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My 1985.1 Guards Red Introduction and Preservation
Introducing my 1985.1 944. I saw the car for sale on Craigslist at 10:00PM on a Friday night and called first thing the next morning. The car was only an hour away from my house so we decided to meet at 9:00 AM. As soon as I saw the car I knew it would be mine. $7500.00 was the asking price and I thought well bought at that price.
Car: 1985.1 944 with 92,000 miles. Guards Red. Three previous owners. The car was originally optioned with leather sport seats, 15” forge alloy staggered, 7” front 8” rear, Fuchs wheels, SQR-46 radio, AC, cruise, sunroof, and alarm system. The car currently has the 3-spoke steering wheel instead of the 4-spoke version. Car came with a clean Carfax back as far as Carfax goes. Previous owner owned the car for over 10 years and included $11,500 in receipts for work done over the last two years including front and year OEM Porsche euro bumpers, valance, fog lights etc... Car then had a complete windows out, trim removed respray using Spies Heckler paint and clear coat. Previous owner was an SCCA member, an enthusiast and an all around car guy/race driver. Car has a throttle response cam and a balance shaft delete was performed by the previous owner. Recent Work/Upgrades: - All new cap, rotor, plugs and wires - New KYP shocks. Personally I prefer Bilstein. - Weltmeister front lowering springs - Stainless steel brake lines - All new brake calipers, pads and rotors. Extras that came with the car: - Original owner’s manuals - 1985 sales brochure - Original tool kit in great condition - Original tire and jack - 2 sets of factory service manuals, one set still in the original box from Porsche - Becker cat back stainless steel exhaust - Set of new rear control arms - 2 rebuilt rear CV axles - Extra sunroof motor/mechanism - New tires Things I have done while in winter storage: - Seats removed, cleaned, re-dyed and conditioned - Carpets removed, cleaned and re-dyed - Dash removed waiting to be sent to Classic 9 Leather Shop to be restoredCenter console cover reupholstered - Replaced worn out rear hatch struts - Replaced faded sunroof switch - Bought a period correct SQR-46 radio to replace the aftermarket one that came with the car - Bought new door speakers from the UK that supposedly fit the thin 944 doors - Replaced the yellowed coolant reservoir with a new OEM Porsche item - Bought new hood insulation - Bought new reproduction under hood decals Small Projects planned before spring: - reinstall the interior - Install radio when it arrives - replace hard windshield washer tubing - Detail engine compartment - Install H4 E Code headlights with upgrade harness - Possibly change the timing belt. I has only about 12,000 miles on it, but it was done in 2010 |
Strange that the options don’t show 401 for the Fuchs or 220 for the LSD but clearly you have both :thumbup: Thanks for sharing more pictures. |
It's not on the build sheet, but when my local dealership decoded the VIN they gave me the print out with:
158: Radio Blaupunkt SQR-46 220: Cassette Radio GT2 401: 15-inch Forged Alloy Wheels. Not sure what originally came on the car, but they are now 7" and 8" staggered 15" Fuchs. 409: Sport Seats Leather 425: Rear Window Wiper 431: 4-Spoke Sport Steering Wheel. Mine now has the 3-Spoke 454: Cruise Control 533: Alarm System 650: Electric Sliding Sunroof 715: Interim Model On Build Sheet that wasn't part of the VIN: C02: US Market E05: ??? L45: ??? |
Originally Posted by MSGGrunt
(Post 15699560)
It's not on the build sheet, but when my local dealership decoded the VIN they gave me the print out with:
158: Radio Blaupunkt SQR-46 220: Cassette Radio GT2 401: 15-inch Forged Alloy Wheels. Not sure what originally came on the car, but they are now 7" and 8" staggered 15" Fuchs. 409: Sport Seats Leather 425: Rear Window Wiper 431: 4-Spoke Sport Steering Wheel. Mine now has the 3-Spoke 454: Cruise Control 533: Alarm System 650: Electric Sliding Sunroof 715: Interim Model On Build Sheet that wasn't part of the VIN: C02: US Market E05: ??? L45: ??? |
Your first two 3 digit codes following the CO2 are packages.
