Renn-Spot

Tool Kit Database

2012-02-10T20:01:00.002-05:00

For the past several weeks, I have been trying to document Early 911 tool-kits that we can safely assume are "correct". Of course, unless one person has tracked a specific tool kit through its 40-odd year life span, there is no way that we can guarantee authenticity. However, in many cases we can make a pretty solid case that due to low mileage and limited ownership, the tool-kit in question is accurate.
If you have a low mileage, unmolested early 911, please share the tool kit with me. If you have any questions about the kits that are shown here, please dont hesitate to ask.
Special thanks to Ron Thomas, Don Murray and John Dixon for letting me field strip their tool-kits.

Click on photos for larger image

1967 911
SN 305324
3,937 original kilometers
This car is an all original RHD time capsule.
Black pinpoint vinyl bag. Chrome raised head pliers. Klein Screwdrivers, Drop-Forged Steel Wrenches, stamped steel plug wrench

69 912
SN 129020475
Mileage: 12,898 original miles
All original, no restoration
Black smooth vinyl bag, chrome raised head pliers, 10,000 volt screwdrivers, drop-forged steel wrenches,

'70 914-6
Sn 9140430872

All original, minor restoration
Black basketweave bag, chrome raised head pliers, 10,000 volt screwdrivers, drop-forged steel wrenches, square-cap plug wrench

70 911S
9110301353
Mileage: 700 Miles
The famous 700 mile S. Absolutely unmolested and original
Black basketweave bag, 10,000 volt screwdrivers, drop forged wrenches, square cap plug wrench.

73 911E Targa
SN 9113110285
Mileage: 14,280 miles
Purchased from the original heart surgeon owner. All original
Black basketweave bag with tie-strings. '73 only reversible screwdriver, (4) drop-forged wrenches (1) Selected Special Steel, Tapered cap plug wrench
(The common belief is that the string bag didnt start til late mid-year '73, but this is a fairly early MFI car)

74 US Carrera
SN 9114400143
Mileage 16,965 Miles
Three time Parade winner, unrestored and original

Etc....

2012-02-06T21:42:00.000-05:00

Check that Reflection!

Peter Hofman


Jorge calculating how much jail time he would face if he just jumped in and raced away!

Barn Find 1960 Volkswagen "Donut Bus" - All original including paint!

2012-01-30T18:49:00.001-05:00

The “barn-find”! Collectors salivate at the idea of discovering a filthy old classic, sitting on flat tires, having been entombed in a dark and musty building for the past three or four decades. But could there be something even better than a barn-find? Perhaps a scenario where the classic car has indeed been hidden away unseen for more than four decades, but in a nice clean climate controlled garage instead of a rodent infested shed with a collapsing roof.

Well, as hard as it is to believe, that is exactly how this 1960 “Donut Bus” was found just four years ago.

In 1960, this swivel-seat Kombi Bus was purchased by a Dayton Ohio entrepreneur from R.B. Kuhn Volkswagen in Fairborn, Ohio for $2,269.17. The new owner had the idea of serving fresh, made-on-the-spot donuts to local factories -primarily the General Motors manufacturing plants that dotted the Dayton cityscape back in the ‘60’s. The bus was sent to Jay D. Tyree, owner of the Rolling Donut Company in Springfield Ohio, who modified it with all of the fryers, mixers and generators required for a mobile donut making business. Having tried several other vans, Mr. Tyree was quoted in a period VW advertisement as saying “They just don’t work. Too big – and they cost too much to run. But Volkswagen works beautifully and economically”

The owner hired a “baker” to drive to the manufacturing plants and sell donuts. All was seemingly well until the owner discovered that his trusted employee had been skimming from the profits. The owner was so disgusted with the situation, that he fired the crooked employee and sequestered the bus away inside a heated garage where it would rest, un-driven and unseen for nearly 45 years.

Every effort has made to retain the original bits that make this bus so special. The driver’s door jamb has the paper oil change decals placed there by the servicing dealership mechanic on June 20, 1960. Sitting in the driver’s seat, your eyes are drawn to the spotless speedometer face. The first thing you see is the ultra low mileage – just over 10,000 – but then other details start to appear. The clear needle is truly clear, not tinted yellow with age like so many other 50 year-old speedometer needles. The numbers are crisp and clear and the entire gauge has an art deco appearance that belies the commercial lifestyle of a VW van. Beneath the dash panel where that speedometer lives is a painted metal parcel tray. These parcel trays typically served as a catch basin for spare key rings, residual fast food and pocket change. The life of a parcel tray was a life of scratches, rust, and abuse. In this case, the parcel tray is a rare example of how they looked when new.

Looking further, the rubber door and window seals scream “replacement”, because they are so perfect, but they are in fact original to the bus. The interior paneling has none of the cracks, chips and water-damage that you would expect to find in an old commercial vehicle. It’s all perfect, down to the little white enamel sink and powdered soap dispenser located just inside the cargo doors. One of the few factory installed options on the bus is the swivel seat in the driver’s position, allowing him to quickly and easily swivel around to the side and enter the cooking area through the walk-through passage.

Peeking through the hinged mesh panel on the drivers side is a generator resplendent in its original blue metallic paint. Other commercial bits are the fine wire mesh fastened over the windows to keep flies and mosquitoes out of the food prep area, an alarm bell nestled behind the spare tire on the nose which served to alert hungry factory workers that it was breakfast time and two ceiling mounted fans used to evacuate the heat and odor of boiling fry oil out of the interior.

So what is not original? Only the tires. While the OEM tires had plenty of tread remaining, they were severely flat spotted and deemed unsafe. Remarkably, even the paint and sign writing is original from 1960.

VW busses were used and abused, especially the ones outfitted for commercial use. To find one with original paint and ultra-low mileage is nearly impossible. This bus is museum quality!

Additional photos and information are available upon request.

Price - $79,950.00

9,000 Original Mile '83 911 SC Cabriolet

2012-01-30T17:55:00.001-05:00

It is difficult to find 911's from the SC era in low mileage condition and this is one of the best!

This '83 SC Cab was originally delivered to its first owner in Alaska where it was driven very little. For the last decade it has been an attraction in an exclusive Porsche collection/museum. It still wears the original Alaska license plate.

Mileage is correct at only 9,204 miles! The car comes with many uncommon options such as: ZF Limited Slip differential, Dual-Scale speedometer and a very rare heated windshield! It also has air conditioning, a Blaupunkt Monterey cassette stereo and a factory installed whale tail. The current owner added the factory cabriolet specific bolt in roll bar, a rare and very expensive option. The car even rolls on its original equipment tires.

This car spent a considerable amount of time in a crowded garage and thus was subjected to light storage wear to the paint. Because of this, the decision was made to repaint the car. This paint is stunning! More than $20,000 was spent on fresh black paint and the finish is perfect! Please look at the reflections in the photos.

Car includes all manuals and books, air pump, factory car cover and tonneau cover. More photos and information available upon request.

Price: $49,900.00

904........

2012-01-20T22:34:00.001-05:00

Unnnhhh...it just looks so good!

Harry's 912

2012-01-20T22:22:00.000-05:00

Gotta give some love to the 911's little brother. Harry's not afraid to drive his 912 cross country if need be. '68...Burgandy...nice!

Twilight Saga

2012-01-11T21:43:00.002-05:00

Once in a while I manage to get up with the sun. Usually this occurs when I am on the West Coast and slightly out of my sleep rhythm. So it was in Monterey last October. First guy in the parking lot...killing time til my ride to the track got up.

Look at those bugs! Must be one of those Midwest RGruppe Guys.

The Way-Back Machine

2012-01-04T21:04:00.001-05:00

Poking around on the interwebs this evening and I stumbled upon a catalog of photos of various racing events here in my home state of Ohio during the '60s and '70's. Some of the photos were taken at various auto-cross events, so I was hoping to find some period photos of my '70 "S" since it was used extensively in time trials and auto-X's.
Sadly, there was no joy in my quest, but I did find a couple of other interesting cars.
The first is what appears to be a 66 or 67 911. The car was campaigned out of AutoHaus in Fairborn Ohio, which is only about 15 miles from my home. The driver, Lou Gregg, was also the owner of AutoHaus (which has been defunct for decades). The photos seem to be from a hill-climb, possibly the ones held in Bellfountaine, OH in the 60's.
What caught my eye, besides the great stance and megaphone exhaust, are the magnesium American Racing Wheels. Could this car still be tucked away in a dusty Ohio garage today? Unlikely, but it doesnt hurt to dream.

