“One if by land, GT2 if by Deus Ex Machina Luftgekuhlt”…

Posted on September 15, 2014 by digitaldtour

As the sign outside Deus Ex Machina stated, Sunday September 7 was to be the site for Luftgekuhlt, which loosely translated, implies a celebration of air-cooled cars, and as stated on this morning,”Porsches”. Not unlike the sign sent to Paul Revere many years ago, but in this case a signal sent out to rally the Porsche community.

And what a signal it was. The amazing turnout clearly demonstrated that the message had been received. By the time my son and I arrived at 8:30 AM, the parking lot was already packed to the gills…

Fortunately, the event hosts (Patrick Long and Howie Idelson) were able to squeeze me in, and found a spot for me to park amid my fellow Porsche 911 owners. Since this was intended as a celebration of air-cooled Porsches, a full compliment of models were present, starting with a variety of 356 models, displayed in coupe and cabriolet form…

and supplemented by an eclectic cross-section of Porsche 911s. Examples ranged from early 911s (aka Longhoods), represented by an early 1966 911 GT, one 1968 911, a variety of 911S models, and an example of Porsches ultimate 1973 911; the 911 Carrera RS.

Below, a 1969 911S race car, club raced back in the day by the late Paul Newman and by Bill Freeman. This car represents one of the latest acquisitions by the automotive group TruSpeed, based in Costa Mesa , CA.

Another of the race inspired RGruppe 911, in this case a 1969 911ST, owned by Chad McQueen, obviously influenced at an early age by his father (the late Steve McQueen), and his collection of Porsches, and their families involvement in racing.

One of the several Porsche 911S models on display, and representing the RGruppe car club.

A hint to this motors modifications beyond stock; a twin plug ignition, with its snake nest of 12 spark plug wires. An obvious clue that this is no longer a stock 2.2 liter 911S motor.

Like begets like; a silver 911S reflected in the fender of the host 911S.

Representing the 1973 model year, was an example of a Porsche iteration that firmly established the 911s competition pedigree; the Porsche 911 Carrera RS…

and a model that introduced the world to the brands new duck tail spoiler.

The sole representative from the 914 community was one very cool, blue Porsche 914-6 (below), seen hanging out with a variety of Porsche 911s.

The unintentional Porsche 911 evolution row, from front to back; white 1986 911 Carrera, blue 1979 -1983 911SC, white 993 Turbo and at the opposite end, a white 964 Carrera coupe.

The view of Evolution row from the opposite end (below).

Parked immediately across from Evolution row, and next to a trio of Porsche 911s from Magnus Walker’s collection, was another rare and highly modified Porsche; one of the latest 911 creations in white from the team at Singer Vehicle Design (as seen below).

A glimpse of the Singer’s austere engine compartment and its highly modified, purpose-built motor (below).

Interesting details and technology abound from any angle.

Rear decklid with graphics and Singer badging.

(Below), A close up view of the Singer’s dimensional rear decklid badging.

Parked out front of the Deus facility, helping garner attention to the mornings activities, was this beautiful red VW single cab transporter, embellished with hand painted Porsche super graphics.

Another of the Porsche parked out front of the Deus Ex Machina facility; in this case one very cool, black 993 Carrera C4 coupe.

A four-wheeled, Porsche 993 mirror… (above and below)

As the morning progressed, and with participants coming and going, our hosts were challenged with being sensitive to the surrounding businesses. So for some of us, that meant the need to move to the primary Deus parking lot, and consolidate with the remaining cars parked in the Deus lot. So imagine my surprise when I found myself now parked between two icons; Porsche ultimate expression of the 993 model, the GT2, to my left, and to my right, the Signer 911…and all three cars in white !

For those unfamiliar with Porsche 993 GT2, just seeing one in person is incredible, given the rarity of this model. This is only the second true 993 GT2 that I have seen in person (my first sighting was of a silver 993 GT2 parked on the streets of London, while on a business trip back in 2000).

Porsche only produced the 993 based GT2 from 1993 to 1998. The 993 GT2 was powered by a 3.6 liter, twin turbocharged flat six motor producing 430 horsepower. Then in 1998, Porsche increased the GT2s performance, boosting horsepower up to 450. Power was managed through a six speed manual transmission, and capable of delivering 0-60 times of 3.9 seconds, and 0-100 mph times in only 8.7 seconds. According to my research, Porsche only built a total of 57, 993 based GT2 road cars, with 7 of those models manufactured for the right hand drive market.

Another of the unique, identifying design details found on the 993 GT2 (as seen below); the three-piece modular, Speedline racing wheel.

The model specific rear wing, with dual air intakes, designed to feed cool, fresh air to the twin turbocharged motor, and wearing dual GT2 embossed end plates.

The owner of this GT2 was kind enough to field a mornings worth of questions about his car;the most common question being what is it? For those in the know, it was obvious that this was in fact a 993 GT2, and not a clone or re-creation. The owner also shared with us that this particular car possessed the horsepower upgrade (450 horsepower), making it one of the 1998 models. We also learned two more interesting facts about this particular GT2. The first was that this car had been purchased from its original owner in Japan, and secondly, upon its successful importation into the United States, it became what is to be believed only one of two true 993 GT2s residing within the USA.

Where else but in Southern California, could an event of this magnitude be held, and draw as diverse and rare a collection of Porsche as those that participated.

Given the success and turnout experienced on September 7, and based upon comments shared by one of the events host (Patrick Long), it appears it will only be a matter of time before a second Luftgekuhlt event will once again be held.

(All photos by the author)

A UFO sighting during this years 2014 Dana Point 356 Concours…

Posted on August 9, 2014 by digitaldtour

Waking up on Sunday morning July 20th, I was greeted by high gray cloud cover and warm temperatures, yet it was just 6:30 AM; Interesting weather for the start of this years 2014 Dana Point 356 concours. At least the cloud cover did not appear to possess the ability to deliver rain, as had occurred during the past two Dana Point 356 Concours.

