[oldE]

The old E started out in the Karmann factory, late in '68 as a wine red sunroof coupe. It lived in it's native land until a Canadian Serviceman, who had bought it 2 years previously, returned to Nova Scotia in '92. In that time, it aquired a Carrera tail, a honking big amplifier and more speakers, Recarro cloth seats, a lot of rust and a color change to guards/india red. In its new home, it got a new front suspension pan and was part of the wife's take in a divorce. The kid who bought it couldn't get it to run right, neither could the fellow near me who got it from him. It got another coat of paint and went to auction. The next owner had the gummed-up fuel injection removed and Zeniths installed. The rocker panels were replaced then the car was taken to bare metal and resprayed Guards red again. I had seen the car when it was near me for a year or so, but couldn't come to terms with the guy, saw it in the Auto Trader, looked at it and made a list of the work needed, then waited for the price to come down.

Since that day over 5 years ago, I have repaired floor tears (jack damage), replaced seatbelts, re-indexed rear torsion bars, replaced shifter bushings, cleaned up wiring, installed pressure-fed tensioners and re-packed CV joints. The car gets about 2000 km/year and, as it is the only one around for 30 miles, gets a lot of attention. I love the way the car goes where you think. The lift-throttle oversteer is nowhere as nasty as some would lead you to believe. Every time I walk into my garage, I am struck by the beauty of the thing. Every time I drive it I regret the years I didn't have it. I am amazed by its handling and road manners, especially as I remember very well what cars from that era felt like. It is a marvel. It is my "old E"
Les