How did you become a Porsche person?
10-19-2011, 10:46 AM
#61
10-19-2011, 11:11 AM
#62
Interesting thread. I just came back from RR IV as well; the thought of how I got into Porsches also crossed my mind. Bottomline: marketing.
I was 10 years old when I first identified a Porsche. I was reading my dad's car mag (R&T or C&D) and saw a glimpse of the 78 930. In the magazines, posters of 935s and 934s were advertised for sale. In my teen years, I had a 944 ad in my school bag. I was living in a third world country so no Porsches in the flesh for me. In other words, Porsche marketing in magazines got me hooked.
I also saw old footage of the 24 Hr of Le Mans on TV - 906/910/917, etc. This effect was more subliminal but more effective over the long term.
Having said this, when I moved to the US, I first saw a Ferrari 308 and couldn't get my eyes off it. When I finally got to drive a Ferrari, I wondered why I didn't do so earlier. If I were exposed to Ferrari first, I probably would have been much less of a Porsche guy.
Ever since then, I've been brand loyal to three car marques. The factor that is most common is motorsports marketing.
I was 10 years old when I first identified a Porsche. I was reading my dad's car mag (R&T or C&D) and saw a glimpse of the 78 930. In the magazines, posters of 935s and 934s were advertised for sale. In my teen years, I had a 944 ad in my school bag. I was living in a third world country so no Porsches in the flesh for me. In other words, Porsche marketing in magazines got me hooked.
I also saw old footage of the 24 Hr of Le Mans on TV - 906/910/917, etc. This effect was more subliminal but more effective over the long term.
Having said this, when I moved to the US, I first saw a Ferrari 308 and couldn't get my eyes off it. When I finally got to drive a Ferrari, I wondered why I didn't do so earlier. If I were exposed to Ferrari first, I probably would have been much less of a Porsche guy.
Ever since then, I've been brand loyal to three car marques. The factor that is most common is motorsports marketing.
10-19-2011, 11:47 AM
#63
BTW, the recent Rennsport Reunion allowed me to reach a new level of being a Porsche person - being able to race with some of my favorite Porsche models.
Photos courtesy of Dennis Gray and Sports Car Digest.
Photos courtesy of Dennis Gray and Sports Car Digest.
10-19-2011, 08:56 PM
#64
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I was looking for my next "project" car. Browsing old car pics the classic iconic early 911 shape came into view. It was love at first sight. I had to have one. I bought a speedster replica and was never that happy with it. Sold it for a 73 Longhood and have never looked back. Still have the longhood and added my 997 to the stable a year ago.
10-19-2011, 09:06 PM
#65
Rennlist Member
I was a big Mustang guy in High School. 351 Cleveland Mach 1. We were called "gear heads" back then.
Then a hot shot jet jockey got one about like this, in the neighborhood. Whoa...jaw dropping..It took another 12 years but, I had my first 911.
25 years later I've had at least one Porsche in the garage ever since.
Then a hot shot jet jockey got one about like this, in the neighborhood. Whoa...jaw dropping..It took another 12 years but, I had my first 911.
25 years later I've had at least one Porsche in the garage ever since.
10-19-2011, 09:50 PM
#66
Rennlist Member
I was working as a road tester for a car magazine that had a long-term Boxster S and then a Carrera 4s followed by innumerable trips to Europe to drive the latest Porsche as it was meant to be driven. Without the experience of actually driving the car I never would have realized the precision and "feel" of the 911.
10-19-2011, 10:03 PM
#67
Burning Brakes
My brother just completed med school in the mid 80s and was shopping for a 911. Having been raised on muscle cars and vettes I just did not get it and told him to at least get a 928 with a proper V8 in the right end. Then he brought his new triple black 81SC over and handed me the keys. I launched it and took it to redline in the first three gears and I was hooked. Took me another 10 years before I could get my own.
10-19-2011, 10:09 PM
#68
Miserable Old Bastard
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My uncle had a 356 when I was a young kid, always spent lots of time checking it out. Steve McQueen lived up the street and would stop and chat (I actually don't remember if he had pcars at that stage, but it helped with the sports car fascination). When I was ~13-15, I went frequently to the races at Riverside, lots of pcars there. When I was 16 I had a part-time job next to the Porsche dealer so I was around the cars constantly, and a major rock radio station was on the other side and I became good friends with a top DJ, who would let me take his new first year (1965) 911 out for drives.
My first two cars (both bought while I was 16) were an Austin Healey Sprite and an MGB. But I had the Porsche bug big time already. When I was 17 I came within a hair of buying a '61 356 cab from a friend, and I wish I had (pic of that one below, which I recently discovered when cleaning out my storage).
Then I got lost in college, grad school, marriage, kids, and had a long wait until I ditched the ex and was 44 and got my first, a '93 RS America. The rest is history.
My first two cars (both bought while I was 16) were an Austin Healey Sprite and an MGB. But I had the Porsche bug big time already. When I was 17 I came within a hair of buying a '61 356 cab from a friend, and I wish I had (pic of that one below, which I recently discovered when cleaning out my storage).
Then I got lost in college, grad school, marriage, kids, and had a long wait until I ditched the ex and was 44 and got my first, a '93 RS America. The rest is history.
10-19-2011, 10:14 PM
#69
Rennlist Member
I remember fawning over a 914 when I was like 14. The disease lay dormant for 35 years or so. My son wanted to restore a car for a school project. He targeted a Delorean, but I gave up on that after 3 months searching because they were too expensive. Then I remembered that one of the Delorean guys had a 914 for sale as well and the rest is history!
10-20-2011, 07:08 AM
#71
Man!! McQueens 930 is maybe the coldest slap I've gotten for a while! Much as I love my modern 911, seeing the Singer company trickle out their incredible "retro super interpretations" is really making me appreciate the cars from '64-89 even more. My first one was an '80 Weissach SC (the dark gray color). Any idea where this gray turbo went?
10-20-2011, 07:12 AM
#72
.......sorry for rambling......as I look at the picture of the gray turbo more closely, it's interesting how perfect the relatively high profile the tires look on that car! P7 Cinturatos, right? (not sure if I spelled that correctly)
10-20-2011, 09:59 AM
#73
Back in the early '90's I got a ride in a Ruf massaged '87 930 Turbo. A friend of mine was driving and he'd floor it. We'd wait.
Then wait a bit more.
We'd check our watches.
Have a sandwich. Maybe something to drink.
Wait some more.
Then BAM, the turbo would finally spool up and you thought you got hit from behind by a freight train. Wow would that car catapult forward under boost. The lag was ridiculous as compared to todays "instant on" power curves and the 4 forward gear ratios were W I D E, but that car was incredible to drive. No need for anything more than 4 gears since torque was everywhere when the turbo was in boost.
Best impact bumper air cooled I ever drove was a '77 911 with a brand new motor, brand new transmission and a brand new suspension. Light, fast, nimble...again, tons of fun. Almost bought it and had my check in hand, but someone beat me to it by 30 minutes...
10-20-2011, 05:14 PM
#75
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When I was 8, my dad had a friend who bought a midnight blue Carrera 3.2, and I was mesmerized when I first laid eyes on it. I'd go out to the driveway and admire it everytime he visited. He eventually took me for a ride in it and I was hooked. It was literally love at first sight!