I arrived at the Lantern Bay Park overlooking Dana Point harbor at around 7:30 am, anticipating an early entry to the grounds for Porsche 911 “display parking” by 8:00 AM, only to be told that this year the 911s would have to wait until 8:30. I was then told that I would need to leave the area at the top of the hill to make room for any of the late arriving Porsche 356. So with no place to wait, I turned around and descended the hill and headed back towards PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) for those unfamiliar with Southern California highways. Fortunately there was a Denny’s restaurant on the corner, so I decided that this would be a good place to park and wait for 8:30 AM. As I pulled into the lot, I could see there was already a group of early model Porsches parked together towards the back corner, so I headed in their direction. After parking near a pristine, Sand beige Porsche 912 Targa, I got out and struck up a conversation with the owner, who was standing beside his car. After talking with the owner (Ned) about the obvious topic (Porsches, and the pending concours), a Porsche 356 pulled into the lot, parked and joined in the conversation. Our conversation then shifted to the 356 he was driving (an “Outlaw” i.e. a highly customized 356 that most Porsche 356 purists frown upon due to the non-factory type alterations made to an original car). The driver turned out to be one of the mechanics from the shop that had worked on the car for a client, and who was now tasked with displaying the car at the concours. It was now getting close to 8:30, so the 356 was started up and driven off to the show. At the same time, the owners of the cluster of Porsche 912s returned from having breakfast, fired up their respective cars, and headed out single file back towards Lantern Bay. Ned and I followed their lead, and both made our way back to Lantern Bay.

Once back on top of the hill, it was obvious that the 356 competitors were now all in place, and neatly aligned in rows. However as I pulled onto the lawn, I was surprised to see a large gathering of early Porsche 911s (made up of members of the Early S Registry and the RGruppe car clubs), already parked on the lawn, opposite the 356 concours area. As I continued, parked to my left was another group of Porsches, all 912 models, and representing a full range of model years. Many of the 912s were in fact the very same cars I had just seen parked down the hill in the Denny’s parking lot. As I reached the end of the 912 row, I made a loop out behind the standing row of pine trees, and found an open spot, making sure to avoid any overhanging tree branches, since these Pine trees during the summer months have a reputation for weeping sap. So after grabbing my camera, it was time to take a closer look at the multitude of assembled Porsches.

Looking across the sea of Porsche scattered throughout the park, I believe that this years event drew one of the largest turnouts compared to the last couple years. Obviously with such a large selection to choose from, my photographic challenge was where to start. And since I was parked amidst my 911 and 912 brethren, this was where I would start…

Parked in the outer row with its fellow 911s was this beautiful, owner restored Sand beige 1967 911S as seen below…

with its spotless motor…

and wearing a set restored and increasingly rare, 4 -1/2 X 15 inch Fuchs 5 spoke alloy wheels.

While checking out this amazing 1967 911S, a buzzing noise could be heard overhead, and upon looking up to see what was making the noise, we caught a UFO hovering overhead. As we watched, it began to track over the rows of parked Porsches, and then without warning, reversed its direction and headed back in our direction. Since I was the only one equipped with a camera, I grabbed a quick shot skyward to record this flying object. The image below is the UFO just before it disappeared. Upon closer inspection of this image, it appears that we were being recorded, as evidenced by the GoPro attached to its underside.

Now back to the show… Two examples of the beautifully restored Porsche 912s gathered for this event; my new friend Ned’s 1969 Sand beige 912 Targa below…

and my friend Brad’s Irish Green 1968 912 coupe as seen below, complete with a unique back story. His Porsche had been purchased new by his father while stationed in Germany, and was driven throughout Europe while he served in the military. The 912 has remained in the family to this day, with Brad taking over as the current caretaker.

With the sun finally starting to burn through the morning haze, it was time to check out the 356 concours side, and begin my exploration through the pristine rows of multi hued coupes, cabriolets and speedsters.

Bridging the gap between the two display areas was the quartet of Porsches seen below.

Beginning at the far left, was the ultra rare, Ivory colored 1949 Porsche Gmund coupe.

To its left was another equally unique, early model Porsche 356. This particular coupe, a 1959 356 Carrera GT, was being displayed in an unrestored condition, and it too possessed a unique history.

As a sign on its windshield stated, this Carrera GT was the Swedish Ice Racing champion two years running from 1959 to 1960. There was even an example of the custom prepared, studded ice racing tires (below), worn by the Carrera GT back in the day on its way to consecutive Swedish ice racing championships.

Next in line was another historically significant Porsche race / street car; in this case the silver, 1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS seen below.

This particular car (Chassis # 904-064) has an interesting resume, having raced in German Hill climb competitions, as well as races held at Monza. It had been owned and was restored by a previous owner, the late Vasek Polak. Mr. Polak was well known within the Porsche community as the owner of the Southern California (Manhatten Beach) Porsche dealership, and as one of Claifornia’s prominent race team owners.

Representing the Porsche 911 community, was the highly modified, RGruppe / Early S Registry inspired, Gulf Blue 911ST coupe, riding on a set of silver, period correct minilite race wheels.

The classic Porsche 911 silhouette, bathed in Southern California sunshine (below).

Venturing over to the 356 display side, owners could be seen hurridly completing their last-minute detailing, prior to experiencing their pride and joy undergoing scrutiny by the roving bands of concours judges.

As seen below, one of several “356 Outlaws” present and awaiting judging.

A beautiful Stone gray 356 Speedster, equipped with the seldom seen hardtop option.

Another example of a 356 Outlaw on display. This particular silver Porsche 356 is owned by the Emory family who were responsible for popularizing the “outlaw style” of modification, and credited with coining the term.

