Like The First Time

[enzoducoing]

Hello everyone, this is my first topic post and thought I should first introduce myself. I am sort of a newbie since I bought my first Porsche just about a year ago, a beautiful and very sound Gold Metallic 1971 911T. Although it was my first Porsche, I had dreamed of owning a long-hood for decades, I just never got around to it. It is a strange thing how when you haven't owned one, and you didn't grow around one, ownership of a Porsche (new or vintage) seems like a far away idea, like something others might do but not yourself, at least that's what I felt.
For years I dreamed of having a perfectly restored 1967 (my birth year) 911 that I could drive and show occasionally. I being an architect in love of german functionalist design was more in awe of the shape than anything else. I foolishly idealized the thought of having one and it was more of a self-serving romanticized notion of ownership than a true understanding what a Porsche is or what it could make me feel. I really had no idea, you see, I had not even driven one before.
The gold 911T fell into my lap sort-to-say, as it came attached as part of the deal to a property that I bought. At first I thought of re-selling it since I felt awkward even receiving the keys to it and it did not meet the criteria from "my" dream 911. It was the wrong year, the wrong color, it was not perfectly finished and why would I want it? What would I do with it? Drive it? What sort of fool would just drive? What kind of useless machine had I just acquired? Or so I thought.
One turn of the key and the engine woke up, a few minutes of idle and I slid it into first. It took me no more than 3 minutes of driving to completely change my view. So used to all sorts of sterile people-transporters had I become that I'd forgot how it felt to drive. Let me tell you, once that feeling came back, it felt like Christmas morning and better yet, It felt right, like it was waiting for me to arrive.
I have since then replaced my daily driver with the 911, completely discarded the idea of a museum Porsche, yes they are oh so beautiful to look at, but at least to me, they are much more beautiful to drive. I have begun to update suspension and brakes on the car with the idea of driving it until I die. The more I tinker and I know the car the more I feel comfortable and exited around it. And what is best, every day when I approach the garage to warm it up, I feel the same excitement of the first time I drove it. It really is like my favorite pair of jeans...on a Christmas morning...eating apple pie.
Since having work done on the car for upgrades precluded me from driving it from time to time, I decided to bring down another unreachable idol, I bought my second Porsche. This time around it was time for my teen dream poster child, a 1979 Guards Red 930 turbo, which was the car I most desired at an age when few things mattered other than girls. Again with this car I hit jackpot, It is so bi-polar, so silent and brutal, so sexy and vulgar, so different to the 911.
But how does the 930 feel? It feels like the first time...if you know what I mean.
Regards
Mauricio

[Oldmother]

GREAT first post, welcome! Now, as others will soon tell you, we would like to see some pictures of both cars please...

[OsoMoore]

This thread is useless without pictures.



Just kidding... great introduction! How would you compare the 71 to the 930? Is one the clear favorite?

[uwanna]

Originally Posted by OsoMoore

This thread is useless without pictures.



Just kidding... great introduction! How would you compare the 71 to the 930? Is one the clear favorite?

AMEN!!

[enzoducoing]

Originally Posted by Oldmother

GREAT first post, welcome! Now, as others will soon tell you, we would like to see some pictures of both cars please...

You are absolutely right, pictures tell the story better. Here they are. I am currently waiting for a set of Mike Lindsay's 17" black-centered fuchs for the 930 and driving it every day to sort out any troubles while the 911 is at the shop getting new suspension and brakes.
The 911 was originally a Sportomatic that had a late 5 gear 915 installed by the last owner as well as 40mm Webbers, I am the fourth owner on an original 87k miles 2.2
I am however devising an evil plan to turn it into an unsuspecting "sleeper" 911T with a TP 3.4 w/PMOs.
The 930 has 48k original miles, I am the third owner and besides having the suspension lowered and BBS wheels installed by the last owner, it is stock and I have not found any trouble areas. Everything works fine.
The most surprising thing about the 930 is how easy and friendly it is to use as a daily driver. The 4 gear box is the easiest on traffic (even more comfortable and less jumpy than a friend's 993/G50) and the car flows effortlessly at stoplights only to behave wildly if you want/need to.

[ejp]

Originally Posted by enzoducoing

Question:
Was that 930 an Australian model, or was it delivered with the M049 anti-gravity option?

[porterdog]

Originally Posted by enzoducoing

So used to all sorts of sterile people-transporters had I become that I'd forgot how it felt to drive.

Oh H E L L yes. Beautifully put.

[bazar01]

ok flipped it for you.

[enzoducoing]

Originally Posted by OsoMoore

This thread is useless without pictures.



Just kidding... great introduction! How would you compare the 71 to the 930? Is one the clear favorite?

