Picked up my project car
 

I finally found my project car on Thursday morning. I am currently on vacation in California and found the car In San Francisco while I was on my way so Southern California. It's a 1986 Carrera. It was in excellent condition and only has 111k miles. There really is nothing that needs to be done to it right now except drive it. The bad thing is that I had to leave the car at our friends house while we continued the family vacation. We will be picking it back up next Sat when we are heading back up to Seattle.

I'm excited to add a second Porsche to the garage. This is the car that I remember admiring when I was a kid. I even remember going on a test drive in one with my mom when I was younger. Just one of those cars that sticks in your mind. Now I have it and look forward to working on it.

http://www.emeraldcitycustoms.com/images/carerra.jpg

-David

Very cool. May I ask what you paid for it? And did you get a PPI on it before you bought it?

Man, David that looks like a really nice one. I love the polished Fuchs. Your idea of a project car looks quite a bit different from my idea of a project car. Enjoy it!

Beautiful car. What "project"?
Z.

I paid $16,250 for it. Low book was $16,600. Unfortunately I was not able to get a PPI done since I was buying it while on a road trip with my family. However, the person I purchased it from did get one last year when he purchased it. I know it isn't the same, but I do have the paperwork from his inspection. Carfax was clean and the inspection was normal for the year of the car. I can address any issues that may come up.

The "project" will be me doing whatever it takes to make it 1st class. An engine rebuild or new engine will be in store sometime. It may not be this year, but it will happen at some point. The exterior will probably be stripped and repainted with a high quality finish. The body is straight and it runs good for now. That is enough to get me down the road until I feel like ripping it apart. The interior was in excellent shape as well. No rips or tears. Heck, my stock Boxster seats are almost as worn down as the seats in this car.

I wanted something that I could drive for now, then slowly buy things for it to work on it. I still have my Boxster to work on too, so it will be a hard choice which one to buy for.

-David

damn man, thats nice.
i dont know if i would call a 16 thousand dollar car a project tho, that thing already looks done :)
ill have one of those too sometime

Wow David, congratulations on the Carrera.... Looks like it was kept in great condition!

Nice! I want to own a old school 911 someday.

Hi,

You bought a pretty car, but no PPI? You've learned nothing here.

Older Porsches are even less reliable than the current models. You took a BIG gamble. Yea, you only paid $16k, but the most expensive Porsche to own usually turns out to be that one which was cheapest to buy.

I sincerely hope your gamble pays off. But as you say, it's a project. I just hope it doesn't turn out to be a PROJECT.

I would recommend having a PPI done now anyway as a Baseline so you can prioritize your efforts and your $$. Don't naturally assume that if it drives OK, that it is OK. That climate can change very quickly. Good Luck...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

I love it! Best of luck. Whats the worst that can happen...you may have to spend some money on a car you bought for a "project" anyway. I am sure you expected to change some things and upgrade. That is a great picture!

Keep us posted on the process!

Very nice, David_J!!!

Nice new ride, a PPI is always advised but since you called it a project it doesnt really matter ;) . I have bought more than one without a PPI as I have a tendency to make emotional decisions about cars, which is why I have a yellow Boxster.

A PPI was next to impossible since I met the guy at 6:30am and was back on the road at 9:30 with the car. Since I bought it 800+ miles away from home, I was out of my territory. If the engine goes out, oh well. If the tranny goes out, oh well. That's why it is a project to me. I didn't buy the car for something that would last in it's current state, I bought it for fun. With summer getting closer, it might not get driven that much since I have the Boxster. Both my wife and I liked the older cars and wanted one to sink money into to enjoy. If I was concerned about the $$$ part of cars, I wouldn't have sunk over $15k into the Boxster in less than a year. Cars are fun to me and that is why I buy them. This car should be a fun project for us. I remember having posters on my wall of this car when I was growing up.

-David

Good for you David. Enjoy the car. Looks like a great ride. Put a few bucks into it and see what comes of it.

