heh. true story, when I was stationed in Germany I got lost with the then wife down in Stuttgart. while trying to find our way back to the Autobahn, we came across the Porsche HQ. It was Sunday so hardly any traffic, and proceeded to thoroughly confuse her when I stopped the car, got down on my knees and bowed towards the Porsche factroy yelling "we are not worthy! we are not worthy!" She was unamused.
One of my college roommates had a mint '68 912. I saw him punch a guy who drunkenly set a beercan on the roof of his 'Karmann Ghia'. Fully justified, in the opinion of all observers. Ran like a scalded ape even with the four banger. Ever since then I've wanted a decent pre-'73 911/912 just for a weekend car.
Friend back in junior high had a dad who coached our soccer team. His dad had gotten his 912 new back when he was a lieutenant flying F4s n Vietnam. His dad gave me a ride home in that old '69 912 more than a few times. When we were freshman, I asked Case if he were going to push to get his dad's 912 to drive to school. (This was in 1986.) "Are you kidding?!?" he smirked. "It has so much rust, you can see the road through the floorboard! I wanted to punch him. That car ran great.
Of course, Case seemed to know what he wanted, and got it. He just this last year ended his stint as the commander of the Air Force Thunderbirds, after having been an instructor in F15s. I remember him telling me that he was someday going to be either the quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, or a fighter pilot. I said, "yeah, right." Last year he was arguably the finest F16 pilot in the world.
Friend has the last year air-cooled Carrera GT, with factory whale tail. His mechanic told him it broke a top end stud, and to treat it gently until he can afford the repair job. Estimated cost to R&R the engine, and upgrade the studs? $10,000.
Oh, yeah, his car has the same 15" wheels as the photo, and he tells me if he wants sporty tires, he has maybe two choices that fit, but could only find one version in stock.
Low mileage, no appreciable rust, and it was a gift!
Ooooooh Tam. You've got an eye! Just when I think I'm SO over stuff you bring out the "only one" that I could lust after. Like all other elements of Mid-Life Crisis this one looks too good to be true and most likely is. Never been a Porsche guy or a Covette guy but that 'ere Targa might just do it; sorta like a 62 (and ONLY a 62) 'Vette. Zuffenhausen generally sucks but we used to go out there to shoot with the German "Military and Police" (BDMP) out there in an old bowling alley. Have a friend who was a Thunderbird pilot. I ask him how it was to be a "JV Blue Angel".
A couple of years ago I passed 49 of these in a row, obviously on some Porsche migration or something.
Every single driver was a 50+ year old white man.
Some still had hair.
To be fair, I only know one person who is beyond doubt THE world class genius expert in a very narrow and technical medical field. She is neither 50+, all that pasty, nor balding, and she wants one.
Dead sexy, innit? That beautiful silhouette was burned into my very core back in the early eighties. A few stints behind the wheel served to solidify my motolust. Someday, indeed.
Phffft, you've never lived until you see ~30 1980 era Screaming Chicken Trans-Am douche-canoes piloted by old, fat, balding, pasty white guys in their silver Members Only jackets, plated gold chains, faux aviator sunglasses, and mesh back driving gloves.
The world would be a much better place if those holes had been sterilized as a requirement of getting their car loan.
My sole experience with a 911 was back in 19mumble-mumble as a passenger. Out Rt. 50 to US-219 in West-by-God Virginia, north up to I-68 (then US 48) which was till under construction. East on 68 using the construction barrels as slalom flags. Then I-70 to 270 (then 70S), US 15 back to Northern VA. I'm sure that car still has my finger marks on the dash and imprint on the seat.
"I'll take 'Killed More Yuppies Than Speedballs' for $500 Alex."
ReplyDeleteA 911 has replaced a Corvette as the "want to own before I die" car.
ReplyDeleteIdeally a water cooled Carrera 4S.
Rust... Targas are rust buckets...
ReplyDeleteYup, rear weighted. Nothing like trying to shove a sledge hammer around a corner handle first. God I miss high risk insurance premiums!
ReplyDeleteAren't you a little TALL for a 911?
