How long have you owned your 964?

[MarkGolf]

From my time on here and exchanging stories with some of you, it seems that many of you have had your 964's for a long time, that is great to see.

I thought it would be good to know how long you have owned your 964's for and any stories behind them? Did you buy it new? Did you buy it when they were rock bottom in value or as a restoration project. Let us know and obviously, pictures would be amazing, so dig out the old printed photos and scan them in. The stories behind the cars are normally the best bit, aside from driving them

I have owned mine for 5 years 5 months, buying it from a caretaker of a school my company had a contract with. Needed cosmetic works and general TLC, originally I thought I would sell it on once restored but now it is part of the family.

 

[mcgc0]

Bit of 964 background from myself; 12 years on and on my second C4 now after writing off the first one between Rouen and LeMans only 4 days back from a bare metal body resto! Put it into somebody's concrete garden wall. Gutted naturally at the time, not least that a) was the actual C4 press car for Porsche GB when it was launched, b) rare factory order sunroof delete and c) Top Gear borrowed it for one of their 911 pieces years back. Moved on now. Bought car back from insurers (paid 9k originally for the car then 3k for the write off). Replacement C4 for another £10k and best bits form write off moved to replacement.

Mechanically pampered and driven hard being the order of the day. RS mods here and there, Chris Franklin Bilstein RS set up. I totally gutted the linen interior and replaced with black throughout. Recently installed a garage lift allowing the replacement of longitudinal diff lock slave, new drop links, front diff oil change, replace oil level sender (that was really fiddly) and added emergency front boot release cable plus other small improvements. Will need to replace front diff main seal some point. Always thinking about next mods/updates. Not a garage queen and no concours prizes but always time to play...

Good to hear Mark you will be holding on to yours - forget the investment growth

 

[Hacki]

Not exactly a lot of replies so far, Mark. The state the Forum is in has been discussed in other places though.

964s are just great, the last 911 looking and feeling like a 911 and a technical revolution compared to the predecessor. As posted in a different thread I have a 964 Cup for 28 years now, kept her through good and bad times, used her for track days, Nordschleife training and some laps there, also for Clubsport and some hooliganism on the roads of Germany. I also had a 1990 indischrot 964 C2 Cab and a 1992 indischrot 964 Turbolook Cab, but I didn´t keep them for a long time. As that was in the 1990s they were the contemporary Porsche cars and no classics yet - and there wasn´t a shadow of the kettles, which would keep Porsche afloat.

A proper maintained 964 is a wonderful car for a lifetime.

Hacki

Current fleet:
1990 964 Cup
1995 993 Cab
1964 Volvo 544
1970 Mercedes 200
1976 Ford F 100 XLT Ranger 390 cui
1991 Volvo 245
1991 Volvo 960
1992 Yamaha Warrior
1998 Volvo 940

 

[C2dweller]

It seems mad now but we drove to Edinburgh from West Mids to buy mine. Booked an overnight but planned to drive the car home the next day. Seller was nice but his wife assumed she was getting it for her 40th birthday. Things quickly turned sour when the sale looked likely. I remember my wife saying she was going crazy whilst we were standing at the bank transferring the money over. A few awkward moments later we were tucked up together in our overnight stop.

Car got home OK, but started to play-up on the obligatory "showing friends trips" soon after. The dream of it being a daily driver lasted about 2 weeks.

I learned lots about the car in the next 10 years when it benefitted from mechanical and cosmetic work.

I took it to the Nordeschliefe for my 40th Birthday 5 years ago. Not just me, but my wife and two kids! 2.5k miles without a hitch. The made a really memorable holiday driving around France, Germany and Belgium.

On the next outing, a track day at Silverstone, the clutch and flywheel disintegrated! Lucky, I guess.


I wouldn’t be without mine. It’s become one of the family.

 

[mcgc0]

I took it to the Nordeschliefe for my 40th Birthday 5 years ago. Not just me, but my wife and two kids! 2.5k miles without a hitch. The made a really memorable holiday driving around France, Germany and Belgium.

On the next outing, a track day at Silverstone, the clutch and flywheel disintegrated! Lucky, I guess.

