My 1994 Riviera Blue Porsche 968 Club Sport Diary
Discussion
jay-kay-em said:
Hi Emmet; thanks. For my sideskirts and headlamps I used J.S. Holmes in Wisbech St. Mary. It's a Nissan dealer with an insurance approved bodyshop. The colour match on the sideskirts was critical as they bolt up against the body. They nailed it with their scan tool.
Thank you, muh appreciated.What a lovely thing that is.
Back when I bought my first silly Jap car (a 200sx), 986 Sports were available at a similar sort of price (<£10k). 23-year old me fancied the idea of running around in a Porker, even if it was a front-engined 4-banger. I fancied it enough to get an insurance quote which, next to the much faster and modified 200SX, was absolutely eye-watering.
Needless to say, I didn't own a Porsche of any description at 23, and still haven't.
Am I right in saying that mechanically there isn't much between the Sport and Clubsport (re: your earlier comment about lots of CSs being 'upbadged' Sports)?
Back when I bought my first silly Jap car (a 200sx), 986 Sports were available at a similar sort of price (<£10k). 23-year old me fancied the idea of running around in a Porker, even if it was a front-engined 4-banger. I fancied it enough to get an insurance quote which, next to the much faster and modified 200SX, was absolutely eye-watering.
Needless to say, I didn't own a Porsche of any description at 23, and still haven't.
Am I right in saying that mechanically there isn't much between the Sport and Clubsport (re: your earlier comment about lots of CSs being 'upbadged' Sports)?
Thanks all, wish the forum had a thumbs up button.
It outsold the CS roughly 2:1 (179 CS vs. 306 Sports).
Porsche UK must of got so fed up ticking all the option boxes, the Sport got its own option code - "P35".
You can sit either side of the fence with this. Either you see it as a Club Sport "Lux" offering better value for money; or it's simply disregarded as it didn't roll out the showroom a CS.
If you venture into the classifieds you'll sometimes see the term "Club Sport Lux" branded about. In all probability that was sold as a Sport. The build sheet is your friend to spot this!
I love the Sport as it has that geeky background story to it - in addition to its rarity.
C70R said:
Am I right in saying that mechanically there isn't much between the Sport and Clubsport (re: your earlier comment about lots of CSs being 'upbadged' Sports)?
The Sport is a fascinating car. Technically a "Sport" doesn't exist in the eyes of Zuffenhausen. It was purely a UK idea where Porsche Cars GB ordered Club Sports from Germany loaded with options. They left Germany as Club Sports. They have a Club Sport VIN. Then, PCGB made their own "Sport" boot badge and stuck it on the back when they arrived on UK shores. This badge doesn't have a Porsche part number and rumour has it a local trophy shop in Reading made it.It outsold the CS roughly 2:1 (179 CS vs. 306 Sports).
Porsche UK must of got so fed up ticking all the option boxes, the Sport got its own option code - "P35".
You can sit either side of the fence with this. Either you see it as a Club Sport "Lux" offering better value for money; or it's simply disregarded as it didn't roll out the showroom a CS.
If you venture into the classifieds you'll sometimes see the term "Club Sport Lux" branded about. In all probability that was sold as a Sport. The build sheet is your friend to spot this!
I love the Sport as it has that geeky background story to it - in addition to its rarity.
Great update again, and like others, enjoying how you’re keeping the entire spec as original as possible.
Particularly like the front number plate solution, and I’m going to nick that idea for mine too - very neat!
As for the Sport badge and spec, I think it’s all a bit moot as the actual options that were fitted to 968s were so varied and individual, the badge on the back doesn’t matter. For example, mine has no badge but options fitted include sunroof, AC, Cup 2s, 10-speaker stereo, full leather trim but only standard comfort seats. Basically, if someone ordered it, Porsche would fit it.
However I really wish the original owner had spec’d your colour - Riviera Blue looks ace!
Particularly like the front number plate solution, and I’m going to nick that idea for mine too - very neat!
