DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

First registered in about May, not knowing that Gmail addresses were a problem. I ended up being grateful as Helen's Sporto was awfully attractive. Finally got membership and registration sorted out this week.

We have another car from Stuttgart - a 280SL Pagoda, built in Oct '69. MB didn't seem to use the MY concept for the European sold cars so it's a '69, registered in Leicester in Jan 1970. It has a sideways facing "kinder seat" which is not ideal for a toddler, and impossible with the roof on if you are taller than 5ft. 4 seats has an attraction



I have sort of had an urge to restore a car for some time. By restore, I mean, pay for restoration as I am about as practical and handy as a chocolate teapot. Love the Mercs but all that chrome, if nothing else, is hellishly expensive.

So been lurking, and hanging my head over cars, and finally bit a very big bullet after being told by the wife to do so (I HAD talked myself out of it!)

The "barn find" in the FS section is now mine. AlanUK currently has the car (perhaps he'll post a picture or two so you can all point and laugh) and we'll work out when and how to restore but, it looks hideous to me: I have broken EVERY rule of buying an old car. "Buy the best you can afford" and "don't buy without a very good look over/inspection" being the most obvious. I've not seen it (the seller did send me 20 pictures!) but know i could have bought something like Jamie's car for a lot less cash and hassle....

However, it IS a MY68, October 2nd 1967 911T Sporto. Currently a nice combo of silver over rust, although originally sand beige. Torsion tube is rusted through so it's supported on blocks. It was last taxed in September 1982 in... Leicester!



Wife was born in Sept 1967, and has never worked out the vaguaries of three pedals in a car so all being well, this will work for us. However, ultimately, it may mean a choice between one side of Stuttgart and the other.

I have oodles of questions, like what options were available on the car for that year. Plan is not to make it concours as I am not that kind of driver, but would like to make it a possible proposition to a future owner.

Welcome!

Hi, glad to see you made it, was nice to meet you at the NEC.

gosh you have your (or Alans) work cut out with that one. but, you've taken it to the right place. if Barry & Alan can't sort it out for you then no-one can.

Hi,

We are currently having the car trailered here where it will be put into storage until we can start the restoration. I will get some pictures early next week when the new workshop camera arrives

Thanks

Alan

That's just great

Alan gets my car and rushes out to buy a whole bunch of expensive new equipment. Just my luck

Tosh wrote:
Wife was born in Sept 1967, and has never worked out the vaguaries of three pedals in a car so all being well, this will work for us. However, ultimately, it may mean a choice between one side of Stuttgart and the other.

I have oodles of questions, like what options were available on the car for that year. Plan is not to make it concours as I am not that kind of driver, but would like to make it a possible proposition to a future owner.

Tosh, you do realise that a sportomatic is NOT an automatic and can not be drive as such, you will still have to change gear using the gear stick.
driven correctly they are fantastic cars. but they are very easy to drive badly. once you get the hang of the swift(only use finger tips on gear stick-pretend its red hot) gear change its easy.

Helen - I am aware of that. Wife can't walk and chew gum at the same time, as it were. We had a Saab with their version of the box and she liked it

It seems (according to Ian at PCGB who has been uber-helpful) that the car was built on 2nd October 1967. They made 4 Sportos that day for the UK market. Prior to this, they made 3 Sportos for the UK market. So the car is the 5th - 8th oldest UK Sporto. (5th as two Ts were made on Oct 2 and mine is the later chassis number)

Late July - 1 Sporto 911L
September 1st - 1 Sporto 911T
October 1st - 1 Sporto 911L
October 2nd - 1 Sporto 911S, 2 Sporto 911L, 2 Sporto 911T (the second of which is mine)

Lord alone knows how many of the other 7 still exist (as Sportos). Anyone any ideas how I'd find out?