Someone asked in another thread about why an original car would be worth less, given that it took a lot of money to "modify" it. I thought it would be interesting to discuss the topic of originality vs. modified.

I've been around Porsches for 35+ years. I started with 356's, went to on to early 911's (longhoods), flirted with 993's and at this moment I love 964's. Over time I witnessed one thing that always happens. Most of the cars go through a phase where just about everyone that owns one decides to make some modifications. Maybe to make it look more "modern", maybe to make it perform better, or maybe just to make it cooler.

Following that phase, if the cars become sought after as vintage automobiles, the thing that is most highly valued is originality. Original cars are pretty rare as there is inevitable wear and tear over time - and many of the earlier owners made modifications.

My sense is that we don't really own these cars. We simply act as their custodians for a period of time. It's becoming more important to me to act as a good custodian. Which for me means don't do any modifications that can't be reversed.

I like a lot of the modifications that are currently most popular. The poster on the other thread wanted to know what those were and here is a brief list with plenty of opinion about doing them while acting as a good custodian.

• Outside Mirrors
  Well, not too many will argue that Aero mirrors don't look a whole lot better than the original flag mirrors. If you replace your flag mirrors - save them.
  
  
• Wheels
  Again, most prefer wheels other than the original D90's: Cup I and Cup II, turbo, etc. If you replace your D90's - save them. If your car didn't have them when you bought it, buy a set and put them aside.
  
  
• Suspension
  The current style is for cars to be lower than they were when the 964's were produced. If you lower your car - save the original springs.
  
  
• Radios
  Again, there are much better radios available today than there were when the 964's were built. If you replace your radio - save the old one.
  
  
• Tool Kits
  If you didn't get one with your car, buy one.
  
  
• Air Compressor
  If you didn't get one with your car, buy one.
  
  
• Front Rubber Bumperettes
  Many believe that it improves the looks to replace these with clear reflectors. If you do it - save the bumperettes.
  
  
• Side Markers
  Many like the white side markers better than the original orange ones. Save your old ones.
  
  
• Air Box
  It sounds good to drill holes in the air box. If you do it get another intact one and put it on the shelf.
  
  
• Spoiler
  I'm the worse here. I'm going to replace the original spoiler with a - gasp! - ducktail. Guess what I'm doing with the original one?

What's cool and what's in fashion comes and goes. But originality lasts forever. Be a good custodian and save all of your original parts so you or a future custodian can restore it to original. These cars can last almost forever - we don't.

John

 

This makes much sense if you look at your car as mostly as a financial investment.

Personally, I don't; my cars are meant to be driven and used as fun appliances. Also, I don't think 964s have reached the point yet where investment is an issue, or originality really matters when it comes to that.

If an new owner prizes originality above all else, he can spend the time and little money it would take to find things such as a replacement air compressor. Personally, I doubt most buyers are concerned about items such as these at this point, and I doubt any selling price would be impacted if such little items were missing. Maybe in 50 years....

 

OOPS!

But I do still have the nice tool kit and compressor in a closet...

 

Nope. I'm not talking about the money. It's about respect for originality. And it won't be 50 years for that to happen - probably 10-15.

But in the final analysis it's your car and you can do whatever you want with it. This is just my point of view. I'm an old guy.

John

 

Hey, I'm an old guy too. But I cannot worship at the altar that all things Porsche did on these cars was perfect or desirable in their originality, such as the flag vs. aero mirrors. Keeping a car original for originality's sake when it's not objectively better, makes little sense to me. And it will not alter the selling price if the update is better than the original. In fact, quite the opposite may be true.

Case in point: the valve guides on my 993 are original. And terrible. When the time comes, I'll be replacing them. And it will not be with original, and crappy, Porsche OEM replacements

 

Based on the link in his signature, I suspect the OP, rightly or wrongly, is quite biased.

I am old(ish) too but I agree with the others and not the OP - I am not "looking after" the car for someone else (the next owner), I am doing what I want with the car to make it into the perfect car for what I want to do with it. Some of my mods are reversible, many are not - so what? I am not a custodian/museum curator, I am a guy who likes to flog the heck out of his car on the track and have modified the generic - 1 size fits some - car Porsche made into the perfect car for me.

Let other's bubble wrap theirs and shine them every weekend, I like mine with a little road rash and patina, with a slow tick of cooling metal after a hard run in the country or around the track.

Marc

 

Driving them hard and taking great care of them are not mutually exclusive. I flog 'em. I used to own a '67 Sports Purpose Rally Build that I carved a lot of Central Oregon canyons with. I drove at Portland International Raceway one weekend and two weeks later entered it into the Concours on the Avenue in Carmel. Here's some information on it:

http://www.audettecollection.com/306607/

My C2 is a daily driver and I drive it year around here in Central Oregon at 4,000' - and it has Blizzaks on it (even C2's get great traction). I'm getting too old for the track though. I don't mind taking myself out but I don't want to take anyone with me.

And man am I ever deeply biased! What good would I be to anyone if I didn't have opinions after 35 years around these cars? And I enjoy provoking discussion, which I anticipated this thread would do.

And I am into originality as I restore vintage parts. Just a thing I have.

John

P.S. Oh, and I depart with originality when it comes to mechanical internals. My '67 still had it's matching numbers case - but it was built from 2.0 to 2.7.

 

I don't plan to open a museum for my car. The only thing I'm hanging onto for now is the rear seat delete.

 

And everyone know cars make fantastic financial investments (not really).

 

If you look in my attic, you will find all the original parts that have been upgraded.....except the D-90's. My wife said get them out of the garage, and anyway two of them needed work. Of course when I bought my car, it had an aftermarket cone filter and was loud. Original found and installed. However, replaced the center pipe with a cup pipe and catalytic with a bypass. Maybe the next owner says, wow, that car would be fun to restore. I will give him a head start... but for now, I am going to continue down the slippery slope and bit by bit make it mine, whatever that means. Who doesn't want the short shift kit with a golden rod..., but do I need to send the core back... maybe. and again, maybe not.

 

Yeah Kai, you're kinda FFed on that account.

 

I tend to agree with the OP...not that I EVER intend to sell my car but maybe someday I might want to reverse to as-stock-as-possible (ASAP). I've actually acquired D90's and a CD-2 for that purpose although neither will ever be used afaik.

some things I regret? Not hanging on to the original springs and the engine pan....just in case

I just wish I knew where I'm going to stash this stuff for the next 20 years

But here is the thing...why am I doing this? This car will never be concurs and every single one of these changes from stock have been an improvement. Just an OCD-like sickness I guess.

 

I'm with you, John!

The reality is that folks buy cars for different reasons, and with different attitudes and aspirations.

In the course of looking to buy my 964, I'd fantasized about a Guards Red coupe, slammed on Work Brombacher wheels, with a dual outlet exhaust and a big-brake upgrade.

Since acquiring the car, I haven't been able to bring myself to change a thing. The stock car suits me to a T, right down to the cassette holder (!!!).

Don't get me wrong, I love to ogle over a well set-up car with a tasty set of 18"s and the right stance, but increasingly I'm just as impressed to see a car as the factory intended it.

So I guess I'm a "custodian" at heart

But I'm sure there's space for everyone, even us OCD bastards.

 

the factory had to meet federal/state/country laws etc for certain things so they have to be more neutral on things. I like the Turbo springs in the non0turbo car because it helps improve the car's handling and appearance.

YMMV, to each his own..... blah blah blah. I'll let someone else keep the clutter while I go driving

 

Huge mistake. D-90's will be rare & expensive in thirty years