keeping originality

[89 Coupe]

Hello All,
I have had my 89 3.2 Carrera for a couple of years and recently joined the club, so this is my first post to say hello and also to get a view from others on a particular topic.
My 3.2 is very original and is still in its factory paint. It has picked up a few stone chips which have been touched in. It also has some slight bubbling on the aluminium bumpers where they meet the seal and finally has a small stone chip on the passenger side of the screen. My understanding is the previous owners have wanted to preserve the original finish and not have the front end and the bumpers re-sprayed. Also there was a concern that getting a replacement screen fitted may have caused more problems than the minor stone chip does.
I am in two minds about having any paintwork done, the stone chips are minor; although I feel having the bumpers off and re-sprayed may be a good move. I'm sure most all cars of this age either have had some paintwork carried out but would it be seen as compromising the originality to have some minor work done?

Interested in other folks opinions.
Thanks,
John

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

I had the same dilemma last year, but decided that it was my car, and I wanted it to look pristine for me, and to heck what the next owner thinks. I had the front lid and valence repainted, the front wings blended in, and the bumpers removed, blasted and repainted. Every time I look at it I am glad I had it done. As for the screen, provided you get someone who knows what they are doing, I can't see a problem. I would get an old school Porsche specialist to do it, as they know the method, problems, and the importance of getting it right.

 

[graham tompkins]

Hi John,
welcome to the Club and the forum.
from what you have said, I guess your car is a very low mileage example. Pics and more details will be demanded I am sure.
i understand exactly what you are saying as I had exactly the same problem (it is actually a problem/dilemma when you think about it) with my 89 3.2 Carerra, 32k and totally original in every respect.Was a show car, and won prizes,PCGB and others. I was precious and almost obsessive. Didn't use it in order to preserve it and it gradually became more of a problem than a pleasure.
Others may disagree but I don't think total originality is that vital with a standard 89 3.2, nice but not like a pre 74 911 where it really matters. 20 years from now I may be wrong. The bumpers will deteriorate due to their construction / reaction and I had mine done accordingly .Paint chips are part of life in the U.K.
Depends what you want really, a car you can use and enjoy, or like some a car that you are scared to use and just look at for your pleasure.
As I say, been there , done both and I really prefer the former.
Mines a balance and I love it
Regards
Graham

 

[IndischRot]

As far as your screen goes this chap comes well recommended on pistonheads and elsewhere - http://www.glasstecauto.co.uk/

With respect to the paintwork do you want a car that looks good from 5m, 0.5m or 5 cm away? And how much do you plan to use your car? Will you be gutted if your freshly painted panel gets a stone chip? Or merely annoyed? I would offer you need to think about some of these questions - the answers will guide you as to what you want done.

I recently had some paint work done on my guards red 88 911. There was some bubbling on the front bumper along with a scrape from the previous owner's son's pushbike and the front lid had been badly resprayed (poor colour match and bad paint adhesion) by a "Porsche specialist" whose name combines cars and agriculture. As the remaining panels on the car still had their original finish I was loath to spray more than necessary and I didn't want what I felt was the cop-out of blending the front lid into the wings and scuttle. It took me a while but I found a shop willing to work to match the colour. It took 4 or 5 tries but I now have a very very good match on the newly sprayed front bumper and lid while preserving the original paint on the rest of the car.

I personally think originality is worth something even on a relatively newer car - there's no question of a respray hiding unknown damage or previous rust repairs.

And my answers to the above questions? Roughly 0.5m and merely annoyed. I want to drive and enjoy the car, not fret about it. But I do want it to look smart.

 

[993 C4]

I had a similar situation a few years back with a 3.2. The car had all original paintwork with just a few small chips here and there with the same age related corrosion to both aluminium bumpers.
I decided to keep the bodywork original but removed the bumpers, had them blasted and re painted.
That alone sharpened up, but not detracting from the lovely original appearance.
A good compromise worth considering ??
Cheers.

Nick.

 

[Philip92baldwin]

Hi John,
I'm fairly new to Porsche ownership and the club, but enjoying every minute. Part of owning a Porsche is the drive and unfortunately the odd stone chip is a sacrifice one has to take. For what its worth I would have the bumpers sprayed and touch up the chips. you don't want to miss out on a fabulous drive for fear of a chip, such as the attached........

 

[Kevin Frost]

Also relatively new here & with a Guards Red 3.2. Mine has had the front end resprayed due to chips etc but picked a couple up during the end of Summer. I won't have anything done to them because they are only minor.
The windscreen................ I have just (Still) had an absolute nightmare with. Same as you, it had a chip on the passenger side. Had this repaired but it failed. New screen time. I went through my insurance & after a LOT of moaning to them they finally were ok. The windscreen company on the other hand were less so. I had the car in there 3 times for the screen to be fitted. Each time it wasn't done properly. Even now, I am "Letting it settle" but it still isn't 100%.

 

[RICHOT89]

Welcome,

I had the same conundrum 3 yrs ago but decided I needed to enjoy the car both visually and 'mechanically' (ie driving it). So a balance had to be found - Had the bumpers resprayed and one scratched panel redone.

I now enjoy driving it and looking at it! The mileage has now up to 50,000 and it still gives me a smile and warm feeling when I take its cover off in the garage.

Lemass (Tom Martin in Chalfont St Peter Bucks) can be highly recommended for paintwork. I think he is well known on here.

Regards,

Richard

 

[89 Coupe]

Thank you all for your kind welcome and responses to my questions. Definitely food for thought. I can sort of live with the minor stone chips but I do think I will have the bumpers refreshed to get rid of the unsightly corrosion. As for the screen I will think long and hard about having it replaced and do some research into who might be the best firm to do this, preferably in the North West.

Thanks once again for all your comments,
John

 

[911 targa]

Hi John
Three years ago I got a little Fed up with my 3.2 Targa sport and decided to strip her glass out and every thing that could be removed was
It's not a job for the faint hearted and working in my gar rage during the winter not pleasant, my friend who owed me a favour did aproffesional job and buy April she was back on the road and whent to France with R26 .Worth the blood sweat and tears and finished up on the front cover of Porsche Post
In total it took approx 300hrs start to finish and the satisfaction of doing your self was brill
Paul