Restorationville, or hanging out on Porsche Row, with a 1949 Bellytank Lakester thrown in for good measure…

Posted on October 28, 2013 by digitaldtour

With only two months remaining in the year-long celebration of the 2013, 50th anniversary of the Porsche 911, there seems to an ever-increasing number of Porsche 911s in attendance each week at cars&coffee. For anyone with a passion for the Porsche brand (and especially for the 911 model), this event is worth a visit. And on Saturday morning October 19, a majority of the Porsche models present turned out to be early 1966-73 (long hood) models.

Leading the group and parked amidst its early 911 brothers, was the white with blood orange striped, 1967 911R tribute, making its long overdue re-appearance (as seen above). Over the summer, this car underwent further modifications and detailing to its suspension and chassis, and on this morning was being displayed in preparation of it being offered up for sale.

The classic Cibie Biode headlight benefitting from a 2013 technology enhancement; aerospace grade re-plated reflectors, working with three separate lamps per headlight, and when collectively combined, able to deliver 280 watts of searing illumination, all focused through a set of fresh european lenses (above & below).

And parked just two cars further up on Porsche row was one of the multiple RGruppe Porsche 911s present. In this case, the beautifully maintained, black 1970 911S seen below.

Another of the RGruppe 911s located immediately across from Porsche row; a pristine 1973 911T, finished in the rare Aubergine (eggplant), Porsche paint code 025.

A Porsche 914-6 and 911T sandwich, with VW transporter filling.

One of the non 911 Porsches present; a 914 with fresh paint and new motor transplanted from a benchmark 911; the very cool 1973 Carrera RS, and its ever potent, 2.7 liter Carrera RS motor.

The seldom seen rear (european market only), model branding badge (above & below).

And the real deal; a 914-6 european rear badge found out back on a factory-prepared 1971 Porsche 914-6 GT…

Getting back on track and to the overall theme of this posting, parked across the aisle and located off to the left were two more early, mid-sixties Porsches; one a Polo Red 1966 911, and its neighbor, an Irish Green 1968 912.

And last but not least, an early morning shot of a 1948 Bellytank Lakester (seen below). This vehicle was being shared courtesy of Photographer / Director, Porsche Collector, Race car driver and frequent cars&coffee participant, Jeff Zwart.

So should you have an interest in the Porsche vehicles, you can expect to find a diverse cross-section of Porsche sports cars present at this weekly show. But should your passion be focused on the 911, cars&coffee is the place to join in on the remaining two months of the year-long, 50th Anniversary celebration of the Porsche 911. And who knows what classic Porsches could make an appearance. Can you say Porsche 918 Spyder?

(All photos by the author)

Living in the past…

Posted on October 13, 2013 by digitaldtour

This past Saturday was one of those mornings that felt like I was living in the past. It was bursting at the seams with nostalgia, especially for fans of automotive classics. Where else could you experience multiple examples of BMW’s rare, 1970s classic coupe (specifically the 3.0 CSI model), or two pristine 1967 Corvette Sting Rays parked side by side, in both coupe and convertible variants. And where else could you discover a rare example of Porsches 964 Turbo (in this case a stunning example of the limited production model / one year only variant; the 1993-94 3.6 liter Turbo).

When it comes to BMW’s, one of my favorite models is the E9 series, 3.0 CSI produced from 1971 through 1975. I remember becoming aware of this particular model back in 1972; a classmate in high school was driven to school one day by his dad, who just happened to own a red with black interior, 1972 CS. Seeing that car in person for the first time made a huge aesthetic impact on me. I was immediately impressed by its proportions, details and stance. And to this day, every time I see one I’m taken back to my initial encounter back in 1972.

So on this very morning, imagine my surprise when I encountered not one but three examples of the E9 BMW 3.0 (two in the CS form and one CSI model).

And as noted by the rear badging and license plate, this particular car has undergone an owner upgrade to its motor in the form of a displacement increase; a bump up from the original stock 3.0 to 3.8 liters…

while its neighbor retained its stock 3.0 liter CS motor.

The third coupe (also a CS 3.0) ironically was parked just across the aisle from the first two, dressed in black.

The classic, purpose-built 3.0 CS coupe interior, complete with tan leather interior, wooden trim and wood rimmed Nardi steering wheel, as seen above.

Over at the featured lot I experienced another example of living in the past. In this case, two cars fresh from 1967; a pair of 427 Corvette Sting Rays parked side by side. The coupe in Marlboro Maroon with a black stinger hood, and the roadster in Tuxedo Black with a white stinger hood.

The beautifully restored Tuxedo Black, 1967 427 Corvette Sting Ray roadster.

A showroom fresh interior (below).

The spotless, period correct 1967 Corvette wheels, wrapped in a set of red striped tires (above).

Upon my return to Porsche row, I found this beautiful Silver Porsche 964 Turbo parked all alone. Upon closer inspection, I realized this car was far from the stock turbo model. The Speedline wheels and the badge residing on the rear deck lid confirmed that this was in fact one of the limited production, 3.6 liter models, and was fit with a competition rear wing sourced from Porsche’s 3.8 964 RS model.

The custom-built, 3 piece modular wheels from Speedline unique to the 3.6 Turbo; sized 8J x !8 up front, and 10J X 18 out back.

What brings me back to this event week after week is the ability to reconnect with automotive memories forged in the past, by simply seeing a particular make or model of car. And in talking with the other participants, this seems to be a common thread that we all share; a brief moment for living in the past.

(All photos by the author)

9/30/13 – Then it must be Turbo Monday…

Posted on September 30, 2013 by digitaldtour

9/30/13… Then it must be Turbo Monday. What better day to celebrate Porsche’s 930 turbos. The following are just a few of the 930 Turbos that frequent cars&coffee on any given Saturday morning…

Silver 1989 930 Turbo (above & below).

1977 Ice Green Metallic Porsche 930 Turbo, from the Magnus Walker collection (below).

Black 1987 Porsche 930 Turbo.

Slate Gray 1984 Porsche 930 Turbo.

So If you’re a fan of the Porsche 930 Turbo, cars&coffee can provide the perfect venue for viewing these cars in person, and an opportunity to learn about them firsthand from their owners.

(All photos by the author)

What’s blue or black and wears a split window out back?

Posted on September 26, 2013 by digitaldtour

What color is that? Prior to the sun coming up, by all accounts it appeared to be black. However as the sun began to rise, there was a faint glint of blue that could be perceived. Or was it just the early morning sky reflecting off of the pristine bodywork?

Depending on the model year, if this had been 1951, the vehicle in question could have been be a split window Volkswagen Beetle (as seen below).

However, in this case the subject just happened to be a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray, a.k.a. the split window coupe. A unique design feature available for only one year, and it just happens to be one of my all time favorite Corvettes.

So with the sun finally coming up, i could clearly see that this 1963 Sting Ray was in fact Daytona Blue and not the alternative, which in 1963 would have been Tuxedo Black. So now it was time to get serious and record my chance encounter with this stunning split window coupe…

These very cool knock-off wheels were offered as an option (P 48) for 1963. However, after doing some research, I learned that back in 1963 Chevrolet did not deliver any of their optional, knock off wheels on the Corvette, due to quality issues. So I suspect that these wheels were likely sourced from a later model Corvette.

The classic 1963 Sting Ray contours; split rear windows and the raised, central spine detail that bisects the roof and continues down the back of the car, all blending seamlessly into the rear bodywork.

A stepping stone in the evolution of Corvette interiors, circa 1963. Design elements found in the 1963 interior continued to evolve, and their influences can still be found in Chevrolet’s latest offering for 2014, in their new Corvette Stingray.

Front hood reflections and the unique, dual faux grills.

As cool as the 2014 Corvette Stingray is, when all is said and done, it’s going to be hard to beat an original, and especially a 1963 split window.

(All photos by the author)

“If you toast it they will come”; the hot and humid, end of summer spectacular held at Cars&Coffee…

Posted on September 10, 2013 by digitaldtour

A blast of hot, humid air hit me as I exited my house and walked to the garage on Saturday morning August 27th. How could it already be so hot and humid at only 5:15 AM? Given that this was Labor Day weekend, I wanted to leave even earlier than usual for cars&coffee, especially because of the potential traffic. And sure enough, I encountered quite a bit more traffic than usual for that hour. But not so much that I couldn’t take advantage of my 270 air conditioning (2 windows down at 70 + mph). I hoped that the temperature down in Irvine would be cooler. When I finally arrived at cars&coffee (at 5:50 AM), there were already quite a few cars gathered, and Porsche row was already near full capacity. Much to my surprise, after exiting my car I once again experienced similar heat and humidity that I had left behind at home. While I was standing in the longer than usual line for my weekly donut and orange juice, I noticed the sign posted across the entry to the “featured lot; a clue to the vehicles that would soon occupy the reserved area.

As I inched my way towards the front of the line, a team from Nissan began passing by, escorting a series of unique, classic Datsun vehicles, to be parked across the back row of the featured lot. By the time I finished breakfast, the entire row was filled and the waiting crowd had begun circulating through these unique vehicles. First up was the 1935 Datsun 14 roadster (# 002) in yellow, as seen below. This was the first model off of Datsun’s assembly line…

The bunny logo, created for the car by one of its designers.

Immediately to its right was this red, 2 seat Datsun “Fairlady roadster, which had served as design inspiration back in the 1970s for the 240Z, and also wore the Fairlady name in Japan.

Its sparse, simplistic interior…

Positioned to the right was this Ice Green, 1966 right hand drive Silvia coupe (CSP 311). These cars were produced as a custom model in very limited quantities, from 1965 through 1968.

The cleanly designed interior, focused on providing the driver with access and visibility to all of the vehicle controls.

Located to the right of the Silvia, painted in red and white, was an example of an early Datsun / Nissan race car. In this case, the vehicle in question was a 1967 R380-II (as seen below), one of their record-setting Sports Prototypes. This R380-II helped contribute to a total of 12 world speed records established by Nissan, between October 1965 and October 1967 along with its predecessor, the R380-I.

Below, the R380-II badging as found on the front nose.

After doing some research, I learned that the R380-II was powered by a 1996cc, 6 cylinder motor, producing 220 horsepower. Fuel was feed through 3 Weber 45 DOCE carburetors, with final drive delivered by a 5 speed, ZF transmission.

Another of the Nissan Heritage collection show cards, in this case illustrating a Datsun/Nissan sedan competing against a Porsche 904 Carrera GTS…

And what car should show up and park next to the R380-II, than a silver,1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS.

Parked several cars over to the right was another record-setting vehicle for Datsun; the BRE/Datsun 510 of John Morton which went on to become the 1970-1972, 2.5 liter Trans Am Champion (as seen below).

The no-frills, BRE / Datsun 510 race car interior, circa 1970…

Parked next to the BRE /Datsun 510, was an example of a 2013 Nissan hot rod; the matte black, Nissan Juke -R.

Shoe-horned into the engine compartment is a Nissan 3.8 liter, twin turbo charged V-6 motor (sourced from their current GTR model), and putting out 545 HP. These figures translate to a 0-60 time of 3 seconds, with a top speed of 170 MPH.

Parked perpendicular down the row from the Juke-R was an example of another example of a Nissan cult car; the Skyline GTR, as seen below in silver. This Skyline model line would become a source of corporate DNA from which the designers at Nissan could draw from for use in the creation of their current day Nissan GTR super coupe.

Another example of a right hand drive configured interior, and an interesting comparison in design evolution, when compared against the 1966 Datsun Silvia.

The carbon fiber rear wing element and end plate insert…

and its iconic, rear trunk lid badging.

The view likely seen by its competitors.

Parked immediately across from the Nissan display was this pristine black Porsche 993 Carrera coupe, reflecting the morning sky…

As I later came to find out, this car actually belonged to one of Nissan’s designers, up from their San Diego Design studio, and on hand for the mornings event.

While getting ready to leave the featured lot, I noticed another Porsche parked over in a corner space, several rows behind the black Porsche 993. As I approached, I realized that this particular pale blue 911 was in fact the latest build from Singer Vehicle Design. Finally, my first opportunity to view a Singer 911 in person, rather than online or in the pages of a magazine.

I learned that this particular pale blue, was based upon a reinterpretation by Singer Vehicle Design, of the 1970s Porsche 917, John Wyer Gulf blue.

Cloud reflections in the carbon fiber front fenders and hood, along with its center fill, fuel tank cap…

Rear deck lid grill in brushed nickel, with its Singer signature drilled glass backer.

The 1967 Porsche 911R inspired, rear fender oil filler, but with a custom designed cap, complete with its etched and paint filled graphic.

A peek inside the fully customized Singer 911 interior. Having had the opportunity to finally view one of these cars in person, and study the collective package, the Singer 911 definitely lives up to its reputation. The attention to detail found throughout the car, along with the many unique design features incorporated were truly amazing, while still retaining the core attributes established and refined over the past 50 years of Porsche 911 evolution.

My next stop after an extensive examination of the Singer 911, was over to Porsche row, to check on the mornings participants. With 2013 being the 50th Anniversary of the Porsche 911, there have been a number of early 911s making an appearance at cars&coffee, and this morning was no exception. What initially appeared to be a beautifully detailed black 1966 Porsche 911, revealed itself instead to be a very dark blue (Dunkelblau), perfect for showcasing some amazing reflections; across its front hood…

and rear decklid.

Leaving Porsche row, I decided to see what other cars had shown up on this incredible morning. Three rows over, and parked out towards the end of the row was another spectacular Porsche; a lowered, Mint Green Porsche 964 C2, rolling on a set of blacked -out, modified BBS modular wheels, apparently the handiwork of the firm Rotiform.

Parked just one row off and to the right, was another beautifully detailed and lowered, Porsche 964 Carrera 2 in Grand Prix White. It also wore a set of modified BBS modular wheels. However, this owner opted for the stock gold centers, but added custom profiled inner and outer wheel halves. These too appeared to be the work of the firm Rotiform.

However, the icing on the proverbial Porsche cake for me on this Saturday morning was my encounter with the two vehicles seen below…

This photographic pairing had been something the owner of the VW bus had been trying to coordinate with the owner of the Red Porsche 917 recreation for months.

And with the opening of the VW’s side door, treasures were revealed.

A quartet of iconic Porsche 917 doors. For information on these doors, please use the following link to access the race car fine art website (www.CDAutomobilia.com).

My friend Claude, displaying his van and the 917 #23 door to several videographers present that morning.

This is but one of the many aspects of what makes cars&coffee weekly shows so unique. Where else could you find a photographic recreation, similar to what occurred back in 1970 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans…

(All photos by the author)

“Little Red Corvette”, a.k.a. the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray making its debut at Cars&Coffee / Irvine…

Posted on August 25, 2013 by digitaldtour

This past Saturday morning saw the debut of a brilliant red, 2014 Corvette Stingray at cars&coffee / Irvine. Once the driver had successfully backed his Corvette into the parking space and exited the car, the gathering crowd rushed in to get a closer look. Judging by the size and excitement of the quickly growing sea of bodies, it appears that Chevrolet has hit a home run with the new Stingray. The only negative feedback overheard was what has already been seen in print – “the tail lights look too much like those found on the new Camaro”, and the two-toned interior with its splash of color “lacking visual continuity”.

Due to the ever growing crowd pushing in around the Corvette, I decided to continue on my rounds through the parking lot, with the intent to return a little later once the crowds thinned out, in an attempt to get an unobstructed view of the Stingray.

Upon my return, I arrived just in time to catch the front hood and rear decklid opened, revealing some hidden details…

and shortly after, the Stingray all buttoned up.

The driver then returned to his car in preparation to depart. Once behind the wheel, and with a turn of the key, the motor roared to life with a smooth yet throaty idle, and a moment later, the boomerang shaped, LED running lights made their presence known.

After letting the engine idle for several minutes, presumably to get the operating temperatures up to spec, the driver put the car in gear and with several blips of the throttle, the Stingray accelerated off, to enjoy another of our warm, sunny Southern California mornings.

I wonder how long before we’ll see another 2014 Stingray at cars&coffee? And what do you think? Is the new 2014 Corvette Stingray a worthy successor to the C6?

(All photos by the author)

Excuse me, do you have the time?

Posted on July 7, 2013 by digitaldtour

I woke up earlier than normal on Saturday morning, not wanting to arrive late to Cars&Coffee. For the past several weeks, southbound and northbound traffic on the 5 freeway was being redirected around a de-construction zone ( the tearing down of a single freeway overpass). Fortunately, as I approached the 5 freeway, I could see that the south bound traffic was moving, so no apparent delays for this week. As I passed beneath the overpass in question, I could see that all of the northbound structure had been removed; all that remained on the southbound side were the structural steel cross beams, and a lot of sky. Hopefully these remaining beams will be dispatched before next weekend…

Sticking to my original plan and arriving early, I was greeted by an impressive line up already assembled along Porsche row. Located mid way on the row was a car I immediately recognized; the white Porsche GT3 Cup car with red and black graphics, as raced in this years Pikes Peak International Hill Climb by frequent cars&coffee participant Jeff Zwart.

As a result of the sponsorship by Luminox, the dominant graphics element was a watch band that circled the car, from front to back, with the watch face strategically displayed on the roof of the Porsche.

The watch face graphic predominantly displayed, afforded one the perfect line… “Excuse me, do you have the time”? However, the more I studied the graphic, I began to wonder if the time as indicated ( 10:09:36), and seen below, held any hidden meaning. I guess I’ll have to wait until next Saturday to question Jeff about this particular detail.

By 7:30 AM, there was a changing of the guard along Porsche row; the silver 356 that had been parked next to Jeff’s car, departed, and the empty space was quickly occupied by a white Porsche 997 Turbo S, which turned out to be an ultra rare model.

Upon closer inspection, this particular Turbo S was in fact one of Porsches rare “Edition 918 Spyder” models. These cars were to be offered for sale exclusively to the buyers of Porsches 918 Spyder super car, while they awaited final production and the subsequent delivery of their 918 Spyder. Total production of this special Turbo S edition was limited to just 918 examples, which aligned perfectly with the limited production number for the 918 Spyder.

Externally, the Edition 918 Spyder can be identified by the following details; its acid green “Edition 918 Spyder” door graphics, the small, right side fender mounted, commemorative plaque (as seen below), carbon fiber rear fender air intakes, green accented side mirrors, and the highlighted rear deck lid “S” badging.

However, one of the most dominant visual clues was visible at each wheel; the acid green PCCB brake calipers peeking out from behind the black, centerlock wheels…

Hidden from view were several other upgrades created to separate the “Edition 918 Spyder” model from the standard Turbo S model; out back the motor had been modified to deliver 530 horsepower, while the interior received enhancements in the form of carbon fiber accents and upgraded leather surfaces, all trimmed with acid green stitching.

Seeing this car in person gives one hope for the possibility of seeing a 918 Spyder in person in the not to distant future. According to the articles being published in many of the automotive magazines, the first production 918’s are scheduled for delivery beginning in September. So how long until we see a 918 Spyder on display in person at cars&coffee?

Until that time, you can check out a short film that was uploaded July 9th, highlighting one of Jeff Zwart’s 2013 pre-race, Porsche GT3 Cup car shake down runs up Pikes Peak, by clicking here…

(All photos by the author)

Hidden in plain view: the small details overlooked…

Posted on May 16, 2013 by digitaldtour

Lately, I’ve found myself taking a slightly different approach in photographing the multitude of vehicles present at each weeks Cars&Coffee / Irvine event. With the clear, sunny springtime weather, there has been an abundance of interesting lighting conditions to work with, as well as some amazing, highly polished, curvaceous and reflective vehicle surfaces to study. I’m frequently stopped by vehicle owners or passerbys and asked “what are you looking at” or “what are you shooting”? When I show them my captured imagery, the common response is “how did you see that” or” I’ve never would have noticed that”. My response is that it’s just a function of how we look at objects in general, and that when you slow down and take your time to really study an object, the end result can often be very surprising and rewarding.

And now with summer rapidly approaching, there have been a number of winter automotive projects finally seeing the light of day, making their debut under warm, sunny skies.

So with the sun on the rise, I headed off in search of a new batch of photographic subjects. As I walked down Porsche row, the lighting across the hood of a 1967 911R tribute caught my eye. The combination of the highlights and shadows not only defined the shape and detail lines of the hood, but added further interest in the form of the shadow cast by the centrally located fuel filler cap, with its blood orange stripe providing just the right amount of accent color…

Even shooting a close – up of the amber-colored euro lens covering the Cibie biode headlight internals, revealed an unexpected surprise; the captured reflection of the owner and a fellow Porsche 911 owner discussing the merits of these new headlights.

The early morning light also created the perfect accent across the rear decklid, highlighting its stripe and 911R graphic, and offering a glimpse of the custom fiberglass intakes and water shields residing behind the grill…

One of my mornings reflective studies, using a black 2013 Porsche type 991, 911 Carrera S coupe as the subject, showcasing the latest in headlight technology and the by-product of a flawless paint finish.

Another graphic display of how shadow, light and foliage effects, when combined can visually enhance the profile and contours as those found on an early 70’s Porsche 911 front hood and fenders (as seen below).

Porsche 914-6 GT reflection captured in the front fender of a black Porsche 993 coupe…

A beautifully restored, vintage Chrysler Town & Country convertible, complete with wood cladding on its sides and trunk area as shown. Even the woodwork was finished and polished to a high level matching that of the paint job.

And looking closer, these reflective properties were carried over to the vehicles rear fender, which offered up a clue to its surroundings.

Up front was another surprise, hiding beneath the opened hood; an immaculate Dodge Viper V-10 motor, transplanted into the engine bay and appearing as if it had been original to this model, as delivered by Chrysler.

Over in the main parking area, I discovered another example of a beautifully restored engine compartment and motor, as found on this 1970’s vintage Chevrolet Camaro…

and a close – up shot, revealing some very cool reflections captured in the chrome valve cover and breather.

Nothing screams hot rod like highly polished chrome injectors and brightly colored accents, in this case the go fast accessories found within the engine compartment on this black 1962 Corvette (below).

A Mercedes – Benz Sedan and a side mirror with a secret…

A pristine chrome grill and hood emblem, as observed on a beautifully restored,1969 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL coupe…

including some equally impressive grill and trim reflections.

And a full shot of the beautifully restored 280SL, the source of hidden detail.

(Below), amazing detail awaiting discovery in this contemporary version of the Bentley hood ornament…

Rear window reflections, when viewed from the proper angle…

Reflecting on several early Porsche 911s…

and an upside reflection, as seen in the hood of a 1987 black Porsche 930 turbo.

A 1930’s vintage Ford Tudor coupe, capturing its surroundings, via its headlight, paint finish…

and its classic, chrome plated Ford radiator /grill surround.

The latest iteration of Jaguar badging…

as displayed on the back of this brand new, dark green metallic 2014 Jaguar F-type V8 S Roadster.

A trio of the brand new 2014 F-Type models on display, courtesy of Jaguar.

So the next time you find yourself looking at a car, take an extra moment to stop and look a little closer, as you may be surprised by the hidden details previously overlooked, but now revealed…

(All photos by the author)

Atlas staged, plus a colorful collection of eclectic cars…

Posted on May 5, 2013 by digitaldtour

Webster’s Dictionary defines the word eclectic as “selecting what appears to be the best in various doctrines, methods or styles”: “composed of elements drawn from various sources”. Both of these definitions were equally appropriate in describing the vehicles that turned out for the Saturday April 27th gathering of Cars & Coffee / Irvine.

On this particular morning, courtesy of the Ford Motor Company, participants were greeted by a concept vehicle on display, staged over in the featured lot. However, instead of a car, the vehicle in question was a concept truck. In this case, a silver Ford “Atlas Concept” crew cab pick up, with an abundance of custom features, including active wheel shutters (shown in their closed position), as visible on the driver’s side wheels…

Wheel shutters in their open position, as seen on the passenger side wheels (below).

Parked over at the opposite end of the featured lot, the Mercedes-Benz Classics Center was showing several rare, beautifully restored, vintage treasures from their museum…

I overheard (while shooting the red model below), that this particular vehicle is a one of one; the only example of this vintage beauty in existence.

Parked just to the right of these two Mercedes, was one very cool and beautifully restored two toned DKW (Auto Union) Schnellaster panel van (aka DKW F89 L), produced from 1949 to 1962 as seen below. These vehicles were initially powered by a 700 cc, two-cylinder, two-stroke motor. Then in 1955, the Schnellaster received an upgrade to three cylinders, increasing the displacement up to 900 cc, good for 32 horsepower!

Who copied who? This two toned color palette appeared very similar to color schemes observed on several early 1950’s Volkswagen Type II transporters.

Over on Porsche row, it was one of those rare mornings that saw 100% occupancy by Porsche models only. And due to the clear, sunny springtime weather, a truly colorful collection of eclectic Porsches turned out in force…

Situated just opposite of Porsche row, was this spectacular 1970s vintage Datsun 510…

with an equally impressive turbocharged motor lurking under the hood, ready to shame any unsuspecting rival.

As I continued on my trek through the parking lot, I came across several other Porsches that obviously arrived too late to park along Porsche row…

And just two rows over was a collection of Dodge Vipers, three in the blue with white stripe combination. A closer look revealed the center blue viper as one of the brand new 2013 SRT models.

Representing Ford’s endurance racing efforts from the 1960’s, were these two Ford GT 40 tributes…

Also encountered and scattered throughout the parking lot, were several beautiful examples representing another of the German marques, in this case BMW…

Representing the Italian manufacturers was a line up of jellybean colored Lamborghini, parked together out on the very back row.

So with summer just around the corner, one can only speculate regarding the possibility of a Stingray sighting, or when the next Saturday mornings colorful collection of eclectic cars will occur…

(All photos by the author)

New track shoes, an Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, the return of a Porsche 911R tribute and some new fresh faces…

Posted on March 24, 2013 by digitaldtour

What Porsche 911 owner hasn’t dreamed of putting a set of BBS wheels on his or her car, given this brand of wheels presence on so many of Porsches championship winning race cars. And what better vehicle to have for running a set of centerlock, BBS GT3 cup wheels wrapped in Michelin race rubber, than a black Porsche GT3RS…

In talking with the owner, I learned that his GT3RS would be making a trip out to the Willow Springs Raceway on the following Monday for a track day, and would be wearing its new BBS “track shoes”…

And parked next to the GT3 RS was this brand new red, 2013 Porsche type 991, 911 Carrera S…

complete with the Aerokit cup option; a performance inspired front spoiler and fixed rear wing ( a smaller version of the rear wing found on the newly introduced Porsche GT3).

Rolling on 20 inch sport wheels…

Parked just across the aisle over on Porsche row, was this occasional visitor to Cars&Coffee; the highly modified, pastel blue 1971 Porsche 911T, equipped up front with enough added candle power to light up any road once the sun goes down…

Even the rear portion of the hood mounted, fog lights housings were painted to match the pastel blue body color. The stock appearing wheels were also modified; billet centers were created to mimic the look of the original, base level steel wheels Porsche offered during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. However, these new wheels were designed with sufficient backspacing to not only accommodate the larger than stock brake calipers and wider tires, but eliminated the need for the owner to alter the stock fenders in order to run the new wider wheels and tires.

Located further up on Porsche row was this freshly restored, new fresh face in attendance; the beautiful, black 1973 Porsche 911E as seen below…

A beautiful car that could pass for brand new, and sporting a very unique interior; full leather in the two-tone combination of green and black. This color combination may appear odd at first, but was one that really impressed me the more I looked at it…

Even the 2.4 liter 911E spec motor out back was spotless and appeared showroom fresh, with the underside of the rear deck lid revealing the drive mechanism and housing with its mounting bracket for the rarely seen, factory optional rear window wiper.

Parked perpendicular to Porsche row, was another trio of fresh faces to cars&coffee; a viper green Audi R8, a silver Porsche 911 Carrera, and an orange Porsche 911 Carrera RS recreation.

And located just several cars away to the right of this trio, was this grand prix white with blood orange striped, 1967 Porsche 911R tribute, making its second appearance at cars&coffee (below)…

What’s so cool about this 911R tribute, is that the owner used one of Porsches original 911R’s as the blueprint for building and detailing this car. Even more impressive is that the owner produced all of the fiberglass parts himself; from the front fenders with their 911R specific flare (below), to the front hood, rear decklid, rear tail light lenses, and all of the fiberglass shrouding found on the motor. He even designed the water shields with integral carburetor venturi, lower heat shields, as well as the housing to protect the electronics within in the engine compartment.

The 911R treatment was also carried over to the wheels and hubs, with longer length wheel studs, and the cad plated steel, open-ended lug nuts, on what appeared to be a set of deep six , 5 spoke alloy wheels…

Even the front trunk received the R treatment, with a fiberglass lid created for the smugglers box, and the inclusion of a custom fabricated, steel 100 liter fuel tank, incorporating a center fuel filler with gasketed collar and drain, race inspired gas cap, and a period correct strut bar.

A detail of the underside of the fiberglass front hood, complete with the glassed in balsa wood battens for added strength just as the factory had done. The owner shared that he even went as far as sourcing the same type of fiberglass cloth (for weave and weight) as that used by Porsche on the original 911R’s. And just like the original factory cars, the underside of the hood and rear decklid were left unpainted…

More of the owners handiwork; the fiberglass motor / fan shroud, the carburetor venturi/water shields and lower heat shields, as well as the protective cover for the electronics; all eye candy for the 3.0 liter, high horsepower Porsche boxer six motor.

Even the rear license panel with integral bumpers and the under fender extensions were produced in fiberglass by the owner. And instead of simply purchasing a set of the 911R inspired rear tail light assemblies, he decided to create his own colored lenses. (For additional photos and information regarding this car, please use this link to access one of my recent posts).

By now the crowds had begun to thin, so as I was heading back to my car, I was intercepted by a friend who asked what I thought of the red Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione? I told him that I had not seen the car and asked where it was parked. It turned out the car had been hidden away, out on the very last row, in the back corner. So after thanking him for the information, I hurried off to see if the car was still there. Fortunately, as I approached the block wall that divides the rear parking area from the loading dock, I could see what appeared to be a lone, red Alfa Romeo still drawing interested parties.

As I began photographing the car, the owner who was standing off to the side, shared some of the back story of his car with those of us present.

We learned that the coupe version of the 8C was built between 2007 and 2009 for a global market, with the first american market vehicles being imported in 2008, carrying a sticker price of $259,000 for the coupe, and roughly $300,000 for the roadster version. During the 2 plus years of production, only 500 examples of the 8C were produced. We also learned that the body shell was made of carbon fiber, and then mated to a steel chassis, with final assembly taking place at the Maserati factory in Modena, Italy.

Power comes from a 444 horsepower, 4.7 liter V8, assembled by the folks at Ferrari, with the drive transferred to the rear wheels via a six speed transaxle gearbox , actuated by paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel. Also included within the drivetrain was a limited slip differential.

A detail of the 4 leaf clover logo inspired wheels, rolling on specially designed 20 inch tires…

A boomerang inspired, mesh side vent and turn signal, set into each front fender…

Now that spring has arrived, I would suspect that there will be an influx on new fresh faces making their debuts at cars&coffee. And if the past several weeks are any indication, spring and summer promise to reveal some amazing cars…

(All photos by the author)

digitaldtour

A photographic journey through the Southern California car culture

Category Archives: Cars&Coffee / Irvine

Restorationville, or hanging out on Porsche Row, with a 1949 Bellytank Lakester thrown in for good measure…

Living in the past…

9/30/13 – Then it must be Turbo Monday…

What’s blue or black and wears a split window out back?

“If you toast it they will come”; the hot and humid, end of summer spectacular held at Cars&Coffee…

“Little Red Corvette”, a.k.a. the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray making its debut at Cars&Coffee / Irvine…

Excuse me, do you have the time?

Hidden in plain view: the small details overlooked…

Atlas staged, plus a colorful collection of eclectic cars…

New track shoes, an Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, the return of a Porsche 911R tribute and some new fresh faces…