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Is modifying a classic Porsche 911 sacrilegious


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  • Opinion: Is modifying a classic Porsche 911 sacrilegious?
 

26 Jun
 
Opinion: Is modifying a classic Porsche 911 sacrilegious?
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  • Josh Barnett
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You cannot deny that modified 911s of the classic ilk are enjoying an incredible renaissance at the moment. Yet, as values rise and rise, especially for ‘time warp’ cars preserved in factory specification, is the slippery slope of hot-rodding a moralistic path to take?

‘The market’, the mysterious non-entity that everyone refers to when discussing Porsche 911 values, prizes originality over everything. A basket case 1973 911 Carrera RS will likely fetch more than a tampered-with-yet-immaculate example.

The phrase ‘matching-numbers’ is worth its weight in gold however, it is a bizarre concept in reality. Engines can and do blow up, and so replacing them with a similar unit, even if it wasn’t the one the car left Zuffenhausen with, makes perfect sense to me.

Porsche-911-ST-replica.jpgAutofarm’s 911 ST replica started life as a 911S. But because of this it follows in the traditions of independent racers from the Sixties and Seventies.

In many ways, asking for an original classic 911 is like asking for an original racing car. Factory fitted parts wear out, break, or get damaged and so, by replacing them, the car suddenly changes from the one that left the factory all those years ago.

But, even with the hypocrisy that can surround the restoration of original Porsche 911s, taking a classic car and modifying is an entirely different ball game, fundamentally changing the character of the 911.

911Ts are ripe for picking in such a project, especially in the USA where values of these classic base models are not as astronomical as in Europe. With a basic interior and a wheezy 110-130bhp engine (dependent on Series) it’s understandable that some owners would want to improve upon its lowly base.

Porsche-911S-O-Series.jpgSome classic 911′s are just too historically important to tamper with, such as this 1967 911S. Rarity is definitely a deciding factor.

However, whether T, E, or S, classic, pre-impact bumpers are becoming hard to find. So, to take one and move it away from factory specification with a bigger engine, or wider wheels, or flared arches, means that one more throwback to a bygone era has been lost.

There is also a case for the argument that suggests you cannot improve on the original machinery produced in the Zuffenhausen factory. After all, can you seriously suggest you have more know how and financial clout than the mighty Porsche?

Maybe this line of thought is more apt when dealing with the more recent water-cooled cars where Porsche continually closes in on mechanical perfection, whereas the older offerings allow more scope for improvement. We certainly know more about building cars now than people did in the Sixties and Seventies.

Singer-Porsche-911.jpgSinger may take the later 964 platform as their base but their reimagined offerings are opening up the air-cooled Porsche world to numerous new enthusiasts.

So far then, I haven’t drawn many conclusions. I love factory-spec cars. I’m normally a stickler for originality as, if I buy a classic car, I want it so that I can experience from an era that predates my very existence. Therefore, you would assume that modified and hot-rodded 911s are anathema to me.

But, that’s where you’re wrong. I may not have the guts to do it myself but I applaud those individuals like Magnus Walker who strive to personalise their classic 911s both aesthetically and mechanically. They are truly creating ‘their’ car (which is exactly what Ferry Porsche did in creating the 911).

And they’re attracting a whole new generation of fans to the low-tech, thrill-a-minute experience of classic, air-cooled Porsche 911s. That’s no bad thing, as long as classic 911s continue to exist in order to satisfy the purists (and there seems to be enough division within the ranks to ensure that this is the case).

Share your thoughts in the comments section below, or via our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Porsche-911-Carrera-3.2.jpgIs the 911 Carrera 3.2 a better starting block for hot-rodding? Mechanically superior to older cars, they are also still in plentiful supply.

 

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I like the idea of making a car your own, but modified 911's that have a sensitivity to some Porsche history are my preference. Like everything in life it's all about balance, it's a delicate balance but that is all part of the many aspects and joys of ownership!

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Depends on if it's a "special" model. and how "good of condition" it is.

 

If it's a standard model:

If it's immaculate. Shouldn't touch it.

If it needs some life put back on it, go for it 

 

If it's a special model:

if it's immaculate. keep it that way

if it needs TLC. give it TLC. (not tables ladders chairs from wwe  :P )

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Interesting topic, cars of significance, left alone or restored rather than restomoded, is a no brainer.

Cars that have matching numbers and known history and that can have  providence proven leave them alone no matter what the model.

However resto mods like the Singer adds a whole new discussion point , as they are reengineered.

Magnus Walker is another example, cars he has built are his interpretations. I do like his work and the cars are given lives of their very own,  e.g. the 911ST sold at auction for significantly more money than the price of the parts.  Even he was surprised to see cars he once owned sold with the title ex Magnus Walker and the factory recognises his as work.  

Recently there was a 1969 2ltr 911S with a late turbo body on it. For 25K. the price of the restored ones just went over the cost to restore it to original which makes it a worthwhile investment.

I know of at least one 2.4S that’s masquerading as a 2.7RS Targa car clone. it is more valuable restored to original and again is now a good investment with the value of 2.4S cars hot on the duck  tails of genuine 27RS cars.

The Cars sales adds are littered with 911s forward moded big bumpers to look like turbos or 964s that in some cases were once long bonnet cars, with the trend in long bonnet restomods flipping one back the other way I believe, is worthwhile, and look a lot better.

From my point of view the only mods that can be justified to an original car is adding original options however even this is issues.

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I think in Australia another factor would be import vs Aus delivered. I have no issues modifiying my import turbo but I think I would be more hesitant to do the same to an Australian delivered model because of the premium they attract. While this may not be the case for everyone I know I won't be losing any sleep over modifying my import as it won't rise in value at the same rate. Great article John thanks for sharing.