Upon completion of the mornings judging and with the results being tallied, the trophy table (below) was being readied for a 2 PM start of the awards ceremony. This years trophies were once again modeled after last years theme of surfboards.

And what every concours participant aspires to; taking home the highly desirable Best of Show trophy.

The final awards of the day went to the red 356 cabriolet seen below. Not only did this cabriolet win best in class, but also received the concours top prize, the Best of Show trophy.

A group shot of the class winning Porsches from this years concours.

Once all of the winning cars were parked together, it became very apparent that the judges at this years concours had a thing for the color red, given the high percentage of red hued, winning 356s selected at this years show.

Unfortunately, we’ll all have to wait for the 2015 show, to find out what model and or color will appeal to next years judges, and influence their awarding of the multiple class winners, and the coveted “Best of Show” award.

(All photos by the author)

“Thunderstorms hit Southern California”, yet fail to dampen the spirits of those attending the 2014 LA Airport Hilton Hotel Literature and Memorabilia show, and the Phoenix Club’s Porsche show and swap meet…

Posted on March 16, 2014 by digitaldtour

“Thunderstorms hit Southern California”, yet fail to dampen the spirits of those attending the 2014 LA Airport Hilton Hotel Literature and Memorabilia show, and the Phoenix Club’s Porsche show and swap meet.

Below is an example of the crowd present for this years LA Airport Hilton Hotel Literature and Memorabilia show. I was told by friends who had arrived early to be part of the paid “early entry” at 7AM, that they had never seen so many people show up for the early entry, and that the crowds at 9 AM were equally impressive.

One of several display tables with an assortment of driving lights, fog and tail lights.

Vintage Hella tail lights, application unknown. However, the Hella 128 fog lights (as noted by the price tag seen below) were optional on Porsche 911s dating back to 1966. It pains me to see the current asking price for a set of 128s, especially since I sold a pristine pair to a friend back in 1973 for $45.

Several rows over was another table full of favorites; car grill / badge bar commemorative plaques…

all very cool and expensive, with each possessing unique detail and color.

One of the nicest Porsche parts displays present (seen below), showcasing an unrivaled variety of Porsche 356 parts for sale, presented by the firm Stoddard NLA-LLC.

The following day (Sunday) traditionally hosts a larger, outdoor swap meet and car show down in Orange County, at the Phoenix Club in Anaheim. In all of my years of attendance, this was the first time rain would impact the event. The Porsche community however is a hearty lot, so a little rain was not about to affect their show…

An early 911 headlight (below), equipped with a European spec, amber French lens.

One highly visible, glow in the rain Porsche 930 turbo.

One rain drenched Porsche super car; the rare Type 959. Even at rest, the rain sheets right off…

One of the Porsche 356 representatives present, showing no apprehension regarding the morning rain.

Proof that water does bead up on highly waxed surfaces.

Representing the early long hood community, was this beautifully prepared Beige Gray 1968 Porsche 911.

Rear decklid and side stripes with a rally sport inspired graphic treatment; could these graphics be the handiwork of werkcrew founder Bob Tilton?

The equally impressive, rally / race inspired motor.

More proof that Southern California Porsche owners drive their cars in the rain…

and the rest of the car covered by the morning rain.

Several of the early morning arrivals, parked up close to the building and protected from the majority of the rain showers.

A pair of Porsche GTs staged out in the rain; a 1972 911 GT and the rally prepared,1970 914-6…

The real deal; a close up view of true 914-6 GT factory fender flares.

Proof of this vehicles pedigree; a record of its previous participant and survivor status in the Panama / Alaska Rally.

One of the early 911S models on display at this years show…

complete with a recent acquisition by the owner, proudly displayed on the dash.

This burgundy 911S was also one of the few Porsches at the show equipped with a roof mounted, Leitz brand luggage rack.

One of the local RGruppe members, displaying a variety of magnetic vinyl club event plaques on his front hood.

One rain-soaked rear decklid, wrapped in Martini racing graphics.

Below, further evidence of the morning drizzle…

on what initially appeared to be an early 1970s vintage Porsche 911. However, upon closer inspection it became obvious that this car was actually a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Concealed beneath its skin lurked a 1986 3.2 liter, Porsche 911 Carrera having undergone a conversion known as “backdating”. That effort combined with the visually correct, optional front and rear bumper overriders, created a convincing 1970s appearing Porsche 911.

Suspicions confirmed… and itemized.

A convincing re-spray, in period correct Irish green.

One of the apparent casualties of the morning rain; a shrunken Porsche 550 Spyder, reduced in size and now able to fit into the bed of a single cab VW type 2, being displayed by the folks from fibersteel.

Even with rain impacting this years event, there was still a huge turnout, illustrating the impact that this event holds for the Southern California Porsche community. And based upon the variety of different foreign accents overheard during the weekend, it’s easy to see the wide reaching pull that this event has on Porsche fans from around the globe.

The next event coming up for the Southern California Porsche community will be the California Festival of Speed, at the Auto Club Speedway, in Fontana, California from April 4-6. Let’s all hope for a warm sunny weekend…

(All photos by the author)

Restorationville, or hanging out on Porsche Row, with a 1949 Bellytank Lakester thrown in for good measure…

Posted on October 28, 2013 by digitaldtour

With only two months remaining in the year-long celebration of the 2013, 50th anniversary of the Porsche 911, there seems to an ever-increasing number of Porsche 911s in attendance each week at cars&coffee. For anyone with a passion for the Porsche brand (and especially for the 911 model), this event is worth a visit. And on Saturday morning October 19, a majority of the Porsche models present turned out to be early 1966-73 (long hood) models.

Leading the group and parked amidst its early 911 brothers, was the white with blood orange striped, 1967 911R tribute, making its long overdue re-appearance (as seen above). Over the summer, this car underwent further modifications and detailing to its suspension and chassis, and on this morning was being displayed in preparation of it being offered up for sale.