As for the Sport badge and spec, I think it’s all a bit moot as the actual options that were fitted to 968s were so varied and individual, the badge on the back doesn’t matter. For example, mine has no badge but options fitted include sunroof, AC, Cup 2s, 10-speaker stereo, full leather trim but only standard comfort seats. Basically, if someone ordered it, Porsche would fit it.
However I really wish the original owner had spec’d your colour - Riviera Blue looks ace!
I feel compelled to comment as that really is a lovely car and I completely agree with your comment that one man’s enjoyment with a car can never be better our worse than any other. I too love the 968 and looked at this beautiful yellow Sport Lux, as it was described at the time, at the wonderful Sherwood Restorations, sadly the timing just wasn’t right for me (I note they have a lovely 968 convertible currently for sale).
My itch was scratched with a beautiful Boxster, what I liked about this car was that same originality and lots of small upgraded details that add up. Please keep going with the updates.
My itch was scratched with a beautiful Boxster, what I liked about this car was that same originality and lots of small upgraded details that add up. Please keep going with the updates.
Mutley78 said:
My itch was scratched with a beautiful Boxster, what I liked about this car was that same originality and lots of small upgraded details that add up. Please keep going with the updates.
The 968 Club Sport
Now the sun has come out, thought I’d do a little “quirks and features” about my car and the CS in general.
It's the culmination of 20 years research into this particular model and finally its realisation.
Let me set the scene. The 968 replaced the 944. There was no money for a new platform, so the 944 was essentially facelifted. What was on the drawing board as the 944 "S3" became the 968 and the press weren’t fooled one bit.
They gave the 968 a bit of a hard time actually. They knew it looked good and handled well – but the 944 did that already. The only fresh conclusions were that it was too expensive and had 1970's roots.
Classic Top Gear and Clarkson sums it up...
To summarise that video; Porsche sales down 40%, it was £10,000 more than a Nissan 300ZX and it concluded by being pushed off a cliff. Oh dear!
Porsche was in dire straits and after one year of poor 968 sales, Porsche needed a solution. That solution was the Club Sport. Marketed as a more track focused tool, but it was actually dual purpose. Yes, it came with lowered suspension, bigger 17” wheels and select weight saving measures, but stripping stuff out made it cheaper. Win win for Porsche and the consumer.
A staggering 20% cheaper, give or take, looking at my brochures.
Standard Coupe list price (arrowed)...
Club Sport list price (arrowed)...
I still can't believe it was £7,500 cheaper. That's a huge sum in 1994. To put that into perspective, the list price of a 1994 VW Polo 1.3 CL was £7,395.
Can you imagine how great your favourite modern car would be with this light weight / less gizmos / sports suspension and cheaper price strategy?
Now all a CS badge means is profiteering. Ask BMW.
Anyway, the Press suddenly had something new to write about and they absolutely loved it, winning Autocar Best Driver’s Car of 1993...
This toppled all the greats such as 205GTI, M3, Esprit, Honda NSX, Supra…
... 
Standard CS specification is well documented - the body colour wheels, the body colour hardback seats, the rear seat delete etc.
What isn’t so well documented is that paint "colour to sample" plus the options list was still fair game for a CS. Porsche were desperate to sell these, so whatever the customer wanted, they got. You could order back into your CS whatever you wanted – airbag, comfort seats, central locking. Buyers with taste could even option silver wheels from the factory
Customer was king; oh such different times!
This CS options list is how Porsche Cars GB created the (UK only) “Sport” trim level. Porsche themselves ordered up-spec'd CS built cars and badged them Sport thmeselves. In 2023 a used Sport is infinitely better value than a CS, for what is essentially the same car.
Ask 100 people what a 968CS means to them and they’ll probably say those infamous body colour hardback seats. I don’t know what the percentage was, but I’m guessing half didn’t actually have them.
Today, many CS examples will have "comfort seats" on the build sheet, but a set of aftermarket Recaros or such like.
