The Baron is back...
Discussion
After having flogged the Red Baron (my old 964RS for the one or two who may not know) to fund a house purchase, I now have the opportunity to chop in my BMW V8 against it and scare the badgers once more...
House is now bought so the cash is less of an issue. Ultima won't be finished until a good 18 months' time. And who needs four seats in a second car when the girlfriend's got a BMW compact?
Besides, waiting 18 months for a proper pared-down sportscar is a bit agonising, as interesting as though the BMW was, it needed a hell of a lot of sorting out - both dynamically and mechanically - to bring it up to the levels of quality and performance I like in a runaround.
So my new 'sensible car' will soon be a 964RS - and Red Baron 2 is a far superior car to the beast some of you may have seen before.
Basically, Red Baron 1 looked like a minter, but was in fact a bit of a munter... its colourful history and age had started to show. A respected official Porsche bodyshop who shall remain nameless had done a pretty poor job on some damage repair, despite claiming a five figure bill from the previous owner's insurers. Some idiot had put poly bushes on one side of the front suspension, and rubber on the other. Basically, a few hidden horror stories that I was unaware of. Probably made it more of a badger magnet as well
But now the Baron is something else... I had sold it to my Porsche tech who wanted it for himself, so he completely rebuilt it from the shell up. Gearbox has been rebuilt. New LSD. New suspension bushes. Everything rubber from door seals to air inlet O-rings have been replaced. Absolute 'cost and parts no object' restoration to concourse condition. And the last of the badger hairs have been removed, too
My guess is about 200 hours of labour have gone into it, and with a roll cage it now looks even more awesome than previously.
The final finishing of the car is still taking place, but delivery should be in the next few weeks - in time for the Silverstone pcgb trackday in July
Sadly, it won't be ready for the Nurburgring.
I will also invest a bit more time and money in learning to drive the thing properly, before 9M can tempt me with upping the power...
Which means I can now rabbit on about the 964RS from a more credible standpoint again. Nice as those E36 BMWs are, they aren't a patch on these double (triple in 9m's case!) espresso porkers.
Maybe this will change with my tech's new project - the BMW V8... he is threatening to find a new M5 engine to go in it
Just thought you'd all like to know.
Cheers
Domster
House is now bought so the cash is less of an issue. Ultima won't be finished until a good 18 months' time. And who needs four seats in a second car when the girlfriend's got a BMW compact?
Besides, waiting 18 months for a proper pared-down sportscar is a bit agonising, as interesting as though the BMW was, it needed a hell of a lot of sorting out - both dynamically and mechanically - to bring it up to the levels of quality and performance I like in a runaround.
So my new 'sensible car' will soon be a 964RS - and Red Baron 2 is a far superior car to the beast some of you may have seen before.
Basically, Red Baron 1 looked like a minter, but was in fact a bit of a munter... its colourful history and age had started to show. A respected official Porsche bodyshop who shall remain nameless had done a pretty poor job on some damage repair, despite claiming a five figure bill from the previous owner's insurers. Some idiot had put poly bushes on one side of the front suspension, and rubber on the other. Basically, a few hidden horror stories that I was unaware of. Probably made it more of a badger magnet as well
But now the Baron is something else... I had sold it to my Porsche tech who wanted it for himself, so he completely rebuilt it from the shell up. Gearbox has been rebuilt. New LSD. New suspension bushes. Everything rubber from door seals to air inlet O-rings have been replaced. Absolute 'cost and parts no object' restoration to concourse condition. And the last of the badger hairs have been removed, too
My guess is about 200 hours of labour have gone into it, and with a roll cage it now looks even more awesome than previously. The final finishing of the car is still taking place, but delivery should be in the next few weeks - in time for the Silverstone pcgb trackday in July
Sadly, it won't be ready for the Nurburgring. I will also invest a bit more time and money in learning to drive the thing properly, before 9M can tempt me with upping the power...
Which means I can now rabbit on about the 964RS from a more credible standpoint again. Nice as those E36 BMWs are, they aren't a patch on these double (triple in 9m's case!) espresso porkers.
Maybe this will change with my tech's new project - the BMW V8... he is threatening to find a new M5 engine to go in it
Just thought you'd all like to know.
Cheers
Domster
Imelda said:
Absolute 'cost and parts no object' restoration to concourse condition.
Did the brown stains come out of the seats?
Leather wipes clean...
I wouldn't want to go badger baiting in a 968 CS as those cloth seats are a lot less forgiving
PS Terry, I found a Hallmark card that is just a paper replica of your reg plate... if you email me your address off forum I will send it through to you.
Thom - the M5 engine may be quite nice in an Ult if it was up to 500bhp Ascari spec, but Chevy iron is a lot cheaper and easier to fit. I'm sure he won't part with it once it nestles between the suspension turrets of the 3 series!
Cheers
Dom
God help us all!
Exposure to Domster sermons 'sans Baron' was an effect not dissimilar to Torquemada being told by a rogue Franciscan monk that he had mistakenly taken an unholy allegiance with the boy Lucifer.
Von Doblensk plus said WWI fighter ace is akin to a full scale claim of heresy absolute against the mother Inquisition herself.
Domster: the loon for all seasons. Avonites salute thee but the hedge dwellers? May their paws carry them safely yonder.
Exposure to Domster sermons 'sans Baron' was an effect not dissimilar to Torquemada being told by a rogue Franciscan monk that he had mistakenly taken an unholy allegiance with the boy Lucifer.
Von Doblensk plus said WWI fighter ace is akin to a full scale claim of heresy absolute against the mother Inquisition herself.
Domster: the loon for all seasons. Avonites salute thee but the hedge dwellers? May their paws carry them safely yonder.
Nice one Domster,it looks like a good trade to let someone else do all that work before you get it back.
Very pleased for you,,I was always suprised at your insistence of the 964 RS pedigree when you had let one go in favour of the E36 hybrid.
totally agree on the learning to drive the car,I have had some instruction,but experience of 9 years of 911 has been a great education...I could immediately drive at similar speeds in the 968 Cs after a few hours as my rear engined car.
All this tuning lark on a 2wd 911 is for ego boosting unless you actually have the ability to make use of it.
Not that there is anything wrong with that of course.
Very pleased for you,,I was always suprised at your insistence of the 964 RS pedigree when you had let one go in favour of the E36 hybrid.
totally agree on the learning to drive the car,I have had some instruction,but experience of 9 years of 911 has been a great education...I could immediately drive at similar speeds in the 968 Cs after a few hours as my rear engined car.
All this tuning lark on a 2wd 911 is for ego boosting unless you actually have the ability to make use of it.
Not that there is anything wrong with that of course.
Cheers CS.
I have had about 9 months' of 911 experience, as mainly driven other people's 911s, not owned one solidly before this. Could hustle it in the dry nicely, the RS flatters you... but in the wet I quickly started to run out of talent. The Lotus Carlton in falling snow was more manageable
Still, it lets you grow with the car and taming it should be fun - on airfields and well aware from the badgers
I have had about 9 months' of 911 experience, as mainly driven other people's 911s, not owned one solidly before this. Could hustle it in the dry nicely, the RS flatters you... but in the wet I quickly started to run out of talent. The Lotus Carlton in falling snow was more manageable
Still, it lets you grow with the car and taming it should be fun - on airfields and well aware from the badgers
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