UPDATE! I got this great email from Ken Tiven who used to work for Lou Gregg and now lives in South Africa.

The car is a 1965 911 2.0 litre which ran one year in B Production and then in C Production. Louie first ran it in 1967, so I would guess this picture is 1968 or 69. I'd hazard a guess from the proximity of grass and trees to the road and think this was the Bellfontaine Hillclimb which we loved to run.

I left Autohaus in October, 1966 for the US Army. That season we ran a silver 57 speedster. I believe I recall Louis getting the 911 the next year and then later he got the aluminum coupe 356A that had been run for several years by a guy in Cincinnati. I stayed in close touch with Louie for years because of the close friendship we had developed between 1963 and 1966 when I spent way too much time at the garage, first in Yellow Springs and then in Fairborn. I got a BA in Political science from Antioch University and unofficially received a BS in Porsche repair. To this day I have retained an abiding affection for fast cars, with a WRX Turbo in the USA and a 2.0 litre Subaru in Cape Town.

Louie was a fantastic mechanic, a huge influence and friend, and an honest car dealer. That is a real hard to find trifecta.

Louie was stationed int he USAF in Germany for probably six years at Kaiserslautern and raced a Healy 100 there. When he came to the WP AFB as the senior enlisted man in the hospital Xray Unit he worked the night shift so that he could run his "hole in the wall VW and Porsche garage in Yellow Springs. I met him in 1963 when he diagnosed a problem with my 57 VW convertible merely by listening to it. His diagnosis of a cracked plastic insulator in the distributor was on the money and I was beyond impressed. Soon after that I was a shop assistant and worked my way up. In 1963-64 we ran a Fiat Osca in F Production. The Speedster was the 65-66 season. In those days we routinely ran Mid Ohio, Indianapolis Raceway Park, Meadowdale (Chicago, now houses), and a few others I cannot recall. I think it was 1965 when he finished up with the Air Force and we moved to the garage in Fairborn... later it moved again in Fairborn and at various times was a Porsche, Peugot, BMW and a Datsun (Nissan) dealer. He later sold it and went into mortgage banking and brokering the occasional car for someone. The split with Porsche came when POA decided to depart from its arrangement with VW and market on its own... demanding dealers move to a specific location with a specific dealership size and look. That was not to Louie's liking as a business deal and he balked.

911 R #20

2012-01-01T21:53:00.000-05:00

Last year I got the opportunity to spend a morning behind the wheel of the last of the twenty "production" 911 R's made. This was the car that was originally ordered by Lance Reventlow who for some unknown reason never took delivery of it.
My story about the car and my driving impressions can be found in the Feb 2012 issue of Excellence Magazine which is on sale now.
Here are some photos plus a few additional photos that didnt make it to print in the magazine.

For Sale - Complete and Correct Early 911 Tool Kit

2012-01-01T19:16:00.001-05:00

This factory basket-weave tool-kit is in excellent condition. Both impossible to find screwdrivers are accounted for (Note that the flat screwdriver tip has been ground on and is not perfect). All of the "Selected Special Steel" wrenches are in place as are the "Hapwae" pliers and spark plug wrench and allen wrench. The factory Porsche fan belt is a later model part.
The vinyl bag is in near perfect condition with great plating on the latches and a very clean interior. This will make the perfect finishing touch for your early 911 restoration!
Price - $1,100.00
Click on images for larger views.

Bunch of Hooliogans!

2012-01-01T11:12:00.002-05:00

A little octane with your morning coffee courtesy some early 911 hot-rods. How about that Delaney inspired plate on the raspy orange beast?

For Sale - 1972 911 T Sunroof

2011-12-30T09:36:00.003-05:00

Imagine youself driving this sunroof coupe on a crisp spring morning. Cool breeze and early spring sunlight cascade through the roof, while the vents keep things warm inside. Prepare for spring now!

This is an outstanding Gemini Blue '72 T with 75,989 original miles. Included in the sale are the original manuals, tool-kit, jack and service and repair receipts including the original bill of sale and Blaupunkt radio manual.

The car has been repainted to a very high standard. Panel fit is excellent with good gaps. Interior is in excellent condition with a nice original dash and leather steering wheel. Seats appear to be original vinyl, but with replacement hounds-tooth inserts. All chrome and stainless trim is in excellent condition.
This T was nicely optioned with a 5-speed transmission, tinted glass, "S" appearance package, "Special Paint" and the Blaupunkt AM-FM Radio.
Currently in a private collection, this car shows every indication that it was well loved and cherished by its two previous owners.
Take a few minutes to check out the photos and contact me at "Cornpanzer@sbcglobal.net" for additional information.
Price: $SOLD
(Click images for larger view)

Right There in Black & White

2011-12-22T12:32:00.001-05:00

There is a specific technique and art to converting a color image to B&W. Its not so simple as clicking the B&W button on Photoshop. I have been playing around a little bit and trying different methods. Is this photo "great"? No, not really, but I like it and since I cant drive my car in the middle of winter, I can only look at photos.

Michael Delaney's Driving Suit sells for $984,000 USD

2011-12-19T20:45:00.000-05:00

Who is Michael Delaney? Why that was the character Steve McQueen played in the movie LeMan's. I really dont know what to say or even think about this...
Here is the excerpt from the auction house catalog. Poor little Timothy Davies must be kicking himself!

LOS ANGELES, November 3, 2011- Profiles in History, run by Joe Maddalena is proud to announce a major addition to their already stellar "Icons of Hollywood" auction, Steve McQueen's "Michael Delaney" screen used Gulf driving suit from, Le Mans, the most influential movie about racing ever made. The two-piece racing suit (jacket and pants) features a zipper and Velcro closure jacket with “Michael Delaney” stitched in blue thread above the right breast zipper pocket, iconic orange and blue Gulf racing stripes as well as Gulf patches on the breast and back. In addition there are United States flag, Hinchman Nomex, Heuer Chronograph and Firestone sponsor patches. The "Icons of Hollywood" auction is set for December 15, 16 and 17 at The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills.

When principle filming of Le Mans was completed, Solar Productions donated this suit to the British newspaper, The Observer for a special Le Mans-themed contest in 1971. By answering 3 Le Mans history questions correctly 12 year old Timothy Davies of Wolverhampton, England was chosen as the winner and presented with the suit by racing driver Richard “Dickie” Attwood, winner of the 1970 Le Mans race and driver of the Porsche 917K Gulf car during driving sequences in the film. Filmed on location in Le Mans, France, the film’s spellbinding cinematography provides a thrilling glimpse of the sights and sounds of Porsche 917s and Ferrari 512s, locked in fierce competition for outright victory. It featured footage from the actual 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans race and remains popular with racing enthusiasts today as it accurately depicted the era with lots of racing and minimal dialogue. The film featured numerous top-level racing drivers of the day for the driving sequences including Derek Bell, Vic Elford, Jacky Ickx, Brian Redman, Jo Siffert and many others. The suit is in excellent condition and without question, one of the pinnacles of motorsport memorabilia and the Holy Grail of racing film costumes. The suit has a presale estimate of $200,000-$300,000. Image of Steve McQueen in Le Mans (©) Solar Productions 1971

NOS Factory 356 body panels

2011-12-17T15:25:00.000-05:00

Found a nice cache of NOS body panels recently. Hard to find stuff here....
More info can be found here - http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-356-used-parts-sale-wanted/645491-nos-factory-356-body-parts.html

Buy knowing that you will be financing major wintertime projects on my 911. =)

Brian Redman / Porsche 908-3 In-Car at Rennsport

2011-12-07T17:29:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Road & Track Magazine for posting this video. The soundtrack seems like it gets out of sync between the 2 and 3 minute mark, but other than that it is a hair-raising orchestra of Flat-8 accompanied by Flat-12's.

Werk Crew Calender for the year Twenty and Twelve

2011-12-06T20:25:00.001-05:00

Love getting packages from the WerkCrew compound. Someday, WerkCrew will be as recognizable and exciting as Apple is today. When that day comes, we little people will be able to say that we knew boB when he was still answering his own emails.