Very lucky. Can't beat a great road trip in the 964. Le Mans 24H was the obligatory trip for 10 years but gave it a break after Audi whimped out when Porsche came along and now LMP1 is not really interesting. However, new hypercar rules look like my annual pilgrimage might be back on

No early signs beforehand of clutch and flywheel bailing out then?

 

[Stephenjk]

I’ve owned my 964 three years, guards red c4 with linen interior. I really like the linen interior though i know a lot of people replace them. I did recolour it and that really helped tidy it up. i bought it from phil raby near Chichester. Ive done about 7.5 k miles since then. Car has done 114k. Really like the car, have been gradually improving it as time and money allow, oil pipes and suspension refresh next on my list!

 

[964_Driver]

I bought my 964 back in 2006 and it has been my one and only Porsche ownership experience. The previous owner only had it for all of ~6 months having previously had Morris Minors etc..... the 964 scared the hell out of him, but he looked after it well, as did the previous owners (long history file). The car was registered on the Isle of Mann for many years (which must have been fun). I'd always wanted an air-cooled Porsche from my early Beetle days and when a very good friend offered me drives to Lemans in his '72 911E and year or so later his 964 daily driver, I was smitten. My car was the first that I viewed and I grabbed it, based on its condition, history and price at the time (they were cheap back then, as you know).

Since buying, I've driven many trips to Lemans, Spa Classics, Belgian Forests, the 'Ring, Swiss Alps and Pyrenees with like-minded friends, finding the limits (usually mine, not the car). HUGE fun!
Upgrades have come most years, with the focus on suspension, ride height, light weighting (<60kg), exhaust, mostly along the RS theme. Everything though has to be reversible and I've kept all the original parts (e.g. almost perfect Colbalt Blue sports seats). Just had all of the gauges refurbished, including a 12 o'clock red line tacho. Next up, likely TT's exhaust, maybe a Heigo bolt-in cage.

So the car doesn't do many miles each year, but they are thrilling miles and I can't imagine selling.

 

[mcgc0]

...light weighting (<60kg), exhaust..

Biggest single item/component you removed for weight? Exhaust mods - was that losing the primary muffler and going Cup pipe?

 

[964_Driver]

The most weight was lost replacing the OEM seats with RS replicas. Next, as you suggest, was the primary muffler to cup. Rear seat delete (just the folding parts). Previous owners had fitted a period stereo with large amp under the drivers seat and CD changer in trunk - removed all of that and replaced with quality dash unit.
I snagged a nice list of parts weights from another 964 driver and was looking for most <kg for fewest £

 

[JamesBall]

Bit of 964 background from myself; 12 years on and on my second C4 now after writing off the first one between Rouen and LeMans only 4 days back from a bare metal body resto! Put it into somebody's concrete garden wall.

I remember seeing your car when it was delivered to the garage that worked on it. A shocking story. So glad it had a happy ending.


I’ve had mine 8 years (I think!) I bought it from a young chap in west London and it was in need of a good bit of TLC. Full suspension replacement, set of Cups and teardrop mirrors, Pole Positions, and slightly updated brakes and it became my weekend and occasional track day including some great trips to the Ring and Spa. It’s now also had a full respray. I’ve become a bit too precious about it to track recently but I’m very keen to follow some of your example by doing some European road trips in it, perhaps with the original seats out back in first as I really don’t fit properly on PPs. Sadly the Mrs isnt that keen on it so road trips might have to be a "lads” thing.

Even more sadly, my 15 and 13 year old sons have recently stopped wanting to post themselves in to the back of it (past the buckets!) so it isn‘t filling family transport duties anymore. But they do still like passengering up front so all isn’t lost.


I fluctuate between thinking "she’s a keeper” and "wouldn’t it be nice to make a tidy profit on it and try something more modern” but I can’t bring myself to part with the old girl.

 

[mcgc0]

The most weight was lost replacing the OEM seats with RS replicas. Next, as you suggest, was the primary muffler to cup.

Standard seats @23kg I believe (Sport seats likely a tiny tad more). Recaro PP seats @14kg so nearly 10kg saved right there. My wish list being to swap my sport seats over for PP-like seats. Aye, no primary muffler on mine too (crazy weight), just likewise cup pipe and secondary muffler. If I cut out drinking during the week then another kg or two two follow...