Those include some of the options which do not appear on the white build code tag, but which you know are part of the car's original build such as the cruise, sunroof, rear wiper, etc. Porsche bundled some options in groups as in a 'marketing and sales' endeavor to move stock or provide more upmarket, more profitable cars to the dealers. Thus increasing revenue to the company and dealership. Really loaded up cars would not have had the space on the white tag to print all the 3 digit codes. They were bundled and would show on the Kardex kept at the factory in their records dept., and on the Monroney window sticker. Do you still have yours ? Looks to be a really great looking 944 and worth the dollars spent. It apparently had a couple of appreciative first owners and they tried to imitate the look of the 924 Carrera GT, the forerunner of the 944. Thanks for showing us your beauty. |
Yes, the previous owner did tell me that his intent with the sheet metal and fiberglass changes was to emulate the look of the 924 GT, which I do like and appreciate. Mind you this is my first vintage Porsche, I owned a 2007 Cayman S previously, and am still learning all the nuances of the 944s.
I'm not sure that size tires on are on the car, but I will look. |
Very nice and good luck with it!
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My sticker has an A11 code which is a package similar to the ones you have. For example, I have an alarm system, but that's nowhere in the discrete listed codes.
Never have been able to figure out what exactly is/was in the A11 package... |
Originally Posted by Ashman
(Post 15700853)
My sticker has an A11 code which is a package similar to the ones you have. For example, I have an alarm system, but that's nowhere in the discrete listed codes.
Never have been able to figure out what exactly is/was in the A11 package... Some of those other “options” or “packages” were country specific, for example emissions included in US models included a carbon canister and cat and front fogs were also US specific as was the sunroof and shock absorbing bumpers. Likewise British cars didn’t have any of those (carbon/cat/fogs/sunroof/bumpers) as a standard package but you could specify some of them by individual “M” options at the dealer. |
Tonight I replaced the windshield washer pump with a like new one and replaced the hard washer lines from the reservoir to the windshield with nice supple new ones.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...6c43ba685f.jpg |
New Front Door Speakers
I also replaced the front door speakers. These do mount right up, but the center of the speaker does hit the cover. It isn't too bad as you can suck the surround of the gill against the door panel by tightening the screws.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...7d0c92a803.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...700a60f34a.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...251dd46be7.jpg |
Originally Posted by MSGGrunt
(Post 15704400)
Tonight I replaced the windshield washer pump with a like new one and replaced the hard washer lines from the reservoir to the windshield with nice supple new ones.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...6c43ba685f.jpg |
The picture of the tubing not going through the firewall was taken when I was pulling the old lines out. The new lines have been routed through that small hole designed for the line.
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As part if the interior freshening up I had the center console top cover recovered by a local auto upholstery shop. It had a small hole in it.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...68aad6dab5.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...ca8a880f50.jpg |
All of the carpets were removed, vacuumed, washed, let dry, vacuumed again and they re-dyed. Whenever I get a car I like to remove the carpets and do this. It makes the interior much nicer to live with and you discover any hidden surprises like the FUBAR'd left front drivers seat mount.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...6c7d5fe8b8.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...5009807c45.jpg |
The rear seat belt plastic covers were severely crack so for now I just removed them. Maybe in the future they will be properly replaced.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...4a39453110.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...45ce988649.jpg |
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Replaced the intake boot for an OEM Porsche one. The original wasn't giving any problems, but the new one is much more supple.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...300ad75181.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...56ea8b23ff.jpg |
Excellent, it makes a huge improvement to the looks and likely the reliability and performance also. Btw yours is one of the few cars I’ve seen recently with the belt cover vent tube still intact. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...594afd6146.png |
What was the reason for the modification? And is this modification something I should consider or am I OK leaving the vent hose connected?
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Originally Posted by MSGGrunt
(Post 15724873)
What was the reason for the modification? And is this modification something I should consider or am I OK leaving the vent hose connected?
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I agree.