The latest exciting package to arrive was my copy of the limited edition 2012 WerkCrew Calender. Not your traditional calender, you wont be scribbling in appointments with your therapist or meetings with your bookie in evenly spaced grids. Nope, each month has a different layout. Now, when you flip the page at the beginning of a new month, you have the thrill of a new photo as well as a different layout. Functional...not always. Cool and fun, absolutely.

Get yours here while you can - http://werkcrew.com/

Goin to a Togo Party

2011-12-05T19:48:00.001-05:00

Togo Brown. Not the first color that comes to your mind when you think "sexy vintage Porsche colors". But in reality it is a really cool shade of brown. I have seen it on early 911's but I think it really works well on 356's like this 65 Coupe.

1968 912 Barn Find (Garage) For Sale

2011-12-03T14:42:00.002-05:00

Original owner, original paint 912. Just found in a small wooden garage and purchased from the 94 year old widow of the original owner.
The car is completely unmolested and original. Yes, it has a couple of rust spots, but the floors and underside are very solid.
One year only 68 interior is nearly perfect. Will just need some tidying up. Original carpet is in excellent shape and the car still smells fresh. No mold or mustiness. Even the seat hardware is clean and shiny. Car has been washed and that is it. Needs complete recommissioning (brakes, fuel, etc) but the engine turns over by hand and I was told that it was driven into the garage. I have no reason to suspect that there are any problems with the engine.
Another $10-12k will make this one of the cleanest original 912's out there. Be sure to look at the trunk area, behind the dash and the interior details.

50+ photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/80724421@N00/sets/72157628226610615/

Price - SOLD!

The Glorious Sound of Power

2011-11-30T20:21:00.000-05:00

2.8 liter twin-plug high butterfly MFI motor through a factory rallye exhaust. I could listen to it all day.Thats Raj's RSR and Aaron Burnham whacking the loud pedal.

Absolutely on Rails!

2011-11-30T15:27:00.001-05:00

Saw this on one of my favorite blogs - http://motoringconbrio.com/

No story, but I thought it was a great image.

Texas BBQ Round Up

2011-11-28T20:47:00.001-05:00

Wen to East TX this past weekend to visit family. While there I made arrangements with my buddy and fellow RGruppe member Bob Aines to cruise to Dallas and meet up with some of the Texas Gruppe for lunch. We met up at Jack Griffin's pad to see some of his toys which include a 914-6, Outlaw 356 sunroof coupe, '69 912 and a super low mileage 3.2 Carrera.

What was supposed to be a quick meet & greet ended up turning into a serious bench racing session while standing around in the garage.


Ed Mayo "Did I say something wrong?"

Anyone know a good barber?

Eventually, someone's stomach reminded us that we were supposed to be going to lunch, so we headed out. I seized the opportunity to jump into Mark Hanna's '69 911S RaceCa....errrr "Street Car". This is one angry and cantankerous little car. Light, loud and fast...it was a blast to ride in. Suburban Dallas didnt know what to think of this noisy little furrin car! Thanks Mark!

Poetry in Motion

2011-11-09T08:17:00.000-05:00

Latest Porsche marketing video from Rennsport. It impresses me that they have released so many great videos of the event. One has to think that the powers that be must have been very impressed with the event...which bodes well for seeing Rennsport again in the future.

As as side note. I stopped in to the shop that maintains the Cherry/Grant 910 this week and was told to go look at the rear tires. While not exactly worn to the carcass, the "new for Rennsport tires" were completely wiped out. I think that the clip approx 56 seconds in might explain.

Silly Fast!

2011-11-08T22:34:00.004-05:00

My Buddies Kris and Jason at VW Paradise ran thier first SEVEN second pass in their turbocharged VW sedan last week. 7.99 @ 177mph. More impressive is that the sixty foot time was a full tenth slower than normal (track was not hooking-you can see the soft launch) and they were 6 mph off thier best of 183. No doubt that there is a lot more to be had.
And yes, that is an aircooled flat-four VW motor in there.

So, that begs the question, "how much horsepower does it take to do that?" How about 1025hp...to the wheels!

Really? More Rennsport Photos?

2011-11-05T11:29:00.001-04:00

Ok, so I know that for the past several weeks, Rennsport photos have been everywhere...including plenty right here. But there was just so much to see, I can help but throw out just a few more images.

It was cool to see the Aase GTU car back at
Laguna Seca after so many years. The car was
recently restored by Ron Thomas from Columbus
Ohio. Lumped in with 934's and 935's, Ron was
pleased to have been one of the highest finishers
with a normally aspirated engine. The little 2.5 did
well!

click for LARGER view

This SWB 911 has long been one of my favorites.
It was nice to see it on track. Shame about the
updates required to make it more competitive...
especially the polished Fuchs wheels. I miss the
magnesium American Racing wheels.

Brian Redman can still tear it up in a 908!

For Sale - 2.7 RS #1288

2011-11-05T10:35:00.004-04:00

Click on photos for LARGER view

Porsche RS #1288 started life in Stuttgart as a touring (M472) model. Meticulously restored with as many new old stock (NOS) factory parts as possible, an example of this quality is rarely seen - let alone offered for sale. As one of three right-hand drive (RHD) ‘73 Carreras produced in black, #9113601288 is even rarer because it was ordered with a sunroof. “One of a kind” may be a description that’s casually used these
days, but in this case it easily applies.

Click on photos for LARGER view

RS Touring #9113601288 left the Porsche factory in 1973 with the following specification:
Black Paint (1010)
Black Leatherette Interior (Std)
England Equipment – RHD (C16)
Porsche (Carrera) Lettering on doors, left and right
Outside Mirror – Driver’s Side (423)
Stereo Loudspeaker with Electric Antenna (450/451)
Electric Sliding Sunroof (650)
Power Windows (651)

In addition, it also had the following items as

indicated in Konradsheim's “Carrera RS” book:
Limited-Slip Differential (220)
Head Restraints (258)
Sport Seats, left and right (409)
Retractable Seat Belts, left and right (419)

Every fastener and componant that could not be returned to as new condition was replaced with a correct NOS Porsche part. Several original RS's were referenced during restoration. It was only in this way that the car could be assured of being accurately returned to original specification. Deviations from original are the use of pepita seat inserts in black, white and red, which exactly match the factory fabric, a vintage rear seat delete, and the addition of through-the-grill fog lights. All changes are easily reversed if the new owner wishes.

Since the original 2.7L MFI engine case was lost in the past, a correct 7R replacement case was sourced. All parts used in the engine construction came from an original RS or were new factory pieces. The RS spec MFI is tuned perfectly, the car pulls hard and clean, and the motor doesn’t drop a speck of oil. The full 210 bhp at 6,300 rpm and 188 ft lb of torque at 5,100 rpm are on tap. The original gearbox has the limited slip differential and external oil pump as specified on the car’s COA.

The suspension was completely intact when restoration was begun in 2004. Included were the unique trailing arms specific to this vintage RS. Any worn suspension items were replaced with period-correct NOS parts. All others were given the appropriate refurbishing and refinishing to appear as they left the factory in 1973.

A genuine 1973 Carrera fiberglass and steel ducktail was sourced along with genuine front fenders, RS rear quarter panels, bumper ends and front bumper. Thousands of hours were spent preparing the finish and NOS trim pieces that would bring it back to like new condition. The Glasurit paint was applied at the well-known Kundensport in Camarillo, CA.

All parts installed to the interior are period-correct NOS
for a ’73 RS, from the RHD dash to the seats, to the harness.
Vintage Pirelli CN36 Cinturato tires of the correct size adorn
the appropriate 7 and 8x15 Fuchs wheels painted India Red
to match the Carrera stripes.

NOS trim installed includes all deco, rubber, seals and
Bosch Euro turn signal lenses. Correct engine compartment
decals and foil stickers are present and accounted for.
The appropriate window decal was even applied to the
passenger side rear quarter window,
just as the factory did when the car was new.

RS #1288 represents a truly unique specimen of the most famous 911 Porsche ever produced. Restored to original condition without compromise- RHD, black and sporting a sunroof and electric windows as ordered, this is a car that can take pride of place in the most discriminating of automotive collections.