This car >here< is a great example of a CS specified upwards from new...
... 
Every bit a CS as mine just with all the options loaded back in. Rubbing strips, airbag, rear seats, central locking and more. A lot of people in the comments for that PH article shouting “fake” - not so.
A specification like that made total sense to the first ever owner in 1994, so who are we to judge?
The ONLY way to validate a true Club Sport is via the buildsheet and VIN. Until then, no one has any more authority over the next man to question a fake CS or not.
That’s what extended my search time considerably; to get those iconic CS features on the build sheet from what is possibly 60 remaining cars.
Let’s have a look at those standard features…
The seats need no introduction. The Recaro shells are essentially the same as 964RS and 993RS, just without leather....
The rear seat delete and CS cargo net…
Interior...
The dashboard is more 944 than 968, as the CS reverts to the old 944 digital clock and not the new 968 analogue item.
The radio blanking panel is 968 specific.
The airbag-delete CS steering wheel is made by “Atiwe” and is gorgeous to hold...
No centre console lid…
"Keep fit windows" which are actually 944 door cards. One of the 968 upgrades was a new door card redesign full of speakers. Not so with the CS, they recycled what was fitted to the old 944, plus that window winder…
Also note the electric window switch blanking.
The central locking delete came with the absence of a boot lock. This blanking should be black. Many cars that have had rear end repairs, this is sprayed body colour, but that shouldn't be so…
This is in conjunction with the manual tailgate pull cord release…
The side graphics were actually a Porsche Cars GB idea and were a no-cost option to delete. Other worldwide markets that got the CS, including Germany, never had such graphics. They don't even have a Porsche part number. There is some mystery surrounding the stickers. This includes a Porsche Club GB executive and a graphics shop in Reading. A lot of fake stickers out there. I have even seen cars with the design inverted - so the word Club is outlined and the word Sport is in black. Not so....
Wheels body colour as per the build sheet, as are the black calipers and plain body colour centre caps (no colour crests here)…
Wheel design changed halfway through CS production. This was to align production with the new 993. Early cars (>93) had "CUP1" wheels and later cars like mine (93>) had softer spoke "CUP2" design.
Rear wiper delete and body colour spoiler, both CS standard…
This totally defies logic because a body colour spoiler was a cost option on the Coupe, but included as standard on the cheaper CS. Go figure!?!
The engine, identical in every way to a Coupe, but stripped of all the cosmetic plastic panels...
There were two option codes that people get very excited about and that’s "M030" and "M220". These being suspension & brake upgrades (code M030) and a limited slip diff (code M220). Again, many people think the track focused CS would have these features as standard, but remember, it’s 1994... cost! cost! cost!
If you’re looking for a 968CS you have to prioritise your requirements. For me, it was the seats, build sheet accuracy and colour. I’m not ashamed by that. Some may totally disregard colour and hunt for one with the optional LSD and more practical "comfort" seats. Horses for courses. For the 60 odd cars remaining, it may be that your ultimate dream specification of colour & specification no longer exists. Either that, or it's YEARS waiting for someone to sell. I know that first hand, trust me.
My car has three factory options over and above CS spec :
• Preparation for a radio (hence the aerial but no radio!)
• Top tinted windscreen (£75 in the 1994 price list)
• Sunroof (£715 in the 1994 price list)
It's arguable that having less options is more in keeping with the Club Sport ethos. Some diehards even criticise the sunroof. Arguably it would be my “dream spec” if it wasn’t there. Less is more in the world of CS. However, it would be utter lunacy to walk away from this car for that reason. On that basis, perhaps I have compromised – but c’est la vie. I actually sit and wonder if the identical car is out there still, identical spec and colour, but minus the sunroof. Something tells me it doesn’t exist within the pool of remaining 60 cars (that’s all colours and including "comfort seat cars" remember).
The bodyshells were actually built by Karmann and transported by rail to Stuttgart for fit out. It's rumoured that Sunroof bodyshells became mandatory for the final cars but no one really knows.