I have to say that I'm still overblown by the dual personality of the 930, but when driven hard you really don't have time to enjoy much, you are literally hanging by the seat of your pants, whilst the 911 is a never-ending pleasure-producing machine that gives you the time to feel, hear and smell every feet of pavement, it seduces you. On the other hand, It is only after you are out of the 930 that your brain catches up and debriefs the rest of you on what just happened while you where driving, it ravishes you.
I'm still learning the limits of the 930 and am approaching them carefully, on the other hand I have by now explored fully the driving rewards of the 911's chassis and it's predictability. If anything, I feel short of power now on the 911, but that can be remedied. I don't think a long-hood is about speed but the pleasurable sensation of speed, however I know that with the proper chassis preparation, one of this 40 year old cars can easily handle twice the power without loosing their character so that's probably where I'm going with it.
They are so different and so incredible at the same time, I don't think I could live on without one or the other, so I'm keeping both.
I can't have two wives, one for long passionate love and another for brutally ravishing encounters, but I sure as well can have and enjoy this two wonderfully different machines.
Cheers
Mauricio

[OsoMoore]

Originally Posted by enzoducoing

I have to say that I'm still overblown by the dual personality of the 930, but when driven hard you really don't have time to enjoy much, you are literally hanging by the seat of your pants, whilst the 911 is a never-ending pleasure-producing machine that gives you the time to feel, hear and smell every feet of pavement, it seduces you. On the other hand, It is only after you are out of the 930 that your brain catches up and debriefs the rest of you on what just happened while you where driving, it ravishes you.
I'm still learning the limits of the 930 and am approaching them carefully, on the other hand I have by now explored fully the driving rewards of the 911's chassis and it's predictability. If anything, I feel short of power now on the 911, but that can be remedied. I don't think a long-hood is about speed but the pleasurable sensation of speed, however I know that with the proper chassis preparation, one of this 40 year old cars can easily handle twice the power without loosing their character so that's probably where I'm going with it.
They are so different and so incredible at the same time, I don't think I could live on without one or the other, so I'm keeping both.
I can't have two wives, one for long passionate love and another for brutally ravishing encounters, but I sure as well can have and enjoy this two wonderfully different machines.
Cheers
Mauricio

Porsche should hire you to write promotional material! The red 930 is very classic-looking, but I agree that Fuchs would suit it better. Now that you are two cars deep, there is clearly no going back. As they say around here... enjoy the addiction.

[redridge]

Nah... those bbs looks great on that car. You dont see to many running those shoes.... gold ftw in my book. Great 1st post and enjoy!

[tirwin]

Originally Posted by bazar01

ok flipped it for you.

Man I love 930's. As the Church Lady would say... "all those naughty bulbous regions".

You have a beautiful car, sir!

-Tim

[enzoducoing]

Thank you for the comments and for all the inspiration. I have for months read here at the Pelican forums countless accounts of all things Porsche, and it's an understatement that this community is THE source of knowledge. It is so vast that everything has been tried one time or another, and the collective lessons really help newbies like me to avoid many, many mistakes in our over-enthusiastic, first plunge into this wonderfully addictive pastime.
I will post more pictures of the cars as they evolve during my time with them and will certainly ask the questions that need to be asked. Meanwhile I will keep reading as much as I can on the intricacies of these great cars.
Regards
Mauricio

[Canada Kev]

Mmmmm... Naughty bulbous regions...

Mauricio, great first post. You've really found a way to put much of the initial experience into words. Bravo.

[LS1951]

Great thread Mauricio! I also own a long hood & a 930 (1970 T hot rod, 76 Turbo Carrera). It really is the best of both worlds. You sure have a way with words, perfect description of what it's like to own 2 cars that are so similar yet so different.

[enzoducoing]

Thank you "Canada Kev",
"LS1951" Can you please post pictures of your cars? I am very exited about my "Sleeper T" rod and I still haven't decided on the engine. I have considered several configurations for a high HP, street-gas, reliable engine such as a 3.6VR conversion or a TP3.4 on PMOs, but I'm still undecided mostly because my lack of experience with the daily use of these engines, can you please comment on your engine choice?
Cheers
Mauricio

[LS1951]

The red cars are roller projects, a 74 S and a 72 T. The 2 blue cars share daily driver duties.

I bought the 911T with a rebuilt CIS 2.7, not my idea of a great hot rod engine but it runs good and has plenty of torque. My only advice would be to stash the original engine if it's numbers matching. Also, I prefer carbs or MFI on the early cars....

[enzoducoing]

Originally Posted by LS1951

....

Wow! Those are beautiful cars, great finds. The blues are very cool, I have never seen one 930 in that tone, looks great.
Regarding your advise you are right I do like carbs more on long hoods even if a VR3.6 is a very torquey and dependable engine it has no character, so have decided on the TP3.4PMOs.
Thanks.