Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 27

Thread: Newbie in need of help! What the hell have i bought?

  1. #1

    Newbie in need of help! What the hell have i bought?

    Hello there, have been a member of this forum for three years or so, used to use it regularly but drifted away as I've always had impact bumper-ed 911's. My Porsche obsession started getting out of hand a few years ago, and its now turned into a business, Stuttgart Classsica. IB forum is where i tend to reside now, but I am hoping someone on here can help me. I've recently bought two 911 shells, but i have no idea what years they are or models. I'm not so clued up on the older stuff, so was hoping this forum could help

    Here is the story:-

    Everyone likes a barn find, and I do mean barn find. Not the overused term where people have put a car away then pretend to find it again, and call it a barn find.

    Two years ago, a customer of mine sent me this.



    We didn’t know what age of the cars, the status, vin numbers, logbooks, etc etc. Until last week we couldn’t figure out what the third car was. So, it’s taken two years to track down the farmer that owns the field and barn. No one has ever been allowed into the field to view the cars, and they have never been advertised anywhere as far as I can tell. Eventually after making a nuisance of myself the farmer has finally allowed my customer to go in and take a couple of pictures, and even came around to the idea of parting with the cars. The farmer wasn’t even aware they were Porsche’s.

    So, when my customer rang me as said they were for sale, based on only the first picture I agreed to buy the two first cars. I hadn’t seen the cars, and knew absolutely nothing about them. Talk about a leap of faith!

    So, the next day, my dad and I made the 85 mile each way trip to the field to collect some shells that looked like 911’s. Upon arrival, we quickly established that the third car was what was left of a 944. All three cars are ex race cars of some sort. There isn’t much left of the 944, side, roof and some zig zag bracing across the floor to stop it all wobbling about. The 911’s were much more interesting. This is what I bought, I haven’t been able to find any VIN numbers so far, maybe under the rust. Still not sure on the years of the cars. But they both appear to be long hood cars, they both have the through front anti roll bars. Both shells have had roll cages, shock towers reinforced. The banana arms pick up points have been heavily modified, torsion bar tubes cut out. One the shorter shell there is evidence of 935 spring plates.

    The first shell, I think this is the more interesting shell. It’s been shortened significantly. But has been done to a very good standard. The arches have been cut back then inner arches added and welded up to make a smooth seem. The front has had the same treatment, my guess would be to accommodate removable front and rear ends. Possibly some sort of 935 or Mobby Dick replica?













  2. #2
    This is the second car, there is a lot more left of this shell, although the build quality is not a good. The cage has hint of homemade about it, and the welding looks like a pigeon has landed on it places! This shell has some other interesting quirks, the rear seat bases have been modified, along with the trailing arm pickups. This can only be to change the angle of the arms, reducing squat I would imagine, or giving the ability to add or reduce the amount of rake. The front bulk head has had a large section cut out and a metal circle added, once again I would have thought this was to accommodate a dry sump tank.
    All of the rear arches and bumper corners are fibreglass, they have been bonded on but there is evidence of Zeus fasteners. I guess this was done when it was all the rage to forwards date a car, oh how times change hey! The roof has been welded on badly, the battery box at the front removed and plated over. The O/S/F inner wing also appears to have been replaced, so maybe the donor car has had a whack on that corner. Maybe it had a sunroof hence the roof change, or it landed on the roof!















    This is what was left on my trailer!



    Can anyone help! Apart from telling me that I have bought a load of rust! Any thoughts would be interesting, any things I should go and check on the shells to help identify the years would be of much help. Locations of chassis or build numbers. I have been told that on the longer shell, that the crayon numbers on the back of the gauge area could be traced back to a VIN number. I can't make out the numbers, i think they are too deteriorated.

    Many thanks, hope you enjoyed the story!

    Will Chappell

  3. #3
    Senior Member beh911's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Atlanta
    Posts
    3,604
    The number in crayon on the dash top of the RHD "shell" is key to you understanding what you have.

    Can you provide a close up of that number

    It looks like 1091192

    Make sure tetanus shots are up to date
    1969 S Coupe #761
    Early S Registry #1624

  4. #4
    Senior Member 9er's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Adelaide Australia
    Posts
    831
    Quote Originally Posted by trdking View Post
    Its not April first so I am convinced from your story that you are an idiot

    Why would you post that?

  5. #5
    Early S Reg #1395 LongRanger's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    California High Desert
    Posts
    14,288
    Quote Originally Posted by 9er View Post
    . . . Why would you post that? . . .
    Hear-hear . . .


    . . . someone's come to us, looking for some help --- that's all . . .


    . . . so? --- let's help . . . if we can




    .

    .........

    We Can Be Heroes

  6. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by trdking View Post
    Its not April first so I am convinced from your story that you are an idiot
    An apology is in order...
    Peter Kane

    '72 911S Targa
    Message Board Co-Moderator - Early 911S Registry #100

  7. #7
    Moderator Chuck Miller's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Reseda, CA.
    Posts
    12,407
    An apology is in order...
    Yep.... and before it gets deleted....
    Chuck Miller
    Creative Advisor/Message Board Moderator - Early 911S Registry #109
    R Gruppe #88

    TYP901 #62
    '73S cpe #1099 - Matched # 2.7/9.5 RS spec rebuild
    '67 Malibu 327 spt cpe - Period 350 Rebuild

    ’98 Chevy S-10 – Utility
    ’15 GTI – Commuter

  8. #8
    Senior Member StephenAcworth's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Chelsea, Québec
    Posts
    3,182
    Somewhat mean-spirited of you...

    Quote Originally Posted by trdking View Post
    Its not April first so I am convinced from your story that you are an idiot
    the guy comes here for help to understand what he has... it's comments like this that really damage the purpose of the forum. I recall how nervous I was when I first joined the forum as I realized I didn't know much. After several years, I still don't know that much compared to some of you, but I have enjoyed learning what I do know... and all of the knowledge has been given freely, for which I am very grateful!
    1966 911 Coupe - Slate Grey - 304598 - still in restoration!

    Member #1616

  9. #9
    Senior Member StephenAcworth's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Chelsea, Québec
    Posts
    3,182
    Welcome, Will Chappell, and thanks for sharing this story with the forum... I look forward to following your journey!
    1966 911 Coupe - Slate Grey - 304598 - still in restoration!

    Member #1616

  10. #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    San Clemente, CA
    Posts
    1,189
    OK OK Im sorry. I didnt mean anything by it. Was maybe looking for a reaction. I got it. Im sorry.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Message Board Disclaimer and Terms of Use
This is a public forum. Messages posted here can be viewed by the public. The Early 911S Registry is not responsible for messages posted in its online forums, and any message will express the views of the author and not the Early 911S Registry. Use of online forums shall constitute the agreement of the user not to post anything of religious or political content, false and defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy, or otherwise to violate the law and the further agreement of the user to be solely responsible for and hold the Early 911S Registry harmless in the event of any claim based on their message. Any viewer who finds a message objectionable should contact us immediately by email. The Early 911S Registry has the ability to remove objectionable messages and we will make every effort to do so, within a reasonable time frame, if we determine that removal is necessary.