RE: Autofarm Porsche 911 'backdate': Driven
Discussion
After seeing a few 2.7 RS's at a sprint at Aintree as a teenager in the early 90s, 2 things struck me:
1. Wow
2. Those 1st to2nd gear changes sounds slow and crunchy.
I still like the idea of owning one, but 20-odd years later, older 911s cost a fortune (2.7 RS's comically so) and my wife would prefer a house extension and new kitchen to an 80s rear engined Porsche.....
I'd just like something 911 from the 80s/early 90s that mechanically sound, with a few tweaks to the chassis and brakes and possibly to the engine. Cosmetics wouldn't bother me too much.
Ho-hum.
1. Wow
2. Those 1st to2nd gear changes sounds slow and crunchy.
I still like the idea of owning one, but 20-odd years later, older 911s cost a fortune (2.7 RS's comically so) and my wife would prefer a house extension and new kitchen to an 80s rear engined Porsche.....
I'd just like something 911 from the 80s/early 90s that mechanically sound, with a few tweaks to the chassis and brakes and possibly to the engine. Cosmetics wouldn't bother me too much.
Ho-hum.
Edited by MC Bodge on Friday 17th October 21:21
marcosgt said:
Did the word count get exceeded and the sub-editor just remove random words?
As one might way....
M
...and remove random punctuation?As one might way....
M
Deep breath...
'By now you're probably thinking 'ah, the British Singer!' but while Autofarm project manager Mikey Wastie admits demand for such cars has increased they're more your traditional restoration shop with the ability to pick and choose the best of the 911 back catalogue to build the Porsche of your dreams.'
Phew!
dandarez said:
marcosgt said:
Did the word count get exceeded and the sub-editor just remove random words?
As one might way....
M
...and remove random punctuation? As one might way....
M
I'll make sure we're stocked up for the week ahead though.
Cheers!
Dan
I really like the car and would have one like it quick as a shot if I could afford it.
I have no beef with backdating providing a car is not subsequently misrepresented as something it's not (i.e. a 911SC being passed off as an original long bonnet car). The only thing that jars slightly on this one is the inappropriate number plates. The car was first registered in 1979, so the the white on black plates are illegal.
Even in late 1972 (the start period of the L registration number the car has been given) white-on-blackplates were a rarity on new cars, being finally phased out by the end of 1972 and already seen as old fashioned back then. Almost everything was already being supplied with black-in-white front, and black-on-yellow rear, reflectives. So those plates would have looked out of place even if it had been a 1972 car.
I have no beef with backdating providing a car is not subsequently misrepresented as something it's not (i.e. a 911SC being passed off as an original long bonnet car). The only thing that jars slightly on this one is the inappropriate number plates. The car was first registered in 1979, so the the white on black plates are illegal.
Even in late 1972 (the start period of the L registration number the car has been given) white-on-blackplates were a rarity on new cars, being finally phased out by the end of 1972 and already seen as old fashioned back then. Almost everything was already being supplied with black-in-white front, and black-on-yellow rear, reflectives. So those plates would have looked out of place even if it had been a 1972 car.
Love this car. Here's a gratuitous pic of my own - its a 1973 'T' that I stumbled across a few years ago on a business trip in Florida. It had been messed around with in the 80s. so had lost its original interior, bumpers, narrow rear arches and wheels, and had had a cheap paint job in bright yellow. After running it 'as is' for a bit, a couple of years ago I took it off the road for a refresh that turned into a restoration. Its now in Gulf Blue, with a 2.5l engine, warmer cams, flowed big port heads, PMO carbs, 7/8" Fuchs and modern Recaros. Its still work in progress, but the great thing about these old 911s is that they are such great fun to drive at normal A/B road speeds, and you get such a great reaction from other roads users.