You can see that although looking for a 968CS sounds so simple, it can be made as difficult as you want it to be
For those that have read this far, I hope that was interesting enough.
Time to drive it now. I've got a week off in late June. I'm going to chuck a tent in the back and find some of my old favourite driving roads around Essex & Suffolk. Looking forward to it.
Best Regards,
JKM.
Now the sun has come out, thought I’d do a little “quirks and features” about my car and the CS in general.
It's the culmination of 20 years research into this particular model and finally its realisation.
Let me set the scene. The 968 replaced the 944. There was no money for a new platform, so the 944 was essentially facelifted. What was on the drawing board as the 944 "S3" became the 968 and the press weren’t fooled one bit.
They gave the 968 a bit of a hard time actually. They knew it looked good and handled well – but the 944 did that already. The only fresh conclusions were that it was too expensive and had 1970's roots.
Classic Top Gear and Clarkson sums it up...
To summarise that video; Porsche sales down 40%, it was £10,000 more than a Nissan 300ZX and it concluded by being pushed off a cliff. Oh dear!
Porsche was in dire straits and after one year of poor 968 sales, Porsche needed a solution. That solution was the Club Sport. Marketed as a more track focused tool, but it was actually dual purpose. Yes, it came with lowered suspension, bigger 17” wheels and select weight saving measures, but stripping stuff out made it cheaper. Win win for Porsche and the consumer.
A staggering 20% cheaper, give or take, looking at my brochures.
Standard Coupe list price (arrowed)...
Club Sport list price (arrowed)...
I still can't believe it was £7,500 cheaper. That's a huge sum in 1994. To put that into perspective, the list price of a 1994 VW Polo 1.3 CL was £7,395.
Can you imagine how great your favourite modern car would be with this light weight / less gizmos / sports suspension and cheaper price strategy?
Now all a CS badge means is profiteering. Ask BMW.
Anyway, the Press suddenly had something new to write about and they absolutely loved it, winning Autocar Best Driver’s Car of 1993...
This toppled all the greats such as 205GTI, M3, Esprit, Honda NSX, Supra…
... Standard CS specification is well documented - the body colour wheels, the body colour hardback seats, the rear seat delete etc.
What isn’t so well documented is that paint "colour to sample" plus the options list was still fair game for a CS. Porsche were desperate to sell these, so whatever the customer wanted, they got. You could order back into your CS whatever you wanted – airbag, comfort seats, central locking. Buyers with taste could even option silver wheels from the factory
Customer was king; oh such different times!
This CS options list is how Porsche Cars GB created the (UK only) “Sport” trim level. Porsche themselves ordered up-spec'd CS built cars and badged them Sport thmeselves. In 2023 a used Sport is infinitely better value than a CS, for what is essentially the same car.
Ask 100 people what a 968CS means to them and they’ll probably say those infamous body colour hardback seats. I don’t know what the percentage was, but I’m guessing half didn’t actually have them.
Today, many CS examples will have "comfort seats" on the build sheet, but a set of aftermarket Recaros or such like.
This car >here< is a great example of a CS specified upwards from new...
... Every bit a CS as mine just with all the options loaded back in. Rubbing strips, airbag, rear seats, central locking and more. A lot of people in the comments for that PH article shouting “fake” - not so.
A specification like that made total sense to the first ever owner in 1994, so who are we to judge?
The ONLY way to validate a true Club Sport is via the buildsheet and VIN. Until then, no one has any more authority over the next man to question a fake CS or not.
That’s what extended my search time considerably; to get those iconic CS features on the build sheet from what is possibly 60 remaining cars.
Let’s have a look at those standard features…
The seats need no introduction. The Recaro shells are essentially the same as 964RS and 993RS, just without leather....
The rear seat delete and CS cargo net…
Interior...
The dashboard is more 944 than 968, as the CS reverts to the old 944 digital clock and not the new 968 analogue item.
