Originally Posted by jac1976
I need help finding my Porsche.
On March 25, I was involved in crash while on the Hill Country Rallye. My 1973.5 T Targa was totaled. The car was towed to a yard. A few weeks later I received a notice from the lot owner indicating that he could take a lien on the vehicle if the towing and storage fees were not paid. I immediately called and offered to pay and was told the letter I received he was "required by the state" to send and not to worry that my insurance would cover it. My insurance adjuster subsequently visited the lot and evaluated the damage. I received a second notice and was again reassured by the lot operator. I explained that it may be some time until I was able to make the hour and a half trip to the lot as I was still immobilized. Additionally, I wanted to bring my mechanic with me and assess whether I should take the agreed-upon value from my insurer or buy the vehicle back and part it out. At that point, I would turn it over or have it brought back to a storage facility that my wife was getting. Weeks later I get a call from the lot operator asking when I would be out to retrieve the car. I told him my wife, a teacher, was finishing the school year in a few weeks and would have the time to secure the storage as I had decided to keep the vehicle and I was arranging to have the vehicle transported. I again offered to pay and he said we would settle up when I retrieved the vehicle.
Within a few weeks of this conversation, I get a text message about my car from fellow Pelican nameisbauer who witnessed my wreck first-hand. He was surprised I sold the car. So was I. In fact, I thought he was joking until he sent a link to Beverly Hills Car Club featuring my car. A flurry of phone calls followed where I was told essentially to go f myself by the lot operator and that the car was purchased "legally" and "above the table" by BHCC. Despite explaining the family history of the car and its importance to me, far beyond its monetary value, I was met with "this is a business." And I understand that. After trying to negotiate a better price than the $29k + that BHCC was asking, the car was again sold. They told me that cannot reveal where the car ended up.
As it stands today, I am trying to locate the car. Additionally, upon the advice and urging of attorney friends, I am pursuing the lot operator who "induced" (attorneys' words, not mine) to believe we had an understanding. Although I felt he was duplicitous, I honestly believed I had no recourse since I received written notice. This remains to be seen. Nevertheless, I will likely never get the car back. I simply would like some memento (the aftermarket shift knob or original dealer license frame, etc.) of the car, as my dad purchased it in 1973 and it has been in my family since that time.
Work, family, self-pity among other factors have figured into the equation since that time. I had essentially stepped away from Porsches. Hell, I haven't been on Pelican since that time. Upon dusting off an old iPad for my kid, I set to close a number of tabs on the web explorer...there were a number open to Pelican, among other Porsche sites. A few days later, I am on the front porch with my 3 year old boy. Our postman walks up and asks how my knee is and notes that I seem to be getting around much better. My boy chimes in that the "doctor fixed it with screws." He continues to say, "he wrecked his Porsche, but it's being fixed at the shop."
My emotions range from pissed off with the fate of my car to excitement about getting back in a Porsche. Wrecking a family heirloom was bad enough. Having it taken and profited on is a whole other story. At the end of the day, I am happy to be alive. I am also grateful all the guys at the HCR event, particularly those on that drive that morning who called 911 (nine one one) directed them to our remote site, sat with me until the paramedics arrived, and even took time out of a beautiful day to drive in central Texas to check on me and bring me a sandwich in the emergency room. Thank you.
I don't hold out a lot of hope for recovering much of anything. This may just be an exercise of catharsis. Any advice and all comments are welcome. I am currently at work and will later provided the VIN and engine numbers. Quickly though, the car is an original matching numbers silver 1973.5 911T Targa. It's most notable feature is that it looks like it hit a tree head on. Which it did. The engine tins are powder coated black and there is/was some paracord in place of a broken air box strap.
More to follow. Sorry for the lengthy post and thanks for allowing me to vent.
|