911 S MY1968 found - which is the best decision?

[AlexJ]

Hi all!

Although the title suggests I need help on purchasing, I have to say I already bought the car.

It was a car I have been checking here in the island around 6-7 years ago (??? not sure). At that time I was already a 911 enthusiast but not really into classic cars... I really didn't know what I was looking at.

I remember the car was a Turbo bodied, clearly not factory, with some corrosion already erupting, the engine didn't run, etc...

At the time, I didn't feel very interested and quit the purchase.
A person I know, (a local independent Porsche specialist) bought the car right after, and kept it without any developments - he is a very busy person.

We spoke sometime about his intentions, changed some opinions about what to do with the car, etc. but things never came to action...

Last week, I meet this guy and almost by instinct I asked him if he ever considered selling his car. ... maybe this is a symptom of "early forties" - when you start gaining some stability in life - you start doing things by instinct!

Being one lucky guy who has access to such wonderful places as is this board - Pelican Parts forum - I have been accessing some very interesting information that allowed me gain some knowledge, enough to become very interested when he said "it's an S"...

Well, we spoke for ten minutes and we agreed on the therms of the selling.

[AlexJ]

Today I "started" to pick the car up...

The car is all disassembled.... parts everywhere - I even found a Renault gearbox in the back of my van!
Most difficult part is already done!

First of all I have to explain that I am a person who never gets scared of a car in a poor condition - I like the challenge of getting them back!

I am also involved on some projects already registered on this board:

The build of a rally car - tarmac, open Class

yes! Forward but diferent!

1967 T - Not a barn find but another one will be saved!

I am also involved on the build of a 914-6 GT replica (recreation/interpretation) from a friend of mine which I consider my first costumer.

So, no matter the cars condition and knowing that many dusty 911s start being an "S" at the first sight but after some investigation we realize that we found another "boring" "T"... - nothing against !!! I have one my self!So I was very suspicious about what I was going to find...

[AlexJ]

So, here is what I found when I get to the back of the workshop:

[AlexJ]

As I said before it is a wide body car. I was not sure if it was a SWB or a LWB.

I don't know why but I always had the feeling that this was a LWB chassis "titled" with some early papers...

But let's go to the facts:

VIN: 11800682

SWB chassis

2 piece one Year only dash cover...

and a very poor conversion...

[AlexJ]

Next room I found the engine:



With the following data:

Type 901/05

Engine number:

[AlexJ]

Another from the engine:

[AlexJ]

Carburetors are "IDA" au lieau de "IDS".

[AlexJ]

Rear trunk can be original - saying this because I saw somewhere a discussion about being possible the first MY 68 units (karmann) coming with a split grid...

[AlexJ]

Not sure about the doors... I have to compare these with mine from the 68 T that I am sure are originals... one of them even has a protection bar welded inside, as far as I am concerned, a latter option...

[TRE Cup]

66 standard engine 130 hp
the driver door you show is from a later model
the shell seems to be correct swb at one time
need some more pictures showing the torsion tube to see if that was modified for the turbo look

[AlexJ]

[TRE Cup]

ok- you have a G series rear chassis section
aluminum rear arms, rear seat belt supports on the inside of the back buckets. later undercoating (post 69) on the chassis.
the front tub section is 65-68. wonder where it was cut and shut

[AlexJ]

First time I see this combination! Ii wonder if that suspension works...

So... It is in fact a long wheel base chassis in therms of dimensions?

... and even if I manage to find a rear section donor, it is still a non matching number...

[docrodg]

vin is a 68 S. I have #1234 sitting in my garage. One word of warning: parts can be difficult to locate due to the uniqueness of 68 (dash, door panels, etc were different in 68 only). Should be easier to find in Europe than here in US tho... as the S was not sold in US that year. Looks like a lot of work but will be well worth it.

[E Sully]

Is the front end correct? The latch panel for the hood doesn't seem correct to me. Looks more like an impact bumper panel.

[ossiblue]

You'll have to let us know (after a very close inspection of the chassis for signs of welding) but from the first picture you posted and the other things mentioned, I'm beginning to think the smuggler's box panel, that has the VIN, was from a 68S and was welded into a G series chassis. Notice how different that panel is in color/condition compared to the rest of the chassis. The front impact sides and the front trunk latch panel do not look to be patched into an early front end. The 68 parts that were on the car are all easily removable/transferable to another chassis. The door is from 73 or later; the rear is a G-series; the engine is a 67 normal. It may be that the only S part is the VIN panel itself. It will be interesting to know if there are any non-factory welding seams along the chassis. Please let us know.

[AlexJ]

Ok, let's make thing more confusing...

(First of all, thanks for your coments but I think that is not so easy...)

"G" series?

[AlexJ]

From here I would not question it....

[AlexJ]

Please note the front bumper support bracket...

[gamin]

This is really interesting. Keep it going.