by John Glynn | Jan 18, 2013 | Classic Porsche Blog, Modified Porsche Hot Rods, Project Cars
I had a cool email recently from Alex Webster, who works for Porsche in sunny Australia. Alex and dad Stewart have a tasty 356 collection, including the one seen here: a 1960 Roadster built as an all-metal Outlaw.
Others in the line up include a Carrera GT, Carrera 2, 1958 speedster and 1956 sunroof coupe: all original RHD. Stewart had this to say about his collection:
“The GT was delivered to New Zealand and has only covered 13k miles. The Carrera 2 was delivered to AFN in England, and made its way to Australia twenty years ago. Condition is said to be new: sounds like a beautiful car. The Speedster is one of four in Stone Grey cars, and was delivered through Hamiltons in Melbourne in 1958. The ’56 sunroof coupe was delivered by the dealer in Sydney and it too is like new.”
Stewart’s other 356s include half a dozen US models, restored and converted to RHD. The Outlaw looks like something else: someone should do a story on these Webster boys 😀
by John Glynn | Jan 18, 2013 | Classic Porsche Blog, Project Cars
The best thing to come from blogging is an interesting social network. I’ve met some great people via writing and photographing Porsche cars over the last eight years, and to help three of them out in one go is a rewarding experience.
When an East Coast R Gruppe buddy emailed details of a SWB car for sale on the other side of the world a few months ago, asking my opinion and whether I knew anyone connected to the car, I drew a blank. My network is good, but not that good.
Fast forward a few months and another car comes up for sale. This one’s a 1970 911 in the UK, being sold by someone I’ve known online for a while, previously dealt with and bought from in person. Even better, this RHD 911 was for sale on the doorstep of some friends, so a pre-purchase inspection recommendation was ready and waiting.
My friends got together on the deal, and sent the car for a check over. The 911 was given a clean bill of health – couple of advisories but nothing serious. A deal was agreed and the car sailed off overseas: not stayed in the UK and not gone to America.
Will be nice to get some new pics of this 1970 Porsche 911T in its new home one day: great to help a Porsche deal happen!
by John Glynn | Jan 6, 2013 | Classic Porsche Blog, Modified Porsche Hot Rods
It’s time to look forward to 2013 and share some of the things I’m working on. There’s an awful lot happening but here’s one topic that will interest the classic 911 R-Gruppe hot rod fans.
Alongside the impending relaunch of Ferdinand Magazine on iPad, we’ve got a ton of Porsche features from our recent trip to Northern California: latest in the long line of US feature trips Jamie Lipman and I have done together since 2008. One of the cars shot in Norcal was this one, owned by Craig Hardy: a 1970 911T done to perfection as an R Gruppe daily driver.
“Done to perfection” of course means not perfect. Perfect cars are stress, and this is quite the opposite. Craig came to this car in a roundabout way: chopping and changing through a variety of deals and then being in the right place at the right time with up to date market instincts and his buyer’s hat welded on.
The good work Craig has done since finding this car has turned it from a garage obstruction to a groovy 911 that gets used everyday. If you want to understand R Gruppe, then this is the car to look at: simple, affordable and driven all the time. If you’re not clocking seat time, you’re just not Gruppin’ it.
The full story is coming to a magazine somewhere soon – I’ll let you know! These are just my iPhone shots: Jamie’s pics are epic.
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by John Glynn | Jan 1, 2013 | Classic Porsche Blog, Market & Prices
Agreed Porsche insurance valuation policies for classic Porsche cars are the only way to go. If someone steals your classic or collectable modern Porsche tomorrow, a market value policy will create no end of hassle and may leave you seriously out of pocket. This is when you need an agreed value classic Porsche insurance policy.
Classic Porsche Insurance Valuations UK
Ferdinand Magazine owner, John Glynn, has spent over 30 years in the motor industry, buying and selling cars for trade and retail. John clocked up ten years with Glass’s Guide in the UK valuing older cars and modern classics, for clients in the trade and the financial services industry.
“Always run an agreed value policy on your classic Porsche,” John insists. “It’s the easiest way to ensure you will be properly compensated should the worst ever happen. Never leave the total loss of a car worth tens of thousands of pounds open for debate, even in a rising market. Always agree a value.”
Recent valuations include:
- 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS
- 1979 Porsche 924 Turbo
- 1989 Porsche 944 S2 Cabriolet
- 1989 Porsche 911 Turbo LE (930)
- 1998 Porsche 993 Turbo
- 2004 Porsche 996 GT3 RS
- 2010 Porsche 997 GT3 RS
John carries out agreed insurance valuations on classic and collectable Porsche cars that are accepted by every UK insurance company, even when insisting on independent engineer’s inspection. Our agreed valuations cost just £35. Complete the online form for your UK Porsche insurance valuation and we’ll return a written valuation within 48 hours (Mon-Fri).
by John Glynn | Dec 18, 2012 | Porsche News, Project Cars
I spent today in a Porsche technical workshop, gathering feature ideas and furthering my technical knowledge. Porsche mechanics, Andy, Chris, Danny, Mike and Ricky have plenty of experience to share, and there was lots going on.
One project caught my eye. A customer had brought his 996 GT3 RS in to check pulling to the left after the all-important suspension geometry had been set elsewhere. The problem was enough to have the owner on the verge of selling the car, as he found it almost undriveable.
First job was to road test the car. The steering wheel was off centre, tyres were rubbing on the front arches when pressing on and the front ride heights were too low. One normally innocuous bump on the test route was enough to bottom out the dampers and send the car way off track.
Getting the car up on the Hunter alignment ramp, Ricky checked fuel level, front weight and tyre pressures. Then the Hunter wheel clamps were attached, which carry 3D targets to set the geometry up to the wheel centres. Without knowing that the target is centred, all measurements will be off.
I’ve had my E36 M3 measured on this ramp so I know how good it is. It was fascinating to watch the readings being calculated and to see what had been done to the car to get it so far wrong, with camber & castor different side to side up front, and the rear wheels toeing out unevenly. No idea why anyone would set a 911 to toe out but we’ll cover this issue of geometry in a future issue of Ferdinand, as it’s super fascinating if you’re into fast road or track driving.
Underneath a 996 GT3 RS learning about what’s adjustable and why you would adjust it is a pretty cool place to be. No doubt they’ve got their issues, but I remain convinced that standard 996s will assume classic status one day. For the GT3 RS, those days are already here. They just look better and better!