Price and additional information - Cornpanzer@sbcglobal.net

Note: A blank replacement 7R 2.7 engine case is also available for purchase, as is a complete lightweight RS interior, lightweight RS glass, and genuine lightweight rear bumper.

Things that end with "4"

2011-10-30T00:08:00.000-04:00

Too many 911's you say? Well, certainly there were other types of Porsches at Rennsport IV

Porsche Race Car Classic

2011-10-24T22:06:00.001-04:00

Rennsport Reunion was held in conjunction with the Porsche race Car Classic, a charitable event (the Bonnie J Addario Lung Cancer Foundation and the UCSF Thoracic Oncology Program).

Never before have so many spectacular Porsches been seen at one event. Rows upon rows of 550's, 904's, 718's and numerous four-cam 356's. Miked in were some very special 911s such as 911 R's and RSR's. It was amazing.

My favorite car of the event was the '69 911 that won the 1968 Marathon de la Route, an 84 hour race held at the original Nurburgring. The car retains most of its original paint and components and is a remarkable time capsule. As I was standing there looking at it, one of the drivers in that event walked up an reacquainted himself with the car. Willi Kauhsen was a factory test driver in 1968 and was part of the team to win with this exact car!

Rennsport Reunion IV - Second Batch

2011-10-23T19:06:00.000-04:00

Rennsport Reunion IV

2011-10-22T23:29:00.000-04:00

Took way to many photos during the weekend at Laguna Seca...but how could you not? It really is impossible to capture the beauty of that many great Porsche cars in one location. The most cliche statement heard about Rennsport is that it was too much to take in. But seriously, where else would you walk past RSR's and 935's without stopping to look closer. There just wasn't enough time to talk to everyone you wanted to see, watch the racing and look at all of the cars in the paddock. There were hundreds of terrific cars in the parking corrals and I wasn't able to look at them even once. And I was there for FOUR whole days, not the typical three that most people got!

Here is a handful of my favorite images from the event. Many more to come, so make sure you bookmark me.

Late '73 911 Tool Kit

2011-10-20T20:51:00.000-04:00

This is a very special tool kit. In mid '73 Porsche retired the tool kits with the small metal buckles and replaced them with a kit that had a simple cotton string stitched to it. This string would be used to tie the kit closed. Being that it was cotton with only a very delicate couple of stitches holding it to the vinyl bag, these strings didn't last too long.

I would consider this tool kit a starter kit. This is for the person who doesn't have a tool kit in their car. The bag is in overall good condition, but needs a good cleaning - but those super rare strings are attached! There are a few paint marks on it, but those could probably be removed with some elbow grease. It is fairly complete, but missing the screwdrivers. It does have the little pudenz fuse kit, but it is in poor condition. The tools that are there with the exception of the Hapwae pliers all show some corrosion. The pliers are in very good condition.

Price: $375.00

She's as Cold as Ice!

2011-09-09T21:28:00.002-04:00

Gary Suggate, one of my contacts on Flickr recently shared some photos from a Euro trip that he took. Just makes me ache to ship my car over. Sigh....
See more at http://www.flickr.com/photos/48600101460@N01/sets/72157627293854787/

"Rommel you Magnificent Bastard!"

2011-08-21T12:54:00.001-04:00

I don't know anything about the car other than it was photographed by Thomas Lundeval at the Oldtimer Grand Prix at the Nurburgring.
What to do with a ratty mid-years impact bumper "S"? How about something like this?

"Fueled by Passion"

2011-08-19T15:10:00.001-04:00

For a long time, my favorite Motorsport artist has been Nicolas Hunziker. His artwork is stunning, but in recent years, he has split out into the clothing business with several creative offerings.

Recently Nicholas teamed up with my favorite racing driver and friend Vic Elford on the Vic Elford collection. Great stuff to be found here!
http://www.shophunziker.com/category_10/Vic-Elford-Collection.htm

Now if I could just get him to do some long-sleeve's!

Takin a Break....

2011-08-10T22:45:00.002-04:00

from "Road Trippin".
I bought a new lens this week. Sigma 120-400mm telephoto w' OS. Its a healthy mid-priced big lens...hopefully everything I need. F4.5 on the short side is not particularly fast, but I will be primarily using it for track work, so light shouldnt be a problem. Besides, a f2.8 is equivalent to the cost of a small commuter car, so that is not in my budget for a long time.

I decided to take the 70"S" out and play with the new lens a bit. For the last several months I have been driving by the remains of a demolished General Motors manufacturing plant here in my town thinking that it might be a good spot for some shots. Tonight I drove out there just as the sun was going down.

Road Trippin - Day 05

2011-08-03T21:17:00.001-04:00

It was tough to leave the Grand Canyon after just one night, but California was calling. After viewing a spectacular sunrise and taking a short walk around the canyon rim we continued west. We had time to stop along the way for photo op's that are generously scattered around the deserts of the American west. Our destination was Rosamond, CA which is located in the Mojave desert near Edwards Air Force Base, El Mirage and most importantly - Willow Springs Raceway!

Road Trippin - Day 04

2011-07-19T21:41:00.001-04:00

Day 4 was a pretty special day for me. We left Show Low bright and early - destination The Grand Canyon. My parents had lived in Arizona just before I was born and they visited the Canyon while I was still in the womb. Amazingly, even though I had been to Arizona many times to visit family, I had never been to the Canyon.

Forget everything that you think that you know about the Grand Canyon. Unless you have been, there is no way that you can describe or even imagine the immensity and striking beauty.

Our trip also took us past Mormon Lake, a shallow lake with a herd of Elk grazing right in the middle.

The cars were performing flawlessly and our group pulled into the El Tovar Hotel late in the afternoon...just in time to clean up and watch the sun set over the canyon. Good times!

Vasco - a long way from Portugal!

Mormon Lake

Entering Grand Canyon National Park

My '70 S at the Grand Canyon - Vasco driving.

Me (David), Curt E and Jerod R

Alan B, Curt E, Jerod R, David C and Brian F

Road Trippin - Day 03

2011-07-18T20:36:00.000-04:00

Ruidoso, New Mexico in darkness seemed to be a lovely little town. Sadly, we arrived at night and departed before daybreak. I would like to go back. On the outskirts of town, we stopped at the "All-American Cafe" and feasted on the most epic breakfast burritos. We also met up with several of the Texas RGruppe members who would accompany us to California.

Our goal this day was the sleepy little high-desert town of Show Low Arizona (Pop 11,473). One of those residents is a fellow by the name of Jim Edwards who is a vintage race-car (primarily Porsche) enthusiast. Jim was kind enough to open up his collection for us and it was well worth the side trip.

That would make a dent!

911 S ...Kills Bugs Dead!

The entrance to Jim's ranch

Would you trust this group unattended around your car?

Road Trippin - Day 02

2011-07-11T21:43:00.001-04:00

The morning arrived rather early on Day 2 - well before 7am. But before we talk about that, lets tell a story.

As mentioned before, Curt had equipped his car as a pseudo Rallye car for this trip. With just a little effort, he created a really clever and unique look. He switched out the Fuchs for a set of steel wheels, installed factory style skid plates, installed some period rallye accessories in the interior as well as a few other details. One of the most noteworthy touches was the pair of mudflaps hanging from the rear fenders. Curt insisted that we refer to them as "European rallye stone-guards" but when he wasn't around, they were just 'mud-flaps'.

Coincidentally, the artist of the bunch, Jared, had the remainder of a roll of bright yellow decal material in his trunk. This was left over from the Luftansa livery that Jared had applied for the trip west. So, long story short, sometime during the night Jared trimmed out a pair of "Naked Ladies" for Curt's mudflaps and snuck down and attached them.

Quite a few miles passed before Curt figured out why everyone else on the road was laughing.

Gotta love those wide open spaces in the great Southwest!

One of the stops that I insisted that we make was the Cadillac Ranch outside of Amarillo, TX. I recall seeing this row of old Cadillac's sticking out of the ground during trips out to Arizona to visit my grandparents when I was a child. I always wanted to take the walk out to the cars, when I was little, so it was a treat to finally do so as an adult.

We added another 640 miles n day 2 and the final run into Ruidoso New Mexico, from Roswell, NM was just about perfect. It was a wide open highway with the sun going down. The sunset was stunning and as the daylight faded to a final burst of dark orange I snapped probably my favorite image yet.

