by John Glynn | Aug 29, 2010 | Classic Porsche Blog, Modified Porsche Hot Rods
If you’re not freelance, bank holiday weekend Sundays are all about taking it easy. If you are freelance, then the only difference between Sunday and any other day is that the post office and some petrol stations are shut. If there’s a job to do, you do it!
Supercharged Porsche 968 magazine feature
I got a call the other day, asking if I wanted to write a feature on a supercharged Porsche 968. The owner was coming up from the far end of Britain and would be at Castle Combe for the PCGB gathering. Could I get there? Yes. If there was no photographer could I cover the pictures too? Errr – a trepidatious yes. Sooner or later, you have to affirm aloud: ‘this is where I want to go!’ and start heading in that direction.
I left home early to go scouting locations west of Bath. Rain en route wasn’t the best news ever, but there were a few hours before our shoot meet: I kept driving and bode my time. The run down through the Cotswolds was excellent and set me up for the afternoon. I told Sean the sat nav to take me the short way, so he sent me down every back road from Banbury to Bath via Burford. Very cool!
Once in Wiltshire, I found some locations fast enough, then went and grabbed a bite in a local pub while waiting for the 968 owners. They arrived soon after and we got cracking.
I’m not going to claim it was a pro job from start to finish, but we ticked enough boxes to do the feature justice. These two are a couple of outtakes. I’ve made notes on my performance and will work on improving, but I am slowly climbing that learning curve.
The run home took me back across the Cotswolds through a beautiful sunset, and I didn’t spare the Subaru’s horses. All in all, I’d call it a good day!
by John Glynn | Aug 22, 2010 | Classic Porsche Blog, Project Cars
Life is pretty good at the minute. Freelance has got off to a great start: my online promotion and social media/PR company Mighty Motor Media Ltd is doing a good job for a growing band of clients, and earning this blogger a bit more than I was making as a salaried employee. It’s also giving me a life back! As spare time is on the increase, so the spanners are flying on some long overdue projects.
Orange 1976 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0
One of them is reworking my Carrera 3.0 into lightweight touring guise. It’s a look I’ve had in mind for a while, as the bare paint interior is not quite classy enough for the outside of the car, and a period-trimmed interior would probably widen the Orange’s appeal should I advertise it for sale, as I’ve been considering. I’m not using it as much as I’d like, and the proceeds of a sale would come in handy to finish the studio and garage I’ve been waiting to get started on for over a year. Carrera 3.0s are making good money in Europe and mine has been gone through from a bare-metal shell to be a really great driver’s car. It might be just what someone (besides me) is looking for.
I’d still have my Carrera-arched 911T, a likely candidate for that spare 3 litre motor I’ve got, and the low-mile 944 Lux I have which is waiting to come back to life – that’ll be a great car when it is up and together. Plus I can buy another Porsche in the USA and potentially take it coast to coast. That’s a box I’ve got to tick one day.
The parts for the interior refit are starting to come together. I bought these seats from London-based Porsche mate back in October last year, but have only just got ’round to picking them up. They’re Impact Bumper Carrera Recaro sports seats from 1977, in what looks like black and grey in these pics, but is actually a charcoal with a lighter centre. They are stop-the-traffic gorgeous.
I’ve got a set of plush carpet that I bought from my buddy Scott at Pelican Parts over a year ago, and some new genuine Porsche window seals that came from Jeremy at MBS Car Parts to install, plus a top tint front screen to go in, replacing the plain heated front glass I put in a while back. I’m not sure quite what to do about the cage, as I might have the T caged in steel. I’m considering adding some lightweight central door locking just for convenience, and some rear pop out windows to refurb and fit, as well a bunch of other bits and pieces – can’t remember some of them. A passenger door mirror for one.
I’m ploughing through some of my other project stuff at the mo, but the C3 will soon be up on stands in the back garden getting the full treatment. Looking forward to starting this job as, whether it goes or stays, it’s going to give me another flavour to try.
by John Glynn | Jul 2, 2010 | Classic Porsche Blog, Project Cars, Road Trips
Crazy day today, moving cars around and dragging my Carrera 3.0 out of storage, to give it a quick service before tomorrow’s departure on the RGruppe Bergmeister Tour, followed by Classic Le Mans.
Today was the first time I had done valve clearances on a 911. I was using a standard feeler gauge and I can tell you it’s not so much fun. Eventually got through it – hopefully the Orange will sound good when the fresh oil goes in tomorrow. I put the rocker covers back on with 100% silicone gaskets.
I also changed the plugs from yuk Bosch (just don’t like Bosch plugs) to platinum NGK B8-EVKs. I ran these spark plugs in my SC Cab and they made a nice difference, so let’s see how they do in Orange. I installed some ultrasonically cleaned injectors too, though I doubt they’ll have a huge effect. I saw the buildup of gunk through the open ports of my metering head a while back, and think that needs to come apart next: no time to do it just at the mo.
Bye Bye Bosch Plugs
Got lots of bits to finish off tomorrow: grab a Knecht filter and a pair of drain plug washers at Tuthills, get some oil and a couple of new fan belts from my spares place in Banbury and go get a cigarette lighter to throw in the glovebox, to power the sat nav. It needs a tyre change and perhaps a bit of a wash. Then I need to throw my luggage in and the other stuff I’m bringing for people: t-shirts, badges, number plates and the like! I just spent tonight sorting out my camera bag.
