1973 2.4E Restoration

[73SJM]

Fantastic to hear you are enjoying the car as much as anticipated and a great write up of your first couple of days driving in it.

Look forward to seeing the car in a few weeks.

[myatt1972]

Darren,

1st What an amazing thread, Ive been enthralled by every post.
2nd Your dedication and meticulous attention to detail is astounding.
3rd Your approach to the first drive was just fantastic.

Hope you enjoy your car as much as I've enjoyed your thread.
Thanks for sharing the journey with us all

[Mick Cliff]

Glad to hear at least one person thinks the same I think it's just most of them are worn in one way (or many) and they are intolerant of poor setup or wear.

There's more than you two that think the same

[Tp81]

Great story. Can I ask do you still have your 993? With any car you drive I think the enjoyment / experience is always more vivid when you move between cars and rediscover the differences each have to offer. Great contrast between the 993 and the E if you still have the C4.

[Bootsy]

Been a pleasure following this restoration thread and your first drive story. I found myself checking in over the weekend for updates! It was a fitting way to christen the car following such a wonderful rebuild.

The car is a credit to you and those who worked on it - another project on DDK that has really raised the bar.

Really looking forward to seeing it in the flesh (and you big boy) in a couple of weeks time.

[Pete S]

Brilliant updates Darren - can really relate to the driving pleasure.

Enjoy the finished product

[Darren65]

Well, I'm not quite finished yet.....there's still a few 'improvements' to be done...the door trim tops have been covered with vinyl as they weren't very good and these will need to be replaced with good originals at some point and I'd like better door handles. I need to find a very good rear grill, badge and Porsche script (Alan wasn't joking when he said I could only borrow them! ) and I actually have a fairly long list of odds and ends to sort which most may not notice but I do....plus, I'm pretty certain there's the odd incorrect detail or wrong screw here and there which I'm sure people will help point out to me over time.

However all these jobs are things to be done in the fullness of time and now is the time to just enjoy.....when I was at the Porsche showroom one of their customers commented that I needed a big glass box to put the car in, but she missed the point! - For some a restoration is all about the journey and thrill of making good...and although this has been undoubtebly enjoyable the main purpose was always to create a car to use, get it as good as I'm able at the outset and then rag the arse of it for years to come! ......when it gets tired and worn out, I'll rebuild it again!

Ultimately the very best part of this restoration is nothing to do with the car itself but the people along the way....I would like to say a big THANK YOU to all those that have helped, commented, responded, advised, encouraged and supported me during the process......it's been great to share this with DDK and I've made many new friends along the way, thanks again!

....and btw Thomas....

Really looking forward to seeing your flesh again big boy in a couple of weeks time.

...you promised not to tell!

Cheers,

[Mitch]

Great report of day 1 of the next chapter.. a most excellent adventure!

Well done that man!

[210bhp]

Fantastic account Darren. I wish you many enjoyable thousands of miles. The car looks 'just right'.


Regards
Mike

[58A - 71E]

Real credit to you Darren - looks a great restoration and you can tell from your posts its been just as much about the journey as the destination of a 'new' car.

Now go use it as a daily

[hot66]

:
Now go use it as a daily

.. any pics you care to share James

[Darren65]

Over a thousand klms now and the car is feeling better and better.

In for a few finishing jobs today; no issues other than a couple of squeaks....



...and to make a bit of a mess...



..full details here... http://www.ddk-online.com/phpBB2/viewto ... =2&t=42046

Cheers,

[haasad]

Its great when projects like this go from restoration to (almost) daily use but ( be honest) are you struggling with a perceived need to, avoid wet weather / puddles/ mud on the road / gravel/ tight car parks etc etc and do you keep taking the wheels off to clean underneath....?

I wonder if post restoration "alignment counselling" would be a niche market ...I know I'd be a candidate .......?

Excellent result with the potting compound by the way.

[911hillclimber]

I think Andy makes a good point.
When these huge perfect rebuilds are made at a high time and money cost isn't there a fear to actually use it with the muck and bullets on the typical uk road nowadays?
My car came through a rebuild nothing like yours Darren way back in 1990' and its first drive was to Bob Watson for a suspension set up and engine tweak.Down on a borrowed trailer and back on its first drive ever of a 911 for me with wife in road car following.
I nearly drove it back to Bobs because the car floated everywhere and the steering wheel wriggled loosely all the time!
The 915 box was terrible, the brakes as bad and I wondered why I bought it.

Of course that all changed after a few more drives and my first hill climb.
First impressions are always an anti climax?I kept on cleaning it all for the first year then to every 12 months and now whenever I have to....
Brakes are still poor and the 915 still disappointing after 3 rebuilds in 60K miles.

Just old 911s.im sure the car will mature with you by the day.

[Darren65]

A very good point Andy…..I guess everyone is a little precious with their new toys at the outset (I'm sure you're no different with yours ) and irrespective of what car I'm in I'll always avoid muddy puddles, loose gravel etc and I'm forever the idiot parked at the very back of the car park taking up two spaces!….

….however, I did drive the car home in the rain on Thursday (gonna happen some time!), collected my daughter on Saturday from a friends farm in the middle of nowhere where the roads are single track and covered in shite (911 or Landie on a sunny day?…no contest!) and have so far knocked out 1400 Klms in just over a week in readiness for the POB tour (loved every kilometre and amazed at how quick I can go already)…… I have washed it (twice) but wheels will stay on until one of those 'special' cleans and I will polish, wax, love, cherish and take care of it forever and a day…..

….but if you can't bring yourself to use the car in the manner it was designed for then what's the point?

Cheers,