by John Glynn | Jan 29, 2013 | Classic Porsche Blog, Modified Porsche Hot Rods, Project Cars
The Porsche 912 Speedster from a few days ago went down a storm on Ferdinand Magazine’s Facebook page, which is heading towards 50,000 likes. I’ve got some more details to share on the custom 912, which previous owner Ryan tells me now lives with another friend of mine in Belgium. Small world!
The builder of this 912 Speedster had previously developed some successful race cars. He chose the 912 as it was lighter than a 911, it was a four-cylinder like the 356 Speedster, and the shorter four-cylinder engine mounted close to the firewall gave a lower ultimate height across the engine, which would help it achieve a lower rear deck line.
No computers were used to shape the body: just very careful measuring. After the roof was cut off, Wilbur Brothers bodyshop in Stockwell, Indiana removed the bodywork above the rear wing tops and replaced with a cowling constructed from two Karmann Ghia panels, which gave a lower rear end and less rake.
Like the 356 Speedster’s engine cover, this 912’s rear lid is a hatch that does not extend to the lower rear panel. It was made by welding the 912’s engine cover in place, mating two Ghia engine covers together, then cutting a hole for the 912 grill: an interesting solution.
Modified Speedster windscreen posts hold the shortened 912 windshield. The glass-free doors have custom door caps and plexiglass side windows.
To strengthen the chassis, metal plates were welded to the A-posts. Steel box section was welded into the sill sections, from front to rear wheel housings. The car went through a complete restoration and then had a fresh coat of red. Can’t wait to see this in the metal one day.
by John Glynn | Jan 26, 2013 | Classic Porsche Blog, Modified Porsche Hot Rods, Project Cars
Had an email from my buddy Ryan down in Sydney this morning. Ryan is a hard core Porscher: sworn R Grupper, rallies a 911 ST and has been with us to Classic Le Mans, to taste the mania of Porsche that prevails. His email gave me an excuse to mark Australia Day by sharing one of the wild Porsche soft tops he’s owned in his career.
This red devil is a 1966 Porsche 912 with custom bodywork in the style of a 356 Speedster. Ryan takes up the tale:
The bodywork was all steel, with chassis strengthening along the sills between the front and rear sections. The car was ordered in left hand-drive through a German dealer, but originally delivered into the UK. It then made its way to the US.
Originally Slate Grey, the VIN went back to a 1966 3-gauge 912 Coupe: not a Targa. The car drove nicely. It started easily, pulled to redline, shifted well and brakes were no problem, holding it all in a nice in a straight line. It had period “Thunderbird” headers and muffler setup, which sounded great.
The original chrome wheels were replaced along the way with 16″ Fuchs. I think chrome 15″ steel wheels with taller tyres would have looked better, but it wasn’t a deal breaker for me.
The car used a cut-down 911 windscreen in a modified 356 speedster frame. It featured lots of nice design details, such as magnets sewn into the sides of the tonneau cover that worked very well, the recessed 911 grill in the 356-esque engine lid, and the 356 side stripes, mirrors and badges.
Ryan sold the car a while back (just $30K!), but I’d love to know where it went to next. This thing is right up my alley: would be great to catch up with it one day.
Happy Australia Day to all of our friends down under! Follow @cultofporsche on Twitter!
by John Glynn | Jan 19, 2013 | Classic Porsche Blog, Modified Porsche Hot Rods, Project Cars
Few classic Porsche cars sum up Ferdinand’s driving, not posing policy more than those built at WEVO in San Carlos, CA. One of my favourite cars from this stable is a 1967 Porsche 912, known in the family as Primrose, which I first enjoyed driving two years ago. This is me: pic by Jamie.
The ’67 is Aga Blue. It’s a genuine barn find, with only 36,000 miles on the clock when first uncovered. Hayden Burvill regards the 912 as “the essential-to-understand engineering link between the 356 and the 911. Put into dry storage in 1972, we recovered it in 2007, the 35-year hibernation leaving the interior beautifully preserved and the exterior degraded in a manner that is difficult to describe.
“The patina is insanely genuine, at times disturbing, yet any effort to control or preserve it would look ridiculously contrived. The 912 is heavily waxed, waxed over every blemish and that seems like the appropriate treatment for the time being.”
When I first drove this classic Porsche, it had a simple engine build and almost standard suspension, albeit rebuilt with new bushes. Since then, Hayden has further upgraded the running gear: most noticeably with a 1900cc engine that was run in on the 2012 California Melee.
“The 1900cc motor has been faultless so far. Initially it required a little tuning and synchronization of the carbs but otherwise all good and much nicer than the old motor. Went on a diet and took another 16lbs off during the build, so the car is now about 2000 lbs with a full tank and 110hp: about BMW 2002 territory.
“Old engine to new engine: we kept the crank and flywheel and the cam, but not much else. Entering it on the Melee was an incentive to get it working. The 912 turned out to be the perfect car for the event, rewarding care with momentum – and the big grin that comes from sliding about on dry pavement at legal speeds on 165/80-15 tires.
“The nimble 912 can tackle the unexpected with such finesse, it makes me very happy to have left the 911 at home for another day. That said, after an unbroken run of 140 miles, my shoulders did feel like a massage would have helped. Drivers in the heavier cars would have enjoyed a great upper body workout.”
Check out the WEVO Facebook page. Follow Ferdinand Magazine on Facebook.
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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