From ‘72T to 2.5 S/T: GeLo #44
Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2021 5:48 pm
So here it is, 5 months after sending my hard-earned cash to Beverly Hills Car Club, with their decidedly dodgy reputation, and expecting the worst, one remarkably sound, ex-Hawaii, ‘72T is on the ramp at Greatworth Classics, following an initial look over and a bodywork ‘spanner test’ (i.e. Angus hitting it):
Pleased to report that from the front bumper back to the rear arches, everything appears to be very good (apart from driver’s door and LH front wing where the tinworm had done its thing to both lower edges) with original sills, rock-solid jacking points, front pan and floors all good. Front bumper overriders were well past their best but we won’t be needing those (along with quite a lot of other bits). There are some notable additions to the front axle including S aluminium calipers, upside-down monotube struts and a later ARB.
However by far the most unexpected discovery was in the front luggage compartment - what appeared to be two black vinyl tool rolls with buff leather straps in perfect condition turned out to be not Porsche, but Ferrari! After a chat with one of the guys at Tim Samways next door to Angus and some research on t’internet, it turns out the toolkit is 100% complete and correct for a 328 or Testarossa.
The other bag with a non-standard but matching buff leather handle riveted on the top was a Ferrari tyre jack kit, complete with a very rare ‘Stafor’ centrelock wrench for Borrani octagonal wheel centres, which were fitted to 365, 512, TR and wait for it…288 GTO!! The well-used ‘Heath Robinson’ lead knock-off hammer was a wonderful - and essential - piece of ingenuity, given the short length of the Stafor wrench when compared to a workshop torque lever!
As these won’t be required for my project (no ‘rari’s in my ownership unfortunately), I think Silverstone Auctions or another auction house specialising in automobilia may well be the best place to take these to, but what a find - hopefully they will generate some much needed funds for my endless list of parts and also not-so-good discovery at the rear end of the car…
At some point during its 50 year life on the North Shore of Oahu, we reckon the car suffered the misfortune of a pineapple truck hitting it from behind and whilst the ‘Del Monte’ logo isn’t imprinted in reverse on the rear panel, it does appear that the rear end of another 911 has been (very badly) grafted on to it to repair the damage, judging by the overlapping rear panels visible on the inner arches. There is also evidence of this showing through the 3rd or 4th respray it appears to have had (evidence of green underneath the burgundy in some areas and also the original factory tangerine - the 018 paint code is just visible on the now burgundy kuntsharzlack plate). Whether the chassis legs have suffered damage is not entirely clear yet but a trip to the Celette jig is definitely in order now.
In the engine bay, the engine is a ‘73 T type 911/61 with engine no. 6135405 (whatever happened to the originally-supplied type 911/51 with engine no. 6123411 is unknown), but a much later CIS K-Jetronic injection system has been fitted to it at some point, and the gearbox has been changed from the originally supplied 4-speed 915 to a ‘74 dated 5-speed (thank goodness).
The rear wheels are deep sixes (dates not established yet) and the fronts are flat sixes (again haven’t checked the dates but expect they will be ‘71 or ‘72). What’s interesting is that both of the left hand side wheels show signs of exposure to the elements (much like the body panels) - it likely sat for many years outside the owner's home just 500 metres from sea - but the right hand side ones are in much better condition.
Tyres are ancient Bridgestone Potenzas with raised lettering on the inner sidewalls like I’ve never seen before - and fit for the skip.
Unfortunately the genuine Momo Prototipo has been double-drilled around the centre (no idea why) but the solid Momo hub is nice, as is the 50-year old Porsche keyring. The gearknob is missing and the seats are wrong but they'll be coming out anyway.
So first job is to try and get the engine started after decades sat stationary and then remove it and the gearbox, before the big strip-down begins in the New Year. I also need to work out how to upload more than 3 photos to each post, as I have lots more already, and many more to come I am sure.
Happy Christmas!
However by far the most unexpected discovery was in the front luggage compartment - what appeared to be two black vinyl tool rolls with buff leather straps in perfect condition turned out to be not Porsche, but Ferrari! After a chat with one of the guys at Tim Samways next door to Angus and some research on t’internet, it turns out the toolkit is 100% complete and correct for a 328 or Testarossa.
As these won’t be required for my project (no ‘rari’s in my ownership unfortunately), I think Silverstone Auctions or another auction house specialising in automobilia may well be the best place to take these to, but what a find - hopefully they will generate some much needed funds for my endless list of parts and also not-so-good discovery at the rear end of the car…
At some point during its 50 year life on the North Shore of Oahu, we reckon the car suffered the misfortune of a pineapple truck hitting it from behind and whilst the ‘Del Monte’ logo isn’t imprinted in reverse on the rear panel, it does appear that the rear end of another 911 has been (very badly) grafted on to it to repair the damage, judging by the overlapping rear panels visible on the inner arches. There is also evidence of this showing through the 3rd or 4th respray it appears to have had (evidence of green underneath the burgundy in some areas and also the original factory tangerine - the 018 paint code is just visible on the now burgundy kuntsharzlack plate). Whether the chassis legs have suffered damage is not entirely clear yet but a trip to the Celette jig is definitely in order now.
The rear wheels are deep sixes (dates not established yet) and the fronts are flat sixes (again haven’t checked the dates but expect they will be ‘71 or ‘72). What’s interesting is that both of the left hand side wheels show signs of exposure to the elements (much like the body panels) - it likely sat for many years outside the owner's home just 500 metres from sea - but the right hand side ones are in much better condition.
Tyres are ancient Bridgestone Potenzas with raised lettering on the inner sidewalls like I’ve never seen before - and fit for the skip.
Unfortunately the genuine Momo Prototipo has been double-drilled around the centre (no idea why) but the solid Momo hub is nice, as is the 50-year old Porsche keyring. The gearknob is missing and the seats are wrong but they'll be coming out anyway.
So first job is to try and get the engine started after decades sat stationary and then remove it and the gearbox, before the big strip-down begins in the New Year. I also need to work out how to upload more than 3 photos to each post, as I have lots more already, and many more to come I am sure.
Happy Christmas!