Road Trippin - Day 01

2011-07-06T22:37:00.000-04:00

One of the most memorable automotive experiences of all time for me was the road trip that I took with the rest of the Midwest RGruppe to California in 2008. My friend Vasco flew in from Lisbon Portugal and acted as co-driver and got to see the "Real America".

I haven't really had much of an opportunity to share the photos, so over the next couple of weeks I will post highlights from the trip.

Day 1 was Effingham IL - Stroud, OK...600 miles under our belt in the first day!

Scott Hansen drove down from Chicago in his '69E.

Here is Vasco settling into a groove on I-70.

Alan Brody with his '69 S Targa.

Curt Egerer's rallye influenced Targa (more on this later) and Randy Stenson's mean 2.8 liter '70 T

Jerod Rundell had a cool racing livery on his '73S for the trip. That's me in the background.

The reward for a job well done. Pizza and beer in the hotel parking lot. This was more difficult than it would seem due to the goofy liqueur laws in Stroud. Only one place in town sold beer and they could only sell it warm. You had to go to another store across town to buy ice and then wait for the beer to cool. I guess it's the 7-day waiting period principle. Ensuring that nobody drinks a beer without really, really contemplating their actions.

We all want to be Bob!

2011-07-02T23:12:00.000-04:00

My good friend, the "Man in Black" Bob Tilton has a great little blog out there in the clouds somewhere. Bob is the creative sort - the polar opposite of my pragmatic personality and his blog reflects this. I highly recommend that you check it out -http://werkcrew.com/ - plus he updates it a lot more than I do mine. In fact, most of you who visit my blog probably went to his first, so...umm..thanks Bob ... I guess.

As different as we are personality-wise, we both seem to love the same things in early 911's. Well, for example, Bob loves his car and I love his car too. Tis a nice car, but I tend to think he takes it for granted some times.

This is Bob

This is Bob's car

And most importantly, this is bobs book. Go to Werkcrew and buy Bob's book. Its worth it!

Yesterday, Bob posted a few photos of one of my favorite early 911's on his Blog. So, I decided that I would mimic him and post photos that I took of the same car. Copying Bob cant do anything but drive more people here, right? =)

Original Unrestored Scheel 300 Racing/Rally Seat FS

2011-07-02T18:48:00.001-04:00

I recently dug these seats out of a dusty attic where they had been stashed away for many years. The Scheel 300 was a factory option in the 911ST and RSR in the early 70's. They were also the BMW factory race seat in the '73 CSL's. These lightweight fiberglass buckets are in excellent condition structurally. They are complete with sliders and tilt brackets for early Porsche 911.

The upholstery is in better than average condition when you consider that they are 35-40 years old. The vinyl on the drivers bolster is worn from where the lap belt rubs across it and the passenger seat bolster has a cigerette burn. Otherwise the vinyl has a couple of little stains here and there, but is in pretty good condition.

The black cloth inserts are not torn or ripped, but are saggy from being exposed to a lot of heat while in that attic. They also need a good cleaning. The seats are certainly usable as-is, or new covers are available from Gerritt at NML Classics in Germany and are not terribly expensive.

Price $3,200.00

The Mad Kuh

2011-06-29T22:12:00.000-04:00

One of my all-time favorite hot-rod 911's is the Mad Kuh. This was the sick idea of Paul at Autokennel, and was so crazy and creative that it was hard to ignore. Originally a '78 930, 934 bodywork was installed over 935 coil-over suspension, 917 brakes and center-lock wheels and an approximately 500 hp engine if and when the boost was ever turned up.

I recently stumbled onto these photos that i took at the 2005 R Gruppe Treffen in Sonoma CA. Sadly, the "Pink Pig" 917 inspired graphics are now gone and the car has been repainted green. Shame really.

Midwest R Gruppe Track Day

2011-06-25T19:20:00.000-04:00

Earlier this month, Scott Hanson invited the Midwest R Gruppe to Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, IL for a little open track action.
Scott brought his Silver '69 E Hot-Rod, but left it in the paddock and drove his IROC bodied 911 on the track. Brian left his '73 RS at home this time, and put some hot laps in with his White 964 C4.
Randy brought his Conda Green 70"S" "Jennifer" and put a few miles on her and Scott Z tagged along in his Ivory '67 "S".
I drove my '70 "S up, but decided that the 600 mile round trip was enough on the brand new engine and left the car parked in the paddock. Scott did let me drive his track car. Zoom! Thanks Scott!
We made up about half of the track traffic that particular day meaning that we could learn the circuit without having to be paranoid about other cars on the course. All in all, it was a very good day.

The Jungle Bug - It's Grrrrrrrreat!

2011-05-30T10:01:00.001-04:00

Hows this for something cool and different. The Jungle Bug is a 1971 VW Super Beetle that has been transformed into a wild street custom. It was featured in the September 03 issue of VW Trends Magazine. It features Colorado Custom billet wheels (17 x 7 front / 18 x8 rear) disk brakes and a lowered suspension from Topline Parts.

Paint is an orange pearl from House of Kolor with the dark brown and black Bengal Tiger stripes done by legendary painter, Don "The Egyptian" Boeke. The Egyptian also did the graphics on the custom dashboard.

The interior is full-custom with grey tweed upholstery, custom dash and console and a LeCarra steering wheel. Occupying the rear seat area is a bank of speakers and subwoofers driven by 2400 watts of Planet Audio components.

The engine is mild and reliable. Size has been increased to 1641 cc for extra power, while retaining reliability. A pair of Weber carburetors likewise increase power.

PRICE: $ 13,900.00 or trade for interesting Hot Rod, Rat Rod or Custom

914-6 GT For Sale

2011-05-15T19:44:00.000-04:00

Over the past year or so, I have received several emails from people wondering about the 914-6 GT used in header of "Renn-Spot".
It is actually a GT replica built from a real Adriatic Blue 914-6. This was a full rotisserie restoration and the bottom looks just as good as the top. Steel flares were used along with lightweight balsa reinforced front and rear lids. The interior is very accurate as well with Fiberglass RS seats and a chromoly roll cage. The car was built with vintage racing in mind and is equipped with a fuel cell and a fire system.
Currently the car is powered by a 3.2 liter flat-six, but the original 2.0 liter flat six and gearbox are included as spares. Also included is a second pair of Weidman refinished Fuchs wheels and a brand new set of Hoosier track tires.

Many more details available - contact me at "Cornpanzer@sbcglobal.net". In the meantime, take a look at the photos!

Price - $ SOLD!

908 at Speed....

2011-05-02T12:11:00.000-04:00

OK, that is a lame title for a post, but c'mon do I really need to say that much when it comes to 908's. This is a car that needs no reason or explanation...just consider it your 908 fix for the week. =)

"Catching up With"...

2011-04-28T21:31:00.000-04:00

Is the title of my new column in Excellence Magazine. It has been a regular piece for the last three or four months and has been a great privilege. I get to hear some great stories from famous old drivers and I get paid for it! What a deal!
Issue #192 is on the newsstand right now and contains my interview with Scooter Patrick. Pick it up next time you are at the grocery or better yet get a trial issue of Excellence right here:
http://www.excellence-mag.com/subscriber/free-trial

In the meantime, here is a photo of Scooter with a 904 and an anecdote that we didn't have room for in the magazine. (Photo: Patrick Collection-Bill Norcross)

"One of the first cars that I got into that I was really familiar with was the 904. I had a tremendous amount of success with the 904. In the mid 80’s I was up at Monterey {Historics) and I was walking up and down the pit lane on the pre-grid. It was what I would call the A/B production cars – Camaros Mustangs Cobras…that kind of stuff. There was this gorgeous 904 sitting there. It was just a beautiful car. I’m admiring it and this voice behind me said, how do you like my car. I turned around and it was a guy by the name of Bill Karges, Bill Karges was Sales Manager at Kendon Porsche when I was Service Manager. He had gone on and made quite a bit of money for himself. I said, 'whats your car?' He said, 'that 904! Can you beat that GTO Ferrari?' I said, 'well Bill, I don’t know, but back in the day, the GTO was never a threat to us. What the problem is going to be is if somebody can drive that FIA 289 Cobra back there.' He says, 'you want to drive the car?' "

"Of course, the Cobra blew my doors off going up the hill. Get down to turn three and he gives me about four feet on the inside by the apex and the brake lights came on. I said to myself, 'son that’s a mistake!' So I went underneath him up the hill and around through the corkscrew and through turn 9 and I would get about 75 feet from the start finish and he smoked my ass going up the hill. So I figured, 'well thats fun.' I [figured that] he got a good lesson and we wouldn't worry about it. We get down to turn three and he does the same thing again! Long story short, he never did learn."

