Champagne

To be honest, I have never seen a sunroof delete headliner. So I'm not even sure if they actually "pushed" it to the roof, which means re-designing all the attachments points, or if they simply deleted the hole. In which case, it would not help us at all.
I suspect, that they re-designed the headliner to go right to the metal + isolation and kept the original attachments points.
This is what we will need to duplicate if you can't find one.
That will give you the maximum headroom, the quietest cabin and the best fit and finish.

See, I make a lot more sense when I stay serious

Paul

S4ordie

update 21 Sep 2009

Progress, progress, progress....

The GTS hips have been grafted on for awhile. The sunroof delete is now completed, the car has been primered.

The car was shipped to Doc Brown's shop to remove the drivetrain so he can begin his magic. While there, the rest of the interior was removed as well in preparation for shipment to Paul and Linda Champagne so they can do their excellent work on the interior.

Car will be painted in the next couple of weeks and held unassembled until the interior returns from Design Champagne. Once the interior is reinstalled the car will be shipped back to Doc Brown's to have the drivetrain re-installed and everything sorted.

RyanPerrella

Dan

Im envious of your budget lol

nearly a frame off restoration, of course there is no frame to remove but its pretty comprehensive !

JWise

Dan- Are those 17x9 ET55's on the back? You gonna need those???

joe cat

Ok, Ill be the one to ask

HOW MUCH?

Break it down for us a bit - It will be interesting to hear- what numbers (prices) for what job

How much do you expect to have into it in the end?

How much was the idea of sunroof delete?

How much for the ripping apart and assembly?

Dont worry we wont judge-- We'll just grin with envy- or atleast i will!

Joe Cat

Chuck Z

This is quite the ambitious project Dan! I applaud your efforts. Nice job.

Mike B

Do it once, do it right...Great job Dan!

Thanks for the update.

S4ordie

Break it down for us a bit - It will be interesting to hear- what numbers (prices) for what job

Enough to have purchased a pristine low mile GTS. Perhaps 2

The sunroof delete panel is not so expensive ($500) and adding it the rest of the project, not so bad (another $500-$700)

Not quite there because we won't know the full tally until finished.

Other areas of interest might be the upholstery work by Paul Champagne: His price list is posted on his website. I suspect it to hit $10k or more on that part alone.

The Doc Brown drivetrain magic is expensive and extensive.

There is a premium price I am willing to pay for a premium results. Ron Ruff (bodywork and paint) has been at the top of his game for a very long time and is a purist. We had a several week delay because his German spot welder broke and it took some time for the replacement part to arrive from Deutschland. Oh he could use any of a number of other spot welders but to him only his model is perfect and therefore the project had to wait. I like that.

Many here already know of Paul Champagne's interior design and fabrication work and the beauty of the results he and his wife Linda produce. Many may not know that Paul is also a Luthier, a maker of fine concert guitars. Having such artisan skills and attention to even the hidden not to be seen details is of a value, to me, his product is well above anyone else I could have chosen.

Greg Brown's reputation lies in the results of his output. His engines have propelled some of the fastest Porsches anywhere. This racing pedigree of building engines to withstand the rigors of the track and the decades of hard earned intellectual property that go into his product is worth a premium. And I am pleased and happy to have him engaged for the drivetrain aspect of the project.

I have been involved in similar projects in the past. I can tell you that all who have contributed on any of my projects have become friend. It is easy to expect the best outcome when you invest in the work of the best. Every project I have done (houses, boat, cars) has it's own unique history complete with great and not so great moments. But truly, when the team is of the caliber of Ron, Paul and Greg, their expectations are always as high, if not higher, than mine. Sometimes 'stuff' happens and that is the true test of a project like this. I like the "stuff" because that is when compromise comes into play, whether in terms of cost, schedule or end deliverable. It is the stuff that you remember.

To be sure the costs here are considerable. Some may say "that Dan is foolish, he is throwing too much money at a car that will never be worth what he is putting into it". I would agree with that technically. Others will look at this project and say "now that is how to end up with a better than original incarnation of an already great car". They would be right too.

I am not concerned so much with what others think of this project. I appreciate free speech and comments regarding me, my conduct, my character and accomplishments. I provide ample room for both positive and negative critique in most everything I have done and will continue to do. So all comments are welcome.

My goal is to end up with the 928 of my design, facilitated by celebrity status experts I doubt there will be another 928 with this pedigree in addition to the one of one color - Turqouise Metallic. It will be a very special, well driven car. It is by no means an investment. It is the opportunity to enjoy something extraordinary and to appreciate it. It will also not be for sale unless some calamity befalls me. It will be for my wife and children to admire and tangibly enjoy should they outlive me.

This car is also a wonderful opportunity to have some of the very very best talent related to the 928 to do their work as part of a comprehensive project. In this I believe my car will have exclusivity.

I enjoy sharing the process with everyone because it will remain as a historical footnote to the history of the car and for all to see the completeness of the project.

86'928S MeteorGrey

That is going to be one seriously bad to the bone 928...

One 91 928 S4...............X
GTS Flares....................X
Sunroof Delete...............X
Ron Ruff bodywork.........X
Paul Champaign interior..X
Doc Brown "Magic".........X

No busted knuckles or road debris falling into your eyes?.........F-ing PRICELESS!

It's how I'd do it if I could...

I don't know if you're going with a stroker or not, but it really doesn't matter...

I'm 5'11" and I too would like to have the added headroom. I've been toying with the idea of designing in a pre 85' 944 style manual lift/removable panel that can open up a large section of the roof. I know it would be non-original, but it would be great on warm summer nights...



Keep the photos coming. I'm living my dream through you....

S4ordie

Yes, mechanical masturbation (stroking) is part of the project.

Bertrand Daoust

Wow!
I'm sure this is gone to be a very unique and beautiful 928.
Can't wait to see the final result.
... And with a Champagne interior...

Nice project sir, nice project.

S4ordie

Hey Jarrod - yep, gonna have them widened to 17x8.5 front and 17x10.5 rear. Greg brown has found a place that can do this, and do it right so that the wheels are not weakened.

jpNcos

+1

JHowell37

Tell me you're keeping it the original color.

blitz928

This is some incredible stuff, I believe we all would love to do something like this to our cars, but damn! There's some serious $$$$ being spent here. Did someone win the Lottery.