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At the risk of being cast out of the fold, I'm in the "leave it alone" camp....
 
I don't feel that we aren't able to improve on things, It's just that we shouldn't.....
 
These cars (and not just Porches) are a product of their time and reflect where we were in the evolution of transport. They should be preserved for the future... they don't make them anymore and once they're gone,.......... they're gone.
 
How do we explain to future generations what a 911 was if they are all modified?
 
Look son, there goes a 911.... although in my day it didn't have wheels like that, or suspension like that, or an engine like that, or even look like that....... h'mm.... I wonder if that really was a 911??
 
I've always believed that I am the current caretaker of this one machine.... what I do now will possibly alter what it becomes in the future.....Leave them alone, I say..... enjoy them, love them, and most importantly, preserve them...

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yeah I'd happily modify a Japanese import or otherwise (and I'm considering it for my next one) but I'd leave an Australian delivered car as is

 

although I wonder if one day there will be more modified 911's than unmodified ones

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I believe it is a personal choice.

 

One of the many things I love about my car is the set up is for me and not anyone else and this question allows a gratuitous opportunity to display a pic of my car.

 

KH_964-055_zps360d2850.jpg

 

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I have always taken the approach that:

  • if it is a rare and valuable car it should be looked after and kept original.
  • if it is a generic bulk supply model of no significant value, then do what you like.
  • if it is a basket case and will never have high value, then do what you like.

Time also changes these conditions. What is common and cheap today becomes rare and valuable in a few decades time, (with a few exceptions - I'm lookin' at you 'Doorstop' Magna).

 

Personalising a car is all good and well but eventually we have to move them on, and losing buckets of money and time on a toy tends to bite.

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Depends on if it's a "special" model. and how "good of condition" it is.

 

If it's a standard model:

If it's immaculate. Shouldn't touch it.

If it needs some life put back on it, go for it 

 

If it's a special model:

if it's immaculate. keep it that way

if it needs TLC. give it TLC. (not tables ladders chairs from wwe  :P )

My thoughts exactly, and this doesn't just cover Porsches. If you have a special/rare model, then you should restore it back to original, including wheels etc. the escort Mexico on that show on abc last night was a good example, where restored back to original colour and options made the best result. In that case they had no engine so the performance engine was probably a good compromise. I even tossed up whether the sunroof delete was a good idea.

In the case of standard cars ( and I don't differentiate on original country of delivery here, I find the 'Australian delivered' thing more than weird, but it is what it is), a good survivor car should be maintained and not color swapped or back or forward dated. I think those viewing imports as worth-less cars to be sacrificed are taking a very short term view. An example is the US where grey imports where once seen as less valuable, now the European imports are catching up and exceeding the values because they are built to ROW standard with less pollution and safety gear to slow them down. The cars are falling into categories in some states where smog testing etc are exempt and so their value goes back up when you don't have to fear a yearly and expensive smog test to keep it on the road.

Realistically nobody should be cutting up nice examples anymore as there are enough rolling basket cases around to serve as race or hotrod bases.

The matching numbers thing came from the muscle car world where the vehicles often had a choice of engines and transmissions as factory options. It was easy to drop in a big block and pass a car off as more valuable than it started. In the case of many Porsches there was only one engine/gearbox option so it's not as big a deal, but it does add to the survivor aspect of a car, rather than a rebuilt wreck collected from

bits and pieces.

Still, all in all, for fans of any classic car we should be happy they aren't being crushed or left to rot in fields, as is the fate of 99% of all cars manufactured.

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Cutting into the body is a bit like plastic surgery. Often just as expensive.

You can never go back to the way it was when it left the factory.

Other than that , matching numbers chassis/engine/gearbox for me is a value adder.

But not fussed about wear and tear items like fuel injectors , air in tyres etc

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I have just purchased a slightly modified 694.................

 

If anything the modifications made it more appealing to me and I doubt that in this case they had a negative impact on value. Like I said above, its about finding a balance between what suits the car & owner(s). 

 

Unfortunately for every example of a 'tasteful' or 'justifiable' modified car there is a zillion bad ones......................hence the general discussion to leave them alone. In saying that I am far more interested in nicely modified 911's than I am in 100% original ones, probably just showing my age and maturity!  :rolleyes:

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there's not a great deal of original items on my car, but it's how i want it, people seem to like it anyway, and i don't think i'd have any trouble shifting it if i had to sell?

I guess there are two issues , one whether it's sacrilegious (religious however spelt is an uncomfortable adjective , always) and two , whether your (or the PO's) mods have devalued or enhanced the car. As has been noted , only the rare or special factory cars are kinda out of bounds if you are chasing maximum investment potential. Eventually though , many people buy with the heart not the head , esp in a stampede-to-get-the-last-one-on-earth scenario that is happening in the USA in particular.

 

The bubble will burst and people will get stung.

It's quite amusing to sit back and watch human behaviour during these times.

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The bubbles have come about because there was a down turn and will continue until the economies recover. ..and when and if investors return to the traditional investments. The Historic Automobile Group Index is showing Porsche is the leading the pack.

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I sold my last car on the basis of the bubble is getting to where I thought it would go no further only to see another at twice the price !!

 

2.4S in the US for 33K in 2008 estimate for auction 250-275K

 

http://bringatrailer.com/2014/07/15/bat-exclusive-1973-porsche-911s-sunroof/

 

http://www.goodingco.com/vehicle/1973-porsche-911-2-4-s-3/

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Like some I think the car you are modifying matters but the mods that you intend to do matter more.

If they are mods that change the car forever, cutting into the body etc then don't do it.

If they are reversible or simply upgrading the likes of suspenion then go for it.

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