Your looking to put a new engine in it anyway so if it blows up what the hell. Just more reason to buy a higher HP motor for it when it does blow.

Again, enjoy the car..

Sweet! I wish I had a project car like that!

Enjoy and good luck! :cheers:

Beautiful car David. Goodluck and I hope you get all the enjoyment out of it that you are looking for.

Porsche was thinking of you (and probably many of us) when they made this vid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRbzJ0L1Zn8

I'm just bummed that I won't see the car until next Saturday. I tried to talk my wife into letting me bring it to Southern Cali, but it would have been a hassle. I guess I will just have to wait.

-David

just curious, did u write the guy a check on the spot or what?

Good for you David! Enjoy the car! Some guys aren't happy unless they're pissing in someone else's Cheerios. Don't listen to them. A mechanical failure allows you the opportunity to install the exact component you want, and adds to your enjoyment by allowing you to fix it yourself. I tend to buy total junk projects, requiring a replacement of everything. That way, when I'm done, I know the car is done right. Have fun, my friend. I'm glad to see a childhood dream come to fruition.

______________________
David J's idea of a "project" car obviously means driving it. Smarter than the rest of us mopes who must put it together first.

Pretty much. I negotiated the price, went to the bank to get a cashiers check, then went back to his house to pick up the car. Fast transaction.

Thanks. The car is more finished than what I was looking for, but it worked out for the better. I can drive the car now and fix it as needed. I guess my idea of project is different than yours. The pic in my other post that you posted was definately a project car. I'm starting on the smaller side of project. Found a car that looks good and still runs for my first project. Eventually the car will be exactly what I wanted. :)

-David

Awesome car! Everything about that car just rocks out. Love the color and the wheels are tremendous. I have been working on my my "project 911" on and off for the past 6+ years now. Wish mine was in that great of shape when I started it.....You got a beauty.

Der Geist,

You must be getting pretty close to being done with that '69 by now. When it's finished, you're gonna need a new project. I picked up this '69 Targa in Connecticut a couple of weeks ago. I just know you're interested. Better jump on it before the line forms!
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2..._011/targa.jpg

Believe it or not mine actually looked WORSE than that when I got it. Course for what I paid for it I am not complaining. Unfortunately I have not been able to touch it for the last couple of years and when I got my Boxster-well forget about the 'ole 911 for a while... Boxstering?? Is it a word??? I finally turned it over to someone else 2 weeks ago to sort out the electrical problems that were the primary reason that I took a rest from it. They got a whizz there with air cooled motors who had it running in a couple of hours. Here it is with the wide body kit. I am hoping that Matt will come up this winter and help me put a 3.4 and a supercharger in it. What a monster that would be. :troll:
Are you going to Hershey next month? You should be able to get everything you need there to finish that up right and pretty cheap too. I went the year before last and got loads of great deals on things.

I'm actually not even going to try to build this Targa. It's baaaaaad. I'm going to steal some stuff off of it that I need for my project, and then I'm going to cut the front and rear clips off. My brother and I saw the picture below on ebay and thought we'd try to make two of them, just for fun. I have no clue what we'll do with them because neither of us have room, but whatever.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2/grizzly_011/01.jpg

I'm going to try to go to Hershey. Every year, I run into a value conflict because it's the same weekend as Spring Carlisle. :mad:

Your '69 is looking good. Did you put a later model front on it also, or keep the long hood? I have always loved those vented quarters. A friend of mine had a slant nose 930 with vented fenders and quarters. What a car!!!

He unfortunately killed himself in it acting stupid. This is an old newspaper photograph of the car. He was very famous and his death was very tragic...and unnecessary.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2.../Pelles930.jpg

I'm going to try to go to Hershey. Every year, I run into a value conflict because it's the same weekend as Spring Carlisle. :mad:

Your '69 is looking good. Did you put a later model front on it also, or keep the long hood? I have always loved those vented quarters. A friend of mine had a slant nose 930 with vented fenders and quarters. What a car!!!

