Junkyard Porsche 944 Gets an Extreme Makeover
If you thought your car was so dirty that it was beyond saving, then you need to see the tricks utilized to renew this 944.
Larry Kosilla has a knack for bringing out the best in some cars. No, he’s not modifying them for performance, but instead, he is making them better places to spend some time. If you are satisfied watching dramatic before and after videos on dirty cars being cleaned, then you’ll love this Porsche 944 junkyard rescue. And along the way, Kosilla will give you some tips that you can use on your own car.
We have to assume that those of us watching this have cars that are dirty, though not quite as bad as this 944. But that’s OK because this 944 has a neat history. Kosilla announces, “I am working with a non-profit organization called Kars4Kids. Someone donated this car and received a $500.00 tax donation. The organization reached out to me asking If I’d be willing to donate my time to bring this car back to its former glory – or close to it – so they could get more money for it at auction.” Kosilla would be responsible for the cleaning, but the new owner would take the reins on repairs.
For most of us, the interior sees the least amount of our attention, and the most amount of our dirt. Taking out the seats in this 944 makes the job far easier. After a thorough vacuuming, Kolissa said he pre-treated the carpets and let it soak for a few minutes, then he steamed the floors to release the years of crusty stains on the front floors and back carpets. Obviously this is going to clean the carpets far more than you’d just get from a vacuuming, and even makes a difference on darker interiors. This 944 also had a moldy interior that nearly took a hazmat team to clean.
There’s always improvements to be made on paint whether it is a daily driver or a sports car tucked away most of the year. Clear coat naturally attracts foreign substances and a regular wash with your standard sponge or wash mitt can do more harm than good. Here Kosilla demonstrates how to get even oxidized black paint back to a healthy sheen. For a car like this, he had to use a heavy cut compound on a buffer. “After everything was compounded, we finished up with a light polish to remove the very minor compounding swirls,” says Kosilla.
Amazingly, this junkyard 944 turned from a moldy mess into a real candidate for a daily driver. In fact, it was going to be someone’s first Porsche.
Kevin, the new owner, explained why he picked this 944, even though it had been sitting since 2001. He said, “The man who I think would appreciate this car the most would be my dad. He passed away that year and probably is the reason why I’m in to Porsches because he had a 911SC.” That’s about the happiest ending we could think of for a car donated to charity, and immediately finding sentimental value with a new member of the Porsche owner club.
Join the Rennlist forums now!
