I bought this car in 2009, a dream come true for me as I had coveted and desired the car since it was introduced back into the US in 1986. My first experience was with a 1978 Turbo when I was 16 - it was owned by the gas station owner I worked for at the time. Just washing that car for him instilled in me an appreciation for the design, the quality of engineering, and mainly those big wide rear fender flares! When I graduated from college in 1985, the 1986 Porsche Turbo was just about to be released into the US for the first time since it went away in 1979 due to emissions regulations. The new 1986 911 Turbo was one of the most expensive, exotic, fast, and technologically advanced cars on the planet. But it was a distant dream for me, given the price of admission at my then tender age of 23.
Fast forward through marriage, career changes, graduate school, two children, relocations, and various residential transactions. In 2009, at age 43, I was able to finally pick up that car of my dreams (my own experience I believe outlines exactly what collector car prices are driven by... 16 year old kids who turn 40-50 and still want that car they loved way back when). I was browsing cars at a local consignment shop that specialized in muscle cars. Back in the corner, a bit neglected, was a pristine-looking 1986 Porsche 911 Turbo in Guards Red paint with black interior, which just happened to be how I saw the car in my dreams when I was a kid. The car had a set of old original Fuchs wheels stuffed inside the car and was wearing gold BBS aftermarket wheels, which were a typical "period correct" upgrade for owners that wanted to mimic the race cars of that era. But I think it cheapened the car a bit, and definitely dated it in 2009. This was good news for me, because everyone seemed to be ignoring this car. So I test drove it, checked the engine and the underside, and made a low offer. The owner came back and said,"No... you know this car is worth every penny I'm asking". Well, he had me there. The asking price was less than the price of a mid-level Lexus sedan at the time. I raised my offer and we made a deal. That was one of the great days of my car-collecting life. A decades long desire was met, and the car performed even better than I had ever imagined.
This car must have been an absolute mind-blower in 1986. Even by today's standards, it was quick, with a 0-60 time of just 4.6 seconds. Almost nothing else came close in terms of performance. But also, just the quality of everything was world-class. Porsche owners from the 80's know that satisfying sound of the solid door closing on these cars. And that unmistakable smell inside of leather, metal, and a hint of oil. I had a few things to change and fix, but not much. I had the original Fuchs wheels polished, and I sold the vintage BBS wheels (should have kept those, too).
For 10 years, I have babied the car, shared it with other enthusiasts (I enjoy letting people try out my cars), washed it, maintained it, and smiled every time I got in it for a drive. As pure "garage art" it is breathtaking. I have never tired of looking at it and even my lovely wife (who cares very little about cars) has many times told me it is the coolest looking car I've ever owned. Even as my car collecting grew through time, the 930 has always had a place of honor, as sort of the "Grande Dame" of the garage.
Earlier this year, I bought a 1977 Porsche 911S on BringaTrailer.com and have been enjoying working on it, modifying it and driving it whenever I can. As a modified and higher mileage car, it has less collectable value than my beautiful "Red Rocket" 930, so I find myself always reaching for the 1977 911S keys when I want a vintage-Porsche-driving fix. So, I decided to sell the 930 and let someone else enjoy this amazing car. It wasn't an easy choice, but I figured I could put it out for auction on BringATrailer and see if someone loved it as much as I. If not, I keep it for more years and let the value continue to rise. Well, the auction activity, commentary, and results can be seen on the auction site at BaT 911 Turbo For Sale. For the auction, I had photos taken by a car enthusiast I had met through an online car forum, and I had a local high-school videographer make a short video. They both did amazing work capturing the essence of this 33-year old beauty.
After one week at auction, the car sold. The buyer contacted me within seconds of the close and was clearly excited to get this car! We started speaking through text, emails, and then on the phone. It was amazing what a connection I felt right away. I love how cars bring people together from all backgrounds. He and I have definitely found tons of common ground and respect for how we both love the cars of this era and this car in particular. Although he is all the way across the country, we made the transaction pretty simple through trust and speed. Within just a few days, all the paperwork was transferred, money was wired, and a truck was scheduled to move it to its new home in Raleigh, NC. The buyer used the same truck and trailer used to deliver my silver 1977, so "circle of life" and all that.
It was then time to say goodbye to this old friend 930, a car that is a touchstone and a milestone for my life and career and my car hobby. So as it loaded on the truck, those mixed feelings were all there: gratitude for the opportunity to own this car, honored that a buyer on the other side of the country trusts me to sell him this car sight-unseen, sadness that I won't feel the rush of that Turbo when it kicks in around 3800 rpm, and happiness that the car is seemingly going to, once again, make the dreams come true for a once-16-and-and-now-old-enough new owner.
No comments:
Post a Comment