The radio blanking panel is 968 specific.
The airbag-delete CS steering wheel is made by “Atiwe” and is gorgeous to hold...
No centre console lid…
"Keep fit windows" which are actually 944 door cards. One of the 968 upgrades was a new door card redesign full of speakers. Not so with the CS, they recycled what was fitted to the old 944, plus that window winder…
Also note the electric window switch blanking.
The central locking delete came with the absence of a boot lock. This blanking should be black. Many cars that have had rear end repairs, this is sprayed body colour, but that shouldn't be so…
This is in conjunction with the manual tailgate pull cord release…
The side graphics were actually a Porsche Cars GB idea and were a no-cost option to delete. Other worldwide markets that got the CS, including Germany, never had such graphics. They don't even have a Porsche part number. There is some mystery surrounding the stickers. This includes a Porsche Club GB executive and a graphics shop in Reading. A lot of fake stickers out there. I have even seen cars with the design inverted - so the word Club is outlined and the word Sport is in black. Not so....
Wheels body colour as per the build sheet, as are the black calipers and plain body colour centre caps (no colour crests here)…
Wheel design changed halfway through CS production. This was to align production with the new 993. Early cars (>93) had "CUP1" wheels and later cars like mine (93>) had softer spoke "CUP2" design.
Rear wiper delete and body colour spoiler, both CS standard…
This totally defies logic because a body colour spoiler was a cost option on the Coupe, but included as standard on the cheaper CS. Go figure!?!
The engine, identical in every way to a Coupe, but stripped of all the cosmetic plastic panels...
There were two option codes that people get very excited about and that’s "M030" and "M220". These being suspension & brake upgrades (code M030) and a limited slip diff (code M220). Again, many people think the track focused CS would have these features as standard, but remember, it’s 1994... cost! cost! cost!
If you’re looking for a 968CS you have to prioritise your requirements. For me, it was the seats, build sheet accuracy and colour. I’m not ashamed by that. Some may totally disregard colour and hunt for one with the optional LSD and more practical "comfort" seats. Horses for courses. For the 60 odd cars remaining, it may be that your ultimate dream specification of colour & specification no longer exists. Either that, or it's YEARS waiting for someone to sell. I know that first hand, trust me.
My car has three factory options over and above CS spec :
• Preparation for a radio (hence the aerial but no radio!)
• Top tinted windscreen (£75 in the 1994 price list)
• Sunroof (£715 in the 1994 price list)
It's arguable that having less options is more in keeping with the Club Sport ethos. Some diehards even criticise the sunroof. Arguably it would be my “dream spec” if it wasn’t there. Less is more in the world of CS. However, it would be utter lunacy to walk away from this car for that reason. On that basis, perhaps I have compromised – but c’est la vie. I actually sit and wonder if the identical car is out there still, identical spec and colour, but minus the sunroof. Something tells me it doesn’t exist within the pool of remaining 60 cars (that’s all colours and including "comfort seat cars" remember).
The bodyshells were actually built by Karmann and transported by rail to Stuttgart for fit out. It's rumoured that Sunroof bodyshells became mandatory for the final cars but no one really knows.
You can see that although looking for a 968CS sounds so simple, it can be made as difficult as you want it to be
For those that have read this far, I hope that was interesting enough.
Time to drive it now. I've got a week off in late June. I'm going to chuck a tent in the back and find some of my old favourite driving roads around Essex & Suffolk. Looking forward to it.
Best Regards,
JKM.
Thanks all. I take great pleasure writing about something I am so passionate about.
All the voting for "PH Heroes" was post-1998 cars.
To be honest my optimal spec has been turned upside down a bit. I was always told M030 was optimal spec - but now i'm not so sure. There's a roundabout near to me that, thanks to Huntingdonshire District Council, has been in atrocious repair for over a decade. It's my go-to roundabout for suspension appraisal. Considering I have just removed the non-standard M030 roll bars (see above diary) the ride quality on this roundabout is still unpleasant, so god knows what it would be like with roll bars similar to a Scania.