 

[mcgc0]

I remember seeing your car when it was delivered to the garage that worked on it. A shocking story. So glad it had a happy ending.

RPM? Ollie helped massively. Chassis was twisted by few mm's forcing the rear screen to lift out the aperture - killer blow. At the time I was told that if to straighten whole car then looking at £20-30k to do properly. Today would have been worth doing! Within 3 hours of posting up the engine and gearbox for sale I had covered my insurance buy-back.

I’ve become a bit too precious about it to track recently but I’m very keen to follow some of your example by doing some European road trips in it, perhaps with the original seats out back in first as I really don’t fit properly on PPs. Sadly the Mrs isnt that keen on it so road trips might have to be a "lads” thing.

Even more sadly, my 15 and 13 year old sons have recently stopped wanting to post themselves in to the back of it (past the buckets!) so it isn‘t filling family transport duties anymore. But they do still like passengering up front so all isn’t lost.


I fluctuate between thinking "she’s a keeper” and "wouldn’t it be nice to make a tidy profit on it and try something more modern” but I can’t bring myself to part with the old girl.

I try not to think about rising prices as I wouldn't want to dampen any fun. Guaranteed min value helps me not to care so much. Very true with those flat 6's - they need to be used and get better for it.

Exactly the same problem - 2 young daughters and great France/Italy border trips years back. Now as teenagers they don't want to go near it or be seen by their friends in it! Le Mans trips main staple. However, have done with friends two Scotland north coast runs @700 miles of sprint driving as a comm'd up convoy with a lead making the calls - totally awesome and similar to tarmac rallying championships I used to co-drive in years back.

Keep the car James - your not going to get the analogue visceral feel in anything newish - ever. Tried R8's, AM's etc but too...clinical, predictable maybe. Had 308 GTB years back but electrics and any funny noises did my head in. Then short period with a Lambo Jalpa - loved it on France trips (before kids) and similar analogue feel. Should have kept that too.

 

[JamesBall]

RPM? Ollie helped massively. Chassis was twisted by few mm's forcing the rear screen to lift out the aperture - killer blow. At the time I was told that if to straighten whole car then looking at £20-30k to do properly. Today would have been worth doing! Within 3 hours of posting up the engine and gearbox for sale I had covered my insurance buy-back.

Yes, RPM. I didn't want to mention the name in case you were sensitive about it for some reason. I couldn't believe you'd had that accident after so much work being done to the car.

If at all possible any additional car will be and rather than or the 964. But that rather depends on how the next 6 months work out for me financially. The 964 is all I ever hoped it would be so I would be mad to sell it.

 

[Hacki]

Very good experience with RPM and Ollie Preston here also.

When the kids have grown out of the small bucket seats - just wait. It didn´t take long and my boys got behind the wheel. And then it didn´t take long and dad was no longer necessary to supervise what they were doing. Especially in the 993, which is a cab, a couple of girls have been taken around. While I was at home, of course.

If you want the pure feeling, a 964 is a keeper once it´s sorted out. Totally agree with the clinical, non-emotional feel in new cars. No desire here to have one of these, no matter if they are blinding fast and "perfect" or not.

 

[vitesse]

We bought our 1st Porsche a Silver grey 924 Lux in 1986 ( because the kids were getting too tall for the rear of our MGB GT),traded it for a still current Stein Grau 924S in 1991 & because my wife,Irene had always fancied a 911,bought a 964 C2 in Guards Red in 2001- a 1993 reg ( but 1991 build-1 of those that hadn't sold in the economic turndown).
We had missed a 1989 911SC by 5 mins at Hanley Sportcars but the owner said he could get us the 964 & so he did-56k miles 2 weeks later for £21,950 including a full service ,MOT,new rear tyres & a replacement rubber pipe from oil thermostat to oil tank (IIRC),
This was to generally driven by Irene ( alternating with the 924S) most days & usually parked in the Staff car park at Liverpool Prison where she was then working as the Official Visiting Radiographer .

