Amazing barn find and a journey of discovery

[IanM]

MIke,
Is the white car pictured above the RHD blue '69E barn-find that you bought in 2012?

The tyre tread indicate 14-inch dia, which is what some E's had. But the indicators and horn grills are SWB?

[210bhp]

Hi Ian

I haven’t seen the finished car in person but,yes, it’s the 2012 barn find and I’m expecting it to have 15x6 inch Fuchs. Built in June 1968 it is the earliest lwb 911 with many swb parts from new when it was a Versuch factory mule.

Regards
Mike

[IanM]

I’m expecting it to have 15x6 inch Fuchs.

I wouldn't. If it's a Versuch car, it wants to be as original as possible.

[Gary71]

I’m expecting it to have 15x6 inch Fuchs.

I wouldn't. If it's a Versuch car, it wants to be as original as possible.

Conversely there is no such thing as original if it was a development car, it would have had a multitude of bits fitted over it’s time at the factory. In this case closest you can get is probably whatever state it was in when first sold to a public owner.

[210bhp]

The wheels were changed. From memory they are all dated the same 1/69. This presumably was part of the works completed by the factory for Robs Lamplough when it was also converted to rhd. See page 28 second post for my discussion with the Borders owner. These are the wheels which are part of its history, sorry Ian, 5.5x15 Fuchs not 6x15 (which were available as ‘deep’ at the time of the change). If ‘total’ originality was the object then it would have had to go back to lhd but I think the car has been restored to ‘follow the story’ of its entire existence. But I haven’t seen it yet………

Regards
Mike

[210bhp]

Ok, further correction, I’ve now got the official confirmation. You were right Ian, the wheels are dated 1/69 and are 14’s. My bad. Sorry.

Regards
Mike

[IanM]

Conversely there is no such thing as original if it was a development car, it would have had a multitude of bits fitted over it’s time at the factory. In this case closest you can get is probably whatever state it was in when first sold to a public owner.

OK, I see what you mean. Thanks.

[IanM]

Ok, further correction, I’ve now got the official confirmation. You were right Ian, the wheels are dated 1/69 and are 14’s. My bad. Sorry.

Regards
Mike

So, if the birth date of your car is June '68, then you're right that 5.5 x 15 were most likely the original size.

Incidentally, 14's are not even listed in pre-69 PET catalogue.

Do you still own the car?

[210bhp]

Do you still own the car?

No Ian, it’s been a 10 year restoration elsewhere with the current owner.

Regards
Mike

[IanM]

.
Recently read the article in the mag but I don't understand this:

it was treated to a range of firsts, including the debut of a magnesium crankcase

That's not true. The second-half of 1968 production year SWB 911 cars had a magnesium crankcase.

Another thing - what makes the current owner thinks that the car were fitted with SWB indicators? When Mike unearthed the car, the front indicators were LWB spec, weren't they?

[911hillclimber]

I think a few inaccuracies in the story creep in as the journalist types against the hurried notes taken.
KS would be the exception I think.
Car is also featured in this month's Porsche Post, but have not read that yet.

[KS]

I think a few inaccuracies in the story creep in as the journalist types against the hurried notes taken.
KS would be the exception I think.
Car is also featured in this month's Porsche Post, but have not read that yet.

Very kind of you. I've made my share of errors over the years, but generally I do think it helps if the writer actually owns or has owned a classic Porsche.