by John Glynn | Sep 27, 2012 | Project Cars
I just spent two days up in Yorkshire with the lightweight Porsche panel manufacturers at EB Motorsport and picked this up on my travels: a tidy 924 tailgate from an eBay seller in Bolton.
It’s not perfect and suffers from the same peeling glass paint they all have, but the spoiler is in better shape than the original one on my 924 Turbo, so I was pleased to get hold of it. I’ll strip and refurb the hatch with some help from Racing Restorations and get it on the car when we do the fresh paint this winter.
If anyone ever asks whether a 924 tailgate fits in the back of a Subaru Outback, I can confirm that yes, it does. Don’t expect to fit more heavy stuff in there, though.
by John Glynn | Sep 27, 2012 | New Models, Porsche News
“The future of Porsche” was how Porsche President, Matthias Müller, described the Panamera Sport Turismo concept, just unveiled at the Paris motor show. Turismo features what Stuttgart calls e-hybrid: plug-in hybrid with a petrol engine.
“Today we’re taking a look at Porsche’s future,” said the President. “We’ve developed an entirely new vehicle concept, which did not exist so far. A very special sports car, which is perfectly in line and a perfect fit with our customers and the future of Porsche.
Transport Bulky Sports Equipment
“It’s become an uncompromising Porsche for active people who not only want to experience the fascination of power and dynamics on the road. This innovative vehicle design is tailored to our customers’ needs, like a bespoke suit. Customers who want very good everyday usability and flexibility, without renouncing the Porsche typical performance, who occasionally need sufficiently large luggage space to transport bulky sports equipment, however still appreciate the elegance of an exclusive Gran Turismo.
“Innovative: that is also the drivetrain. It’s a highly efficient plug-in hybrid system. Looking at our concept car is, at the same time, a look at the future of Porsche. Not just in terms of the drive; the design anticipates many of the things that our customers will find with Porsche in the future.”
Muller repeated his assertion of this as the future later in his presentation, so it’s clearly more than fantasy. How will Porsche fans greet the news that a five-door estate with a silent electric motor is the future? Or are shareholders’ reactions more important?
What do you think? Is it a sports car, or a big, fast Prius? Note: I am pro-Prius.
Visit the Panamera Turismo Microsite
The Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo microsite is here, including a 360-degree rotator and video of the unveil. These screen grabs are from the site.
If you watch the English version, your sound will take until Müller exits the car to come on, so do not adjust your set. Note that the pop-up window for video is also titled “direction future”.
by John Glynn | Sep 20, 2012 | Market & Prices, Porsche News
Loving the discussion on future Boxster values of Porsche-built cars versus Boxsters now built partly by Volkswagen, as announced yesterday.
“Some of the earlier Boxsters were build in Finland and no one seems to care about that,” was pointed out by Jeroen B on the Ferdinand Facebook page.
Andrew D also picked up on that thread. “Is this so bad? Does this not mean that its essentially what was Karmann of Osnabruck building it? I used to own a Karmann-built Porsche and didn’t think it was bad. Porsche did farm production of SWB 911 bodies out to Karmann, and it’s the I-Ching. So it doesn’t bother me. If they’re now owned by VW group they could be even better!” Fair points, but not the point. The point is how people will talk about it.
After twenty-five years in the motor trade, and ten years with Europe’s largest car valuation company, I don’t doubt that VW ownership means “last of the proper all-Porsche Porsches” is a line we are about to see more of in classifieds.
Something is always ‘the last of’. 356 guys made “Real Carreras have four cams” t-shirts when the 2.7 Carrera RS first came out. “Last of the proper 911s” runs all the way from ads for SWB cars, to the end of ’73, to the Carrera 3.2, to the narrow-body 964, to the air-cooled 993. ‘Last of the proper/Metzger 911s’ is how GT3 RS 4.0 buyers were sold their cars.
Pitching cars as a one-off opportunity never stops, and some Porsche owners can be super sniffy about Volkswagen associations: witness the market’s regard for 914/924 and 944 models, and the speed with which 944 owners will now email me, saying their cars do not have a van engine.
I’ve owned enough Mk2 Golfs to go down as a Volkswagen fan and am proud of my 924/944 ownership. But, let’s say in ten years time, you’ve got two identical Boxsters: same colour, mileage and options. One is Volkswagen assisted, one is completely from Stuttgart. Which one will you go for? I think the answer is obvious.
by John Glynn | Sep 19, 2012 | Market & Prices, Porsche News
A press release came through from Porsche this morning, announcing the partial relocation of Boxster production to Volkswagen Osnabrück. This potentially creates a gap in residual value between Porsche-built and VW-built Boxster models.
Stuttgart has shifted as the home plant allegedly does not have sufficient capacity to cope with demand, which sounds slightly dubious to me. Perhaps it is more important to keep 911 production in Stuttgart from a heritage point of view, while the less historic Boxster and Cayman ranges can be built anywhere. I might be wrong.
