Curt Austin
Porsches owned: 4
Current cars: 1982 911 SC, 1987 928 S4, 2017 Macan
I had been suppressing my interest in cars for many years, since a 1991 Miata. During a bike ride in 2013, while resting on this bench in Adirondack, NY, I noticed an interesting car parked nearby. I did recognize it as a Porsche, but I had to look closer to find out that it was a Boxster. A “Fundamental Truth” suddenly occurred to me: every guy (or gal) should own a Porsche at least once. Thanks to decades spent in the desert of boring cars, the funds were available.
A month later, I was driving home in a 2009 Cayman S I’d found in California. I’d settled on a car with a roof, without an IMS bearing, and with PDK – as I was lured by the “celebration of engineering” factor. I found only two available, both in SoCal and near my brother. He checked them out, and the white one looked very good. I wired some money, then flew out. A guy from the Cayman forum helped check it out. I took a joy ride up Mount Palomar the next day; wow! The cross-country run (another bucket list item) included stops at Meteor Crater and several relatives, including one budding mechanic.
The plan was to indulge in this fundamental truth for just two years, then move this pool of indulgence-devoted capital to something else. The two years became four, and the conversion turned into a 1982 911 SC; a swap with a local guy. No, not an even swap. Seems crazy to pay up to get less performance, but the 911 will not be depreciating. I had lost my fear of old cars during these four years, thanks to experience gained with a 1987 928 S4 and a 1959 Austin-Healey “Bugeye” Sprite. In terms of mechanical challenges, a 1980’s 911 is closer to the latter than the former.
These old cars don’t move during the winter, except up and down on a lift or jack stands, so I recently added a Macan to the fleet.
Ultimately, these Porsches are just machines. Far more significant are the interesting people I’ve met. This is especially rewarding for the older cars, since keeping them going is often a team effort. When, and if, you can manage it, consider saving an old car yourself. I now think of this as another fundamental truth; everyone should turn a wrench under an old Porsche at least once.
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