DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

not sure wether you've seen this or not:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/131705.htm

I remember this car at the Bournemouth international back in 2002?. It was stunning.

The chap that owned the car then was a retired police motorcycle rider - had lots of interesting Porsche's as I recall.

nice car for someone that.

Hmmm, I am confused. I thought this car was the one formerly owned by Paul Harris, publisher of VW Driver and Audi Driver magazines, and organiser of GTI International. If not, it's remarkably similar, registration number and all.

Paul's car was a Blood Orange 'six' with 916-style panels and detailing, and a 2.4 motor on carbs. I considered buying it just before I bought my Metallic Blue 914-6 but was beaten to it by Luke from Terry's Beetle Services. However, as soon as Luke got it, he realised what a mess the car really was, with patchy welding over the underside, badly-fitting panels etc. I saw it on his lift and was very glad I hadn't bought it.

When Paul first bought it, he did so at night and, when collected, it proved to be extremely rotten in the usual battery tray, suspension pick-up area. He rebuilt the car many years ago and then, soon after it was finished, a drunk drove into the back of it outside his house. It was rebuilt but by Paul's admission, never drove the same again, hence the lack of use and eventual sale.

After Luke sold the car, I recall seeing it at Highclere but never again since. I believe it ended up with a dealer and was, I guess, sold on again. To whom, I have no idea – abroad, maybe? If this is the same car, it must have had a major, major rebuild if it really is as stunning as is suggested. If it isn't, then where is Paul's old car today?

Hi Keith,

I'm pretty certain that this is not the same car. I first saw this one about 11 years ago when it was being built by a fella who lived near Kings Langley, he had shed loads, literally, of 914 parts and I bought some stuff from him. The car at that time, had just had the arches put on. I remember his first name was Andrew (I think!) he came along to one or two events when the car was finished and I have to say it is, or was, one of the best paint jobs on a fourteen ever. He sold the car to raise funds as he was into snow boarding (?) and had just started a magazine, which became very successful.
Fast forward to 2002 and the car appeared at the Intenational then owned by Tony Seal from Manchester, the ex copper, who moved down to your neck of the woods. Paul Harris's car, FUL 665V as was, seemed to have a chequered life. I know after one VW Action meeting at my brother's house the car was hit as he backed out of the drive. Out of interest I now have the original handbook for this car, which was the first 914 I saw back in 1976 and started me on this passion for the fourteen!!

Let me just clarify that, I saw my first 914 in 76, the picture I have of FUL is from VW Action 1981 or 82, I think post rebuild. It certainly has arches on. Back to the red wine i think.....

Hi Steve, I think you'll find his name was Adrian, very nice guy but I think he's now dissappeared from th '14 scene.

Cheers

Ian

Adrian, Adrian... that rings a bell. Wasn't he from the West Country way,too?

And talking of the West Country, Ian, do you know whatever happened to Nathan Ward from west Cornwall? He owned a rough-ish 914-6 which he offered me not long after I moved down this way (June 2000). Where is he and where is the car? Never went to see it but he told me it needed work, and others confirmed it.

914-6 wrote:Hi Steve, I think you'll find his name was Adrian, very nice guy but I think he's now dissappeared from th '14 scene.

Cheers

Ian

Ah yes, Adrian, he went off to do his snow boarding mag apparantly.

KS wrote:Adrian, Adrian... that rings a bell. Wasn't he from the West Country way,too?

And talking of the West Country, Ian, do you know whatever happened to Nathan Ward from west Cornwall? He owned a rough-ish 914-6 which he offered me not long after I moved down this way (June 2000). Where is he and where is the car? Never went to see it but he told me it needed work, and others confirmed it.

He lived near Kings Langley, think it was Chipperfield when I met him.

Is that 914 ACE Keith? The ex Richard Moore car, if so that is in the hands of Max Cooke and now lives in Bristol, and needs some work doing according to Max.

Have you heard anything about your old car Keith? Did it go to Germany?

middlefour1 wrote:Is that 914 ACE Keith? The ex Richard Moore car, if so that is in the hands of Max Cooke and now lives in Bristol, and needs some work doing according to Max.

Have you heard anything about your old car Keith? Did it go to Germany?

Hmmm, now the dementia is setting in! Not sure if that was Richard's old car or not. I am sure McMad will tell us.

Yes, my car went out to Germany. If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have sold it, but a lot was going on in my life at the time and I needed to streamline my 'stable'. The engine was going to need work sometime soon (it had a total-loss oil system...) and the bodywork was a little delicate in some corners. I just didn't have the funds. Familiar story, I guess!

KS wrote:I just didn't have the funds. Familiar story, I guess!

Amen to that!!!

KS wrote:Yes, my car went out to Germany. If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have sold it...

Keith, did your car have any special provenance or just that 914-6's are enjoying a renaissance?

fourteener wrote:Keith, did your car have any special provenance or just that 914-6's are enjoying a renaissance?

What, apart from me owning it? Ha ! ha!

I bought it from the service manager at Sonauto in Paris, who were the original French Porsche importers and it was an unmolested car which had never been restored. I fitted a new battery tray but that was about it.

Hang on if it was a French car surely it would be LHD????