My other car’s a… work in progress… distraction… lost cause?

P

PawnSacrifice

Veteran
 South Oxfordshire
I’ve been asked by a few why I’ve not been on the forum much lately, and this is probably the main reason, my project car… a 1986 Porsche 924S.

Full details on http://www.project924.co.uk summary below and I haven't forgotten my forum form, so straight in with photos too…

I had been looking for a [track] project, on and off, for a while and kept reading very good things about the 924. Searching Pistonheads and eBay from time to time it was on my list and last April I ended up buying this…
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It’s a 1986 Porsche 924S. I bought it unseen as a non-runner (hence the delivery trailer) for £400. After some random engine bay cleaning and a battery charge I got the car running and set about getting it MOT’d. It failed. It went off for welding and then a couple other bits. Due to a string of problems getting it in to actually get the work done I only got the car back recently, but back it is.

My first trip out I fitted new tyres, Hankook Ventus, following some great reviews. Not scrubbed in properly, but they seem good.
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But then broke down on my way home from work. Turned out to be the alternator.
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I haven’t done many miles yet but the car seems to be living up to it’s billing, it handles great – really liking the un-assisted steering. The brakes leave a lot to be desired but that is probably just they need running in. The car is very tatty but looks promising.

I will of course be happier when I’m confident that I can get from A to B without breaking down. The only slight issue, now that I’m driving the car and seeing the numbers drop steadily I’m slightly loathed to strip it out and put track kit in. Suspect it may see a gradual restoration. Either way it will still see some track time.

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More info and write-ups on the blog, which has probably been taking most of my time, rather than the car.

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£400????!!!! Sounds like a bargain to me despite the cosmetics. Will be watching the progress with interest. I've considered the idea of a track car several times in the past but just don't have the space (or time - mountain-biking!) to do it.

Bring it up for the Applecross trip :evil:
 
Already told you what i think you should do. A respray, lowering and slightly bigger alloys and she'll be perfect. Oh and get rid of that silly steering wheel.
 
Great stuff PS - certainly a bargain initial price - even adding in a few repairs and mods! I'm really looking forward to you fabricating some new Porsche control buttons or something, using bits of lego etc. All the best with it - be great to see it on a track sometime soon ! :driving:
 
Thanks guys, really enjoying the old car. It was a bargain, although there is no such thing as a cheap Porsche. One nice thing, it's good to spend money on a car and know it's helping it increase in value!

I did figure that if I bought a car with an MOT for £1,500+ it would still need a few bits doing so I may as well start at the bottom and work up.

I think a trip to Applecross would be a little optimisitic, a11y, given it broke down on the way home from work!

I can't see me making my own parts for this one, jaxZ4, although where needs must - I may need to try and cover / recover the dash though.

ga41, afraid I think this one will be staying as close to stock as possible! Also, small wheels are the way forward. Unless I find some major problem in which case it's trackbitch all the way! AND, I'll have you know, that steering wheel is an upgrade for the 2.0 boys! When I was planning the track project I did have my eye on a nice OMP number.
 
Looks like a good project :)

Agree, would be a shame to turn it into a track machine now given that they're pretty rare now.

Look forward to more updates


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Glad you spilt the beans at last, I've been watching your blog for a while now.

Can't wait till you detail it, that should add a few £££ to the value.
 
A Porsche owner as well as a BMW owner, you will be hated by everyone then :rofl:

Great stuff though :thumbsup:
 
Again, thanks chaps.

srhutch, yes, looking forward to detailing it - just need to get my hands on a mates DA. Need to spray-patch-up a few places. Nothing too serious as I may well get a respray at some point in the future, if all goes well.

pvr, yeah, that's what I thought. Have to say though, the public in general seem to love the 924 - had a few people stop for a chat now, and it's not been out a lot.

Had to straighten the steering wheel this evening - man that's an easy job, non of this battery disconnecting nonsense.
 
m44rrt said:
Wheeler Dealers processed one a while back

They make it all look easy to do
Click to expand...

They do indeed - I tracked it down on YouTube and I've actually got that episode in the Video section on the blog... suspect I won't find it as easy :oops:
 
For any doubters, the (Z4) custard test...

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:poke: Your camera lens is a little dirty :)

The Porsche looks lovely, a work in progress and I'm sure you will enjoy doing him up. I mean her. Quite retro and good on your for attempting the do things up and fix things, a nice little project :thumbsup:
 
Just coincidence that somebody parked a Porsche next your Z4, wheres the Custard or Peanut Butter?
 
Well, just a little update on this... explain my lack of posts on here for some time...

The original 924 S is coming along, somewhat slowly, but am enjoying getting properly stuck into a few jobs, certainly more so than with the Z4... nothing like an older car for getting ones hands dirty.

In addition to keeping the blog going (and yes, Steve, I will have something up there on the detailing soon) I was looking for parts on eBay the other day and ended up buying this...
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I managed to pick it up for a little over £1k (in contrast to Oakandacorns' Z4 this shows what a bad advert will get you, about 1/3 of what you should) and for something that I thought may be a parts car it's actually in superb condition - 75k (ish) miles, good bodywork and interior and an engine that seems to be able to keep its oil on the inside :o Plus, it was one of the last cars made and is slightly updated with the 160bhp engine. I feel like I've been out robbing :guns:

I think then the first one will now be stripped out for track work. Honestly, if anyone if thinking of a pet project / track toy - the 924 / 944 is an excellent way to go :thumbsup:
 
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