A tale of reuniting a car with its original engine

[jedwards1123]

This story has been related to our Australian colleagues through our Typ901 forum, so please excuse me if you have heard it before, but for the rest of the Porsche 911 fraternity, it is a story worth telling as it shows how supportive and helpful our little Porsche community really is.

The story starts with the recent purchase of ‘71T, originally imported into Australia from the UK in 1994 by a well known Porsche Racing specialist as a the basis for an RS replica track day build. As part of the build-up, the original 2.2T engine, was removed and replaced by a performance oriented 3.0 litre engine.

During the 1996 season, the engine suffered a catastrophic failure resulting in its removal from the car. The engineless shell was pushed to the back of the workshop, awaiting a new engine, but for whatever reason, that never happened and 71T remained untouched and gathering dust for the next 10 years. Due to financial misfortune the assets of the workshop were seized by the bank in and sold off by public auction. 71T, along with a mixed bag of parts were purchased by Porches parts specialist Allsports911 in Melbourne who added them to his general stock. 71T sat there in dry storage for a further 8 years. 71T only recently emerged from its slumbers and was sold in early 2014, as shell for a racer car build. The new owner found a better candidate so offered 71T for sale. I purchased as an engineless shell for an ambitious back-to-original restoration project.
Having no idea if the original engine was as even in Australia, I started the hunt for a good local 2.2T engine. Our community was great and several good candidates recommended, but during a chance discussion the vendor, it was mentioned that Allsports911 who had my car for a decade, might also have some 2.2T engines. I got in touch with the owner of David Jenej, and during our chat it occurred to him that some of his engines might have come from the same period as 71T. He was kind enough to go climbing around his rafters to engine numbers and you guessed it, hidden un der the dusk was engine number 6119093!

Against all the odds, and through the help and kindness of our little fraternity, the car and engine are now being reunited with the view to recreate the original RHD, matching numbers car in original 8080 metallic silver.

[Harry998R]

Hi Jeff,

That's a great story, congratulations and all the best with getting her back into original shape.

Cheers,

Harry.

[zelrik911]

Fantastic stroke of luck to find that engine.

What shape is the body shell in? Much rust from its time in UK?

Please keep us updated.
Peter in Melbourne (which has many hidden car-caves with demented mechanics hiding inside)

[evan9eleven]

Great story! Keep us posted.

[Unobtanium-inc]

Amazing luck! Keep us posted on the progress.
- Matt