We used it for fun at weekends & fairly quickly decided to take it to the Isle of Man & do the TT circuit-this visit ended up with us also buying a cottage in Laxey from where ,whilst over doing work on the cottage a few years later, I joined in with aGeoff Ives organised /PCGB May trip & really did give it a good thrash round the circuit a couple of times ( IIRC- 137 mph going up the Mountain from Ramsey)
Took it to Le Mans in 2007,& didn't miss a beat,getting 32 mpg .Did a track day at Donington Park & met Marcus & Lee at Curborough sprint days organised by Steve Brookes.
Had recalls done by OPC in Liverpool & services by John at Unit 11,Warrington.

Work done:-by me-distributor vent kit,all calipers refurbed & repainted including new copper pipes,new OSR wheel bearing,brake pads,discs, trim rubbers,drainage plugs for boot floor,replacement brake fluid ,Refurbed cup wheels etc.

Sadly had to sell it in 2013 to pay Barrister/Expert witness costs in a high court case I won but defendant didn't pay up owing my business over £300k??.

It then had over 105K on the clock & went for £14350?? to a PCGB member & still looks fantastic today but he has had a engine rebuild,replaced the inside wing supports etc.

So that is why I bought a Guards Red 924S as at least a Porsche I use for track days ,sprints at low cost.

 

[mcgc0]

Ah Colin, wonder where you'd been hiding Nice 964 background and great to see you're still sliding around in the 924. Did the Historic Rally Championship years back a couple of times using the TT circuit too - alternator failure on the night stages didn't help! Sorry also to hear your business took a large hit - can imagine it being stressful.

Yes, Curborough. What a great funny day in the rain that was. I was only just looking recently at the video Greg took of the day - a good laugh. Recommend Curborough to anyone in this register.

Marcus

 

[vitesse]

Had to make a post of some sort,Marcus -especially as I saw you& Lee had posted.Have met up with Lee frequently at the R13 Curborough sprint day since the early 964 days & enjoyed sessions in each other's cars as passenger.
Missed last year( date clash) & this years postponed event as 924S is still sorned & I want to replace the front struts that have virtually new inserts(from a Club member) plus a bottom front wing repair & include a front brake overhaul-have done rears.Grandparenting duties eat into life but too enjoyable to avoid!

We both miss the the 964 though-it was ( & still is) a great car -power steering suited Irene( hates driving my manual steering 924S as hers has power steering).

What I forgot to include in the 1st post is that I still have a quantity of spare bits like trim rubber for the sill covers,those plastic inserts for the sills,plastic nuts for under the sills etc which I previously posted without any success.
I have a list I can send to anyone interested -cost 10 yrs or so ago circa £100-will part with them for £ 40 inc postage.

 

[daviespaj]

Hi All, my initial 964 ownership started 19 years ago when I purchased a gorgeous red C4. I owned that for 10 years. Thinking I wanted something more relaxing for holidays and touring I swapped it for my 997 C2S tip. A great car but almost too easy to drive. Missing the visceral input, I managed the bag a very tired but sound silver C4 around 7 years ago which I have been trying to restore (work and other projects keep getting in the way). So far I have removed much of the external trim, engine / gearbox and am slowly collecting suspension parts for the rebuild. I have considered rebuilding the engine myself (done a few 'normal engines' in the past) but will probably send to specialist. Bodywork and paint will also be done by specialist. The rest I plan to tackle myself. Hopefully taking early retirement next year so more time should be available?

 

[mcgc0]

I have a list I can send to anyone interested -cost 10 yrs or so ago circa £100-will part with them for £ 40 inc postage.

I already have spare/backup trim parts you mention Colin but would like to look at your list anyway just in case. PM me if you can.

 

[mcgc0]

I have considered rebuilding the engine myself (done a few 'normal engines' in the past) but will probably send to specialist. Bodywork and paint will also be done by specialist. The rest I plan to tackle myself. Hopefully taking early retirement next year so more time should be available?

If you have already removed engine/gearbox then you might be able to save some specialist rebuild costs by stripping down the engine yourself and handing over. Friend has done that and saved @ 30% of the cost I believe. However, not all specialists want a pallet full of parts. Not sure where you live but there are a few good rebuilders around. Good luck with it all and post up progress you make.