TIME MACHINE

Journey through 911&PW’S past

Asuitably wintery scene on the front cover of this, the Feb 2002 issue, with our Project 944 S2 braving the elements. It was something of a project car issue. As well as the S2, there was the mag’s 944 Lux, 911S, Boxster and Carrera 2.7, which was new to the fleet, the lucky custodian being one K. Seume. So, as ever a varied fleet of machines, but more classic than modern, reflecting perhaps a slightly less precious attitude to classic Porsches back then. Hardly surprising, given their affordability.

Talking of affordability, Keith Seume, in his Carte Blanche column, used some of his word space to take issue with then Editor, Chris Horton, who in the previous issue had proclaimed the new 996 Carrera 4S to be the best-vaue 911 Carrera ever, at £65,000. “Pah”, said Seume. How can that be when you can buy a decent 1973 Carrera RS for £45,000, thus leaving around £20,000 to spend on other Porsches. An SC for £10k for day-to-day use and then the other £10k on a 356 project for the winter. Or £15k on a clean ’74 Carrera 2.7? And Keith would know, having just bought one.

So let’s flip that round. We might think that the starting price of a new 992 Carrera S at a tad over £90k is a bit steep, but in inflationary terms it compares pretty well with that 2002 price. And compared to current asking prices for the classics? Well the world really has gone a bit barmy, has it not?

Talking of a ‘bit barmy’, current Dep Ed, Brett Fraser, went to look at and drive a Beetle, with Porsche power. Owner, Paul Brock, had managed to fit a 2.4-litre 911E engine, modified with 2.7 RS mechanical injection to produce 207bhp. Fortunately it had corresponding RS suspension, too, not to mention all manner of other trick stuff.

In the news pages, we reported that Porsche was going to build the spectacular 205mph Carrera GT. More importantly, though, was the news of Porsche’s new sports utility sledge...