What's the story behind your 911?

[jgurnari]

When I turned 30 I had to have my dream car. I found it for sale in NYC on a sound stage, along with a a Esprit Lotus, being sold by a Film Director. He had used it in an Alice in Chains video. I have owned it for 35 years. bought with 42,000 now has 310,000 miles.
I was sooo nervous driving it back to NJ.

[Tippy]

Had my aero 996 out one night at a car gathering and was approached by the PO talking Porsche. He had a turbocharged ‘87 with 964 bits.

Asked if I wanted a ride. Of course I said yes as I’ve never actually rode in an air-cooled 911 before.

First thing I noticed was the smell and raucous exhaust. That was the 1st hook. Then the headlight bumps were so much more pronounced than the 996 had.

What sealed the deal was the 3rd gear hit at highway speeds that caught me off guard. It was like a bottle rocket once the then, laggy HiFi 60-1 turbo hit.

It was magic.

Told him if ever wanted to sell, let me know.

Well, another guy wanted my 996 and he was selling so I swapped cars months later on the same exact day.

I questioned if I made the right choice as cosmetically it needed work but I grew to love its imperfections and slowly making better every year.

Had it now 15 years, longest of any car I’ve had by far.

[Slm1964]

Lurking around here for a long time. Just resisted. I bought my 1986 ROW 911 cabriolet in 2007. I was in between cars. Got it on a whim thinking I would flip it, but here we are. It is a real DP. A lot of cars have come and gone from my garage, but have decided this one is a keeper.

I am currently on the hunt for a long hood.

[Matt at Pelican Parts]

Awesome story Tippy! We shared it to our Facebook platform recently for other to read too! Check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/2iLzPn5ux6g2wEh5/

Originally Posted by Tippy

Had my aero 996 out one night at a car gathering and was approached by the PO talking Porsche. He had a turbocharged ‘87 with 964 bits...

[Nick Triesch]

Did research and wanted a mid 80’s 911 with Motronic. Found my cool black car in 2010 at a small shop in Temecula for $12000. A young wife bought it for her husband as a gift but he garaged it for a few years then took it to a little sports car shop. Every week the car came down in price. $17,000, $15,000, $14,000! Then $12,000! So I bought it just like that !!! The car is unrestored but nice. Drove it on many trips but then in 2019 I had a complete top end done. So my 85 is fun and fine now. Over all I spent $14,500 on repairs since 2010. Including clutch, flywheel, sensors tune up parts.

[Crow911]

Started looking to buy my first 911 air cooled back in late 1990’s and after some searching found a 1986 911 carrera Coupe white metallic gold 100% original with 129,000 miles. Struck a deal over internet and flew to Charlotte to pick it up. When I arrived at seller’s house I learned he was a retired airline pilot who had flown in Korea. He was original buyer of car from dealership new. Before he would let me see the car, he sat me down in his living room and interviewed me as if I was taking his daughter out for a date. I must have passed because he took me out to the garage and showed me a detailed beauty. On the way out, his wife pulled me aside and told me he was in the garage cleaning it up before I got there and she could hear him talking to the car. I knew I found a gem. She now has 170,000 miles on her and after an engine rebuild, gearbox rebuild, suspension upgrade, turbo conversion, and new interior, she is as good as new and running perfect.

[Mollymill]

bought my '68 911 in the late '70s, sold it and then found it in 12/05 and bought it again.

[Matthew_VA]

Saw this thread and figured I'd share the story behind my 1983 911SC Targa since it has a much cooler story than the '84 Carrera that I replaced it with last spring.



So I bought the Targa back in May 2021 off of Craigslist from the original owner, which, by itself, isn't anything really noteworthy to write about. However, he was only 18 years old when he bought it new back in 1983!

He told me the story of how he basically saved every penny since he was six years old, including working at his father‘s pizzeria, and when he turned 18 he had saved $20K (back in 1983)!! He initially wanted to buy a Pontiac Trans Am but his father said "if you’re going to spend a significant amount of money buy a high quality car, one that will last. Buy a Porsche."

They went to the local Porsche dealership and ordered a 944 but its delivery was significantly delayed. The dealership had this '83 Targa (Ruby Red) in the showroom, which the son and his father tried unsuccessfully to get for the price of the 944. The son used the money he had saved for the down payment and his father cosigned the loan for the remaining balance. The proud 18 year old owner ended up paying off the loan over the next five years.

After I bought the car, I was invited to his parents' house to pick up a few extra parts he had left there decades ago. While we were there, he showed me this blown-up photo of him and his Targa--the day he bought it--that was still hanging on his parent's wall some 38 years later.

[Matt at Pelican Parts]

Holy cow! That is such an amazing story! You don't see too many one-owner 911's for sale these day -let alone one with such a cool story! Thanks for sharing!

Originally Posted by Matthew_VA

So I bought the Targa back in May 2021 off of Craigslist from the original owner, which, by itself, isn't anything really noteworthy to write about. However, he was only 18 years old when he bought it new back in 1983!

[Michael.]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

... In the 29 years I have owned it I have driven it to 41 states, and Canada. I have done a couple of hundred autocrosses, and several track days.


I have driven Hallett Raceway, Texas Motor speedway, Charlotte Superspeedway, Robeling Road, outside of Savannah, GA, Laguna Seca, Indianapolis 500 track, Eagles Canyon outside of Decatur, Texas and Ozark International in Missouri. That is a 4 mile long with 1,200 feet elevation changes super fun track. This summer I will add Barber motorsport track in Birmingham, AL

I do most of the maintenance on the 911, and all the needed projects like adding the Griffith's Mr. Ice AC system. It will blow tons of 37 degree air on me after a 10 hour day, when it is 107 degrees outside like this summer in Palm Springs.