"So now Im trying to figure out how the hell I’m going to beat him to the start finish on the last lap. I was fortunate and put one of those proverbial white knuckle laps together. As I came down off the top of the hill on the last four or five laps there was a big spectator bunch up there on the hill and on the inside and they are getting out of their motor-homes and coming up against the fence and they’re waving and yelling and I can see them. What it did was take them back instantly to ‘64 and ‘65 when we were doing this for real with Ken Miles and the 904’s and Davey (McDonald) and the Cobras for real in USRRC. This was a hell of a battle and they are going crazy."

"So the last lap, I go around turn 9 and I’m so close to the hay on the outside, I got hay flying off the right rear fender. Its fishtailen coming out of there. I don’t know whether the guy gave up, but anyway I beat him. I get back to the pits and Karges is about as white as a sheet. He said, 'man, you scared the shit outa me.' 'Really, why what’s wrong?' He said, 'that car is worth $110,000.00!' I said, 'Bill if you had told me that before, I wouldn’t have driven it!'"

"The next thing that happens is that I get a call over the PA for me to go up and see Steve Earl in control. I go up there and Steve says, 'well we are going to put you in second place.' I said, 'OK…why you going to put me in second place?' 'Well, you blocked that Cobra.' I said,' really, what race were you watching? I don’t care where you put me. You can put me in last place…it all pays the same – nothin! You don’t have a problem with me, I’m easy, but you got a problem with about six thousand people up there on that hill. You gotta sell them that that Porsche didn’t win that race!'"

Rain Rain, Go Away!

2011-04-27T22:38:00.000-04:00

Seems like it has been raining for something like forty days around these parts. We had a rough winter and now possibly the wettest April on record...ever! Its going to make the driving season that much better though - when it finally comes.

Yet it doesn't have to be sunny and clear to get the Porsche out of the garage. These things were meant to be driven! Please note Exhibit A - Randy Stenson in his '70 911S somewhere in I-70 back in 2006.

Ludwig, The Mad 2.8 Lives!

2011-03-13T18:21:00.000-04:00

I have been working on this 2.8 liter short-stroke project for about 2 years now. It is built on a rare early Turbo aluminum case with a 66mm counterweighted crank and 95mm pistons and cylinders. Compression is about 10.5:1. The MFI throtle bodies and stacks have been bored over-sized by Aaron Burnham at Rennwerks Inc in California. The twin plug dist is from Aaron as well. Nice piece!
I had John Truman @ JTE Racing Engines (440-298-3858) in Cleveland Ohio assemble the engine and have had it sitting in my garage for nearly a year while I got all of the ancillaries worked out in the car (twin MSD boxes & harnesses for example). I love the sound of the genuine R /ST exhaust, but I am afraid that it will probably be too loud for the amount of driving that I do.
This little clip shows the engine shortly after I fired it for the first time. There are still some details to complete and some tuning to be done, but I am very happy with how it takes the throttle - the responsiveness is exciting. It should motivate my '70 S quite well!

More from the Winter Concours

2011-02-28T20:33:00.000-05:00

Last Sat night, Porsche of the Village cleared out their beautiful new facility and hosted a great little concours. I enjoyed a few Kentucky Bourbon Ale's and snapped a few photos of the highlights.

Ron Thomas brought both of his RS's. Which would you take home if given a choice?

Center-Seat RSK - Owner Rick Grant

Abarth Carrera in Detail

2011-02-27T19:06:00.001-05:00

This past Saturday, Porsche of the Village in Cincinnati hosted their second winter concours. This is a great event - free to participants and spectators. What a wonderful way to shake off some of the wintertime blues.
One of the highlights this year was a stunning Abarth Carrera with just over 12,000 original kilometers.
More information on the car can be found in the Dec 2010 issue of Excellence Magazine (Issue 188), but I decided to just focus on the details.
Thanks to the Ingram family and the crew at Road Scholars for transporting the car all the way from NC and sharing it with us.

1996 Porsche 993 C4 Cabrio For Sale

2011-02-16T21:08:00.001-05:00

This gorgeous 993 Cab has only 5,120 miles on it since new. This one owner car was ordered by the owner as a personal reward to himself for a job well done and he decked it out with nearly every option available. Not only are the rare factory sports seats and door panels covered in supple hand stitched Cashmere leather, but so are the gauge bezels, and center console. This special ordered car also features Dark Rootwood trim on the door panels and dash fascia.

Everything on this car is perfect and all original and as new. It even still has the original equipment tires. The Guards Red paint is immaculate as is the roof and all carpeting and interior trim.

Price:$79,500.00

Please click on the slideshow below for 18 additional photographs. We are happy to answer any questions that you may have. Please contact me at Cornpanzer@sbcglobal.net or (937) 313-0828

Just another one of the toys

2011-02-13T17:05:00.001-05:00

Do you remember that one friend when you were a kid that had all of the cool toys? You know the kind...while you were getting by with a C3PO and Luke Skywalker figure, your friend had the official carrying case with every Star-Wars figure ever made along with the toy fighters that they fit inside.

My buddy Ron is that kid. I get by just fine with my old 911, but I sure have a good time when I visit his toy-box. He has all the cool pieces; GT3 RS, '73 Carrera RS, and the Boba Fett of early Porsches - a 924 Carrera GTS.

Anyway, last fall Ron called and suggested that I come up and see his new 917. Whhhhaaaa??? Ok, so its not a REAL 917, but its pretty cool nonetheless! Built on a tube chassis, this is about as close to a real 917 you will ever get without forking over a couple million bucks. Aside from the 400+hp 3.6 liter flat-six engine, you could easily be fooled into thinking it is the real thing.

A snapped a couple pictures of it in the workshop. Photo quality is only so-so, but its hard to do anything too interesting in an shop. My goal this year is to get Ron to hang plates on it and see it cruising around town!

For Sale - '73 T 911 Engine w' MFI

2010-12-26T19:28:00.001-05:00

This is a complete and running MFI motor from a '73 T. The engine has 76,000 original miles on it and is in good running condition. A leakdown test was performed last month and the engine shows less than 3% leakage on each cylinder. It comes complete with good heat exchangers and muffler. The cam drive seal for the MFI has been replaced and a new set of Bosch spark plugs recently installed.

Reason for the sale is that the chassis is being converted to a '73 RSR and the engine will be replaced with a 3.6 liter.

Cost is $4,250.00 and includes palletizing and freight within the continental U.S. The engine is still in the car and is located in Columbus, OH if potential buyers would like to see it run.

THIS IS SOLD!

Please see video below.

908 at Daytona

2010-12-08T22:47:00.001-05:00

The 908 in its various incarnations (Coupe, Spyder, Long-Tail, Flunder,908/02, 908/03) is probably my favorite plastic Porsche racing car. Over the period of four years, 908's won at Zeltwig, Hockenheim, Watkins Glen, Mantorp, the Salzburgring, Daytona, Brands Hatch, Monza, Spa Francorchamps and at the Nurburgring! They nearly beat the mighty Ford GT40's at LeMans in 1969 even though the Fords had twice the engine capacity.

Has any other racing model ever won at so many different tracks and events?

Im not sure of the history of this particular car, but the photo was snapped in Daytona during the last Rennsport Reunion in 2007.

For Sale - '92 911 Carrera 2 (964)

2010-12-08T21:38:00.004-05:00

With only 14,000 miles this spotless original 964 Targa is truly spectacular. The last of the air-cooled 911's, the 964 series has been overlooked for years but now seems to be in the midst of a Renaissance.
This C2 Targa was built in Sept 1991 and was ordered a jewel-like shade of green called Oak Green Metallic. The interior is Cashmeire Beige leather with contrasting leather piping on the seats and the Porsche crest embossed on the headrests.

Other options are headlamp washers and a Blaupunkt "Stuttgart" cassette stereo.

Price - SOLD

Click on the photo to see a 20 photo slide-show.