ReplyDeleteheh. true story, when I was stationed in Germany I got lost with the then wife down in Stuttgart. while trying to find our way back to the Autobahn, we came across the Porsche HQ. It was Sunday so hardly any traffic, and proceeded to thoroughly confuse her when I stopped the car, got down on my knees and bowed towards the Porsche factroy yelling "we are not worthy! we are not worthy!" She was unamused.
ReplyDeleteI know those things, back in the 80s, were very nearly the incarnate criteria for one being a yuppie douche, but dang.
ReplyDeleteI still want one. Heck, I'm not even picky. Any good condition 911 would be highly welcome at Casa Prophet.
One of my college roommates had a mint '68 912. I saw him punch a guy who drunkenly set a beercan on the roof of his 'Karmann Ghia'. Fully justified, in the opinion of all observers. Ran like a scalded ape even with the four banger. Ever since then I've wanted a decent pre-'73 911/912 just for a weekend car.
ReplyDeleteFriend back in junior high had a dad who coached our soccer team. His dad had gotten his 912 new back when he was a lieutenant flying F4s n Vietnam. His dad gave me a ride home in that old '69 912 more than a few times. When we were freshman, I asked Case if he were going to push to get his dad's 912 to drive to school. (This was in 1986.) "Are you kidding?!?" he smirked. "It has so much rust, you can see the road through the floorboard! I wanted to punch him. That car ran great.
ReplyDeleteOf course, Case seemed to know what he wanted, and got it. He just this last year ended his stint as the commander of the Air Force Thunderbirds, after having been an instructor in F15s. I remember him telling me that he was someday going to be either the quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, or a fighter pilot. I said, "yeah, right." Last year he was arguably the finest F16 pilot in the world.
Lost half the hipster cred when they went water cooled.
ReplyDeleteFriend has the last year air-cooled Carrera GT, with factory whale tail. His mechanic told him it broke a top end stud, and to treat it gently until he can afford the repair job. Estimated cost to R&R the engine, and upgrade the studs? $10,000.
ReplyDeleteOh, yeah, his car has the same 15" wheels as the photo, and he tells me if he wants sporty tires, he has maybe two choices that fit, but could only find one version in stock.
ReplyDeleteLow mileage, no appreciable rust, and it was a gift!
Ooooooh Tam. You've got an eye! Just when I think I'm SO over stuff you bring out the "only one" that I could lust after. Like all other elements of Mid-Life Crisis this one looks too good to be true and most likely is.
ReplyDeleteNever been a Porsche guy or a Covette guy but that 'ere Targa might just do it; sorta like a 62 (and ONLY a 62) 'Vette.
Zuffenhausen generally sucks but we used to go out there to shoot with the German "Military and Police" (BDMP) out there in an old bowling alley.
Have a friend who was a Thunderbird pilot. I ask him how it was to be a "JV Blue Angel".
A couple of years ago I passed 49 of these in a row, obviously on some Porsche migration or something.
ReplyDeleteEvery single driver was a 50+ year old white man.
Some still had hair.
To be fair, I only know one person who is beyond doubt THE world class genius expert in a very narrow and technical medical field. She is neither 50+, all that pasty, nor balding, and she wants one.
Nice but ditto to what NFO said. That aside though one of my favorites, even with all the air cooled engine issues here in the SE USA.
ReplyDeleteMy friends had nothing better than a refurbed 240Z for me to borrow back in the 1970s. I needed a better class of friends.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to wait until Porsche comes out with the front-engine version of the 911.
ReplyDeleteDead sexy, innit?
ReplyDeleteThat beautiful silhouette was burned into my very core back in the early eighties. A few stints behind the wheel served to solidify my motolust. Someday, indeed.
Phffft, you've never lived until you see ~30 1980 era Screaming Chicken Trans-Am douche-canoes piloted by old, fat, balding, pasty white guys in their silver Members Only jackets, plated gold chains, faux aviator sunglasses, and mesh back driving gloves.
ReplyDeleteThe world would be a much better place if those holes had been sterilized as a requirement of getting their car loan.
My sole experience with a 911 was back in 19mumble-mumble as a passenger.
ReplyDeleteOut Rt. 50 to US-219 in West-by-God Virginia, north up to I-68 (then US 48) which was till under construction. East on 68 using the construction barrels as slalom flags. Then I-70 to 270 (then 70S), US 15 back to Northern VA.
I'm sure that car still has my finger marks on the dash and imprint on the seat.