And Now, The Rest of the Story!

[Rot 911]

Remember in Mid-October when BK911 wanted to trade his 86 Coupe for an early 911 Targa? He wrote "Anybody want to trade their old 911 for a newer one? You’re in luck! I want to trade an 86 Carrera Coupe for an early 911. I’d prefer a 2.4E Targa, but will consider any 70 – 73 911, Coupe, Targa, T, E or S. Let me know what you have and let’s make a deal!"

Well it so happened I had my screaming yellow 72 E which I had finally sorted out the MFI, but was secretly longing for a coupe. What started as a couple of tenative e-mails ended up being about 50 e-mails and as many pictures being sent back and forth. And now, the rest of the story. For those who don't know, I live in mid-Missouri and BK911 lives in Baltimore Maryland. We agreed that a good place to meet would be in Ohio. Naturally I was a bit worried driving my '72 as I had done a bunch of work on it and hadn't really taken it on a long trip. Anyway, at 5:00 a.m. Saturday morning, with every tool I think I might need to rebuild the car on the side of the road, I set off for Ohio. 8 hours later, with absolutely no problems with the car, BK and I meet at a grade school in the small town of Sommerford. It was cold and spitting sleet! We spent about 2 hours driving and inspecting each other's car and freezing! At 5:00 that evening I headed back to Jefferson City behind the wheel of a Guards Red '86 Coupe and BK heads off to Baltimore in my '72. This has to be the most unusual car purchase I have ever made. Oh, the '72 drove flawlessly and made around 23mpg at 80 miles per hour the entire way! Thoughts on the way home: The '72 is all snarling, in your face, brute acceleration while the '86 was a more quiet refined sports car, where the speed is there, but you don't have that wailing engine telling you how fast you are going, but one look at the speedometer lets you know you are breaking the speed limit by about 30mph or so. Anyway thanks to all for you help with my '72 and I look forward to all your help as I tinker a bit on the '86. Guess I need to also change my signature block

Kurt V
Former 72 911E owner who has gone over to the dark side and is now '86 911 Carerra Owner.

[Reg]

Great story!

I think it will be a while yet before i feel that I could drive my 70 on a trip like that.


It would be fun to hear the story from BK911!

I am sure it isnt too far away from being on here too.

[orbmedia]

Just curious, how did you sort out insurance and registration and tags during the swap? Or did you just "run the gauntlet" back to your homes with switched tags?

[joehahn]

This may be an inappropriate question but how much cash changed hands. Also, Kurt, I will assume that you have committed your old work procedures to memory and I still will be able to lean on you with all my questions right???

Joe 68L

[cegerer]

Kurt,

First, my condolences on your loss.

Actually, that's a great story! -- Curt

------------------
1971 911T - 2.5L Big Bore

The Gray Wolf!

[BK911]

"Secretly longing for a Coupe"?? Boy I wish I knew that during the negotiations! Oh well, too late now! My trip to Ohio wasn't as pleasant as Kurt's. I made a detour through Pittsburgh to visit a friend. It snowed most of my trip from Balto to Pitt. I was worried about the weather on my return trip. I wouldn't have been as worried in a Carrera, but in a 30 year old Targa that I was unfamilar with was kind of scary. Fortunately the weather cleared up and the Targa drove AWESOME the entire trip home! The MFI still needs some tweaking (read: prepare for some "MFI Help!" posts shortly!) but I got exactly what I was looking for and expecting. And Orb, I can neither confirm nor deny any allegations of running with illegal tags!

[TimB]

That must have been cool for both of you. Except the whole sleet and snow thing - but then I'm a Californian!

Enjoy.

[Rot 911]

Orb, to answer your questions, my insurance company, USAA will automatically insure any vehicle I purchase. As for the plates, in Missouri, they don't go with the car and I have 30 days to register the new car, so with me everything was legal.

Joe, not telling you how much cash changed hands, but we are both happy with the transaction. I promise to keep helping you with your 68L.

TimB, yeah the snow and sleet sucked. Here in mid-Missouri it is sunny and 75 degrees out right now.

The gutsiest move in this whole deal was BK bringing his female friend with him! She was cool about the whole thing, but it had to be strange for her driving up in one car and leaving in another.

Kurt V
Former 72 911E owner who has gone over to the dark side and is now '86 911 Carerra Owner.

[ebradway]

What's even gutsier is that the woman came in a refined '86 and left in a much older car. I'm sure she was pensive...

Welcome to the '86 club! I think we should start some kind of official '86ers group!

-Eric

------------------
Eric Bradway
'86 911 Targa
http://www.bradway.net/porsche

[jester911]

Yes,it sounds just like my car. I have a guards red 86 coupe. I love it.
Hope yours goes as well.

------------------
Jerry
'86 carrera coupe

[Matt Smith]

Kurt- I too am saddened by your loss. But hopefully the dark side isn't too bad after all
Have fun!

------------------
'72 911 TE

[MRM]

This may be asking for trouble, but ever since hearing Warren wax eloquently about the early S and E cars to FA-18C when he was looking for his early E, I have had a longing for one myself. . . .




------------------
MRM 1984 Carrera Cab Eurospec

[GIBSON]

I think these two years of cars represent some of the best things about 911's. The 72/73 with the MFI is just a great package, the 86 is a reliable, smooth car (and most of them came with limited slip 915's!). So, to solve the dilema, I have both. My 73S is a great coupe with decent power and MFI sounds, the 86 Targa is my daily driver, 130,000 miles and I'd drive it anywhere.
Now if I could just figure out where to park a Turbo.....
Bruce Herrmann