RE: Autofarm Porsche 911 'backdate': Driven

RE: Autofarm Porsche 911 'backdate': Driven

Author
Discussion

Lowtimer

4,286 posts

167 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
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samoht said:
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.
TBH, so would I if I had a huge bundle of cash doing nothing and a barn I could fill with cars. The original Countach on little wheels and squidgy tyres looks amazing.

MC Bodge

21,552 posts

174 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
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cthcolin said:
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
Excellent post. I can relate to what you are saying, and it's not exclusive to 911s (or cars).

It is such a shame that air cooled 911s have become fashionable...

Lowtimer

4,286 posts

167 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
I haven't driven a 997 but found the 991 immense in every sense of the word - capability, performance AND size - but much more impressive than it was likeable. When I see one go by I never think "wish I had one of those". But I often think that when I see a 70s or 80s 911 go by. Their compact nature and DIY approach to driving is a big part of their appeal to me.

GTRene

16,370 posts

223 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
indeed, when I see such newer type Porsche I think, hey, a Porsche, but when I see such older type (coupe) Porsche I think, yes, those I like and I look at those way longer.

GTRene

16,370 posts

223 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
here is one I had back in 1994, its a original 1976 Carrera 3.0 (200hp) pretty rare and came with some special items, it had some sort green leather (very nice) and carpet I believe and sport seats (turbo?) and special side window surroundings, looked like titanium material, you can't see in those scanned in pictures.
Also a 3.0 RS? front bumper? and more.
Also a nice colour, champaign something I think? and the car did not weigh that much, just 1060kg or so kg.






Later in 2000 I had a nice RS look with original (1993) 3.8 RS engine C2 from 1001 (964) this one, also scanned in pictures, at those time I did not had digitals biggrin

when I see those pictures again I do miss my pretty big and new garage I had back then, was bigger then my house biggrin





Edited by GTRene on Sunday 19th October 16:00

MC Bodge

21,552 posts

174 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
GTRene said:
indeed, when I see such newer type Porsche I think, hey, a Porsche, but when I see such older type (coupe) Porsche I think, yes, those I like and I look at those way longer.
I agree. There is sometimes an 80s 3.2 ? in the works car park, which I find more appealing than either the Turbo S convertible and Carrera S that are also there.

I also occasionally talk to someone who has a late 60s SWB 911S. It's not perfect, but I really like it. I'd like to try driving it.

shoestring7

6,138 posts

245 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
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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?
Some of Magnus Walker's new Fuchs-homage look pretty good. I might have investigated had they been around when I was gathering bits for mine:

http://www.52outlaw.com



SS7

shoestring7

6,138 posts

245 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
darreni said:
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.

Would it be rude to ask the cost?
Difficult one; partly because I daren't admit it to myself, and partly because I'd wonder whether to include the thousands I spent with a well-known specialist for work I then had to do over myself. I also had a lot of 'free' time and expertise from DDK mates, but call it £5k for bodywork/paint, £7k for engine/'box/brakes/wheels/running gear, £2k for the interior and the same again for stuff I've forgotten about. I stripped the car, PM'd all the specialist work, and reassembled it myself.

SS7

SS7

9k rpm

515 posts

209 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
I saw this today in Wing near Leighton Buzzard (maybe they were on way back from Sunday service?).
Was followed by an Exige and cherry red 458. Looked stunning in the flesh and stood out a lot more than the Ferrari! Very nice!

BrewsterBear

1,503 posts

191 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
shoestring7 said:
Some of Magnus Walker's new Fuchs-homage look pretty good. I might have investigated had they been around when I was gathering bits for mine:

http://www.52outlaw.com



SS7
Those look tremendous! I could recoup a good chunk of the cost by selling my 16" 7&8s too. They are expensive at $950 a corner though...

The Bandit

788 posts

194 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
Damn you PH, been cruising the classifieds...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...
Isn't it lovely smile

GTRene

16,370 posts

223 months

Sunday 19th October 2014
quotequote all
The Bandit said:
Damn you PH, been cruising the classifieds...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...
Isn't it lovely smile
lol, I did the same on a few websites, but here on PH also, I like the looks of this one, but it does noet have a special interior (shame)>

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...



for special interior and lightweight and better price, also looks are fine, this one for example>

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...





for an even better price and also not bad, something like this car>

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...






Dan Trent

1,866 posts

167 months

Monday 20th October 2014
quotequote all
9k rpm said:
I saw this today in Wing near Leighton Buzzard (maybe they were on way back from Sunday service?).
Was followed by an Exige and cherry red 458. Looked stunning in the flesh and stood out a lot more than the Ferrari! Very nice!
wavey That was us!

rob.e

2,861 posts

277 months

Monday 20th October 2014
quotequote all
Dan Trent said:
9k rpm said:
I saw this today in Wing near Leighton Buzzard (maybe they were on way back from Sunday service?).
Was followed by an Exige and cherry red 458. Looked stunning in the flesh and stood out a lot more than the Ferrari! Very nice!
wavey That was us!
Looked very good at sundayservice.. smile

RobST170

30 posts

150 months

Monday 20th October 2014
quotequote all
This car is pretty close to motoring perfection

cthcolin

34 posts

162 months

Monday 20th October 2014
quotequote all
GTRene said:
here is one I had back in 1994, its a original 1976 Carrera 3.0 (200hp) pretty rare and came with some special items, it had some sort green leather (very nice) and carpet I believe and sport seats (turbo?) and special side window surroundings, looked like titanium material, you can't see in those scanned in pictures.
Also a 3.0 RS? front bumper? and more.
Also a nice colour, champagne something I think? and the car did not weigh that much, just 1060kg or so kg.
Lovely car, GTRene! It was the SC / 3.0 Carerra and 3.2 era I got interested in first... I remember Monarch Porsche in Warwick once had a showroom full of just red ones! All whale-tails and tea trays!

I'm of that age where the 80s Icons were 'real', but as the new ones are now, unaffordable by most, including me. So for me it's great they're still around and being driven. Not just stored somewhere...

C

RobST170

30 posts

150 months

Monday 20th October 2014
quotequote all
This car is pretty close to motoring perfection

RobST170

30 posts

150 months

Monday 20th October 2014
quotequote all
This car is pretty close to motoring perfection

JohnT993

101 posts

152 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
quotequote all
rob.e said:
Dan Trent said:
9k rpm said:
I saw this today in Wing near Leighton Buzzard (maybe they were on way back from Sunday service?).
Was followed by an Exige and cherry red 458. Looked stunning in the flesh and stood out a lot more than the Ferrari! Very nice!
wavey That was us!
Looked very good at sundayservice.. smile
...and that was me in the Exige, cracking drive back, and that 'old' 911 is no slouch!

k-ink

9,070 posts

178 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
quotequote all
Lowtimer said:
I haven't driven a 997 but found the 991 immense in every sense of the word - capability, performance AND size - but much more impressive than it was likeable. When I see one go by I never think "wish I had one of those". But I often think that when I see a 70s or 80s 911 go by. Their compact nature and DIY approach to driving is a big part of their appeal to me.
New Carrera drives past: "Yeah, not bad. A bit common. Wonder how long the engine will last?" coffee


Classic Carrera drives past: "What a damn cool car and driver!" bowtiecloud9