Nice article in Panorama on M491 coupe

[Pedro '84 Coupe]

Really enjoyed the article "The Hunt" in this month's Panorama. It features Pelican famoroso's beautiful M491 coupe. Congrats, famoroso!

[Quasimoto]

Yes, enjoyed seeing this article!

[DavidMn]

Maybe I missed it in the article... do you know what year the car is?

[JonT]

I saw that and wondered if that was his car--havent read it yet though...beautiful car.

[famoroso]

Thanks for the kind words gents! Gemini has been a FUN project to work on and the car represents legitimate childhood wish fulfillment.

The photoshoot and interview were almost a year ago. A couple details got lost in translation, but I feel Ezekiel did a good job. Julia really nailed this pics! It was a fun experience overall and it was very gratifying to finally see it in print. The response has been very positive, like this thread.

In the interim, among other things, Jae Lee / Mirage built a 3.4 out of the original 3.2, added LSD, KW V3s, Recaro Pole Position Classics, etc. and, most recently a rear bumperette delete / Euro crush tube swap and M&K Active Exhaust pre-muffler and M&K 1 in / out. She's down to ~2,850 pounds now.

It's been so much fun to see my vision come to fruition...









I especially love the dragon mural shot...

[Fairview]

Congratulations Frank! Nice to see your patience and hard work recognized in a big way.

[NY65912]

Cool article. I went thru a similar search only it took 20 years

Beautiful car! Best of luck with Gemini.

Cheers

[AG81]

Read the article last night..... Well written and a great story.

[famoroso]

Originally Posted by NY65912

Cool article. I went thru a similar search only it took 20 years

Beautiful car! Best of luck with Gemini.

Cheers

20 years! ĄAy caramba! Were you looking for something specific? These cars are hard enough to find, without zeroing in on certain colors or options.

Originally Posted by AG81

Read the article last night..... Well written and a great story.

Here's the "one that got away..."

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-cars-sale/867534-fs-1989-m491-911-carrera-coupe.html

Boy, did I ever f*ck that one up. Even though it's been 5+ years, the scar tissue is still so fresh. Gemini has been a great salve / therapy, but missed / foregone opportunity regrets are the gifts that keep giving. Interestingly enough, I can't do black cars anymore, but if that '89 becomes available again, I'll have to buy it on principle, regardless of cost.

[jac1976]

For what it’s worth, I like yours much more.

[NY65912]

Frank,

As soon as I saw the new 930 Turbo in the eighties I was determined to buy one. I always wanted a black on black turbo, but the car had to be exceptional. I then came to the realization that I really did not want a turboed engine.

I had other cars in my life, a '72 S (Gemini Blue) for a short while, a '65 356 C for about 6 years, a '65 912 for around 3 years, track '80 SC with a 400hp N/A 3.8 as well as a few modded VWs.

BUT, I was always on the lookout for a Black M491 with low miles and super clean. It would be a touring car, read wife friendly.

I finally found the car I always wanted and jumped on it based on a PPI done by a friend in Mass.

To me, my '85 M491 is perfect. Every time I think that I might want to sell it and move on to something else I say to myself, "ok, what is it that you really want?" The answer is always sitting right in the garage.

I must say, your car is very tastefully modded and quite stunning. Best of Luck!

[megerian]

Took 8 years to find my M491 Cabriolet

[RFP]

These stories of years-long searches for a really nice M491 have me feeling a little bit guilty... I just stumbled across mine. Looked at Pelican 'cars for sale' one day and there it was: 1987 black/black WTL. I bought it 'sight unseen' and with no PPI (there's a story there, but it's long and boring but happy). I am the 5th owner and have occasional contact with three of the four previous owners (I've talked with the forth, but he's not really a Porsche guy). Every time I drive the car, I am dazzled by just how 'perfect' a car can be, even if pushing 35 years old.

A few photos here, if anybody cares: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rfpd300/albums/72157709921714107

Robert

[NY65912]

Beautiful car Robert. I care.��

[tributeventures]

Frank, great article. Question - since your car does not have front and rear spoilers is it a M471 or did you take off the spoilers on a M491.

[ted]

Nice Frank were those the seats in it last Rennsport?
They look great, bummed Jae Lee shut down.
I think a black M491 is not flamboyant enough for you.

20 years ago I had an RS look long hood and my wife said go ahead get another 911.
2 weeks later a black 86 M491 was parked in the garage next to the RS look.
The RS look is gone and the M491 received a stock restoration.

[NickP]

Really enjoyed this article like everyone else. Great car indeed, but the owner is one heck of a good guy.

[johnkszabo]

Very cool car! Enjoy John Szabo

[famoroso]

Originally Posted by jac1976

For what it’s worth, I like yours much more.

Thanks. I'm enraptured fo'sho'! I would LOVE an '89 tho, with all their unique features and being the last of their kind and all.

Originally Posted by tributeventures

Frank, great article. Question - since your car does not have front and rear spoilers is it a M471 or did you take off the spoilers on a M491.

M491 = turbo look
M470 = turbo look with spoiler delete
Hence, all M470s are M491s, but not all M491s are M470s.

(As an aside M471 is the code for flared 914s a la the 914-6 GT)

So, Gemini was ordered in '87 as a factory widebody turbo look, without spoilers. Somewhere during the ensuing thirty-one years, it sprouted a tea-tray spoiler. It retained its original front spoiler delete front fascia.

I re-deleted the rear spoiler (https://www.instagram.com/p/BybB8G5FjxT/?igshid=s6njrgcl9p05) but added the 930 rubber lip spoiler in conjunction with a fog light delete...
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzBsUStl7AR/?igshid=15lfixpv2t3z7

Originally Posted by ted

Nice Frank were those the seats in it last Rennsport?
They look great, bummed Jae Lee shut down.
I think a black M491 is not flamboyant enough for you.

No, I had sport seats in during RR VI. I just installed the Pole Position Classics over the past couple weeks.

Originally Posted by NickP

Really enjoyed this article like everyone else. Great car indeed, but the owner is one heck of a good guy.

Originally Posted by johnkszabo

Very cool car! Enjoy John Szabo

Aw jeez, thanks Nick and John (and everyone else) for the kind words and well wishes.

I really love these cars and the M491s are my jam / personal Porsche rabbit hole.

I'm thinking about organizing an M491 National Meet one of these days (summer '22), until then, keep the stories coming here. I'd like to hear the stories of your searches / hunts.

[Quasimoto]

Originally Posted by famoroso

I'm thinking about organizing an M491 National Meet one of these days (summer '22), until then, keep the stories coming here. I'd like to hear the stories of your searches / hunts.

Subscribed!