The Porsche 911. An absolute motoring icon. In the mid 1970s, my brother and I would be out most nights, arsing around in cars, fortunately in the
days before you could get an ASBO for that kind of stuff. Most Friday nights were reserved for a trip to the nearby car auction, where we could
eat a greasy burger while admiring all the nearly-scrap rotboxes for sale. There was a car dealer (Rootes I think) in a nearby town, and he had 2
Porsche 911s - a gold Turbo, and a white Carrera. One or other of those whould pass us on the way there, going at Star Trek warp-factor speeds,
and would then be sitting there, ticking and pinging as the engine tinwork cooled, by the time we arrived.
After I sold the Cerbera, I decided I had to try it. I moved to the Dark Side, and joined the ranks of "those who must not be mentioned at TVR meets." I bought a 1989 Carrera 3.2, Fuchs wheels, stupid spoiler, starship mileage. It was lovely.
After my first proper run in it, I parked it up to go into a shop. As I walked away, I could hear it pinging and ticking, just like the ones outside the auction 40 years earlier. I was in love!
Because it had more power than the TVR S, but less than the Cerbera, it was easy and fun to drive. Unlike either of the TVRs, you could usually drive it around for ages without having to fix some small (or big) fault in between. The main problems I had with it were sticky brake calipers, probably due to lack of use (I must have replaced or rebuilt every caliper on the car twice). I also had to replace the driver's side window mechanism, after it failed spectacularly and pushed itself through the door trim.
The exhaust comes out of one side, and there's a sideways pipe that connects to the cylinders on the other side. Mine developed a leak, and you can't change it without taking the engine out of the car. I didn't fancy that, what with all those rusty exhaust studs etc, so I discovered that with the aid of an air saw, you CAN remove and replace that pipe in-situ!
There wasn't really much else... oh yes, the headlight switch! The indicator / flasher stalk carries full headlamp current, so they burn out after about 30 years. They're not connected to a single multi-plug - you have to chase and disconnect wire tails all over the back of the dash to get it out. After I installed the new one, I decided to install a relay system to improve the circuit to the lights themselves, but reduce the current going through the switch, so that I wouldn't have to change it again if I still have the car when I live to be 105...
All in all, a thoroughly superb car, fully deserving to be "up there" among the great car marques. A super sports car that you could use every day? What's not to like?
I bought it just before prices started to rocket. A year after I bought it, it was worth twice as much, so I put it into Porsche specialist bodyshop, where they removed all of the rust in the sills, wings etc. When it came back, it looked amazing!
I eventually sold it in December 2024 for 3 times what I paid for it, to a bloke from Dunblane. I had bought the Vixen earlier that year, and the Porsche was becoming more and more overlooked, so it was just time for it to go. I am so glad that I got the chance to scratch that particular itch though, they are fantastic cars, and I think that every driving enthusiast should try one at least once in their life!