The classic Cibie Biode headlight benefitting from a 2013 technology enhancement; aerospace grade re-plated reflectors, working with three separate lamps per headlight, and when collectively combined, able to deliver 280 watts of searing illumination, all focused through a set of fresh european lenses (above & below).

And parked just two cars further up on Porsche row was one of the multiple RGruppe Porsche 911s present. In this case, the beautifully maintained, black 1970 911S seen below.

Another of the RGruppe 911s located immediately across from Porsche row; a pristine 1973 911T, finished in the rare Aubergine (eggplant), Porsche paint code 025.

A Porsche 914-6 and 911T sandwich, with VW transporter filling.

One of the non 911 Porsches present; a 914 with fresh paint and new motor transplanted from a benchmark 911; the very cool 1973 Carrera RS, and its ever potent, 2.7 liter Carrera RS motor.

The seldom seen rear (european market only), model branding badge (above & below).

And the real deal; a 914-6 european rear badge found out back on a factory-prepared 1971 Porsche 914-6 GT…

Getting back on track and to the overall theme of this posting, parked across the aisle and located off to the left were two more early, mid-sixties Porsches; one a Polo Red 1966 911, and its neighbor, an Irish Green 1968 912.

And last but not least, an early morning shot of a 1948 Bellytank Lakester (seen below). This vehicle was being shared courtesy of Photographer / Director, Porsche Collector, Race car driver and frequent cars&coffee participant, Jeff Zwart.

So should you have an interest in the Porsche vehicles, you can expect to find a diverse cross-section of Porsche sports cars present at this weekly show. But should your passion be focused on the 911, cars&coffee is the place to join in on the remaining two months of the year-long, 50th Anniversary celebration of the Porsche 911. And who knows what classic Porsches could make an appearance. Can you say Porsche 918 Spyder?

(All photos by the author)

Atlas staged, plus a colorful collection of eclectic cars…

Posted on May 5, 2013 by digitaldtour

Webster’s Dictionary defines the word eclectic as “selecting what appears to be the best in various doctrines, methods or styles”: “composed of elements drawn from various sources”. Both of these definitions were equally appropriate in describing the vehicles that turned out for the Saturday April 27th gathering of Cars & Coffee / Irvine.

On this particular morning, courtesy of the Ford Motor Company, participants were greeted by a concept vehicle on display, staged over in the featured lot. However, instead of a car, the vehicle in question was a concept truck. In this case, a silver Ford “Atlas Concept” crew cab pick up, with an abundance of custom features, including active wheel shutters (shown in their closed position), as visible on the driver’s side wheels…

Wheel shutters in their open position, as seen on the passenger side wheels (below).

Parked over at the opposite end of the featured lot, the Mercedes-Benz Classics Center was showing several rare, beautifully restored, vintage treasures from their museum…

I overheard (while shooting the red model below), that this particular vehicle is a one of one; the only example of this vintage beauty in existence.

Parked just to the right of these two Mercedes, was one very cool and beautifully restored two toned DKW (Auto Union) Schnellaster panel van (aka DKW F89 L), produced from 1949 to 1962 as seen below. These vehicles were initially powered by a 700 cc, two-cylinder, two-stroke motor. Then in 1955, the Schnellaster received an upgrade to three cylinders, increasing the displacement up to 900 cc, good for 32 horsepower!

Who copied who? This two toned color palette appeared very similar to color schemes observed on several early 1950’s Volkswagen Type II transporters.

Over on Porsche row, it was one of those rare mornings that saw 100% occupancy by Porsche models only. And due to the clear, sunny springtime weather, a truly colorful collection of eclectic Porsches turned out in force…

Situated just opposite of Porsche row, was this spectacular 1970s vintage Datsun 510…

with an equally impressive turbocharged motor lurking under the hood, ready to shame any unsuspecting rival.

As I continued on my trek through the parking lot, I came across several other Porsches that obviously arrived too late to park along Porsche row…

And just two rows over was a collection of Dodge Vipers, three in the blue with white stripe combination. A closer look revealed the center blue viper as one of the brand new 2013 SRT models.

Representing Ford’s endurance racing efforts from the 1960’s, were these two Ford GT 40 tributes…

Also encountered and scattered throughout the parking lot, were several beautiful examples representing another of the German marques, in this case BMW…

Representing the Italian manufacturers was a line up of jellybean colored Lamborghini, parked together out on the very back row.

So with summer just around the corner, one can only speculate regarding the possibility of a Stingray sighting, or when the next Saturday mornings colorful collection of eclectic cars will occur…

(All photos by the author)

California Festival of Speed 2013; A 50th Anniversary celebration of the Porsche 911, Club racing, vehicle encores and debuts…

Posted on April 14, 2013 by digitaldtour

This years California Festival of Speed, held at the Autoclub Speedway in Fontana California, during the weekend of April 5 – 7, was once again advertised as the “Biggest Porsche Event in the Southwest”. Based upon my observations and the comments I overheard, this years event more than lived up to the claim. In addition to the regular activities listed for the weekend (Swap meet, Concours, Zone 8 Club Racing and Autocross, and Vendor row), Saturday had been selected for the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Porsche 911 event. Given the sheer number of people crowded around the 50th anniversary display, this focused event would prove to be a huge success (see photo below).

But even before entering the track’s infield area, there were plenty of Porsches to be found within the Porsche Corral (i.e. Porsche only parking lot). This area became its own mini car show, with a diverse cross-section of model years and body styles represented. I later came to find out that the trio of early model Porsche 911’s that I was parked next to, belonged to three generations all from one family; the grandfather and his white 1967 911S, his sons silver 1972 911S, and his grandson’s orange 911T.

