Concours & Mechanical Upgrades

[jaudette3]

As many know, I am preparing my '67 Sports Purposes Coupe for the Carmel Concours. This is the first concours I have ever entered and while I don't entertain hopes of winning I would really like to avoid making a fool of myself. I understand that the Carmel event differs from PCA shows in that the judges are more concerned with context, build and correctness than finding dirt in unlikely places.

My car is an authentic build using the specs from the Sports Purposes Bulletin published by Porsche in 1968. It has a number of rare and correct rally parts, including:

* NOS performance seats: race bucket for driver & performance sport seat for navigator
* NOS under-carriage skid plates
* NOS H1 headlights
* NOS hood mounted Cibies
* NOS Cibie lens covers
* NOS through-the-grille fog light grilles
* NOS navigator map light
* NOS 911R dead pedal
* NOS 911R 7" wheels on rear
* Deep 6's with hearts on front
* NOS 100 liter fuel tank
* NOS Heuer Rally Master set
* NOS Halda Twinmaster Trip Meter
* Rear wiper
* Hood hold-down straps
* NOS outside temperature gauge
* 5-speed with short gears
* Period correct vintage Dunlop tires
* Factory correct roll bar
* Front mounted oil cooler
* Bosch fog lights

Hopefully those will count for something. Also the paint and bright-work are concours grade.

However, as it's a working car, it has a number of modern mechanical upgrades. The issue of an incorrect fuel pump vs. the correct Bendix in another thread raises a number of concerns regarding mechanical parts. My car is not really a show car, at least high level concours, as it gets used frequently for a number of different driving events. I don't mind spending the time to clean it to a concours level (probably once ) but I worry about the effect that the mechanical upgrades may have on the judging.

For example, a particularly visible upgrade is the cross drilled rotors. It also has brakes from a 3.0 Carrera, and many suspension upgrades. I don't mind changing something small like the rotors, but I'm not interested in major changes as I value the driving more than the showing (don't really know how I got onto this concours slippery slope ). But what I need to decide is where to draw the line. I value the opinion of this group and I'm hoping that you will provide some advice.

Cheers,
JohnA

P.S I should have done this show thing when I had my '60 Super 90 Roadster. I restored it over an eight year period using only original and NOS parts and it was pretty much perfect. Never showed it except I accidentally won the People's Choice award at Emory's one year.

[jaudette3]

Here are some specific things that I wondering about:

o Stainless steel sport muffler
I have a standard one that I can install

o SSI's
I can swap with original heat exchangers off another car I have

o Cross drilled rotors
No big deal to mount stock looking ones

o Petronix ignition
???

o PMO's
These are going to stay, but with 911R rain hats, and tea balls on stacks. They do look a lot like Webers.

o Non-Bendix fuel pump
???

Thanks for the input!

Cheers,
JohnA

[RSTarga]

concours cars are meant for museums. I think these cars are meant to be driven, thats what they were designed and built for. You've done some neat stuff to your car enjoy it.

[edmayo]

John I'd say this all depends on whether you're just going to enjoy showing the car and all the social interaction that comes with that,.....or do you really, really want to win some hardware. You've already made some real neat mods to your car, I guarantee you the judges will like it. The hard part is what if the guy next to you brings his correctly done to the last detail, very expensive museum piece and takes the first place trophy from you because the judges liked his slightly better. Is that going to bother you bunkie? If so then you know what you gotta do for the next month. And even all that you propose doing isn't a guarantee of winning anyhow. Do what you're comfortable with and enjoy the show

[tfiv]

To me concours means dead on, nut and bolt correct, and q tip clean, I don't think you are headed that direction.

But period correct seems important. If you have a ugly modern fuel pump, that can really detract from an otherwise correct looking engine compartment. The Facet pumps are cheap, and look pretty good with a bendix sticker.

[jaudette3]

David: Well, I'm in the show so I'd like the car to be appropriate for the context. You and I are in total agreement as to what the cars are really for.

Ed: Thanks for the input. I guess deep down inside I'd like to be competitive but realistically I don't see how I can compete with what David calls the museum pieces. I'm hoping that some will enjoy seeing my car and I'm really looking forward to meeting some of the folks who I know from this forum.

I'm grateful that the show is early in the week as I plan on driving the hell out of it the remainder of the week.

Cheers,
JohnA

[jaudette3]

I decided to set up the fuel pump using a Facet with the Bendix label. I'm going to install two of them as Andy did, one as a backup. Great idea - seems appropriate for a rally car. Maybe a redundant coil also.



Cheers,
JohnA

[RC70SCoupe]

John,

The picture you painted of your car...it must be a VERY nice car..

Enjoy the Carmel Concours...If the judges think your car is not worthy of a podium finish, their loss.

Have a fun day and you'll get to meet alot of people from everywhere.

JUST don't park by me.. They'll look at me and ask why am I there?

[ajwans]

I saw a picture of Vic Elford's 911R, it had the rain shields but
with a hose attached across the top to direct warm air directly
into the center of the intake stacks. Anyone got a clear picture
of this setup?

andy

[Bantam]

John

Unfortunately none of the items you list in your first post are correct, you need to remove them all immediately and get them out of the country ASAP!

.......seriously I think you should do what YOU are happy with and NO MORE, then if you win great, if you don't you can reflect on it as you have a great drive home whilst the winner looks at the trophy on the passenger seat of his truck as he tows his winning object home.

Have a great time and please post some more photos of your great car.

Tim