SS7
SS7
shoestring7 said:
Here's a gratuitous pic of my own - its a 1973 'T' that I stumbled across a few years ago on a business trip in Florida. It had been messed around with in the 80s. so had lost its original interior, bumpers, narrow rear arches and wheels, and had had a cheap paint job in bright yellow. After running it 'as is' for a bit, a couple of years ago I took it off the road for a refresh that turned into a restoration. Its now in Gulf Blue, with a 2.5l engine, warmer cams, flowed big port heads, PMO carbs, 7/8" Fuchs and modern Recaros. Its still work in progress, but the great thing about these old 911s is that they are such great fun to drive at normal A/B road speeds, and you get such a great reaction from other roads users.
SS7
Seats really work well - great job !SS7
shoestring7 said:
Love this car. Here's a gratuitous pic of my own - its a 1973 'T' that I stumbled across a few years ago on a business trip in Florida. It had been messed around with in the 80s. so had lost its original interior, bumpers, narrow rear arches and wheels, and had had a cheap paint job in bright yellow. After running it 'as is' for a bit, a couple of years ago I took it off the road for a refresh that turned into a restoration. Its now in Gulf Blue, with a 2.5l engine, warmer cams, flowed big port heads, PMO carbs, 7/8" Fuchs and modern Recaros. Its still work in progress, but the great thing about these old 911s is that they are such great fun to drive at normal A/B road speeds, and you get such a great reaction from other roads users.
SS7
That looks lovely, you must be very pleased with it. The seats look superb. SS7
Would it be rude to ask the cost?
OleVix said:
Schermerhorn said:
Why do all these retro-911 restorers insist on using Fusch style wheels only? Surely there are other designs out there that would make their creations stand out from the rest?
Old style BBS split rims with gold centers would look soooooo bad ass! 15 or 16 inch..
Magnesium E50 in 16" please.
MichelV said:
About right. But if you give the standard 204 hp SC engine a 964 camshaft and a balanced and lightweight flywheel I will even cut your money in half and have 95% of your performance. CIS is not that bad simply a lack of understanding. But I have to admit that a backdated looks sexier.
Good point. I have a new to me 150kmile 1981 SC as a car to drive and improve. The engine is fine but has seen better days so I'm planning on learning how to do the rebuilding. It's a long term drive-between improvements project for me. Hopefully all my changes can be done over a winter. This winter rebuilt box and new exhaust. Next winter suspension and brakes, winter after that engine, and finally the body (might be more than a winter!).Bert
Er, a/c 911 people prefer Fuchs wheels for the following reasons:
- extremely light weight - lift a couple with each hand, easy. The contrast between them and the back-breaking overweight low-quality over-priced monsters the likes of Audi now sell as 'alloys' is instructive. Less weight, better handling and performance.
- high quality - proper forged alloys, not cheap cast alloys. You can track them.
- stylish - perfectly in keeping with the fundamental 1960s styling of old a/c 911s - and attractive in appearance without being too boy-racer flash and thereby visually dominating the car. BBS look great on a period Golf or BMW but seem a little bit forced and 'look at me' on an older 911.
If you understand old 911s deeply and know your wheels then I'm sorry but there is no Fuching alternative - Fuchs - the best classic wheels ever made.
- extremely light weight - lift a couple with each hand, easy. The contrast between them and the back-breaking overweight low-quality over-priced monsters the likes of Audi now sell as 'alloys' is instructive. Less weight, better handling and performance.
- high quality - proper forged alloys, not cheap cast alloys. You can track them.
- stylish - perfectly in keeping with the fundamental 1960s styling of old a/c 911s - and attractive in appearance without being too boy-racer flash and thereby visually dominating the car. BBS look great on a period Golf or BMW but seem a little bit forced and 'look at me' on an older 911.
