Or just the opposite, a refined solid brick of a bull in a messy workshop. I think the workshop could do more damage to the Bull than visa-verse.

Our friends at Horseless Carriage asked us to deliver this Lamborghini Gallardo to a remote Vermont location, we are always happy to help Frank and his crew since they are so helpful and generous with us.

Gallardo

Hacker Craft

An advertising company called us last week asking if we had a car that would be appropriate for a photo shoot in the Adirondacks for a major fashion company. We sent them photos of cars that we felt would be appropriate and they chose one of my favorites, the black and gray 1959 Austin Healey 3000 that is in excellent original condition and sits on pressed steel wheels rather than the typical wire wheels.

I was hired to bring the car to the Lake Placid Lodge in the Adirondacks and spend the morning helping to maneuver the car into position for photographs. There was no way anyone could have prepared me for scene I was about to experience. Not only was watching the intricate details of the photo shoot mind boggling, the Lake Placid Lodge was one of the most intricately detailed pieces of property I have ever seen. There were thick wooden layers after rich leather layers followed by curly birch bark layers of intricacies and rustic luxury.

It has been such a hot and humid summer here in the northeast but on this particular morning it was 48 degrees and overcast only to heighten magical experience of the experience.      http://www.lakeplacidlodge.com/

Porsche No. 1, a midengine prototype, which predated the production 35.

This wonderful article was sent to me by a friend and is one of the best that I have read on classic cars. I like his comments at the end of the article highlighting proper restoration to original specification or outright originality being the most desirable to buyers right now. Well done! Check the article here.

Mr. Garfield organized a tour through our area last weekend and scheduled the participants visit our shop. It’s odd that all of the cars were 911’s, I thought there may be a few 356’s or front engined cars but most of them were heavily modified 911’s. There was a totally stock looking early 911 with an engine sound suggesting a displacement of well over 3.0 liters and a beautiful 1979 SC with a late model 3.6 liter and subtle modifications to keep the car on the ground at speed.

I really like this orange car

911 Orange coupe

Tour of Porsche

I got the transmission all buttoned up. It is in the car and I will get it on the road tomorrow AM. It shifts well from my little test on the lift, hope it feels as good on the road!

915, 911 transmission

Here is a Porsche 356 C coupe that we just purchased from a friend in southern California. It is a totally legit “black plate” car with perfect original floors and an original battery box floor which in the world of 356’s, is huge.  The car is 100% complete and has what what I believe to be a matching numbers engine but I am going to apply for a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity so I can be certain of the numbers as well as learn what the original color was. I believe it was blue but not sure the exact shade.
Even thought the car needs everything rebuilt, overhauled or refinished,  it will be a wonderful car to restore because it is so complete and its rock solid integrity

356 California desert

When I first drove this 1983 Porsche 911, I found the shifting to be difficult and it was grinding gears badly. My suggestion to the owner was to get in and replace the synchronizer bands before something breaks.

After taking it apart I couldn’t see much wrong and the synchros seemed used but not totally worn out. Like many other car manufacturers, the synchro for 2nd and 3rd gear is different than of the other gears and maybe someone put the incorrect part on the gears.

It wasn’t until re-assembly that I noticed that the dog teeth on first gear were chipped and remembered that the slider (operating sleeve, shift sleeve) for 1st gear has asymmetrical internal teeth to meet up with the corresponding dog teeth on 1st gear. The operating sleeve can be reversed  so the side that should engage 1st gear is incorrectly jamming into 2nd which makes engaging into either of these gears while under motion nearly impossible.

Lucky for the owner, I located a shop who can replace just the dog teeth (engagement teeth) for short money without having to spend the $2000 that Porsche quoted to get the parts. We sent 2nd gear  from a 901 transmission to the same guy for repair and cannot wait to see how they look and more importantly how they perform.

Transmission repair Porsche 911, 915, 901

901, 915, G60 transmission for Porsche repair

We’re selling this 911 for a customer, but we’re going to miss it, a lot. The combination of a upgraded engine and the light weight of the 70’s cars make for one of the most fun Porsches we’ve ever driven. Our scales indicate 2,180 lbs for this one. So, think BMW 2002 Tii with three times the horsepower. Eager describes children – this is not a game. Fiberglass bumpers, and some other aftermarket accessories take away a bit from the originality of the car, however, it is very well sorted and once driven, you’d like to drive it anywhere – and everywhere.

Bill took a few pictures from around the shop today that show both the range and the beauty of some of the cars that we are working on. Sometimes I fear that there is too much “range” and not enough beauty! Bill takes outstanding photos that look super pro. Have I written a post on Bill yet? Bill, can you write a post on yourself, introduce yourself?

Upstairs: the Osca, Whitehead Special, and a silver Ferrari

Downstairs: The rare green 330 GTC and a deep inventory of stored classics, projects, and restorations.

Ferrari 750 Monza at Restoration and Performance Motorcars in Vermont