Even more impressive was the fact that the grandson had just learned to drive a manual transmission vehicle three days earlier, behind the wheel of the very same orange Porsche 911 T that he drove to the show. Three generations all with a passion for Porsche, and just one of many examples reflective of the success of the Porsche brand.

Word had gone out to the Porsche community back in February, that the Porsche Club of America was looking for owners (from within the Zone 8, PCA regions), with Porsche 911s representing model years 1964 through 2013, to participate in a 50th anniversary celebration of the Porsche 911, to be held at the California Festival of Speed weekend in early April. Owners were requested to submit information about their car and also include a photo for review. Given the sheer number of Porsches that reside within Southern California, this challenge was quickly met, and on the morning of the event, every production year was represented. PCA had located models from the earliest example represented (an ultra-rare 1964 Porsche 901), to the present day model, a 2013 Porsche Type 991 911 Carrera S. The display was arranged by model year, beginning with the earliest model, starting at the left end of the row and then moving chronologically to the right. Each vehicle was also displayed with a printed biography, mounted behind each car on the chain link fence, and which served as the backdrop for the entire display.

For those unable to attend the event, the following photos represent each of the participants from the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Porsche 911; every car has been documented by a front view shot and is then followed by a close up photograph of its biography…

Several overview shots of the collective “50th anniversary of the Porsche 911” lineup below…

Around 11:30 AM, all of the participants and their cars were gathered up for a group photo, to be taken out on the race track at the start / finish line; queued up on pit lane, ready to head out onto the track (as seen below).

Once all of the cars had gathered on pit lane, they were then released out onto the track to begin their staging for the group shot (see below).

The early 911s beginning to be staged on the track at the start / finish line (below)…

Heading to the start / finish line to be staged for the group photo…

The first row of the early 911s being moved into position…

Cars and owners lined up and ready for their close-ups…

Fourth row of assembled Porsche 911s from the group photo (below).

Back row from the group photo…

With all of the cars aligned and the owners positioned outside of their cars, a series of photos were taken, and upon completion, the vehicles were quickly reorganized and then sent off to enjoy several parade laps around the race track.

Please stay tuned for my continued coverage from the California Festival of Speed / Part 2; featuring Club racing, vehicle encores and debuts.

(All photos by the author)

Under the influence…

Posted on April 2, 2013 by digitaldtour

What type of cars influence your automotive tastes? What current design or styling trends have made an impact on you recently? Do you prefer the classics over contemporary models? Regardless of your favorite make or model, design influences can be found everywhere, even in non automotive fields. Automotive designers have long been known to seek inspiration from the worlds of high fashion, jewelry, print. textile, sculpture, sports, military, aeronautical and Motorsports. And there is always the ability to draw inspiration from a manufacturers own design history and their brands genetic DNA.

A current trend making the rounds within the Porsche community is a renewed appreciation for the classics; be it the early 911’s (1964-1973)…

or a 1967 911R tribute…

or a celebration of Porsche’s 911ST models…

These latest trends have now overshadowed the previous craze of 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS recreations. And how appropriate that these newest trends are surfacing in 2013, a year in which Porsche celebrates their 50th anniversary of the iconic Porsche 911.

The focus and theme for this post came to me after a recent review of my slide archives, especially after coming across several images of an orange, 1967 Porsche 911 that I shot way back in May of 1974 at the Ontario Motor Speedway, two years after buying my very first Porsche 911 (a 1966 coupe).

This particular orange 911 ended up making a huge impression on me back in 1974, in part because of my growing interest in Porsche race cars (in particular the 1967 911R and the new for 1973 & 1974, Porsche 911RSR).

The modifications made to this car really spoke to me; from its Carrera RS front spoiler, to the full race, fiberglass whale tail out back, its lowered stance and the mini-lite racing wheels wrapped in Goodyear racing rubber. And with the removal of the bumper and rocker deco trim, it conveyed the purpose-built simplicity of a 911R. Ironically, several of these styling cues would find their way onto my 1966 911 over the next several years. It began with the addition of a 911S fiberglass front spoiler, and continued with the removal of the front, side and rear bumper deco trim, and in regards to my wheels, I decided to polish out my set of 4 -1/2″ X 15″ Fuchs 5 spoke alloy wheels, and concluded with the lowering of the suspension and adding a set of Koni shocks (see below)…

Which brings me back to the subject of influences. With this weekends upcoming “California Festival of Speed” event to be held at the AutoClub Speedway in Fontana on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (April 5, 6, 7), this is the perfect venue for being exposed to and learning about all thing Porsche, as well as witnessing firsthand some of the coolest trends being cultivated within the Southern California Porsche community. And with the 50th anniversary celebration of the Porsche 911 event being held on Saturday (April 6), what better way to view firsthand, examples of every production 911 model, culminating with the current 2013 type 991, 911 Carrera model. And who knows, you may even find yourself leaving the show under the influence…

(All photos by the author)

Zagato’s, Spyder’s, Daytona’s, a Classic Alfa, one Porsche 911R Tribute and some 911 friends…

Posted on February 24, 2013 by digitaldtour

Saturday morning turned out to be one of those mornings destined for celebrating the classics. Scattered throughout the parking lot were a number of vintage, automotive treasures awaiting discovery by an unsuspecting visitor. In fact, we even had the first classic of the morning roll up and park right next to where we were standing, and stop just behind my friend Dave’s Porsche 930 turbo. The Ferrari 365 GTB/4 , also known as the Daytona coupe was produced from 1968 through 1973 in limited quantities (only 1284 Coupes were built). The Fly Yellow, Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona coupe (as seen below), equipped with pop up headlights, establishes its vintage as falling within the three-year period from 1971 thru 1973.

Ferrari introduced their pop up headlight detail on the 365 GTB/4 beginning with the 1971 model year, due to their previous design (headlights set behind a fixed glass lens, utilized from 1968 -1970) becoming illegal due to new safety regulations established within the United States for 1971.