We’ve had the TomTom-friendly RGruppe Bergmeister routes through from RallyAtlas and they all look pretty good. I’ve already modified my Day One file to pick me up at Rotterdam and take me to way point 5 on the list, close to the Belgian border. Don’t want to get sent to Amsterdam first. I also booked my return trip with SeaFrance which I am really looking forward to. The Tunnel is fast but it has no romance: I’d like to round this trip off with a little bit of style.
Split Fan Belt: got to find a pair of these tomorrow
I’m looking forward to getting away and getting down to work. I’ll be diarising/photographing the Bergmeister Tour for a feature and then covering the IB boys’ fun at Classic Le Mans for a separate piece, so should be some great stories in there. We might also find a feature car or two at Le Mans: I’m hooking up with Jamie down there so the pics for those are gonna be good.
Hope to bump into some Classic Porsche Blog readers at Classic Le Mans. Definitely say hi if you spot me. If I go a bit quiet on here, it’s just a lack of wi-fi. I’ll post when I can!
by John Glynn | May 17, 2010 | Market & Prices, Project Cars
Things are crazy around here at the minute. Millions of words to write since landing back in the UK post California, trying to tidy up loose ends on my day job so I can leave with a clear conscience, and also trying to get moving on clearing out some of my projects. I figure it’d be better to put some cash back into the house at the minute and get my extension going. Realistically, that leaves little time for projects.
First one advertised is my 911 T on eBay here. (edit 19/04: the Buy It Now has just been pressed after I took the price down to £10,750 – it is sold).
The car is a non-sunroof ’71, originally from California. A few years back, it sold to a guy up in Canada who wanted to build an RS replica. He spent a lot of money on the body: new sills, RS arches, hours spent on prep for paint and a decent enough job on the finish, in lovely Gemini Blue.
The engine is a 2.2E motor which we were told was recently rebuilt with S pistons and cams. It runs MFI. It came on a pallet and was just bolted in for transport so I have never fired it up: lack of time really. My plan was to buy a past-it SC targa in less than pristine condition out in California and drop all the running gear into this. I hasd planned a rally interior with a cage and all nicely trimmed. I seriously am never going to have time to get stuck into this so it has to go.
I’ve put it on at €12500, which is £11,000. It would cost more to buy an average LHD T, sort a non-sunroof roof out and then do the body and paint it all. I think it’s priced right but we’ll see. The pics are a bit crap (dusty dash and loose headlining) as I didn’t even clean it after I picked it up, just put it straight into storage. If it doesn’t arouse some interest, I’ll bring it home, give it a clean, do some reassembly and put it back on a bit higher.
Failing that I’ll advertise the Orange. £30K would see my 1976 Carrera 3.0 Coupe off to pastures new: Australia maybe. They love 911 Carrera 3.0 coupes down there and mine has some nice light bits following a full bare metal resto. I think it’s old enough now that the LHD doesn’t matter. I have lots to move on, lots and lots. Busy busy busy!
by John Glynn | Apr 13, 2010 | Classic Porsche Blog, Project Cars, Road Trips
Since our first visit to the Essen Techno Classica back in 2006, I have always wanted to drive my own car over. The sight of all those great old classics on show and for sale made me miss my 911, and Dusseldorf city centre seemed an ideal place for a cruise around amidst ancient German money. For 2010, I vowed to get to Essen using classic Porsche power.
With Eurotunnel booked and the Barclaycard ready to take the brunt of the fuel bill, at 3.30 last Wednesday morning, I set off for Essen.
First stop was Banbury, for a fill up for car and driver (iPhone pic above). 24 hour latte on tap is a lovely idea, especially when you’ve only had two hours sleep! Costa’s Raspberry and Almond bakes are the perfect accompaniment. My car runs the billet Airflow cupholders, which have paid for themselves in satisfying my 911+caffeine addiction many times over. With coffee and cake on board, and iPod shuffle piping through the Autocom intercom headphones, we headed for Folkestone.
Just before Junction 9, the sign said ‘M40 Closed; Junction 4 to 3’. Pain in the bum as there is no real alternative after J9 unless you want to go miles around via the A34/M4. I had also just passed the logical link from M40 to M1.
I came off at J9 and ran the A41 all the way through Aylesbury and out the other side, eventually hitting the M25 (above). The detour was a nuisance, but it was a great drive. The M25 southern section was soon dispatched, and I headed onto the M26/M20 (below), stopping for fuel at the last-chance services and arriving at Eurotunnel just as dawn was breaking.
I was sitting on a kerb taking this picture of the pink dawn sky over the terminal building, when a guy got out of a car on the other side of the hedge behind me. He called to his son: “Look, look! Look at this old Porsche! Oh WOW!” Then he must have seen the back of me sitting there being a camera geek, and British reserve kicked in just as his son came bundling out of their car and wowing excitedly, just the same. “Shush,” he said, “it’s only a car.” Made me smile.
After my first proper run in the Orange for almost 21 months (since July 08), caning along an empty A41 and then a good old blast around the M25, I thought to myself “Yes, it’s only a car. But what a car!”
The tunnel crossing was a chance to rest. Loved their note about opening sunroofs and vents seeing as I don’t have either. We rolled out the other side into beautiful sunshine and I put pedal to metal again, knocking on 160 km/h all the way to Antwerp. I stopped there to grab a bite:
Two hours later, I was checking in to Essen’s Hotel Petul. Once upon a time, I’d have downed a double espresso and shot straight on down to the show. With days of sleep deprivation catching up with me, I decided to grab a nap instead. There’s only so long a candle can be burnt at both ends!
