Soft serve: ’67 Porsche 911
In late 1964 the Porsche 356, which was introduced in 1951 at the Frankfurt Auto Show, was replaced by the new 911. It was equipped with a 1991-cc flat six engine that was first rated at 130 horsepower. The 911S was introduced in 1967. It featured higher 9.8:1 compression and was equipped with twin three-barrel carburetors. It’s 2.0 liter engine produced 189 horsepower compared to this 911’s 148. Both used Weber carburetors. Today’s Porsche find is not a 911S but a 911 with 148 horsepower. It is also one of the early Targas with a zip-out rear window. We always thought that was a pretty neat idea. Read More
Larry D. inspected this car — for about two hours — more closely than a Pebble Beach judge scrutinizes a Deusenberg. He kept saying, “I can’t believe how clean this car is.” I was only a bit nervous when we went to fire it up (it hadn’t started in 19 months, and my guy who stores it had forgotten that I’d asked him to do so before Larry arrived) so he could test drive it. But after a bit of cranking to prime the fuel system, she lit right off and settled into a perfect idle instantly. Thanks, StaBil! His (very satisfying) test drive served as the first — and presumably last — time I would ever ride in the car’s passenger seat. A bittersweet feeling, but clearly the car is going to a good and loving home. 
Enter Mint2Me, where Tony spotted a ’69 Land Rover 88 – restored, beautiful, everything working, never on salted roads, genuinely rust free, lovingly rebuilt, chassis like new, newish engine and transmission, with all the upgrades that make the old Series vehicles a bit of a pain otherwise. Plus a rare sleeper conversion. A real find. You should see the engine compartment, which wasn’t even pictured in the original ad. Cheaper than a new Jeep? Only 210 fewer horsepower? The classiest 4×4 ever built? My favorite color of all time? This was possible? I happened to be 400 miles away from Seattle. I loaded up the muddy dog, and off we went. How you read between the lines of the Craig’s List ad is a mystery, but your take on it was borne out in every detail. Everything was as advertised by a guy who couldn’t have shot straighter. Not one surprise (except for the driver-side door flinging itself open into oncoming traffic during the test ride). No inspections, no haranguing. A handshake deal that went off without a hitch. And now, I guess I get to be a car guy, too.
Even the founders of the event were amazed at the size and quality of the turnout. Of course, The Colonel caused quite a bit of excitement as we burbled down Pine Street, closed off to traffic for the morning. We were surrounded with some amazing cars from Maserati Sebrings to McLarens. We were parked in front of an 1000 hp Supercharged Ford GT. Probably the only time we will ever be in front of it. Can’t wait for next month’s and we will be sure to get there earlier!