I understand this is a track focused car but there needs to be some road usability.
I have also recently found out that the car used for the Autocar group test (above) was not M030 equipped. That surprised me greatly for what was a track test. It was a Porsche Cars GB specified press car so they chose the spec for a reason. Or they were being tight.
Optimal spec is still fluid in my mind, but i'm happy where i've landed. Like I said, it's probably an academic question anyway.
bolidemichael said:
Have you applied to have you car feature in the PH25 event at Bicester Heritage in August? It'd be great to see it there.
I didn't apply because there seems to be great emphasis on the "25" bit; i.e. all the wanted cars must be post 1998. All the voting for "PH Heroes" was post-1998 cars.
bolidemichael said:
If your 'optimal' spec did turn up... would you?
Only for a direct swap To be honest my optimal spec has been turned upside down a bit. I was always told M030 was optimal spec - but now i'm not so sure. There's a roundabout near to me that, thanks to Huntingdonshire District Council, has been in atrocious repair for over a decade. It's my go-to roundabout for suspension appraisal. Considering I have just removed the non-standard M030 roll bars (see above diary) the ride quality on this roundabout is still unpleasant, so god knows what it would be like with roll bars similar to a Scania.
I understand this is a track focused car but there needs to be some road usability.
I have also recently found out that the car used for the Autocar group test (above) was not M030 equipped. That surprised me greatly for what was a track test. It was a Porsche Cars GB specified press car so they chose the spec for a reason. Or they were being tight.
Optimal spec is still fluid in my mind, but i'm happy where i've landed. Like I said, it's probably an academic question anyway.
jay-kay-em said:
The 968 Club Sport
"Keep fit windows" which are actually 944 door cards. One of the 968 upgrades was a new door card redesign full of speakers. Not so with the CS, they recycled what was fitted to the old 944, plus that window winder…
JKM.
A nice update! The door cards are actually different to 944 cards which have an embossed line all the way around the bottom half of the door card"Keep fit windows" which are actually 944 door cards. One of the 968 upgrades was a new door card redesign full of speakers. Not so with the CS, they recycled what was fitted to the old 944, plus that window winder…
JKM.
Summer 2023
Out and about at last, following an MoT that is...
First MoT
Technically a fail as my rebuilt headlamps were a tad out. I get on really well with my MoT centre and it was simply words of advice. Truth is, they didn't want to go anywhere near my freshly repainted headlamps with a screwdriver.... which suited us both!
To be honest, the alignment access holes in the pods are just asking for trouble, so decided to take the pods off (again)...
Nearside adjusted up to match the offside which was the instruction.
Then on the way home this happened...
I thought my TVR ownership experience was over, but it lives on in memory!
Thankfully still available...
Porsche parts support is second to none for what is a 30 y/old car. It really has to be commended.
Porsche Alarm
Due to fitment age, I'm hugely sceptical about the original alarm. I choose not to use it. However, when you use the "dis-car-nect" battery terminal to kill the 12v for storage, upon reconnection it automatically arms by default.
Cue huge embarrassment down my street by the bl**dy thing going off and I couldn't disarm it.
Corrosion issues with the fob...
All cleaned, new battery and it works just fine. Still sceptical of it though!
Innards look similar to my Spectrum ZX+
PCGB R11 Concours
It's been a while; 2007 I last entered a PCGB event. That was with my 944...
Been really looking forward to entering again. That was one of the reasons for leaving TVR; concours and originality just isn't a thing.
I saw in the PCGB calendar of events that OPC Colchester was holding a concours event evening.
I swapped the tailpipe so I could say hand on heart original specification...
... 
Yep, it looks rubbish, but that's the way it is!
Good turn out...
... and another CS! ... rare y'know and then there's two of 'em!
Parked headlamps up...
Genuinely over the moon with a win and a bag of goodies... in the "Not a 911" category
Thanks to all the members and staff.
