice to an old fart.
I KNOW he wants my 914. He seems to be willing to wait till I'm eating the dirt sandwich...that's a good sign.

Either way, he's coming up next week and he's helpin' drop the motor.....he don't know it yet.. His new wife and my old one can go to the mall or sumthin'.

I cherish the memories of the times that my dad and I did things together, but I'm gettin' old and maudlin so my perspective may be skewed.

Oh....I fergot....dads dig it too.

[island911]

Originally posted by Leland Pate
. . .You see, to me it is a perfect fit! He is exactly the kind of guy who can appreciate the engineering qualities and unique personalities of 911s.
... the 3.0 Bimmers are my second favorite car in the world.
But ....pretty..yes, ...a 911? ... no.

There ya go. . .if he want's "pretty" go with the BMW.
If he's into engineering qualities, w/o question the 911 rules.
Have him peruse Paul Frere's "911 story". . .works better on engineer types than catholism works on children. He will only then have to question from which bumber crop to choose . . (obligitory; Muhahahaha).

If a certain Minerva blue 3.0 is pushing for an expidite, get him going on on a few engineering highlights. The CG items are good for a starter; Like the top of the (nicely balanced) flat 6 is about the same plane as the top of the bumber. And how the heavy spring elements are as low as they can go, in the form of torsion bars. Then segway into how the drysump oilsystm contributes to the low CG, high service intervls, . .ect . ..

If *that* doesnt work, nothing will. But hey, BMW's *are* very pretty!

[Jack Olsen]

Easy solution. Bring him to Cambria at the beginning of May. If your hunch is that he's predisposed to the earlier (some would say prettier) cars, then this'll be a slam dunk. While you're there, take him for a ride in my car, or Mike Marshall's car...

I don't think any self-respecting car guy could resist, at that point.

Of course, you'll be doing a long-nose conversion on your SC, in no time, trading in your SCWDP sticker for an R Gruppe one...

[Leland Pate]

These are some really great tips guys!
Especially the one on Paul Frere's "911 Story".
That is a very good angle!

The MG is a cool little car as far as "automobiles that don't make any sence" go.
But it never gets touched and I think he's bored with it.

The Bimmer is going to be a hard point.
I figure 911s seriously out number 3.0CSs so maybe that will be a benifit.

The only thing that worries me is that, knowing my dad, he will purposely buy the absolutely "shoddiest" example he can find because it represents a "challange" to him.

If you guys had only seen that MGA when he towed it home.

It was so rusty, you could see though the car in spots.
He's a mechanical kind of guy... he doesn't like fooling around with body work and interiors... that's what's gotten him into those tractors... he can skip all the things he doesn't like and just have fun playing with pistons and gears.

This is giving me one mre reason to drive the 911 home when I go to Tennessee on leave this spring.

After he's sat in it and driven it.... I think this just might work!

JP, I love being around my dad... I honestly wouldn't trade him for anything.

[Superman]

I've got a friend who's into the old single-lung and double-lung John Deere's and I can warn you it is a powerful addiction. Huge as they are, they are simply an engine and gearbox with wheels and a seat. I think they turn about 100 rpm when they're working hard.

Still, just get the Frere and have it shipped to his address. Even he is not sneakier than that. As much as I like SCs, and as confident as I am that he'd be best off with one, I'd probably steer him toward a '72 or '73 E as well. Spunky things with parts he can work on. If it's running well when he test drives it, he'll have no choice.

[chibone_914]

Leland,

The 3.0 CSi is nice, Hell I like them too. I just don't care for replacing nearly EVERY body panel due to rust.

Get him Bruce Anderson's 911 Performance Handbook if your dad's an engineering nut. He'll wear it out! Then, when you get back, take him to a few shows. MUAAHHAAA!!! He'll be hooked in no time.

[Leland Pate]

Ok, guys... I need a few more favors...
I need photos... good photos of any early to SC era 911.
I'm going to flood the man with pictures of beautiful 911s.
I've already sent him a photo of Jacks, Randys and Pauls... but I need more!!!


...and yes...this is also a good excuse to flagrantly post pictures of your cars... ... and we all know how we love to do that!


Pictures please!!!

[Jack Olsen]

Cambria.

Also, check Wayne's 911 archives or his collection of pictures from swap meet type events like Dunkels, etc.

[AirCooledExcellence]

Leland,

You asked for it!



Cheers,

Tim.
____________
1983 SC Targa

[cstreit]

Four words:

"Let him drive yours."

[StuttgartDavid]

He has always wanted a '72/'73 BMW 3.0CS... and...well who can blame him... the 3.0 Bimmers are my second favorite car in the world.

Simple solution here. I too have always liked the "Batmobile" BMWs, but am not courageous enough to own one of these mobile corrosion devices myself (my pre-galvanized '68 911 S gets a special waiver in this department). Since you already have a fix for your 911 jones, you can bond with Dad over a 3.0 "Bummer" project. When complete and you've both bagged the BMW check in the box, compare the result to your 911. The comparison will surely win him over to another, better project, like an early MFI S!

[Milu]

My father had a regular CS coupe and then a Batmobile for a while. Great cars but nowadays rust and hard to find original parts would switch most first time owners right off.