I plan to get to all the lower 48 states driving my 911. This summer I turned 193,000 miles.

You sir... are a hero.

My G-body story has just begun but I hope to create many many memories with it.

[juanbenae]

beat this....


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/california-southwest-us-az-nv/443725-plunge.html

[mike sampsel]

Bought my 78 SC in Dallas in 84, second owner. Still have it, 120 K miles, had 69 K when we bought it. I was young and eager, the car looked great, although through the years the paint looked tired so I got it repainted in 2019 in its original color.

Still working on it to make it good as can be. Front suspension bushings are in my future.

All original except a few things ... SS3.2, Webcams, sheep skin covers, oil fed tensioners, active sport cat, 9.5 CCR, the engine lid thing by Spade custom, new engine harness by timmy 2, CR AC ...

[SalazarS2K]

When I was 5 or so, my parents would always go to yard sales on the weekends which was fun as a kid to pick out something for myself. I ended up getting this old Porsche hardback with a full spread on the inside cover of a white and blue 911 2.7 RS. I thought it was the coolest looking car and always had that image in my head.

Fast forward to early 2000s after college and my interest in old Porsches was renewed with a buddy of mine and found out it was within budget. I registered to pelicanparts in 2002 and searched for 2.7 RS tributes for sale. I attended the annual hershey swap meet looking for cars. Made a lot of calls but didn’t pull the trigger.

One of the picture threads came up on the forum and there and behold was the perfect car the owner just finished building. I PMed him and asked if he was interested in selling and he said no. A few months later I get a message asking if I wanted it and I drove straight to Connecticut from Maryland to check it out and bought it on the spot. It’s been almost 20 years and I still love it.

This forum has been great with information for maintenance and spending money. Within the first year I sold my finicky 2.8L race motor and went with a 3.6 conversion. I’ve bought from all the creative vendors who sold horn buttons, grill badge, LED tailights, and had my gauges backdated. I’ve attended the engine rebuilding class and met the awesome forum members.

[lpsalsaman]

Well, I have always loved to have a 911, I was stationed in Germany in the early 80's, and while there I test drove them, and try to buy but unfortunately couldn't get one at that time. Went back again for second tour from 87 to 90 and yet again, couldn't get one. I guess it wasn't for me, plus my wife and I were both in the Army, and also joggling 3 kids which wasn't easy. In 2002 we had a family crisis, which basically put my dream of owning one in almost a permanent stop.

Fast-forward to 2005, finally I started to look for one, I had a pre approved check, but for some reason nothing was coming up within the price range. Finally almost at the end of check's period, I was able to locate my Targa at the Porsche dealership, just up the street from my work. It was a trade and it had 2 previous owners, that own the car for approx. 10 years each. Right now the car has 120k plus miles, and it still a going strong. I'm looking forward to drive it more often than I do now, as I'm getting ready to finally retire next year from civil service.

[Matt at Pelican Parts]

That's a great story lpsalsaman!

It sounds like you were finally able to achieve your dream and it's been a member of the family ever since! I hope you get to continue to enjoy the car throughout retirement!

[lpsalsaman]

Originally Posted by Matt at Pelican Parts

That's a great story lpsalsaman!

It sounds like you were finally able to achieve your dream and it's been a member of the family ever since! I hope you get to continue to enjoy the car throughout retirement!

Thanks, Matt! I'm looking forward to next year for sure!

[porsche930dude]

When i was young in school I only liked offroaders and american cars then In high school my friends brother gave me a 89 nissan 240sx I got for free with a bad engine. I fixed it and thats what got me to like foreign cars and sports cars in general. But I didnt want to put much into the nissan i wanted a high end car worthy of investment and a 911 was the cheapest most readily available exotic high end car that I liked. After looking hard for 2 or 3 years I became obsessed with 911s and the turbo flares in particular. Nothing came up I almost bought a z3 m. And I almost bought one on ebay but it didnt work out. We went to a vw show out of town and couldnt find it. Driving around getting lost there it was on the side of the road for sale at an ice cream shop. It was a 911sc with turbo flares the perfect car for me. He bought it 4 years prior from florida and didnt drive it much it sat in a barn a bit neglected. After getting the owner to show up and a brief test ride it was mine. Went back to do the deal the next weekend but there was an issue with a lean on it he let me take the car anyway and we met at the bank near me to clear his debt and get the title cleared. So it was sketchy since he tried to scam me but it worked out in the end. Unfortunately didnt get any history with the car but thats alright. And we found out the vw show was the weekend before we went up there anyway lol

[My82SC]

I have a 1982 911SC that was purchased new by my father and I’m now the owner. Such great memories of this car. As a child my brother and I used to ride in the back and our Dad would take us on some long drives. It was great growing up around this car. As I grew up I started getting interested in cars and learned how to repair cars. One day my Dad saw I had a real interest and asked if I could do an oil change on his cars. I said I could, and have been the only person to work on this car ever since. Eventually I would become a professional auto technician, so my passion for automobiles has grown immensely. But the connection I’ve had with this cars is even greater. Now that this vehicle is mine I try to drive this vehicle every chance I get.

It’s been great to come to this forum and read about all the stories and experiences everyone has had with their vehicles.

[Matt at Pelican Parts]

Great story My82SC!

Do you have any pictures of the 82 911SC?

[My82SC]

Originally Posted by Matt at Pelican Parts

Great story My82SC!

Do you have any pictures of the 82 911SC?