Touring
First of all I borrowed my Beeline Moto GPS from the bike...
I just like it as it's so discreet, with no wires or clumsy cigarette adapters...
It's not infallible but has its benefits. Quite popular with the Caterham/Ariel/Radical community it turns out.
Chucked the tent in the back. Even more space than my last 944 hatch, having no rear seats.
Great hatchback practicality, as long as you remember to check for obstructions before closing that slab of glass.
Just wanted to do all my favourite roads from my old Suffolk days.
Stoke-by-Nayland...
St. Marys Church, Polstead, with long family connections past & present...
Just wondered what Grandad would of said about a car with blue wheels - in the thickest Suffolk accent you've ever heard. He was there but didn't have much to say
I wish I could say it was a driving revelation. These roads have changed in the 25 years since I last drove them... far too many pointless speed limits, countless potholes for CS suspension and endless people in oversized sports-SUV's who simply regard the white line in the middle of the road as 'advisory'.
Did the tourist thing and revisited Lavenham. I used to avoid the place in my youth but with a more mature head its an amazing place. You can see why the yanks love it so...
My last stop was Southwold & "Ghost Ship" direct from source...
I needed to visit Southwold Pier to see the "Under the Pier Show". An eccentric set of arcade machines made by the brilliant engineer Tim Hunkin.
It's all on YouTube nowadays, but "Secret Life of Machines" aired on Channel 4 in the 80's and sculpted me as an Engineer for sure.
Conclusions?
All the expected conclusions about just how balanced the car is and how it begs you to drive faster through the bends. The mechanical PAS and Atiwe steering wheel are just divine.
It's a terribly sad thing to say, but, fuel economy
So used to shovelling fuel into the Griff by the bucket load... a welcome change that a trip out won't bankrupt you
Down sides...
The interior gets hot in the sun, that's for sure. There's a lot of black in there and with 30'c it was simply unpleasant. No A/C is my own fault and indeed by choice.
Gearbox is quite audible, but they all do that sir. Well, both my old 944's were the same anyway.
My god the brakes squeak and drive me mad. Low speed, rolling down a packed high street and its "squeak squeak squeak". I have no idea what pads are fitted. If they are "upgraded" track items then they're going straight in the bin. Apparently the 'fixed' Brembo calipers are renowned for corrosion between ally and steel components. That's one for the winter lay-up if the squeaking hasn't driven me totally insane by then.
I'm bored already of people saying it was silly of me to paint the wheels blue
I think irrespective of the pro's and con's, the overwhelming characteristic that I can't compare to any other car I have owned, is one of pride. Can't explain it.
One last thing, got my first ever ANPR parking ticket in Southwold so "happy holidays" and all that...
I just don't think black & white does Riviera Blue any justice
Looking forward to "Porsche East", Rickinghall, nr. Bury St. Edmunds, 20th August. Fingers crossed for the weather...
Out and about at last, following an MoT that is...
First MoT
Technically a fail as my rebuilt headlamps were a tad out. I get on really well with my MoT centre and it was simply words of advice. Truth is, they didn't want to go anywhere near my freshly repainted headlamps with a screwdriver.... which suited us both!
To be honest, the alignment access holes in the pods are just asking for trouble, so decided to take the pods off (again)...
Nearside adjusted up to match the offside which was the instruction.
Then on the way home this happened...
I thought my TVR ownership experience was over, but it lives on in memory!
Thankfully still available...
Porsche parts support is second to none for what is a 30 y/old car. It really has to be commended.
Porsche Alarm
Due to fitment age, I'm hugely sceptical about the original alarm. I choose not to use it. However, when you use the "dis-car-nect" battery terminal to kill the 12v for storage, upon reconnection it automatically arms by default.
Cue huge embarrassment down my street by the bl**dy thing going off and I couldn't disarm it.
Corrosion issues with the fob...
All cleaned, new battery and it works just fine. Still sceptical of it though!