A glimpse of 365 GTB/4’s 12 cylinder, 352 HP motor up front…

The Fly Yellow Ferrari and its opened hood reflected in Dave’s Porsche 930 turbo’s polished intercooler (above), and the parked 1984 930 turbo and Ferrari Daytona Coupe (below).

On this morning, Dave decided to shadow me as I explored and collected my weekly photos. Our first stop would be over at the featured lot, but on the way we came across one of the events hidden gems. And in this case, a truly rare find; a 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2600 race car (below).

One of the very unique aspects of this car; its supercharged, dual DOHC straight 8 motor, displacing 2.6 liters. This supercharged configured motor powered this race car back in the day, while being campaigned under the Scuderia Ferrari banner (thus the Ferrari badging displayed on the sides of the cowl).

So after checking out the Alfa Romeo, we continued our trek towards the featured lot, where we encountered a pair of classics parked side by side. First up was the charcoal gray and red striped, 1955 Zagato Fiat 8V “double bubble” coupe.

The Zagato bodied, Fiat 8V (which in Italian translates to “Otto Vu”), was created as a two-liter, V8 powered sports car, for the sole purpose of competing against Lancia, Maserati and Ferrari,who already had two liter race cars. Fiat needed to produce 200 examples of the 8V model in order to qualify for homologation, but unfortunately were faced with insufficient demand for their 8V. As a result, Fiat offered up chassis for these cars to the coach builders of the day. Due to their participation in a joint venture, Zagato ended up purchasing a total of 32 chassis. And of those 32 examples, four were delivered from Fiat with partial bodywork already installed. These four cars received further modifications by Zagato, creating what came to be known as the aluminum “double bubble” roof, including further modifications to the vehicles windows to integrate all of the elements together.

Fiat officially ended production of their 8V model in 1954, having begun building 8V’s in 1952, culminating in a total of 114 vehicles being produced. However, it took an additional two years to complete production on all of the remaining vehicles. But it was during 1955 that the 8V really made its mark. As raced by Elio Zagato (the Coach Builders son), he and the 8V became the winners of the 1955 Italian two-liter championship, and continued their winning ways together through 1959. (The 1955 Zagato 8V, Double Bubble Coupe shown here is chassis # 084).

Parked immediately to the left of the Zagato, was the 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder, painted in a brilliant blue, and complete with a hard tonneau cover (below)…

And yes, it’s the real deal; an honest, factory built Porsche 550 Spyder race car…

Heading back towards Porsche Row, I noticed an early white 911 with a single orange racing stripe and gathering a crowd, so off we went to check out the car.

As I walked around the car, I could hear the owner discussing some of the features found on his car. I learned that the car had been built using the 1967 Porsche 911R as a template, and that the owner actually fabricated the fiberglass front fenders, hood and rear decklid himself, maintaining the original visual aesthetic, as well as the lightweight performance theme of the original 911R.

The custom fabricated, 911R inspired, lightweight fiberglass rear deck lid with the underside left raw and unpainted, revealing the true nature of the substrate (above).

A glimpse of the high output, Weber carburetted boxer flat six residing out back, and according to the owner, a motor delivering approximately 300 HP; well in excess of the original 1991 cc, 210+HP produced by the original 911R back in 1967.

A collection of early 911’s on Porsche Row (above and below)…

A pair of Porsche 911S models reflecting on the morning…

Nick’s beautifully prepared silver European spec, 1970’s vintage 911S…

and its beautifully detailed and potent, 2.7 Carrera RS spec motor.

And parked over on the opposite side of the parking lot, was one of Porsches more recent classics; the 2011 911 GT3 RS in gray with red accents, graphics and wheels…

So regardless of your preferences for the Classics, rest assured that on any given Saturday morning, you too can come face to face with the rare and previously unseen examples of your favorite classic…

(All photos by the author)

“When everything is art, you’ve gotta take it in”…

Posted on November 12, 2012 by digitaldtour

On Saturday November 3, those of us here in Southern California experienced another weekend of extended summer like weather. As a result, those in attendance at Cars&Coffee were treated to a truly eclectic gathering of automobiles.

With such a diverse cross-section of vehicles represented, I really felt as if I were walking through an outdoor art gallery, experiencing row after row of 4 wheeled art and sculpture. And with each new row, the experience resembled that of entering a new and different wing within a museum, and discovering the treasures within. And that was exactly the type of experience that would unfold before me that morning.

My first stop of the morning, with illumination courtesy of the rising sun, was with these two examples of classic, post WWII automotive art; in this case a pair of 1930’s vintage, American bred hot rods…

The 5 window coupe’s motor (as seen below).

The pickup truck even displayed what appeared to be a flying eyeball hood ornament, perhaps influenced by the famous flying eyeball logo /graphic created by California pin striping legend Von Dutch (below)…

Over at the featured lot, I encountered this beautiful British Racing Green Jaguar, with its sculpted curves being accentuated by some amazing reflections, courtesy of the early morning light.

There was no mistaking the origins of this particular model due to its unique design, and the badge on the front hood only reinforced the fact that parked before me was one of the very rare,1957 Jaguar D-type XKSS roadsters.

With the sunrise and reflections both working their magic, the shapes and contours of the front hood and fenders were beautifully displayed, and further illustrated the sculptural impact to the styling of this car.

Even when viewed from behind, the subtle contours of the body along with the angular, almost pinched profile of the side windows were further revealed and accentuated by the early morning sunrise.

Seeing this car in person brought to mind a magazine article I remembered reading years ago about Steve McQueen, in which the author described his ownership of a 1957 Jaguar XKSS. The article had mentioned several specific modifications that McQueen had made to his car. The first was to repaint the car a proper British Racing Green. The second was to add a locking door to the glove box cubby in the dashboard ( the cars were delivered without glove box doors). McQueen turned to one of his friends (Pin striper Von Dutch) for the fabrication of a locking glove box door, to correct the oversight by Jaguar. The third modification made was to have the original interior kept stock, but to have the upholstery redone in black leather, by none other than the Southern California-based drag racer turned custom car upholsterer Tony Nancy. This particular car parked in front of me possessed all of the aforementioned details, so the question remained; could this car be the ex-Steve McQueen Jaguar XKSS?