He unfortunately killed himself in it acting stupid.[/QUOTE]

Well I think you will be in luck this year and you will get to go to both. Just don't show up in Hershey sporting a Vette or a Mustang that you couldn't pass up. I wonder how many people here are going to Hershey?

I left the original front end on the car less the bumper which I changed out. I really like the looks of that longer hood. Too bad about your friend. That car looks terrible! How fast was he going? Those slant nose 930 were pretty sick cars in their day. Still are if you ask me. The only Porsche I like more is a 959 but forget about getting one of those now. I think it was pretty hard NOT to show off a little in a 930. I don't think I will be in any danger with the stock 2.0 for now. Course I do act stupid but that's not the cars fault...I am selling a commercial building I own and that is why I had to move the car and also why I decided to let someone else take a crack at it. My experience with my 914 and Porsche dealers has been horrific and has always stuck with me and I am very hesitant to let a dealer work on my car. I may decide to sell it though and go for the GT3. I keep going back and forth with it changing by the minute. Call me Sybill. I am gonna try and take an '03 turbo for a test drive next week. A local dealer has one that is super clean and pretty reasonable. For an '03 turbo that is. When I was in Vegas last month I took an '01 turbo for a test ride at a Benz dealer there and you know what? Take me out and kick me but I like the Boxster more.

Sorry for the hijack here, but what is the story with Hershey? My wife and I have been wanting to go down there for a while – if there is some car related event, it might finally be time to head over there…

HERE's a 'project' car:

http://www.zoto.com/frayadjacent/img...f2b4cb074a.jpg


That's my Stinky! I had to transplant the gas tank, engine, transmission, ignition, seats and a handful of other bits from a rusted out '70 sunroof coupe. She still mostly looks like that pic. I put my 15x7 repro fuchs on it. Soon I'll be welding in '73 rear fenders on both sides (passenger side fender arch is all bondo'd to hell) which should give me a bit more room for the wider wheels. Then I'll be stripping the body and slowly getting it primered and then strip the interior. Maybe summer 08 I'll be ready to have her painted. Then I'll refit the interior.

Lastly, I'll either rebuild the engine (it runs, but leaks oil like a sieve.) or find another one to use.

Here's the link for you Doc:

http://www.cpa-pca.org/swap/

If you go, stay at the Hershey Hotel. Your wife will enjoy it.

Thanks for the information - I think we will plan on being there.

After a little over 800 miles, the car made it home. Towing a U-Haul trailer is a lot different than towing my 24ft enclosed trailer. I could actually see behind me. The trailer does sway a lot more than mine. But the good thing is the car made it home safely.

http://www.emeraldcitycustoms.com/im...rera_intow.jpg

I have driven the car to work the past 2 days. Man, does it get more looks than the Boxster. There are just so many Boxsters around here people are use to them. There are a lot of older Porsches too, but not as many as the newer ones. The car is definately much different to drive than the Boxster. The Boxster has way more get up and go. But the Carrera is just a fun car.

-David

Nice car! 3.2 Carrera's are great, I have had mine for about 12 years, I cant seem to part with it.

You really think the Boxster S is that that much faster? I don't know about that.
:)

0-60 the Boxster is faster. Plus my Boxster has some mods done. The last dyno I did I was putting down 240HP at the wheels with it. Plus it has been lightened with the exhaust mod and the GT3 seats. Shifting from 1st to 2nd is much quicker in the Boxster. The Carrera doesn't come alive as quick, but once it does, it moves. The mod bug has bitten me hard. Now I don't know which car to work on. I will probably do an exhaust and intake on the Carrera soon. It's not loud enough for me. :)

The Carrera also needs some suspension work. I'm use to the Boxster now and need that in the new car.

-David

Nice acquisition David. Out of curiosity though, why didn’t you drive the Carrera home?

We (my wife and 2 kids) were on a family vacation (road trip) to Cali. I didn't think I should drive the car and leave my wife and kids in the other car for 800 miles. She probably would have told me to not come home if I did that. :)

-David

You are a smart man.