What's the story behind your 911?

[JimJa43]

1986 Sunroof Coupe. Black w/tan interior

30 Year military career prevented my driving it much from when I picked it up July 03, '86 until lately. As a result it only has 14.5K miles. I ordered it in 1985 from Checkered Flag Motors in Virginia Beach, VA while stationed in Cuba. Bone stock except for 7&8" Fuchs.

No history of note until Aug '02 when I was towing the car to our home at Lake Tahoe in Iowa and stopped to visit wife's aunt & uncle in Boulder, CO. At 0300 I got up to a noise outside and watched it (and the trailer it was on) head off to parts unknown. Cops were there w/in 5 minutes but the car was history. Held off as long as I could, hoping the car would be recovered and settled w/the insurance company in Dec of '02. Made my mental break with the car ATT. In May '03 we sold the Tahoe place and were in the middle of moving to San Diego amid the worst spring snow in over a 150 years (7'). Right in the middle of closing on the Tahoe place, getting the renters out of our place in San Diego and the snow, I receive a call from the Boulder PD. They recovered the car, complete, w/only minor scratches. The following month I went out to look at it and instantly the fever returned. I had to get that car back. The thief had removed the VIN from the A pillor and scraped the one on the door jam. Didn't touch the VIN in the trunk. It took the state of CO until December of '03 to issue a new VIN. It came on the auction block on Dec 22, '03, I bought a plane ticket to DIA, checked back a day later just before driving to the airport only to find it was taken off the block until Feb 02, '04. In Jan '04 I drove out and bought it. Upon paying for it the counter personnel told me people had been calling every week for six monthd about "that car" and came from all over to bid on it: Denver, Chicago, St Louis, MSP, Omaha, and SLC. The entire process was nerve racking enough, I'm glad I didn't know that before hand. I also didn't notice anyone else bidding - one auctioneer auctioned 204 cars in 65 minutes. Snooze, you lose. BTW, I arrived at the auction house at 0600 and the auction didn't start until 1000. It was 11 degrees. I froze my butt off. It was worth it.

My detail guy cleaned it up and PDR removed the new dings and replaced the broken driver's window, and now she's as good as new. The thief never even started it up.

As an aside, the thief quit paying rent on the U-store-it locker he rented the day he took the car. After 60 days of non-payment the store-it owner opened up the locker to sell the stuff, saw the car and called the cops. They checked it against stolen, got the thief's address from the U-store-it owner and picked him up. I called the detective after getting the car back...the bad guy had several priors and is now making little rocks out of big rocks.

Yeah, I'd love to get the original VIN, but I've got a clean title and a great driver...and that's exactly what I am doing now. It doesn't sit anymore.

As I tell my wife...that car is the ONLY thing in my life that does EXACTLY what I ask it to do. Yes it's old, but still drives better than 90% of the cars out there...but you know that. I'm ALWAYS asked did I make any money on the deal. On paper, yeah, I made about $4.5K, but when you factor in the travel, tickets, lodging, repairs, etc, etc, well, I figure I did just a little better than break even.

Would I do it again...in a heart beat.

Jim

[Joehand1]

The owner of the last Porsche dealer on the Mississippi gulf coast was getting a divorce in late 1988. He was forced to liquidate this car, the last 911 sold at his dealership.

I was just out of residency, single, with the goal of finally owning a 911. I saw the ad in the New Orleans newspaper for the car, which had only 8k miles. A new one at the time was about $48k, I bought this one for $36k. It was the first and only car I looked at.

I never looked back.

Now I have a wife and 3 daughters, all who want the 911 for their own one day.

[ficke]

rrpjr, I am flattered that you would like to see a picture of the 67S, at this time the front seats or out getting recovered and the carpet is getting replaced. The engine is out and the pieces are at competion Eng. getting sweetend up (late model oil pump, case bypass mod. piston squiters, twin plug head's ). Wayne's book might be only $25 but you get $2500 ideas out of it. I will post pictures later on another thread, What a fun thread this is! Fritz

[911K]

I bought my '68 911 in the late '70s, sold it and then found it in 12/05 and bought it again. The full story is here

Mike

[wholberg]

1987 Carrera Targa M491 option.

This car was purchased in Palo Alto in 1987 and the first owner put 65K miles on it by the time it was sold in 1989. According to PCNA, it is one of 4 M491 Targas imported to the U.S. that year. The car was originally iris blue metallic (not factory option in 87) whith linen interior. It changed hands 4 times over the next 15 years, with a total of 22K miles added over that time, with all but the last owner in the SF Bay Area. One of the P.O.'s painted it a really stunning pearl white, which still is holding up well. I purchased the car on EBay in December 2004, winning it on Christmas day at 7 pm. It had 88K miles, a new clutch, and the current owner told me he had owned it for 1 year and put 800 miles on it. He sold it because he did not like the fact that he could not park his Chevrolet Avalanche in his garage???