(Postscript: After publishing this post, I received an email from the owner of the XKSS one week later, wanting to clarify the origins of his car. I learned that it is in fact an XKSS re-creation, and not an original model. The amazing fiberglass body was created by Realm Engineering, located in the U.K., and is mounted to a Reynard Racing chassis, specified with Jaguar running gear. Power is produced by a 4.2 liter Jaguar motor, pumping out 300 horsepower, and is transferred to the rear wheels via a Tremec 5 speed transmission. Seeing this car in person puts the automotive re-creation industry in a whole new light).

My next stop would be to Porsche row, for my weekly visit.

A trio of early Porsche 911s, with the outer two displaying the optional Lietz roof racks…

Caught in the middle; the white, 1972 911 RGruppe GT 2.7 coupe, complete with its unique, rear quarter window graphic.

The early 911 triplets as seen below (foreground to background)- 1969 911E, 1972 911 GT, and 1973 911E.

Located several rows over to the East, and down the aisle from the weekly Mercedes-Benz 190SL enclave, I discovered this trio of classic Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The first example (as seen below), in red and black, turned out to be a pre-war 1936 Mercedes-Benz 230 W-143 Cabriolet B; a spectacular and beautifully restored, touring car.

Sandwiched in-between the other two Mercedes-Benz vehicles, was this Ivory colored, 1930s vintage two-seat roadster with red interior, also appearing to have been restored.

Parked immediately to the right was what appeared to be a model 260D, W-138 series sedan, also sporting a two toned paint finish, in green with black fenders.

What made the 260 D model unique was that the D designation represented a diesel engined vehicle, and made this particular model the first diesel engined, series produced passenger car. And according to the Mercedes-Benz records, only 2000 of these vehicles were built between 1936 and 1940, at which time their production was stopped due to the war. All three of these cars literally looked like they had just rolled off of a Mercedes-Benz showroom floor.

As I continued my trek through the “gallery”, a white, early model Porsche 911 caught my eye, so I walked over to get a closer look ( see below). I had seen this car arrive earlier that morning, and remembered a comment made by a friend standing over on Porsche Row regarding its exhaust note. He stated that this particular car sounded exactly how a Porsche 911 engine should sound; Tight and clear with a smooth idle, and without any extraneous noise or valve clatter. And anyone who has been around or is familiar with Porsche 911s, will know the specific sound I’ve described.

I soon realized that there was something familiar about this car; I had seen it before, but could not remember where. It was then that the owner came over and introduced himself, as I was photographing the motor. I quickly learned that this car had been previously owned by one of the two founding members of the Porsche car club “RGruppe”, and after being shown an article written years ago in Excellence magazine about this very car and two other 911s, it hit me. That was where I has seen this car before, having read the same article, and obviously it had made an impression.

As a result of this cars previous ownership, this car was equipted with many of the cool, go fast Motorsports purposed, Porsche factory parts. This car would become a visual blueprint used by many a Porsche owner who aspired to building their own unique version of an RGruppe inspired, pre 1974 Porsche 911.

Up front, an example of the custom finished, Porsche factory, 911R inspired “Deep 6” Fuchs alloy wheel.

Race inspired, door mounted Talbot mirror…

Shown below is the performance inspired interior; from the 911R styled, light weight door panels and pulls, to the Recaro sports seats for the driver and passenger, a Prototipo racing steering wheel (complete with the proper patina), and the removal of the radio, with a filler panel added and the void covered over. Even the speedometer and tachometer have been rotated to the left, to allow for the monitoring of critical vehicle speed and engine RPM at a glance; each gauge had been set in order to peg its orange needle at the twelve o’clock position).

A 1969 Porsche 911S, 2.2 liter motor with mechanical fuel injection (as seen below)…

Even the rear deck lid was given the RGruppe treatment. The stock, factory dimensional rear badging was removed, and replaced by adhesive backed vinyl graphics, once again taking inspiration from the early Porsche 911 race cars…

My last stop of the morning was to check out this stunning Orange, 2007 Porsche GT3RS. With the crowds and cars having thinned, I was able to move around and photograph the GT3RS without interference.

The lighting by mid morning created some incredible highlights, reflections and shadows, and created the visual impression of an airbrushed rendering.

A study of light; Ground plane shadows, highlights to define shape and contour, and an ultra reflective carbon fiber rear wing…

Form follows function; the GT3RS rear wing. Purpose built for speed, generating downforce and capturing hidden reflections (see below)…

My last shot of the morning and one of my favorite from the November 3rd event. The sunlight really brought this color to life, and showcased the collective styling cues unique to the GT3RS, re-stating the obvious: There is no substitute.

So should you find yourself in need of some artistic inspiration on a Saturday morning, come take a stroll through the automotive galley known locally as Cars&Coffee. You won’t be disappointed…

(All photos by the author)

From the outside looking in; Observations from the 2012 RGruppe Solvang Treffen

Posted on May 12, 2012 by digitaldtour

As noted in my last post, I had been invited by one of the members from the RGruppe (Porsche car club) to drive up to Solvang on Saturday May 5, spend the afternoon hanging out with the group, shoot some photos, and experience Porsche 911 overload as only the RGruppe can deliver.

The club’s home base for the weekend would be in Beulton California, specifically at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott Hotel, located just off of the 101 freeway. The Marriott’s proximity to the 101 freeway as well as highways 246 and 154, afforded the members easy access to a wide variety of back roads to explore, and on which to gauge the latest modifications made to their 911s. The hotel also offered up a secluded, secure parking lot out back, and which was large enough to contain the 100+ Porsches that turned out for the event. And turn out they did, from club chapters across the United States and even Mexico.

