Sorry for the long preamble, but I have an idea and would be interested in seeing what those of you who restore/run the early 70's cars think of it.
I've recently sold my 996 2000 Carrera 4 Cabrio for a lot less than I paid for it. A lovely car, but disappointing in some ways. However it was a great drive, my son loved riding in the back of it and always volunteered to wash it! Doing a 2000k drive around Europe 18 months ago was marvellous too. The 10k I lost on it in 3 years, before maintenance and service was regrettable though. In the last year, due to work and health, I didn't use it as much as I hoped, hence deciding to sell for now.
What I thought would really be ideal is to have pre-1973 car that I didn't have to pay road tax on, was safe reliable and fun. Something I could get out when I felt like it and not out of guilt thinking about the depreciation or running costs. The ability to do the odd long trip round Europe would be good too. I started thinking about what I could buy- rusty Jags, slow MG's, Mercs, and obviously early 911's. Which I don't know much about. Nice, but still now 40 year old technology.
Then I saw this on Ebay and had a slightly crazy idea -
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PORSCHE-911-C...iewItem&pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item1c137e4248
Bear with me!! This is obviously a dog, probably well past redemption. It seems to be a 1971 car under a 1980's bodykit. Rotten and abused.
But what if I got a slightly better donor car and rebuilt to more modern spec. Still retaining the original style of the car but modernising the ride, brakes, handling, soundproofing etc. Fitting a rebuilt engine and newer gearbox. Fitting a modern interior to make a comfortable, soundproofed, long-distance car, with useable satnav, a decent stereo and decent belts and attachments for a child seat.
I'm sure many of you who have faithfully restored classics would be against it - I know. I've restored classics too. BUT, the problem with a classic is evident when you read the for sale ads - only used in the dry. Only used on sunny days, etc. I'd like something more robust.
So a modernisation of what might be an almost written off donor car might not be unreasonable. Build something good for a sensible budget and not lose a fortune in the process. Come resale, I know there is a market for this sort of thing- a colleague has just spent an enormous amount of money on a new 'old' VW camper van. Still built to the original style, but airbags, servos, working electrics etc.
So to the point. Is this a reasonable idea? How much could this cost if I do it, sensibly that is? Having spent 30k on a 996 nearly 4 years ago and gotten back a lot less, I'd like to see about spending 15-20k and keeping most of it. Also using new or reconditioned parts would give me an almost 'new' car and defer some of the problems age brings.
What engine could I fit? How easy is it to fit more modern parts on these cars - with a stripped out shell and starting from the ground up, but using original Porsche stuff. Using an early 70's car, what sort of performance could I get whilst still retaining usability and comfort - I don't want to build a racer.
Sorry for the long post, but I'd love to hear what people think. I know how passionate restorers can be, I still carry the scars from the engine block of an E-type I helped restore. I've posted here because I thought if I put this on the PCGB site, I'd get lynched!!
I've recently sold my 996 2000 Carrera 4 Cabrio for a lot less than I paid for it. A lovely car, but disappointing in some ways. However it was a great drive, my son loved riding in the back of it and always volunteered to wash it! Doing a 2000k drive around Europe 18 months ago was marvellous too. The 10k I lost on it in 3 years, before maintenance and service was regrettable though. In the last year, due to work and health, I didn't use it as much as I hoped, hence deciding to sell for now.
What I thought would really be ideal is to have pre-1973 car that I didn't have to pay road tax on, was safe reliable and fun. Something I could get out when I felt like it and not out of guilt thinking about the depreciation or running costs. The ability to do the odd long trip round Europe would be good too. I started thinking about what I could buy- rusty Jags, slow MG's, Mercs, and obviously early 911's. Which I don't know much about. Nice, but still now 40 year old technology.
Then I saw this on Ebay and had a slightly crazy idea -
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PORSCHE-911-C...iewItem&pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item1c137e4248
Bear with me!! This is obviously a dog, probably well past redemption. It seems to be a 1971 car under a 1980's bodykit. Rotten and abused.
But what if I got a slightly better donor car and rebuilt to more modern spec. Still retaining the original style of the car but modernising the ride, brakes, handling, soundproofing etc. Fitting a rebuilt engine and newer gearbox. Fitting a modern interior to make a comfortable, soundproofed, long-distance car, with useable satnav, a decent stereo and decent belts and attachments for a child seat.
I'm sure many of you who have faithfully restored classics would be against it - I know. I've restored classics too. BUT, the problem with a classic is evident when you read the for sale ads - only used in the dry. Only used on sunny days, etc. I'd like something more robust.
So a modernisation of what might be an almost written off donor car might not be unreasonable. Build something good for a sensible budget and not lose a fortune in the process. Come resale, I know there is a market for this sort of thing- a colleague has just spent an enormous amount of money on a new 'old' VW camper van. Still built to the original style, but airbags, servos, working electrics etc.
So to the point. Is this a reasonable idea? How much could this cost if I do it, sensibly that is? Having spent 30k on a 996 nearly 4 years ago and gotten back a lot less, I'd like to see about spending 15-20k and keeping most of it. Also using new or reconditioned parts would give me an almost 'new' car and defer some of the problems age brings.
What engine could I fit? How easy is it to fit more modern parts on these cars - with a stripped out shell and starting from the ground up, but using original Porsche stuff. Using an early 70's car, what sort of performance could I get whilst still retaining usability and comfort - I don't want to build a racer.
Sorry for the long post, but I'd love to hear what people think. I know how passionate restorers can be, I still carry the scars from the engine block of an E-type I helped restore. I've posted here because I thought if I put this on the PCGB site, I'd get lynched!!