All of my 944s still have them attached and I use the original system to monitor any rubber dust off the belt collecting in the airbox and filter. Mainly to retain 'originality' and to determine if said belts are prematurely degrading and need replacing. Some have suggested the old system sucked any oil off leaking componentry and brought it into contact with the rubber belts, thus degrading them further and causing belt failure. Thus damaging the head by causing catastrophic valve bending when the t-belt broke on these interference engines. |
Your car is looking great! I love all the attention to detail and it’s inspiring me to do more of this as I get my 951 back in the road. |
Thanks for the compliments.
Over the weekend I replaced the broken cargo cover end caps with aluminum ones purchased off eBay. Great quality. The Blaupunkt Bremen SQR 46 arrived from Serbia. I bench tested it and it seems to work fine. I'm hoping it is an easy install. The after market radio in the car now is wired through the factory fader switch and hopefully I can keep this feature for originality. I do believe that the radio in the car has only two speaker outputs where the SQR 46 has a separate output for each speaker. I'm no audiophile so this may require some expert assistance. Any idea where I can download an owner's manual for the Bremen SQR 46 or am I relegated to searching overseas eBay sights? https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...e3744426d3.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...c9aca8370d.jpg |
That is a VERY nice, well preserved stereo.
Have you tried calling Blaupunkt's 1-800 number or gone online and searched their site ? A few years back I had need of some different knobs for one of my units.... the old ones had broken and spun freely on the shafts. I contacted them about buying new knobs and was surprised when they expedited by two day mail a set of 2 or 3 pairs, FREE of charge. That was great P.R. and amazed me quite a bit that they would do such a thing |
The Bremen was an easy install, well almost... I wired the left front/rear and right front/rear speakers together and all 4 speakers are working perfectly. Even the factory fader works. The front Alpine SXE-4625S speakers are an improvement over the original, but mind you I am not an audiophile with a discerning ear. The Euro radio can be tuned for the "odd" US stations/frequencies.
All I need now is a radio surround/cage that fits the Bremen or probably any other period Blaupunkt radio. I tried using the single DIN cage off the aftermarket radio that came out of the car, but it just seemed way too tight. I have read that the 80's single DIN size is not as standard as they are today. Please chime in if you know more about this or where I can get a mount for the Bremen. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...884189e759.jpg |
Your 944 is beautiful!!! It was an excellent find and you are doing excellent working maintaining the car! Keep up the good work and I will look forward to future updates!!
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Excellent job giving this car the love it deserves and keeping the good stuff original! I saw it when the previous owner posted it on Craigslist and knew it wouldn't last long. Clean cars like this are so hard to find so congrats! Keep the updates coming.
Would love to see it in person too. You can't be too far from me, wasn't this car listed in NH? |
Yes, I bought the car out of Peterborough, NH, about an hour North of where I live in MA. The car was already in great condition so taking care of the smaller things has been a pleasure. Now that the weather is turning warmer I need to install the new hood insulation pads, thoroughly clean the engine compartment and replace all the bubbling decals. My new OEM Porsche hatch seal arrived yesterday, so that will be a top priority as well. I hope the new seal and adjusting the hatch will help with what sounds like leaking air. The door seals will be on the list too.
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Today I replaced the very deteriorated rear hatch guide pin seats and added Only944.com extra taillight bulbs. The seats came from Only944.com as well. The only other thing left is to replace the hatch seal with a new OEM Porsche one that I have waiting to go on and adjust everything.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...fb9bc55b24.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...4172b40850.jpg https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...d69f89dd2a.jpg |
Have you looked into your option code M715 yet to see exactly what you have? Seems like something that's pretty desirable!
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I was told by my local dealer that the M715 code meant the car was an "interim model".
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https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...9617932ff7.jpg
Replaced the hood foam with OEM style. |
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...5044d6af8b.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...741e00703e.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...2b05035051.jpg Also replaced the "high Voltage", "AC Recharge", "Coolant Refill" decals. |
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...d34a8a6145.jpg
And a new oil filler cap. |
Welcome to R-List! Good to know that someone is around here in my neck of the woods. Over by Keene, NH. Still working on my '83...Looks like you found a great buy! Congrats!
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