Everyone who has ever owned a 356 or has worked on one of these iconic cars will easily understand the simple statement that restoring and maintaining them is always a team effort. You simply can't get "there" by yourself, no matter how expert you may be.
Now that my beloved Fräulein Zuffie is done, I would like to take this opportunity to offer my heartfelt thanks and deep appreciation to everyone who has had a hand in making her the driving beauty that she is today.
My first thanks go to my dear friend and fellow Registry member,
Ibrahim Kuzu, for convincing me to buy this particular Drauz Roadster after my offers for other roadsters had fallen through for one reason or another. It was a perfect instance of timing meeting opportunity. Ibrahim had this Roadster that he wanted to sell, and I had been searching for just the right one for some time.
Since then I have not only been blessed to own this lovely car, but I have also experienced the pleasure and the enjoyment of meeting a man who has been complete gentlemen as well as being a complete professional during every step of the long and arduous process of bringing Fräulein Zuffie back to life. Ibrahim has probably forgotten more than I will ever learn about 356s. Ibrahim, thank you, and I promise you that I will always take care of one of your precious 356 babies! Since you are her godfather, you will always have visiting rights! Thanks, Ibrahim!
The second professional who I have had the pleasure of meeting and associating with for many hours is
Terry Worick of
Absolute Body and Paint down in Eagle, Nebraska. I have kidded Terry about being the ob-gyn doctor who delivered my Roadster baby while it was resting in his automotive pre-natal ward, but this is not far from the truth.
Who in their right mind would build a repair shop out in the middle of nowhere in this tiny little spot on the map in the corn State of Nebraska? Well, go to the hamlet of Eagle, and you will find out. His small building, which houses his operations, sits right in the middle of a bucolic area of homes and farms with fields of corn and soybeans as far as the eye can see dotting the surrounding hilly countryside like a colorful quilt. His garage includes a repair shop and a paint shop right there together with everything done to first class specs, all surrounded by a green lawn so that Teddy, the friendly Labradoodle, has plenty of room to roam before his electric collar clicks in. Thanks, Terry!
Terry Worick at Absolute Body and Paint:
http://www.absolutebodyandpaint.com/
Thank you,
Vic Skirmants of
356 Enterprises, who did such a masterful job refinishing my S-90 engine and transmission so that she now purrs and runs like a top! You were also there to offer advice and your highly valued expertise when needed!
http://www.356enterprises.com/Index.htm
Thank you,
Brad Ripley and
Richard at
NLA, who sold us numerous parts for my car, so many that they cannot all be listed here. I also ordered five Chrome Wheels from NLA and had them shipped to Terry for installation.
http://www.nlaparts.com/store/
In addition, a number of parts, including my aluminum oil cooler, came from
Stoddard, so I can't neglect thanking them as well.
http://www.stoddard.com/parts.shtml
It turns out that my Roadster was missing quite a few parts, and it gives me great pleasure to thank 356 legend
Jim Breazeale out there at
EASY in sunny Emeryville for always coming to the rescue with period correct replacement parts! Jim, you're a true mensch, and I hope one day to come out for a doughnut at one of your Saturday open houses!
http://www.easypor.com/
And while we're on the subject of 356 legends, I would also like to thank
Roy Smalley of
Eurowerks down there in Texas. Not only is Roy a long time friend of Ibrahim's, he has always been there with advice and help whenever needed. He also stepped up to the plate and offered us a Roadster windshield which he was holding for one of his own cars. It turned out that we didn't need it, because Stoddard had just received their annual order of windshields from Sigla, but this is an example of being there when help was needed. Thanks, Roy for your generosity!
http://www.eurowerks.com/
Also residing in the great State of Texas is another 356 legend and another long time friend of Ibrahim's who has been very helpful in supplying the many necessary parts to get my Roadster in tip top shape. I am referring to
Al Zim, who has also always been available with his valued advice whenever Terry needed someone to guide him though a difficult process. Thank you, Al Zim and
Zim's Autotechnik!
http://www.allzim.com/
Another invaluable member in this team of 356 enthusiasts who has been invaluable in getting my Roadster back into shape has been
Bruce Baker of
Bruce Baker Enterprises way over in the beautiful Keystone State of Pennsylvania. Among his many other challenges, Bruce has spent a lifetime saddled with the curse of being one of the few resident experts in getting those notorious roadster windshields attached to the 356s of his clients without them cracking. Bruce was always there for his invaluable advice. Between Bruce, Al, and Roy Smalley, how could I go wrong? Thanks, Bruce! Your another 356 mensch!
http://www.bbakerent.com/index.php/Main_Page
Thank you,
Tony Garcia at
Autobahn Interiors out in San Diego, for the gorgeous cashmere leather interior and the period correct grey/beige top that was installed in my car. It took a while to get here, but it was beautifully done!
http://www.autobahninteriors.com/
Here I would also like to insert my thanks to
Joel Ochsner at
Lincoln Auto Upholstery for installing the convertible top.
While I am in Lincoln, Nebraska, I would also like to thank long time 356 mechanic
Bud Dunklau, also a Registry member, at
Road and Track Motors for supplying Terry with "countless pieces of hardware and small pieces I could not have gotten otherwise."
And I certainly can't forget to thank
Bill Brown, another long time Registry member down there in Lincoln, for supplying a set of brake shoes and a wheel cylinder for my Roadster.
Continuing on with thanks to my fellow Registry members, thank you
Buster Venable down in Naples, Florida, for providing us with a steering column spacer which allowed us to manufacture a correct replacement for this missing part.
Once again, my thanks to
Bob Garretson, another Registry member and one of our esteemed Trustees, for advice on tuning and operational problems that we were experiencing with the Solex carburetors.
Thank you
Victor Miles for chroming my inside rear view mirror.
Thank you,
Jeffrey Fellman of
Classico Wheels for selling me that beautiful replica Derrington Steering wheel!
http://www.classicowheels.com/vintage_wheels.htm
Thank you,
Sally and Jack Biersdorff of The Lereyn Company for the
Third Brake Light for the grill in my Roadster!
http://thirdbrakelight.blogspot.com/
Thank you,
James Franzen of
CU Layer for the High Intensity LED Taillights that I have placed in my taillight housing. They are incredible!
http://www.culayer.com/356-12.htm
Thank you, Professionally Engineered Products
(P.E.P.) for the tan colored Three Point Seat Belts that I placed in my car!
http://www.peparts.com/Categories.bok?c ... 9&total=17
Thank you,
Palo Alto Speedometer, for repairing my Speedometer!
http://www.paspeedo.com/porsche.htm
Like I say, it has been a teamwork effort! I sincerely hope that I have not missed giving the proper credit to anyone.
Thank you, one and all! Carl Zapffe