I flew to Atlanta in January 2005 and drove it home. It has needed almost nothing in the last year, and I'll break 100K this month.

[1yearonLy]

Mine's a 1977 with 147k miles. It spent virtually all of it's life in Apple Valley, California and was owned by a film director. Then it found it's way to Colorado and into a fellow Pelican's hands from whom I bought it last June.

An interesting note: It's a special order color (L622 - Beige-Gray) from the 1972 model year.

[rotorhead]

While I was on a flying instructional tour with the Royal Saudi Air Force in Riyadh, I came across one of the "rare" 930 turbo targas in original condition with 24,000 km on the clock (only 500 made).

It was at the local Porsche Dealer. A title check confirmed the car was legitimate but a visual inspection showed the brake discs had at least 50,000 km of use on them. A test drive and a search of the service records showed that the spedometer / odometer had not been working for the previous three years, and the tacho was fluctuating.

Much negotiation ensued whereby the price dropped to a more reasonable level

I bought the vehicle and changed out the faulty VR / speedo and for the next 6 months blasted around the middle east at speeds you would only expect on a race track.

The car was sent back to Australia in a shipping container (at the company's expense), where I now behave more sedately on the roads.

[mmastro]

The only history I have is that it's a Euro 77 930, theft recovery (circa 1998?). It was returned to the owner and it went into the bodyshop for paint and a few misc items. The bodyshop started to take items from the motor (distributor, intake elbow, etc.) and didn't make any progress on the car. The owner lost interest and conacted Dave B. at TRE to sell on consignment. Unsuspecting me, new to the 911 realm, got stuck in the spider web that is 930 awe. It was a basket case when I took it in early 2000. The odometer showed 293,000 mi !!!

I had the motor & gearbox done completely (~1.5 years) and since then, have redone all systems on the car. It's a track car that occasionally sees a freeway (when the traffic isn't piled up). It's truly a blast to drive! It'll undergo a color change in a few weeks from Guards Red to Blood Orange w/ IROC tail (intercooled) and 3.8 RS 60" leading edge tail (for the high speed tracks). Can't wait!

[livi]

Carrera '85. Euro. 87k miles. Classic German racing GPW. 231 hp and no silly cat or O2 sensor.

Born and raised by first owner in the Fatherland. Imported to Sweden 2004, yours truly being the third owner.

Did my homework, reading up and dead set on a PPI. Walked in a friends shop and there she was. Blew me away. Payed up front and drove it home. No PPI, no nothing.

Got lucky. She seems healthy and has given me nothing but trouble free miles.

Currently a three months agonizing winter sleep in the garage.

[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

[Jay H]

Originally posted by 911K
I bought my '68 911 in the late '70s, sold it and then found it again in 12/05 and bought it again. The full story is here

Originally posted by oldE
Every time I drive it I regret the years I didn't have it.

I think there is a rule written somewhere that states you must buy your old car again when you run across it years later. If I find my old '86 someday, I'm buyin' it back as well.

Nice stories Mike and Les! Very nice web site Mike!

Jay
90 964

[SLO-BOB]

Originally posted by bigrubberjeep
I like the story! What is your at the wheels HP? I might join you in the dark side.

Do it! If ever there was a 911 that deserves a Turbo, its the 491 option. Add speed to that look!

[austin552]

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/737741

[SLO-BOB]

Originally posted by 1yearonLy
An interesting note: It's a special order color (L622 - Beige-Gray) from the 1972 model year.

Scott-awesome car! Love that color and the stock look.

My car came by way of Arizona. It was purchased from the original owner there by a Porsche guy here in Wisconsin. He had it shipped to California and restored. It had the motor done by Otto's. It was then brought back here and sold. I saw it a few years ago and decided-I want one of those-in THAT color. It simply spoke to me. After awhile I decided to find one. I looked at SCs, Carrera cabs, etc. On my way home from a test drive I saw the very car I had lusted after parked along Lake Drive with a for sale sign! I pulled over and was surprised to find the owner of the car waiting there for a prospective buyer with whom he had an appointment. I looked it over carefully and anxiously waited for the other guy to show up-he had first dibs. He finally arrived and went for the drive. He clearly did not now 911s and decided to pass to do more homework. It was my turn. The car drove like new. Despite the midyear stigma I decided this car was for me. I just love the look and feel. Like Scotts, it's a special order color-Sebring White. I'm guessing from an earlier color pallette. I bought it upon my return to it's parking spot.

It's been a great car! I'm thrilled tio drive it everytime. I've done a few things-new wheels and tires, sway bars, tie rods, corner balanced, shock tower brace, etc. This spring it gets turbocharged , roll bar, RS carpet and seat delete, RS door panels and Pole Position seats.