Innards look similar to my Spectrum ZX+
PCGB R11 Concours
It's been a while; 2007 I last entered a PCGB event. That was with my 944...
Been really looking forward to entering again. That was one of the reasons for leaving TVR; concours and originality just isn't a thing.
I saw in the PCGB calendar of events that OPC Colchester was holding a concours event evening.
I swapped the tailpipe so I could say hand on heart original specification...
... Yep, it looks rubbish, but that's the way it is!
Good turn out...
... and another CS! ... rare y'know and then there's two of 'em!
Parked headlamps up...
Genuinely over the moon with a win and a bag of goodies... in the "Not a 911" category
Thanks to all the members and staff.
Touring
First of all I borrowed my Beeline Moto GPS from the bike...
I just like it as it's so discreet, with no wires or clumsy cigarette adapters...
It's not infallible but has its benefits. Quite popular with the Caterham/Ariel/Radical community it turns out.
Chucked the tent in the back. Even more space than my last 944 hatch, having no rear seats.
Great hatchback practicality, as long as you remember to check for obstructions before closing that slab of glass.
Just wanted to do all my favourite roads from my old Suffolk days.
Stoke-by-Nayland...
St. Marys Church, Polstead, with long family connections past & present...
Just wondered what Grandad would of said about a car with blue wheels - in the thickest Suffolk accent you've ever heard. He was there but didn't have much to say
I wish I could say it was a driving revelation. These roads have changed in the 25 years since I last drove them... far too many pointless speed limits, countless potholes for CS suspension and endless people in oversized sports-SUV's who simply regard the white line in the middle of the road as 'advisory'.
Did the tourist thing and revisited Lavenham. I used to avoid the place in my youth but with a more mature head its an amazing place. You can see why the yanks love it so...
My last stop was Southwold & "Ghost Ship" direct from source...
I needed to visit Southwold Pier to see the "Under the Pier Show". An eccentric set of arcade machines made by the brilliant engineer Tim Hunkin.
It's all on YouTube nowadays, but "Secret Life of Machines" aired on Channel 4 in the 80's and sculpted me as an Engineer for sure.
Conclusions?
All the expected conclusions about just how balanced the car is and how it begs you to drive faster through the bends. The mechanical PAS and Atiwe steering wheel are just divine.
It's a terribly sad thing to say, but, fuel economy
So used to shovelling fuel into the Griff by the bucket load... a welcome change that a trip out won't bankrupt you
Down sides...
The interior gets hot in the sun, that's for sure. There's a lot of black in there and with 30'c it was simply unpleasant. No A/C is my own fault and indeed by choice.
Gearbox is quite audible, but they all do that sir. Well, both my old 944's were the same anyway.
My god the brakes squeak and drive me mad. Low speed, rolling down a packed high street and its "squeak squeak squeak". I have no idea what pads are fitted. If they are "upgraded" track items then they're going straight in the bin. Apparently the 'fixed' Brembo calipers are renowned for corrosion between ally and steel components. That's one for the winter lay-up if the squeaking hasn't driven me totally insane by then.
I'm bored already of people saying it was silly of me to paint the wheels blue
I think irrespective of the pro's and con's, the overwhelming characteristic that I can't compare to any other car I have owned, is one of pride. Can't explain it.
One last thing, got my first ever ANPR parking ticket in Southwold so "happy holidays" and all that...
I just don't think black & white does Riviera Blue any justice
Looking forward to "Porsche East", Rickinghall, nr. Bury St. Edmunds, 20th August. Fingers crossed for the weather...
jay-kay-em said:
The 968 Club Sport
A nice update! The door cards are actually different to 944 cards which have an embossed line all the way around the bottom half of the door card
Hi Jake, thanks mate! Your knowledge is second to none. That's spooky as just done another update. You'll have to read it twice i'm afraid!A nice update! The door cards are actually different to 944 cards which have an embossed line all the way around the bottom half of the door card
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