If you understand old 911s deeply and know your wheels then I'm sorry but there is no Fuching alternative - Fuchs - the best classic wheels ever made.
shoestring7 said:
Love this car. Here's a gratuitous pic of my own - its a 1973 'T' that I stumbled across a few years ago on a business trip in Florida. It had been messed around with in the 80s. so had lost its original interior, bumpers, narrow rear arches and wheels, and had had a cheap paint job in bright yellow. After running it 'as is' for a bit, a couple of years ago I took it off the road for a refresh that turned into a restoration. Its now in Gulf Blue, with a 2.5l engine, warmer cams, flowed big port heads, PMO carbs, 7/8" Fuchs and modern Recaros. Its still work in progress, but the great thing about these old 911s is that they are such great fun to drive at normal A/B road speeds, and you get such a great reaction from other roads users.
SS7
That really is stunning, usually not a fan of more modern seats in old cars but this really works!SS7
Backdating is fine. Porsche took a 60s design and stuck a load of 70s tat on it to make it look more contemporary. This guy has conceptually removed the 70s trimmings, paring it back to the original shape. To me that is perfectly authentic, because it is that bodyshell presented as it was originally intended. If I could afford a late Countach, I'd do the same and pare it back to look like an earlier one.
ks wheels just have to be about the best looking iconic classic alloy wheels ever made, along with possibly the Halibrand.I'll leave the purists to debate original / backdate. I think the points comparing oldskool 911s to the current 9xxs (replace the x with the random model numbers Stuttgart seem to generate these days) is the most interesting: declaring and interest - I have an original 3.2 Carerra.
I tried a new 997 last year - it was underwhelming.
1 - there was a bloke from the dealer alongside me who twitched anytime I pressed the loud pedal
2 - it just felt huge!
3 - it felt disconnected from the road to me
4 - it felt more like a mile eating cruiser than a sports car
Maybe if I'd had some proper miles and the chance to drive it not just 'wear it' as a friend described my experience, I might have had a different view, but there's no way I'd swap mine for a new one.
Mine is small, handy, fast (enough for me), sounds great and tells me precisely what it's doing. No ABS, no power steering, no technological wizardry, and heavy brakes. It's twitchy in the wet and twisties (so slow down, then), but goes like the clappers on a good surface. Track days are a blast! It rewards sensible, proper driving, and gets noticed sometimes (If you see me at the service on Sunday ask me about the A1(M) rozzer...)
Its not quite my daily drive, but I've had a few lack of use issues (sparky things mainly) so I drive it regularly - and why not? For a 1988 car with 150k on the clock it's brilliant (some say nicely run in).
If you want a great drive then an old 911 is hard to beat in my view. Yes anyone in a Sti or WRX can probably beat me point to point but that's not the point. My ride has character and is totally involving, in a way modern cars are not. Smiles per mile, it's off the scale. So kudos to all those who run 911s from the 80s back, whatever spec they are. Original or customised, they come with pedigree and class built in.
C
I tried a new 997 last year - it was underwhelming.
1 - there was a bloke from the dealer alongside me who twitched anytime I pressed the loud pedal
2 - it just felt huge!
3 - it felt disconnected from the road to me
4 - it felt more like a mile eating cruiser than a sports car
Maybe if I'd had some proper miles and the chance to drive it not just 'wear it' as a friend described my experience, I might have had a different view, but there's no way I'd swap mine for a new one.
Mine is small, handy, fast (enough for me), sounds great and tells me precisely what it's doing. No ABS, no power steering, no technological wizardry, and heavy brakes. It's twitchy in the wet and twisties (so slow down, then), but goes like the clappers on a good surface. Track days are a blast! It rewards sensible, proper driving, and gets noticed sometimes (If you see me at the service on Sunday ask me about the A1(M) rozzer...)
Its not quite my daily drive, but I've had a few lack of use issues (sparky things mainly) so I drive it regularly - and why not? For a 1988 car with 150k on the clock it's brilliant (some say nicely run in).
If you want a great drive then an old 911 is hard to beat in my view. Yes anyone in a Sti or WRX can probably beat me point to point but that's not the point. My ride has character and is totally involving, in a way modern cars are not. Smiles per mile, it's off the scale. So kudos to all those who run 911s from the 80s back, whatever spec they are. Original or customised, they come with pedigree and class built in.
C
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff