Jack Staggs' shop

[Steve Harrison]

It's back to the future,...some of the earliest (four digit) cars had a fresh air "system" that scooped air from out front under the battery box. A little fresher than inside the battery box, but it seems Porsche was trying to fix the interior heat problem all along the production.

[Trevor Gates]

Neil - Besides rolling down the window I've always found the vent window to work really well in later cars.

Steve - Any pics? Here's a pic of a Gmund SL with a grill between the bumper and hood, but that was for cooling the brakes. Here are two pics I took when I visited the Porsche Museum a few years ago.

[Steve Harrison]

Here's a picture of 5033 before paint.
See that little dingus of a flange peeking out below the front valance? That let air into the trunk, and then there's a pathway through the center tunnel. The spare tire and battery weren't in the way back then.

[Steve Proctor]

How did the "little dingus" know that it was only supposed to let in air and not water?? Don't even know if my car has a dingus at all!!

[Trevor Gates]

Steve H - You jogged my memory, thanks! A friend of mine has that opening on his car. Here's a pic he let me use with the bumper removed that shows it clearly.

[Brian R Adams]

Old Gmund SL #46 has quite the lopsided gap around the front lid. As nice as the paint is, I'm surprised they left it that way.

Brian

[Steve Proctor]

I think the gap serves to document the way those old hand hammered cars came out. I didn't look closely, but I understand after Porsche #1 was dropped it was restored to much much better than new...

[Vic Skirmants]

The dingus has a cable operated flap to close it.

[James Davies]

And the cable hooks up to the 3rd knob below the ashtray (furthest right).

The Porsche Museum 356SL is in rough shape (as many of the museum's cars are). They were made to perfection when new, just like the steel-bodied cars, but they saw a tough life on the track and in rallies. Repairs were quick and dirty.

[Rosemary Sampson]

Bill rode the train to San Clemente on Wednesday and picked up the car from Kerry (and Jack who wasn't in that early) and drove it home through nightmare traffic. We had other obligations the rest of the week so until today we didn't get to take a cruise.

We just returned from a pleasant cruise up PCH and environs. In almost 14 years of ownership the car has never run better, thanks to the attention of Jack and Kerry. Their work is good and reasonably priced. Thanks to both of you. Despite the 98 mile distance we plan to continue to patronize Jack Staggs' Vintage Specialist shop. We suggest that those in the area likewise consider doing so.

Thanks guys


Rosemary and Bill

[Trevor Gates]

Nice to hear Bill & Rosemary!

Green T6 sunroof coupes.

[Jon Schmid]

"...Jack who wasn't in that early..." LOL, some things never change. 8)

[Steve Proctor]

Yep, stopped in late AM last Friday to say hello. Kerry hard at work, no Jack. At his age, he needs his beauty sleep

[Joris Koning]

"...Jack who wasn't in that early..." LOL, some things never change. 8)

These guys all have their quirks . I have been hanging around Larry Markham for years. You would never catch him in the shop after 3 PM. He always says that the only time you can get any work done is between 5 and 8 AM, before the phone starts ringing and people walk in.

You guys on the west coast are lucky to have such competent guys like Larry and Jack. They are getting harder and harder to find, especially as most experienced hands are now starting to retire

[Jon Schmid]

"...Jack who wasn't in that early..." LOL, some things never change. 8)

These guys all have their quirks . I have been hanging around Larry Markham for years. You would never catch him in the shop after 3 PM. He always says that the only time you can get any work done is between 5 and 8 AM, before the phone starts ringing and people walk in.

You guys on the west coast are lucky to have such competent guys like Larry and Jack. They are getting harder and harder to find, especially as most experienced hands are now starting to retire

Hi Joris,
No need to remind me. Either they're retiring or moving out of LA (like Larry). There's a reason I'll drive 40+ miles one way to Jack's shop. My son and I are also learning to do a lot of things on our own that I would have had done outside just a few years ago. I would hate for him to have to park the car because no one will be around to work on it worth a darn in 20 or so years. As for being on the left coast, I'm with Larry 100%. In before 5 AM, out by 3 PM. Traffic has a lot to do with it as well.