Barn Find - 84 944 sat for 20+ years

[dan10101]

New 944 project car! Not like I need another one, but I came across this Beauty and couldn't pass it up. It sat in a garage for 20+ years and I can’t wait to fix it up mechanically and get it on the road. I know I probably could just charge the battery and start it but I want it to last. I worry about dry cylinder walls and brittle timing belts. So we'll take our time and do it right.

Here's a video I made for our Outlaws channel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3PeMJkv_TM

[John_AZ]

Great buy and video.
No advice necessary for a long time member...
John

[dan10101]

You got me beat by 1 month almost 20 years ago. (and a whole bunch of posts!)

[jjeffries]

What a superb car and find. Cool video, too.

Will be interesting to see how deep you have to go mechanically; will you trust the fuel lines? They are a (relatively) spendy thing, but I'm saying that with my own fiscal hat on. I betting, once belts etc are done it fires up, injectors are good, electrics all work well and you'll be grinning. The stereo looks like a Blaupunkt from what I saw. If non-digital, maybe a CR-2001; if digital, maybe a CR-3001. Those were getting stolen daily back in the day...

Your video ended with a question, what to do with it? Well, tempting to say "keep it stock and sell it to a collector" (because it's that nice), BUT these aren't too thin on the ground and there will always be ones with silly low miles for said collectors, and it was made to be used and enjoyed. So, I say, use it, cherish it, make it your own in a way that makes it dynamically better yet highlights it's best points: paint, dash, seats etc. I believe that cars with cool stories, like this one, are extra special and the most satisfying to own.

I hope we get to see more of it.

Kind regards, John

[dan10101]

It's not a Blaupunkt,
It says Porsche and SC 80C.
Well, here's a picture.

Anyone else have one of these?

[9FF]

Originally Posted by dan10101

It's not a Blaupunkt,
It says Porsche and SC 80C.
Well, here's a picture.

Anyone else have one of these?

That is a 1970’s Sound Choice (SC) 80C. Sound Choice made them for Volkswagen dealers in the USA who fitted them to VW’s and Porsche. They came with two decals “VOLKSWAGEN” & “PORSCHE” that they stuck on the front. Things were much simpler back then.

[dan10101]

Thank you! One mystery solved.

Anyone have a picture of what Porsche would have installed from the factory?

I just think it would look better if there are any left around.

[jjeffries]

Take a look at a Blaupunkt CR2001 and a CR3001 and tell me what you think. Blaupunkt was, until 2009 or so a division of Robert Bosch, so about as OEM as can be. That they may have rebranded these for dealer installation is not a stretch. Offered constructively. John

[dan10101]

Looks nice, but a bit expensive. I guess I'll focus on other options until I know what surprises pop up.

[dan10101]

We finally got the car up on the rack and inspected the the car. It's in really good condition, so I'm focusing on the 20year issues like old fuel, old belts, etc.
Let me know what else you would change on a car that sat that long.
Interesting that almost all the rubber parts look great. I'm sure there are some surprises in there.

Here's a video on what we found.
https://youtu.be/zTIwPCMMVyY

[dan10101]

Here's a new video on the 84 944 that has some of the maintenance items.
I drained the gas and expected to find something horrendous after 20 years.

https://youtu.be/1pg9Zfw6qOA

[mikseymono]

Looks gorgeous....the paint is amazing...congrats! You have to keep her....period. Keep us posted with your excellent videos. Spread the love!

M

[jjeffries]

Cool video, nicely done.

To misquote The Bard, "My kingdom for a fuel system as clean as thine!" What a lesson about keeping gas tanks full.

Best, John

[dan10101]

Thanks Mikseymono.

I hope I can keep her. It's a discussion I'll need to have with my wife. I can't kick her car out of the garage.

[CarGuyNeil]

Don't bastardized that car! It's a nice low mileage original. If you want to "Outlaw" it start with a beater, not a low mileage, clean, original car. I enjoyed the video though and have subscribed. Don't disappoint me. LoL

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[dan10101]

I had a near stock low mileage 944 turbo and a highly modified 944 turbo. If we keep it, it will be left stock. Well, I say that now...

Here's the one that got away...

[dan10101]

I worked in computers, so one year I got this Tshirt from Comdex. I think it fits.

[OK-944]

Great thread...and nice find! Its so nice when these cars fall into the right hands - someone who truly cares and will go the extra distance to make sure things are done right!

But oh...what luck you've had to find such a great example - with a full tank no less!

I'm on my 3rd 944 (I would keep them all if I could!)...started with an '84, then an 85.5, and now an 87NA, the engine of which is now completely apart in my basement for a rebuild. Was my DD last summer, and will be again soon!

At any rate...good luck - and keep us updated!

[dan10101]

Thanks Ok.

I'm hoping to run the old gas in the lawn tractor. Maybe mix a bit with good gas and see how it goes.

Good luck on your build. Read the manuals and watch Van's videos. I rebuilt my 86 turbo a couple years ago. I used Clarks-Garage a lot.

[OK-944]

I did the lawn tractor gas mix (about 50/50) with fuel from my previous 85.5, and this worked great. Not truly old fuel...but my guess is that as your fuel is from a full tank, this would work fine.

And yes...Van's videos and Clarks are two of my "go-to" resources, along with this forum and Ian's 944 Online forum. Would like to snag a set of shop manuals at some point!

One question/concern of mine, which I've recently brought up in another thread...is that the quality of available new parts/components can be a bit variable - and it pays to look/ask around, and/or to rehab old original parts when practical. I'd like to gain more insight on this and am hoping that you'll chime in as you make progress. Thanks!