- My love affair
with sports car didn't begin with Porsche. Actually I favored
the Italian cars for both styling and performance. In the 1960s
I started with a Alfa Sprint Coupe (I have one now same year
and model, see ALFA). My first Porsche
included a factory tour. I was planning a month in Europe and
the local Porsche dealer mentioned European delivery. I could
save some money and have fun in Europe in the bargain. So I ordered
a 1969 911T, a little more than the 912 that was in my
budget. It turned out the factory didn't get my car done so I
toured in a VW. Home with the new 911 - it was fun and games
and a cross country trip from California to my new wife's home
in Ohio. Like many newlyweds, home and kids made the 911 too
small and too expensive.
-
- A move to
Montana saw an active Porsche Club and a 1967 912 seemed
to fit the bill and budget. Again, great fun for the whole family
including my 2 young daughters. My venture back to early Porsches
was a 1964 356C of a friends. Great car, but 2 Porsches
was a little too much, particularly since another friend had
a very low mileage 1980 928 that I had lusted for over
the years. Three Porsches was ridiculous considering my garage
space, so the 356 was sold. See 928
-
- Oh I forgot
to mention I also bought a 1967 Morgan 4x4 just to get the Anglo
experience, and EXPERIENCE it was. Next I found an Alfa like I had owned
and bought it to restore. On the Porsche side the 912 was used
for club and autocross events, the 928 for Grand Touring I was
satisfied, until I went to the 356 Registry West Coast Holiday
and Vintage Racing was starting up near enough for me to participate.
-
- Enter the
356B.
This was and is a car I had known for awhile and it was perfect
platform for a vintage race car. Work started just about the
same time vintage racing stopped in my area. With assistance
and videos from Harry Pellows, I rebuilt the engine to mild race
specs. Still have this Porsche and have nice fast "driver".
Not a show car, but I did manage to get "Peoples Choice"
at a small German Car Show. See 356B
-
- My search
for a Porsche 356A: This has been an ongoing effort with
many candidates coming and going over the years. The "A"
I got briefly was again a perfect restoration candidate, but
got an offer and sold it. The next Porsche to "find me"
was a 1970 911T, again the charm and shear fun of these
torquey little beasts won me over and I bought it within 2 days
of driving it. Do you remember the '70s color Tangerine, well
that was its color and it literally drove me nuts, and so it
too was sold. See 911T & 356A
-
- The morale
of my little story is that Porsches can be fun, frustrating and
a lots of work. For now I am settled in with the "B"
Coupe and the 928 and think I will stay there awhile. The signal
yellow 911T about 60 miles away is not going to tempt me.....I
hope.
-
- Of course
ebaymotors is on my favorites list and I have been just a few
dollars away from another 356 and/or early 911. If only prices
would soften like real estate.
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