So Saturday morning May 5 saw my wife and I pack up the Carrera, and head North on the 101 freeway to Solvang. When we arrived at the Marriott around noon, the parking lot was bare, with only a handful of Porsches present.

Apparently the majority of cars were still out on their morning tours, enjoying the warm, sunny spring weather, clear blue skies and twisty roads. Instead of waiting at the hotel for the cars to return, my wife suggested we drive into Solvang and grab some lunch. So we fired up the Carrera, and headed off to explore the town. After a short 3 mile run down highway 246, we found ourselves right in the middle of Solvang, and looking for a place to grab some lunch. After parking the car and a short walk, we found a restaurant (The Mustard Seed) situated right off of the town’s main street (highway 246). They even had a patio out front, so we took advantage of the weather and sat outside. Halfway through our lunch, I heard the unmistakable rasp of a Porsche sport exhaust, and looked up just in time to see a trio of Porsche 911s exploring the rpm range of second gear. Unfortunately, several of the patrons at the restaurant (obviously Solvang locals) took exception to the drivers exuberance, and began yelling and waving at the cars as they passed. We even heard the guy at the table next to ours tell his friends the joke about the difference between a Porsche owner and a porcupine. His friends thought it funny; I found it in poor taste and rather judgemental.

My eldest son and his girlfriend were supposed to have met us for lunch, but because they were running late, my wife decided she would stay behind in Solvang to wait for them. Their delay allowed me to head back to the hotel a bit sooner than planned, but with hopes of finding a good selection of RGruppe Porsches on site, ready to be photographed.

I knew as soon as I pulled into the parking lot that the afternoon was going to be amazing…

Just one of the several, real 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS models in attendance…

Parked amongst the other RGruppe 911s, was this beautiful silver 1968 911L coupe. I recognized this car immediately, having seen it in person at Porsches Rennsport Reunion IV in October 2011, and from photos posted on the owners blog -www.werkcrew.com

The owner (Bob Tilton) has written about a variety of his Porsche projects on his blog, and includes some very creative photographs to document his process and progress, most recently his extensive cockpit renovation efforts, in preparation for the RGruppe’s Solvang Treffen. Bob’s posts afford the reader an insight into the thought process and attention to detail that he applies to each and every one of his projects.

I have long admired Bob’s blog for its content and his photographic skills, and had the pleasure of meeting him in person on this particular Saturday afternoon. Ironically, my introduction occurred as a result of my friend Dave and I walking into a low perspective shot that Bob was composing from behind of one of the many 911s assembled. After apologizing for our misstep, and a formal introduction made by Dave, I spent the next 40 minutes talking with Bob about Porsches, graphic design, creative influences, writing a blog and photography. I was also able to share with him that my reading of his blog was what had inspired me to create a blog of my own. After thanking him for taking the time to talk with me, we both returned to our individual photographic explorations.

As the car below pulled into the parking lot, I watched as a crowd gathered, and immediately began looking at the back of this red 911. Out of curiosity, I went over to see what was happening. As I approached the back of the car, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Did this rear deck lid actually have dual grills? Was this a long-lost prototype deck lid developed by Porsche, as a variation on the dual grill deck lid theme as produced for the 1965 Porsche 356 C models, but adapted for an early Porsche 911?

It turns out that this dual grill rear deck had its origins from the parts inventory out of the Vasek Polak Porsche dealership some time ago, and had been in the possession of a gentleman who had been very active in the Porsche community back in the day. The current owner encountered the rear decklid and had the chance to purchase it, which obviously he did. And what better event to choose for showcasing a one of a kind, custom early 911 rear decklid…

Located on the opposite side of the parking lot was this Mexico blue, ultra rare European only model, 1996 Porsche 993 Carrera RS as seen below.

I had mentioned that there were even participants who had traveled from Mexico to participate in the weekends event. The four Porsches seen above (the red 911 in the foreground, the yellow Carrera RS, the black Carrera RSR clone and the Salmon colored Carrera RS) along with their owners had traveled all the way from Monterrey, Mexico to participate. And once again the event was a showcase for rare models; both of the Carrera RS models were the real thing and not clones…

Another of the rare Porsches in attendance was this yellow Porsche 356 super 90 as seen below. Rumor has it that this is one of only six built…

The last car shown is a 1970’s vintage, factory built rally /race car, complete with twin, triple throat weber carburetors and twin plug ignition…

I’d like to thank Dave Eck for the invitation to experience their event firsthand this past Saturday, along with the other members of the RGruppe for the opportunity to hang out with you, photograph your cars and experience your Treffen as a friend of the RGruppe.

(All photos by the author)

digitaldtour

A photographic journey through the Southern California car culture

Tag Archives: Early 911’s

“One if by land, GT2 if by Deus Ex Machina Luftgekuhlt”…

A UFO sighting during this years 2014 Dana Point 356 Concours…

“Thunderstorms hit Southern California”, yet fail to dampen the spirits of those attending the 2014 LA Airport Hilton Hotel Literature and Memorabilia show, and the Phoenix Club’s Porsche show and swap meet…

Restorationville, or hanging out on Porsche Row, with a 1949 Bellytank Lakester thrown in for good measure…

Atlas staged, plus a colorful collection of eclectic cars…

California Festival of Speed 2013; A 50th Anniversary celebration of the Porsche 911, Club racing, vehicle encores and debuts…

Under the influence…

Zagato’s, Spyder’s, Daytona’s, a Classic Alfa, one Porsche 911R Tribute and some 911 friends…

“When everything is art, you’ve gotta take it in”…

From the outside looking in; Observations from the 2012 RGruppe Solvang Treffen