I can't wait for the first spring DE at Road America. I think there will be a few looks of surprise at the new found HP.

[twin plugged targa]

Purchased the 86ragtop in '99 I think, proceeded to pour money into - recon tranny (Vertex) 7's & 8's Fuchs with Proxy TS1's, Corbeau seats, new shocks, shift bushings, suspension adjustments..then the bad.... mutilple breakdowns starting with fuel pump, ending in bad distributer end float tried my patience and budget, so after a couple of years and $9 in repairs and improvements I conceeded she was a lemon! Sold.

Enter a fellow mega yacht Captain who had sunk about $50K into a 71 T Targa. Most mods not in my taste, however the bargain tease was too much! The car is a bit of a 'cream puff', but with a 230BHP 2.7 and suspension mods/brake upgrades etc. The car has been absent in France for 2 yrs but we will be reunited in April when she will be going on a strick diet and performance upgrades. Only the will she be ready for the trek to the 'Ring'. She has already been treated to a spin around the road section of the Le Mans circuit!. However she still has a steel spare wheel!, no oil cooler and twin batteries! not to mention the rear seats intact. I will leave the comfort mods like a/c and underbelly condenser, but may change out the tombstone seats (circa mid 70's). I would love to sell her and follow the RS/RSR clone dream, but the wife loves her! (exactly- 'her') - shes a bit of a girlie car! - RGRuppe would cringe at seeing her!
Rgds Ben

[Joe Bob]

83 cab bought in the Fatherland by a pilot. Brought to the US after a year, Federalized TWICE (Texas then CA), sold to an Engineer in SLObispo, bought by me with only 42K on the clock.

Now a 3.6 converted long hood, RS clone with 85K miles and a daily driver. About 280HP, rebuilt trans with WEVO internal fixings and shifter...Carrera sway bars, 22/29 t-bars, 16x8&7 Fuchs......various maintenance items, nu top, nu paint, fiberglass replacment therapy resulting in a 400lb weight loss.....

[75Carrera]

I purchased my 1975 911 Carrera in Oregon back in 1981 from a contractor who brought it over new as a fully equiped Euro. It had less than 20K miles. Fuch 7's and 8's, Racaros, Blue black interior, sunroof, electric windows and roof, no air. It had an aftermarket turbo which I later removed. I've owned several Porsches and other semi-exotics but this one has been my "keeper."

It's been disassembled and professionally repainted the original Guards Red. I removed the Carrera side graphics (I've always wondered if that was a good choice?). I recently upgraded to a 3.2 Motronic with test pipe and exhaust upgrades. I have a Steve Wong chip, alloy calipers, sticky Toyo's and a lowered, reworked suspension set up. All Bose sound with 4 6x9's and two 4's with a great booster.

I love to go to Porsche events and park next to someone's new twin-turbo and watch the crowd gather another my little sweetheart. She's not a daily driver but does get out for road trips and every P-mobile event I can. The car always draws a few admirers for it's stunning, original essence of Porsche, look.

The Pelican's have been a great resource where I've made some amazing friends. See my "Pelican at the door".

[bigrubberjeep]

This has to be one of my favorite topics, nice to read some new stories and keep it alive.

[Barrpete]

86 Carrera sunroof coupe built in February, sold new in April 86 in Princeton NJ. The owners manual service stamps shows it moved to Arizona in Jan 1990 w/26K on the clock.

I bought it last February with about 1.5" thick pile of service records. I haven't taken the time to organize them in sequence, but a quick perusal shows 5 different names on the reciepts, all in Arizona, so I assume I'm the 6th owner. Had a top end rebuild & new clutch at 81K and was at 113K when I bought it.

I've done a few minor repairs - tie rod enc boots were shot so I did the turbo upgrade. Needs a few other fixes, tear in the seat, AC upgrade, synchos worn but tolerable. But its passed emissions twice w/flying colors and drive it almost every day.

This is my first Porshe and I'll probably keep it forever!

[Joeaksa]

I am the second owner of my car. First owner bought it in either Austin or Houston (forget which) and owned it until 1997 when I bought it.

He kept it garaged and drove it on weekends and such after the first few years. Always had problems with it as he did not drive it enough to charge the battery. I have maintenance records from day one to prove this. Finally he put it in the garage and let it sit until his son had his 17th birthday.

On his son's birthday he offered the 911 to the son. Did this three times and the stupid son said he did not want the car. Put an advert on the internet where I found it. He lived in McAllen Texas and not many people interested in it.

I hopped on a SouthWest airlines flight early in the morning with a cashiers check. Looked at the car, did a good PPI on it and drove it home to Dallas the same day.