Dillon Colorado - May 2006

2010-11-11T22:37:00.000-05:00

The Midwest R Gruppe drove 2500 miles + to California in 2006 and one of the stops was in Dillon, Colorado. This shot was taken on a boat ramp at Dillon Reservoir. The snow in the morning had been forgotten later that day as we drove through the Mojave desert.

A lot of memories from that trip....

Ludwig, the MAD 2.8

2010-11-11T22:24:00.001-05:00

For the past couple of years I have been digging pocket change from under the couch cushions and scrounging parts to build a new engine for my '70 911 "S". The original 2.2l has been covered up and tucked into the corner and this new 2.8l beast is being made ready. I hoped to have it running this past summer...but that just didn't happen.

Getting closer though. A few final details and we will be ready to go!

Leather Sofa's and Old Steering Wheels

2010-11-11T22:03:00.001-05:00

The mailman brought me this cool old 350 mm Momo Monza steering wheel last week. The leather is just amazing. Only problem is that it apparently was involved in a hard accident at some point and the top two spokes were broken.

I am tempted to leave it as-is simply because the repair is just so cool with the old rivets and such. I really want to use it in the car though, so I plan to drill it apart this weekend, have it TIG'd and then file and finesse it back to perfection...but maybe not...I just cant decide!

Should be a fun project. I love the wheel, only thing that would make it better is if it was 380mm.

I will update when I get more done.

NOS EMPI GT Mags For Sale

2010-10-28T19:32:00.004-04:00

I was at a local hot-rod show a few weeks back and ran into an old wheel collector that I had met about 15 years ago. I asked him if he had any old Porsche or VW mags and he told me about a pair of two-piece wheels that he had bought a few years back.

Turns out that they are original EMPI GT Mags. You can see how the casting was originally designed for the 205mm VW bolt circle, but later modified for the smaller Porsche pattern.

This pair appears to be NOS. They show no evidence of ever being mounted to a car or having a tire on them. They have been sitting for decades and due to the high magnesium content will need to have the lips re-polished.

$600.00 for the pair SOLD!

New Jo Siffert book

2010-10-21T22:24:00.000-04:00

From the first time I read about Jo Siffert, I was fascinated by him. He was the stereotypical suave racing driver of the late '60's. In just a little over a decade Siffert clawed his way from nothing, to the top of auto racing - Formula 1 for Yardley-BRM and Sports Car racing for Porsche. Jo even owned his own Porsche dealership in Switzerland and leased many of the racing cars used in the film LeMans to Steve McQueen.

I interviewed Brian Redman a few years back and he had this to say about Siffert:
"He was always buying or selling something. He had lady friends all over the place – he was a great character and a great driver."

This is why I am so excited about a new Siffert biography by Ed Heuvink. You can buy the book from my friend and Siffert's teammate Vic Elford -
http://www.vicelford.com/storebooks.html#Book52

Another NOS GT3, This Time its an RS!

2010-10-18T20:45:00.001-04:00

With only a handful of factory applied miles on it, this 2007 GT3-RS is essentially NOS. Sporting factory roll-cage mounts (rare on US spec cars) and with AC delete, this could be the ultimate dual purpose track-day weapon. This GT3RS is as new, with all of the factory delivery protection on it. Front lip spoiler has never been installed and thus is uncracked or scraped.

Price - $135,000

Click on the Flickr photo below and automatically view an 11 photo slideshow!

Barn Find Treasures...They Are Still Out There!

2010-10-11T20:55:00.000-04:00

Built in Sept '65 and put up on blocks sometime in '72. Keep looking, there is still old tin out there.

Rally in the Valley - 2010

2010-09-23T20:01:00.001-04:00

Last weekend I hitched a ride from my friend Brian in his Conda Green '71 911 S. We traveled to Virgina for the annual Rally in the Valley, a casual gathering made up of members of the R Gruppe and the Early S Registry. While there, Raj was kind enough to make his 1967 "R" available to me for a feature story in an upcoming issue of Excellence magazine.

There never seems to be a shortage of events during the summer, but I think that RITV will be on my short list for the future.

Can a Car be NOS? 2004 Porsche 911 GT3

2010-08-22T15:01:00.003-04:00

This 2004 GT3 is as brand new as you can get for a six year-old performance car. Showing only 21 miles on the odometer, this car has been lovingly preserved in a climate controlled Porsche museum. Looking inside, you see that the plastic has never been removed from the seats and gauges. The factory cardboard is still covering the carpet. The car is perfect!

Many GT3 enthusiasts feel that the 2004 generation of the GT3 was the pinnacle. Later versions were saddled with unnecessary luxuries such as sunroofs and air conditioning. This car was spec'd to be the ultimate track-day weapon. In this case, AC and sunroof were left unchecked while the important performance items like Porsche's spectacular ceramic disc brakes were selected. One unusual option is the Speed Yellow seat belts which match the exterior paintwork.

Click on the link below to see 13 more photos in slide-show format.

Asking $107,000.00

German? I Think Not!

2010-08-20T21:23:00.002-04:00

Ok, so I promise that this wont happen very often, but I had to show off what I got to drive this afternoon - even if it isn't a VW or Porsche.

A Mini you ask? Yeah, its a Mini...but not a normal Mini. This one has a Honda VTEC engine stuffed into the front. It may look like a little bulldog, but it pulls like a greyhound! When the VTEC takes over, the exhaust changes from a howl to a shriek and it would probably pull to 10,000 RPM if it weren't for the rev limiter. I dig it!

Vintage photos of the "Driver 904"

2010-08-17T14:04:00.003-04:00

One of the Excellence Magazine readers sent us this photo taken at the GP of Angola in 1964 (photo is mis-labeled as '66). Car #12 is 904-028 driven by Gerhard Koch and now owned by Alex Pollock.

What, you didnt read about #028?!?! Well, make sure you grab the September issue of Excellence before it disappears off the stands!

Crank it up to 10!

2010-08-17T13:54:00.003-04:00

Had a spare tach refurbished by North Hollywood Speedometer for my '70"S" to go along with the 2.8 liter twin plug that I had built this summer. Felt I should mention this as N. Hollywood makes it as easy as you can get to do business with them!

In less than two weeks, they modified a cheap 914 tachometer to function with an MSD ignition, changed it to 6-cyl, silkscreened the face to 10,000rpm and installed a new bezel. All at a very reasonable cost.

Porsche '69-'72 Factory Sport Seat with Tilt Base

2010-08-11T21:40:00.007-04:00

This is a terrific seat. Drivers side sport seat with the original black vinyl upholstery. The tilt bracket has been stripped and powder coated. All of the hardware, sliders and levers have been replated to a new silver zinc finish.

There are two small flaws on the seat. One is a seam which has come loose near the bottom. this can be left as is or repaired by an upholstery shop. The other flaw is a small cut at the very base of the backrest on the back side. Padding is firm and comfortable and the strapping on the bottom is in good condition.

This seat is perfect to buy and install as-is in all but the most show quality early 911. It sits great and looks great! Price: SOLD

Stunning Peru Red '75 Carrera Coupe

2010-08-11T18:33:00.005-04:00

For sale is this pristine enthusiast owned Peru Red U.S. Carrera. Peru Red is a very rare color and makes for a distinguished yet not too conservative appearance on this top of the line 911 from 1975. This is a fantastic collectors piece which needs almost nothing to be made perfect.

This car has had a full top quality repaint in the original color which included the removal of the engine and and a full detail. According to the previous seller, while the engine was out, it was sent to Dean Polopolus of Advanced Performance Engineering for a full service. While there are no records to validate this, the engine runs fantastic and leaks no oil which would support this claim. The gearbox is quiet and shifts like a new car. In fact, this Carrera drives like a new Toyota. Steering is tight, suspension and handling is taut and there are no squeaks or rattles to be heard anywhere. Even the tires are close to brand new.

Paint quality is fantastic as are the panel gaps and alignment which is one of the most challenging and key elements of doing the job right. Please view the detail photos of the panel gaps - the fit and finish is exceptional. Looking around the car, you notice the factory driving lamps, headlight squirters and electric sunroof. Inside, you are met with immaculate "Cinnamon" upholstery and dash top with no cracks, tears or damage. However, the carpeting is original to the car and is beginning to show its age in the drivers footwell. The Carrera also comes equipped with electric windows and the special and rare factory thick-grip leather steering wheel.

