WCSTA -18- 1965 356C

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Marc Jordan
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Posts: 16
Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2015 2:29 pm

WCSTA -18- 1965 356C

#1 Post by Marc Jordan »

My Love Affair with My Red 65’ Porsche Cabriolet

I first saw her as I was walking back from college classes to my apartment in 1971. As she sped down the highway my heart skipped a beat. My brother owned a white coup that he raced in autocross and I saw a lot of the other member’s Porsches. But none of them were cabriolets. This one was red and a convertible! Wow, I thought it was the coolest car that I had ever seen. Weeks later when I was walking home I saw her parked outside a local bar. I just had to have the car, even though I had no money or job but was about to graduate. The owner, another college student, said he would sell it only if he got top dollar for it. He said $2500 and I said yes. With no job I still got the car loan and bought her. He told me the car had been owned by a photographer in Sarasota who was planning to drive it on a regular basis but his photographic equipment and tripods would not fit in the car so he only drove it on weekends for 5 years. He had only owned the car for about a year. We had a lot of great times together. She was 6 years old and I was 21. People said our relationship would not last. Then in 1984, after driving her for 13 years I drove her in my carport and was planning to restore her. Life has a way of changing your plans. Got married, raised a son, and overcame near dying, losing 70 pounds and being paralyzed from the waist down. What doesn't kill you does make you stronger. Didn’t see that one coming. Now in the full circle of life it is just the two of us together again. I am back in college with no money to fix her up and no job. She has been quietly waiting for my return for 31 years. I am turning 65 and she is turning 50. The relationship has lasted. The doors have the typical rust at the bottom and needs to be replaced ($3,400). The new top would run about $2000. So cost of parts only for the outside would run over $5,000. Maybe the labor another $5,000. I think that if I do this it will put the heart back in her. I would then get the wheels chromed and new tires. Then I would take on the interior. Whatever needs to be done on the mechanical side will be done because by then the dream of making her beautiful again will be in sight. Maybe I should work on the engine, transmission and brakes first but I’m telling you the car has to have heart first. The rest will follow. Everything needs to be restored. I couldn’t figure out how I could afford to restore her until I saw the Stoddard contest which gave us hope of returning to our former glory days. Back in the day I bought parts from Stoddard so it is appropriate that we may once again reunite. It seemed impossible when I bought the car so the impossible task of restoring her is appropriate in completing the cycle. Also I would greatly appreciate any advice and help the members can offer me. May my love affair with her last forever. Please help me save her. Thanks for reading my story.
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Peter Boettcher
356 Fan
Posts: 269
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:37 pm
Location: Cincinnati, OH

Re: WCSTA -18- 1965 356C

#2 Post by Peter Boettcher »

Marc,
Where are you located?
Hook up with other members close to you for support and advice. Check out the regional 356 club nearby and you can network to hopefully reach your goal.
Here in Cincinnati we have the Drei Staaten Gruppe which a very close knit bunch of enthusiasts. We are fortunate to have Old Tom Oerther and Dick Weiss in the Gruppe for support and advice.
My 356 story is quite similar to yours. In 1974 while in school, I bought my A Coupe that transported me everywhere, and I am convinced it was that car that got me a date with the girl that would become my wife in 1978. Her father actually took quite awhile to warm up to me. As the head surgeon at the local hospital, his attitude was that only stupid people rode around with a gas tank in front of them. The Thunderbird extractor did not help my cause either.
The little A Coupe sat patiently and watched as two other 356`s took her place in the restoration line.
Sadly, I lost my wife to cancer in 2014. This spring I have started the restoration of "our" first 356. I will rely on my many DSG friends and my two sons to help with the project. Very much looking forward to the day that the car will be bright and shiny and motor under its own power.
Keep us advised as to how we can help!

Regards,
Peter Boettcher
Cincinnati, OH
pboettcher@cinci.rr.com
Peter Boettcher

Marc Jordan
356 Fan
Posts: 16
Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2015 2:29 pm

Re: WCSTA -18- 1965 356C

#3 Post by Marc Jordan »

Hello Peter,
I live in Florida, in the Tampa Bay area. I know of some very good shops that do restoration but not any individuals restoring their own cars. The people at the shops have been very nice but they are in the business of restoring cars and not advising me how to go about doing my own restoration. Sounds like you have a great group of people. Hopefully I will find a group in my area. Thanks for sharing your story and we sure have a lot in common.
Marc

ray nelson
356 Fan
Posts: 236
Joined: Thu Sep 16, 2010 12:32 pm
Location: Boca Raton, FL

Re: WCSTA -18- 1965 356C

#4 Post by ray nelson »

Hey Marc
First thing you need to do is join FOG. I'm sure there are several members in the Bay area that could help. If I can ever get out of Boca and back to Gainesville I would be very glad to help also. PM me any specific questions.
As you may already know there aren't a huge number of shops in Florida that I would say are true 356 specialists and there are more than a few that think they are but aren't.
The one thing that you will need to do is to assess exactly what level of work you want to accomplish and what amount of that work you hope/expect to do yourself. I think you will find several limitations for this not the least of which are costs, skills, equipment needed and time. The old saying; if you fail to plan, you plan to fail really applies to this, so don't be afraid to ask questions and take heed from those that have done what you're planning already.
Your C cabriolet looks to be in fairly good shape (have you seen some of the other WCSTA candidates? :shock: ) so I think with some realistic decisions and careful planning and good advice you should be able to "get 'er done"

Good luck, Ray

Marc Jordan
356 Fan
Posts: 16
Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2015 2:29 pm

Re: WCSTA -18- 1965 356C

#5 Post by Marc Jordan »

Hi Ray,

My middle name is Raymond, named after my father so I feel a bond already. I recently joined FOG and went to the show in Sarasota. Saw a bunch of really nice cars and owners, but didn't feel they had worked on their own cars. I started not to enter the contest but I am a positive person and thought I would give it a try. If it is solely based on the biggest rust heap then I do not have a chance. If the spirit of the contest is We Can Save Them All then I have a very good chance. Those in shops I am sure will be saved. Those that have the money to restore them will be saved. The ones in jeopardy are ones like mine who will never sell them but lack the means to fix them up. I need $5,000 just to fix the outside which is in the scope of the contest. The whole top of my car is gone. Some consideration should be given because their is no metal to rust but equally external damage if you have a Cabriolet. The contest looked like it would be enough for me to kick start my restoration. As for coming up with a plan that would only discourage me. I am a "I have a Dream" kind of guy. When I went to college my father went over fiances and explained they did not have the money to help me and I should go to Junior College another year then he would be able to help. All that I knew was it was time to go. He never sent me any money and I worked my through college and had to sell my Karmann Ghia. I made it through college. The counselor told me it would be too hard to work and go to college. I didn't have a plan , I had a dream. Then I saw my 65' Red Cabriolet and I had another dream, that I would own her.The rest is history. Now I have a new dream. In my head I have a picture of me driving her once again, completely restored, with my hair blowing in the wind. This vision will motivate me to search for a way, As you say, "get 'er done" Thanks Ray for your input.

Marc

Marc Jordan
356 Fan
Posts: 16
Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2015 2:29 pm

Re: WCSTA -18- 1965 356C

#6 Post by Marc Jordan »

Thanks Stoddard. What a nice surprise to get your newsletter and seeing my car featured. My heart skipped a beat seeing her again. Does anyone else see what I see? She is patiently waiting for me to return. I keep remembering her and the great times we had together. Looking forward to having those great times again. Also thanks to the members who have helped me and given me advise.

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