So, a whole month has passed since I introduced myself as the new 968 RS and firstly I’d like to say a huge thank you to all the Register members who took the time to post on the Forum and mostly email me directly. What came through with all the messages were the many great stories of ownership and, most of all, such a great passion for the 968!
Matt’s 968 Sport restoration
My 968 restoration
Here’s a little more about my 968 Sport restoration. As mentioned last month, I purchased the car in June 2022 near Nottingham from a lovely owner who was unfortunately selling due to ill health. You will recall that it came in pieces! The engine was on a pallet, there was no interior in the car, several parts were inside the car and lots of other parts were in the workshop it was stored in. Apparently the car had blown a piston about 17 years earlier and had been in pieces ever since.
On the trailer collected from the previous owner in June 2022
Due to other projects, the car went into a friend’s storage unit near Nottingham, whilst I took a Transit van full of parts, including the engine, back to Cheshire. It wasn’t an ideal start, as I really didn’t know what was good, bad, or missing.
On the trailer collected from the previous owner in June 2022
A few weeks later I managed to empty the car’s interior of parts and it was taken by trailer direct to John Holland at Unit 11 in Warrington - this was fantastic, as he had recently completely rebuilt the engine. We went through all the parts and, although most major parts were there, lots of bolts, washers, small seals and parts were indeed missing. We agreed on a brand new clutch via Adam at Porsche Centre Stockport, who has been excellent help with supplying parts for several of my cars, including the 968.
I put the car on some temporary 996 wheels whilst it was at Unit 11, as the tyres were dated 2000 and completely dry rotted. I would imagine they were only the second set of tyres the car ever had. The Cup 2 17” wheels were then sent off to Wheel Workshop in Stockport for a full refurb.
John Holland made great and patient progress reinstalling the engine
John made great and patient progress reinstalling the engine; lots of new small parts were purchased to facilitate this. The main horror was finding out the flywheel had been sandblasted at some time the past and was full of grit. A new one was purchased, which was sting to the budget. Once John had completed the install, I collected the car by trailer and was delighted with the looks and sounds of the fresh engine install. Sadly, I couldn’t drive the car as the brake calipers were at home in a box – literally! More next month.
Register updates
I’ve now set up a new Instagram page for the Register. Please like and follow at: instagram.com/porscheclubgb968 and use the hashtags #porscheclubgb968 or #pcgb968 or tag us using @porscheclubgb968
Matt Staines
DIARY DATES
17 SEPTEMBER Porsche 75th birthday celebration, including 968 Register meet