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First, a confession...I cannot make myself refer to the 928 as a "Shark". Yeah, the resemblance is obvious, especially on my ol' naked, un-spoilered '79. However, since the same moniker was used years ago as a Corvette analogy and [confession #2?:)] since I'm an old Corvette racer, well, you see my quandary.
No quandary exists, however, when it comes to enjoying (sado-what, you say??) the engineering found in P-cars. Which brings us to the theme of this essay: mechanical changes/upgrades done since the Euro 5-speed was acquired in March of '96.
A little background, to set the stage. Anybody else out there remember getting a 928 poster in the mail, about ten years ago? It was a wonderful, lights-on, low angle, front shot of a black S4. Here's the kicker: the "license plate" was a sticker, complete with your last name on it!
Not an inexpensive ad campaign by PCNA, I'd wager. Anyway, that poster stayed in the family and in my subconscious [hey, the kids were still home and I had yet to make my fortune...uh, I mean my wife wouldn't even consider such a purchase:(] for a long time.
Fast forward to February '96, devouring the Autoweek classifieds on a cold, New England evening. Didn't really need another car, but kind of wanting one. What's this, a '79 Euro 5-speed priced to sell? Quick trip to Florida and the Porsche joined the Lloyd stable!
Did I get a local pre-purchase inspection? Naah. Did I find out when the timing belt was last changed? Naah. Could I resist the symmetry of the engine bay or the burble of the Ansa exhaust? Yeah, right! Truth be told, the price was so low that I'd decided in advance that, unless the thing was puking fluids and locked in reverse, I was buyin' it! Warning, old Corvette racers rarely use logic to justify automotive acquisitions, especially when they think they're reasonably handy with a wrench.
OK, so I did get a complete history from the owner. He was #2, having spent serious bucks doing all those replacements and electrical gremlin chasings that come with buying a car that had been in storage. He'd also repainted it a dark metallic green and, throwing even more money at it, installed a zillion watt sound system and new leather on the doors and the rear wheel-wells...which promptly peeled when he moved from Massachusetts to sunny Florida.
Joined PCA, found the PorscheFans (RIP) website, vis (Continued on page 5)
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