Not really a barn find but a next to a barn find?
So, I got to go up and see it tonight. Spent some time talking to Bill and Stef, got a little more info on the car. Not a complete history because so much time had passed and Bill was the navigator, Al the owner (since passed) wrenched on the car more...but had a great talk with them anyway. Bill told a few stories about running in the Alcan with this car and a rally in South Africa. The car was photographed for an article on the Alcan in Road & Track, I believe some time in 1992. If anyone has a copy they could scan for me, I'd be very grateful! Bill hoped I wouldn't be disappointed because the stock engine isn't in the car, it is still down in NJ with the rest of the parts, or that car would take some work to return to stock:). He seemed pleased I didn't want to return it to stock and instead wanted to restore it to its competition days. The motor in the car current was 'really warmed over' but the details not known. I guess I'll find out when I get it home and dive into it! Bill did mention the brakes were upgraded, I looked and could see disks on the front with Porsche on the calipers. Under the hood (getting crumbly along the bottom edge, after releasing the rubber clamps, is a custom strut bar and connections for the calibrated odometer. The car has a nice heavy front skid plate and mounts for a tow bar plus hard points for driving lights. Inside are two old-school (but pretty nice) racing buckets, several custom gauges (couldn't see what they were in the fading light, roll cage,no back seat, racing harnesses, and surprisingly solid floors. Other parts of the body, not so pretty, the running boards are shot, the rockers look soft, the fenders need love, etc, but overall, for a car that has sat outside under spruce trees for over 10 years, not that bad of shape. Bill and both think because the tires are not flat due to having racing tubes in them, the car didn't come into as close ground contact as most cars that would have sat like this, helping keep some of the rust at bay. I hope to bring it home in the next few weeks.
The offer for the parts in NJ appears to be valid. I hope to get more information next week. Also, the owner's widow has a 912 Porsche of unknown year but in very good shape that is taking up a bay in her garage. I will be working with Bill and Stef to help her find a new home for the car. If anyone might be interested, let me know and I'll do what I can to find out more information on it.
Pulling up the drive:
I really need to find out the deal with the duck decal!
Uniroyal.
Tires still have air!
Umm, I think these flares are not going to work any more...
Looking back
Scheer seats!