In the trunk you will find the original tool kit, spare tire and jack. There is no rust or rot to be found anywhere on this car. It currently shows approx 64,650 miles.

The 74/75 Carrera is in the midst of chasing its big-brother the '73 RS Carrera in value. It is unlikely that it will ever reach the values of the '73, but there is no doubt that excellent examples like this one will continue to escalate in value while also affording its owner the opportunity to drive and enjoy the investment like Porsche intended them to.

Price: $SOLD!

Click below to see a 30+ photo slide-show of this car.

Porsches 2 Oxford 2011 - Take II

2010-08-02T22:15:00.003-04:00

The third car on display in Ron's trifecta was the completed Aase brothers GTU car which I had featured under construction earlier this month. Probably my favorite car of the weekend!

Porsches 2 Oxford 2011

2010-08-02T21:34:00.003-04:00

What a great event. Great weather, 460+ Porsche's and a alluring little college town. Its a nice way to spend a Saturday.

Ron Thomas brought three fresh cars to display and I could have spent all day just on those three cars! The first was a white/green '73 RS. The second was a 2011 GT3RS in a one-off matching white/green paint scheme.

Enjoy...more to come later this week.

Weapon of Mass Destruction

2010-07-24T18:14:00.002-04:00

One of my favorite early 911's is this red '73 built by Jeff Smith and now owned by Dario Franchitti. A 3.8 liter Varioram motor was stuffed into the back of this lightweight street missile. This was one of the nicest early cars that I have driven - docile and comfortable most of the time yet brutally fast when given the input.

For Sale - Another Porsche 356 B Spare Parts Catalog

2010-07-22T20:38:00.003-04:00

Weird that I would stumble across another one of these so soon after I sold the last. This actually belongs to the widow of a long-time buddy who was an avid 356 owner and driver. I was visiting her last week and saw this tucked into a shelf out in the garage. I told her that we could find a new home that would appreciate it.

Like the last one, this is dated 1960. It is PRISTINE! Pages are very clean, cover is in great shape and the only noticeable flaw I can see is a small tear in the tissue paper on the spine.

Asking $275.00 SOLD!

Blast from the Past! (Take II)

2010-07-22T20:26:00.005-04:00

I received a second batch of photos of the Aase GTU car this week from photographer Ted Zombek. These photos show the high level of restoration being performed. The goal is to have the car completed for a debut at the Porsches 2 Oxford event in Oxford, Ohio on July 30.

Blast from the Past!

2010-07-14T19:14:00.007-04:00

I received a couple of sneak preview photos today of the Aase Brothers Porsche 911 GTU car nearing the end of its restoration. Hopefully we can get it out to Mid-Ohio for some photographs later this year before the snow flies. The last two photos are courtesy ehpone2007 on Flickr. They were taken at Laguna Seca in 1980.

One Year Only - '67 911S Front Deco Strip

2010-06-28T21:01:00.006-04:00

Rarest of the rare, this is a front rubber deco strip for a '67 S. Not reproduced anywhere, this is one of the, if not THE hardest part to find for a '67 S restoration. I also have the stainless deco backing, but I "think" that this is the same as the readily available 69-73 stainless.

Condition is good, but not perfect. Looking closely at the photos, you will notice some slight checking of the surface of the rubber - but only in certain areas. With a few applications of rubber treatment, this will look great from anywhere but a foot away.

Price : SOLD!

Kubelwagen

2010-06-28T19:44:00.005-04:00

Not too often that you see one of these German military Kubelwagens. Last week I visited Doc Von Kubel Werks restorations in Miamisburg Ohio and got to see four Kubel's in various states of restoration plus a Schwimmwagen, a German half-track and a Mercedes staff-car. When I return, I hope to get a ride.

In the meantime check out this '42 Kubel that served in the German army in Norway. It spent most of its life in Norway but eventually ended up in the U.S. where it has been for the last twenty years or so.

For Sale - Porsche 356 B Spare Parts Catalog

2010-06-07T20:04:00.004-04:00

Up for sale is this spare parts catalog dated Jan 1960. It is in good shape...not perfect, but certainly better than average. It appears to be complete and the pages are tight and show little use with no greasy fingerprints so common with these catalogs. Very detailed down to the part # for the hammer used with Rudge wheels!

Price: SOLD!

And Now For Something Completely Different!

2010-06-07T19:51:00.003-04:00

Truly one of a kind - a Split Window VW Rat-Rod Beetle mounted on a custom chassis. The "KDF Mangler" uses a race prepped Corvair motor for motivation. Look for it in an upcoming issue of Ultra VW Magazine.

Factory Slant Nose For Sale - 13,000 Miles!

2010-05-17T21:02:00.003-04:00

Low mileage Turbo's are on special this week. This Guards Red beauty is a 1988 Turbo "S" with a factory steel slant-nose and only 13,734 original miles. As you would expect from so few miles, the car is stunning and perfect! Other options above and beyond the slant nose are factory sport seats in Champagne leather, leather wrapped steering wheel with extended hub and an electric sunroof. The gearbox has a factory limited slip diff and the car rolls on its original equipment Goodyear Eagle tires.
Price: $79,500.00

'79 Porsche 911 Turbo For Sale - 9,868 Original Miles!

2010-05-15T21:34:00.008-04:00

One of the very lowest mileage early 911 Turbo's. Not only low mileage and unmolested, but this stunning Turbo is presented in an unusual "Oak Green Metallic" a refreshing change from the more typical Silver, Red or Black! This Turbo is nicely equipped with a heated drivers mirror, electric sunroof, leather "Cork" sport seats and a limited slip differential. Even the original Pirelli tires are still on the car.

Condition is exactly as you would expect from such a low mileage example. More information is available upon request. Click below to view a slide-show of eighteen photos. SOLD

Is it a "Barn-Find" when it is your own property?

2010-05-04T17:20:00.004-04:00

So, some guy buys what he thinks is a run-of-the-mill '67 912 parts car and parks it in his back yard. Time goes by and he notices some unique features that cause him to look a little closer (like the rear engine valance without the later pressed indentations) . Turns out that the car is really #191 of the 232 911's produced in 1964. Somewhere in the past, somebody has inexplicably cut out the original serial # and replaced it with a 912 serial #.

Read the whole story here - http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/539892-i-think-i-found-64-911-my-backyard.html

For Sale - Auto racing by the Letters and Numbers Booklet - NOS

2010-05-01T14:29:00.004-04:00

This is a very rare brochure. It appears that it was produced in 1969 by Porsche North America for the purpose of educating customers on the sport of auto racing while also illustrating the proud history that Porsche had in racing.
Price: $45.00

For Sale - 1970 911S Owners manual - NOS

2010-05-01T14:22:00.004-04:00

Brand new owners manual to replace that water stained, dog-eared or simply missing owners manual for your "S".
Price: $95.00

For Sale - 1970 914/6 owners manual NOS!

2010-05-01T14:12:00.004-04:00

The 914/6 can honestly be described as a rare car and a NOS owners manual for one is very uncommon!
Price - $225.00 - SOLD

911 S at the El Tovar

2010-04-29T20:40:00.003-04:00

There is no better place to spend a night at the Grand Canyon than the El Tovar Hotel. Built in 1905, the El Tovar is a Grand Canyon icon. A Registered National Historic Landmark, the El Tovar is perched right on the edge of the Canyon. The porch is a perfect place to kick back on a chair, crack open a beer and gaze out at the Grand Canyon just beyond the flanks of your early "S".

OEM Early 911 Hood Crest - For Sale

2010-04-29T20:26:00.005-04:00

Original hood badges with the orange enamel are getting harder and harder to find. This one is an original that I pulled from a car that was being parted. There are no cracks in the enamel and both posts are intact on the backside.

Price is $375.00 plus shipping SOLD!

904 on the streets of Detroit

2010-04-28T21:43:00.002-04:00

Last fall I had the rare opportunity to drive a real 904. Interestingly, my short tour was conducted on the streets of Detroit, Michigan. The story of the car and how it made its way from winning the 84 hour endurance race at the Nurburgring to residing in Detroit for the nearly 40 years is fascinating. If all goes as planned, you will be able to read all about it in an upcoming issue of Excellence Magazine.