PORSCHE PRODUCTS
The tempting trinkets that enhance Porsche ownership
...and all the latest must have stuff
COST-EFFECTIVE CLIMATE RESTO
If you’re an owner of a first-generation 987 or 997 model, you’ll almost certainly be familiar with the common problem of sticky climate control rocker switches that are rapidly shedding their soft-touch coating. The result is an ugly mess that’s only going to get worse. Indeed, now that early 987 and 997 models are all at least a decade old, even low mile examples can suffer thanks to the coating material becoming soft and fragile with age. Unless, that is, you get your switches restored by Car Bone. For a hundred bucks, or about £75, they’ll take your climate panel, remove the switches and restore the coating with a harder-wearing replacement. What’s more, the restored switches illuminate just like the originals. Head over to car-bone.pl to find out more.
GOWITH THE FLOW
If you only want to do it once, do it right. A common refrain and one that neatly applies to this Dansk exhaust package for air-cooled 911s. This particular kit is compatible with 2.7-litre and 3.0-litre models dating from 1973 through to 1983. Highlights include stainless construction throughout, a free flowing design that helps release additional power and a 60mm tail pipe. What’s more it’s a comprehensive package that includes the back box, manifolds with heat exchangers, gaskets, fixings and more. The product code for this kit is 1620000810, but Dansk offers similar solutions for most if not all period air-cooled models. Available now from design911.co.uk for £2275, it’s not exactly pennies, but it is competitively priced and should make for a sound long-term investment.
GIVE YOUR 911 A GOOD GRILLING
Air-cooled 911s are now extremely expensive. The downsides to that are obvious enough. But there are upsides, too. Rocketing values have also supercharged the 911 restoration industry, the consequence of which is much better availability of quality parts. There’s very little you can’t now replace with a brand new bit on an old 911. This engine grille is a great example. Sold under the Classic Line brand, it comes from JP Group in Denmark, a huge Porsche parts specialist that’s also responsible for well known brands like Dansk. This grille is designed for 911s built between January 1963 and July 1967, plus 912 models from January 1965 to February 1970. To source yours, search for product number 1684550200 on teilehaber. de, where it’s currently priced at €463 or approximately £415.
ARE YOU SITTING COMFORTABLY?
Well, you would be in these natty new seats from our chums at Selection RS in France. The two-seat tubchairs are said to be inspired by the liveries of the most legendary racing cars from across the ages, including several Porsches. Constructed internally from particle board, they’re covered in hard wearing and stain resistant PVC and polyester. Currently, three liveries are available: Gulf, Martini and Pepita, with the latter recreating the classic houndstooth and vinyl upholstery of classic 911s of yore. Dimensions are 120cm by 80cm by 75cm, while a smaller single-seat version is also available. Perfect for adding a little Porscheness to your office, living room or garage. The two-seater is in stock now for €399.95 or £355 from selectionrs.com.
GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNING
There’s no substitute for getting your own hands dirty. But not all of us have access to a four-poster lift, a shed full of tools and endless hours for DIY tinkering. Instead, this detailed and fully functioning 1:3 scale model of the 550 Spyder’s flat-four race engine offers a more viable way to go hands-on with some Porsche engineering. Made up of over 300 parts, the kit takes around five hours to build. What’s more, the pieces snap and screw together without the need for any glue. The result is a machine in motion, including crankshaft, pistons, valves. It even has integrated lights to simulate combustion as the engine rotates, comes with a detailed manual and emits a characteristic flatfour soundtrack. Grab yours from selectionrs.com for €229.95 or around £200 in old money.
PORSCHE POSTERS
Garage or man cave in need a little Porschefication? Then may we recommend one of a number of new art posters from our friends at Carbone in Poland. The poster shown here celebrates the iconic 930 Turbo replete in its optional M42 Martini livery. Among others you can also opt for a poster commemorating 70 years of Porsche, a pink Gozzy Kremer hood livery design and one that celebrates Porsche’s Le Mans exploits over the last four years. Each poster is available in two sizes: 68cm by 98cm and 29.7cm by 42cm. Pricing is $28 or £22 plus shipping for the larger format and $10 or £8 plus shipping for the small format. You can also view all the posters, plus download versions of the posters to use as PC wallpapers and smartphone backgrounds, from car-bone.pl.