Giovanni86 ,
Here is from my post #27 above:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grady Clay
Sure, there were lots of ‘Dealer Specials’, ‘Importer Specials' and others but they were ALL Porsche Specials.
I think it useful to document the ‘less-well-known’ specials also.
I like to think every Porsche is special. 
Best,
Grady |
We are discussing the details of a ‘Porsche Special’ 1984 Carrera ST.
I would never presume to criticize your interpretation of a Carrera 3.0
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/585431-74-rs-3-0-clone.html
or make statements as to its ultimate value.
All that does is cause hard feelings to no technical benefit.
In my above post (#27), I tried to put the Carrera ST in historical perspective.
Bertt has done a good job of maintaining his example of a fine 911.
He has also done some significant research.
I think it is up to us to help document his car and possibly find some of the nine others.
Over the decades, Porsche’s ability to manufacture cars has changed.
Originally, Porsche made its ‘best guess’ as to what cars would sell.
Porsche went from almost ‘custom’, hand built ‘Gmünd coupes’ to real manufacturing.
Like most auto manufacturers, Porsche developed a ‘line’ of models.
For example in 1960 you could buy a 356B Coupe, Cabriolet or Roadster body in both conventional steel or a part-aluminum ‘GT’ version. You could order a ‘Normal’, a ‘Super’, ‘Super 90’ engines and ‘GS’ or ‘GT’ Carrera engines. You could even order a type 718 RS-60 Spyder for the street.
‘Specials’ then were really unique and may include the Beutler-Porsche, Abarth-Porsche and more.
As the manufacturing process matured,
every car built is a ‘special’. They are unique, built-to-spec cars. Yes, importers order ‘stock’ for their dealer’s inventory. Those are the importer’s best-guess of what mix will most easily sell off a dealer’s ‘lot’. This decision is made in conjunction with Porsche’s ‘Export Sales’ staff and the dealers. Naturally, the goal is to manufacture the cars that will sell the most and profit everyone in the system the most.
As part of this ‘every-car-is-unique’ system, you can order your own ‘special’ 911. Of course there are constraints. Porsche must be able to build it within their design and manufacturing ability. There are country-specific regulations and more.
If you are a ‘money-is-no-object’ buyer and there are no country regulations, Porsche will accommodate you. Those are real ‘special’ custom cars.
Being a successful automobile manufacturer requires many things. We all appreciate the technical aspects of Porsche (This IS a ‘Technical’ forum after all.) There is more.
Marketing is probably close to top of the list. If you can’t sell the cars in the ‘market’, you don’t do very well. You can have the most technically advanced car but if it doesn’t sell, you won’t be in business long.
Part of this ‘marketing’ is choosing models. At the smallest end of ‘models’ are ‘Specials’. At the largest end of ‘Specials’ are ‘Limited Production’. Without dwelling on semantics, there is no clear-cut division among these designations.
Sure, some models, limited-production and special series are more technically interesting than others. No one argues that the first (lightweight) series of ’73 Carrera RS isn’t more significant than a 1973 911S model. That certainly does not diminish a ‘73S – or a 911T.
The same is true among all the models, limited production, specials, special-orders and custom cars that Porsche built in 1984.
When I ordered my 1968 911 from Porsche, it was ‘special’ to my specifications.
So … let’s not pontificate about if a 911 in more or less ‘special’ or ‘valuable’. Take the facts as they are and the market determines monetary ‘value’.
As I said above:
“I like to think every Porsche is special.”
Best,
Grady
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