The first vehicle to roll off the line was an Indian Red Porsche Boxster S. This classic Porsche colour is known as Guards Red in the UK market, but the colour code (80K) is called Indischrot/Indian Red in German.
Car manufacturers don’t think much beyond typical model change cycles when it comes to used cars, so I doubt there’s been great consideration of the effect of this change on residual value. I wonder if, in years to come, fully Porsche-built Boxsters will fetch slightly more than the part-VW ones? You can guarantee some anorak will have that in an Autotrader ad, five years from now.
by John Glynn | Sep 16, 2012 | Classic Porsche Blog, Market & Prices, Project Cars
The auction for the earliest LWB Porsche 911 just ended on eBay. Final price was £37,100. Assuming a quality Porsche restoration will cost at least £60,000, that makes the car £100k done. I’m sure whoever placed the winning bid thinks that will prove a good price in time, and I’m inclined to agree.
See below for a full copy of the eBay sales text. Here’s a screen shot of the bids from start to finish: the highest bid for most of the week was placed two days into the sale. The winning bid was placed twenty minutes from the finish.
That early bidder did well to judge the likely price so accurately – I wonder what stopped them going just that little bit higher.
The seller was my online Porsche friend, Brendan Mullan, up in Scotland. Here’s a copy of Brendan’s eBay sales text:
One of the most significant road cars in Porsche’s history
Chassis (VIN) number: 119200001 The First LWB Chassis Number
Engine number: 6290001 The First LWB Engine
Gearbox number: 2281682 Type 901/03
Build date: 28 June 1968
THE FIRST EVER PORSCHE 911E – MATCHING NUMBERS HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT 911
This is an amazing barn find story!
The car was discovered in a barn, where it had been for over 25 years, by two committed long term early 911 UK based enthusiast/owners and totally researched by us as genuine. Factory confirmed and virtually complete with unique colour combination. Probably the very first long wheel base (LWB) Porsche ever built. Totally unique.
First three owners were contemporary Porsche factory drivers of the day; Robs Lamplough, Paddy McNally and the immortal Jo Siffert. Built two months before actual LWB production began and used as a mule for six months at the factory. Converted by the factory from LHD to RHD for the first road driving owner. Personal letters from one of the first three owners confirming its early history. Unparalleled provenance.
This car has matching engine, gearbox and chassis (VIN) numbers. The very first ever LWB chassis (# 119000001) and the very first ever MFI E engine (# 620001). Confirmed as a factory Versuch (prototype) model, one of only three or four known to exist and this is the earliest LWB example. The car retains all its original Versuch tags with the factory prototype numbers along with the usual VIN plates. Documents on hand confirm its status. Contains a mix of SWB and LWB parts as would be expected in the summer of 1968 during testing of the new model. Unique original colour combination of light ivory exterior and red interior (all items present). Repainted black in the mid 1980’s but original colour still evident everywhere. Correct date stamped original parts, including four matching dated five and a half inch Fuchs wheels. All body panels except one front wing and the engine lid are original. Engine is complete from heat exchangers to air box. Gearbox original and complete. Original hydromatic front suspension has been replaced many years ago as most have. Interior in restorable condition. Uncracked SWB dash top. SWB rear lights. Seats, door panels, lower dash, carpets all in good to excellent condition. Original undamaged glass all round. Door pockets reasonable. Lovely date stamped steering wheel, stained and torn headlining. No hood badge.
As can be seen from the pictures the ducktail is obviously not original but the decklid grille fitted to it appears to be the correct one year only three bar 1969 grille. We have a very nice one year only 1969 decklid that will come with the car. The front seats shown in the pictures are also aftermarket replacements. We have the original red seats which are in restorable condition and will also come with the car. Although not shown in any of the pictures we also have the original bonnet.
This unique 911 will require total restoration: The shell is in a poor state and mechanical components will need a total renovation/rebuild. It will need a complete top to bottom nut and bolt rebuild but such an historically important car must be saved. Once this car is restored it will represent a benchmark example of the whole 911 development and in particular a watershed moment in the pre-impact bumper (longhood) programme.
We are both well-known contributors to early 911 forums. This is a private sale. We are not dealers. You can read all about the discovery of this amazing barn find 911 on our thread on DDK
The car is available for viewing and is currently located near Prestwick Airport in Scotland.
We would love this 911 to be bought and restored by an enthusiast who understands its position in Porsche history. We will be happy to assist any overseas buyer with transportation but any shipping and other charges will be the responsibility of the purchaser. We reserve the right to withdrawn this 911 at any stage as it may be sold elsewhere. Thanks for looking and good luck with your bidding.
An opportunity like this will never arise again. Car is sold as seen.
Please note that bidders with zero feedback should contact the seller directly before bidding as all bids with no feedback will be removed.
