8 months after initial enquires and 10 months after work started on restoration, 911 360 0024 is complete and garaged awaiting import and registration formalities with DVLA in Chester.
I know I promised the details of the trip earlier however, I've been travelling with work for the last couple of weeks and this is the first time I've had a chance to sort out a few pending things.
It was quite a mission as it turns out - Finishing work in the South of France, the trip to Germany then over to Kent; I decided to take the TGV up to Strasbourg then a local train over the border to Karlsruhe due to the flight timing and, it would give me a chance to read a few magazines I've had lying on the desk. Dinner was due in a great little hotel near the Freisinger workshop then set off early in the following morning, Saturday.... That's when the problems started.
Having arranged a lift to the station from a colleague on their way to work at the office, I arrived at the station to find the TGV 40 mins late leaving Nice due to technical problems. There went the connection in Lyon and any chance of dinner!
When the train eventually arrived, we headed off to Marseille and were assured there would be another TGV able to continue the journey at full speed; 300km/hr. rather than the 100km/hr max drag along the South Coast, that might make up the time for us to make the connection.
Not quite fast enough it seems, though it’s mighty impressive, and I missed the connection.
I sat next to a retired couple and the husband was a French pilot who flew with the RAF and had some great stories to pass the time.
I eventually ended up in Karlsruhe at 2am rather than 8pm and had restless sleep thinking about the collection!
A hearty breakfast at 8am followed by a brisk walk over the road, I arrived at Freisinger Motorsport.
My car was parked outside, ready to go next to Manfred’s Mother’s 997 (with engine mods of course!) and looked fantastic.
After a couple of hours chatting and a tour of the new offices being prepared as a new base for Freisinger Motorsport, I was on the way home.
As it was my first drive of an RS, I was being pretty careful to say the least. First impressions were mixed; slightly obstructive gear change - more so when cold - and a bit ‘fluffy’ mid range, also when cold, otherwise, all was well with great all-round vision, fantastic sound from the stainless exhaust and decent heating!
Manfred gave me a gallon of Shell 20/50 racing oil that he suggested was the best he’s found for that series of engines and I’ll see where I can get it locally though it’s something I’ve not seen generally - details to follow.
I am limited to about 5000rpm for a while although that still gives an easy 100+ mph cruise on the way back.
The weather was pretty mixed on the way back - rain and showers most of the first half of the trip, dull the rest....
Topping up with Petrol in Calais (€1.36/litre) I took a ferry over and aimed for Chilham in Kent where a meal and bottle of wine was waiting 30 mins away…
Chilham is a small, quiet village - especially in the evenings - and the arrival of a Carrera RS (with stainless exhaust!) brought out one of the neighbours to see if there was a problem!
Safely parked at the castle, I was able to enjoy a glass or two and regale the gathered throng with tales of mountain road fun and howling exhausts…
On the Sunday evening, I arrived in Irby and early the next morning, I had my MOT completed and only had to have the Thatcham 1 alarm fitted by the local security experts before the insurance certificate could be issued and registration completed.
Unbeknown to me at the time, registration can be completed on the cover note so I sent off the file to Chester on the Friday and headed back to work….
That’s the story so far - last I heard on Tuesday this last week, the German certificate issued by Porsche wasn’t enough to register the car as a historic (pre-73) vehicle so I contacted Porsche UK and will get a letter from them to confirm build date which should complete all the info required.
This week, I’ve already been to Nantes (would you believe, €920 return to Nice with Air France!!), Marseille and Genoa on business but will get back at the project this week with a vengeance.
Hopefully, I’ll be finished this current project and be able to head back to the Wirral in May and get ready to enjoy my new toy! I’m getting withdrawal symptoms already!
Thanks to all who showed an interest in the progress and I look forward to putting some faces to names later in the year - Le Mans perhaps or my local club meeting.
Good luck to all this summer and happy motoring!
Paul
Approaches to the Aladdin's cave:
[/img]Pick-up time - Manfred:
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And another first 500 to boot!
