Things I Learned from Working on Rare Porsches
I’ve driven a lot of Porsche cars. From wrenching at a small repair shop to co-managing a warehouse I have been fortunate to get to play with Porsches from every decade. Picking a favorite is almost impossible and working on them can be a total pain in the ass, but very rewarding. Here’s what I’ve learned over the years.
They have always stayed true
For two years I worked on rare Porsches and along the way, I got to drive almost every make and model in existence. As you begin to work from the 356 to the 997 you can really see how they have taken each model and improved it year by year. In fact, if you spend enough time driving them you can feel each decade in the one that superseded it. That certainly can’t be said for other car companies and gives the 911 a really special feel.
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Older cars were built incredibly well
I was able to take a 356 C for a weekend of driving through So Cal’s infamous Mulholland Highway. When I was told what year the car was made I was certain it was going to be boring to drive. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The 356 is one of the best cars I have ever driven in terms of bringing a smile to my face and the visceral feeling of how mechanical a machine can be. If you’ve driven one you know exactly what I’m talking about!
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Turbo 911s can be a pain
Everything in the engine bay on older 911s is cramped as hell. More than any car I’ve worked on, older 911s require you to get your routine down and have the right tools for the job. If you happened to slip up at the shop, you got put on valve duty all day. Great shoulder workout, but not so fun after 8 hours of it. Turbo 911s are really like the supermodels of the sports car world. Lots of maintenance, but well worth it if you can afford them.
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The Bubble
I see a lot of discussion and even some articles about why these cars are so expensive now. After driving maybe a few hundred different 911s I know exactly why they are so expensive: there is nothing like them. No other car conveys the same driving experience quite like a vintage Porsche Carrera in any of its guises. You don’t have to be going fast at all and in the modern world we live in that can’t be said for cars anymore.
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