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In the first of four parts, YouTuber Mat Armstrong talks us through the challenges and rewards of rebuilding a Porsche from bumper to bumper – with the help of Design 911.
We’ve all done it. Hit the car auction sites, tapped in our dream car, added ‘cheapest first’ to the filters, and seen what’s in the pot for those willing to gamble on ‘sold as seen’ wheels. But Mat rolled the dice.
As his video story explains, it wasn’t love at first sight. In the first instalment, we look at the before picture. And it’s not pretty. When the beleaguered roadster rolled/was hauled off the flatbed, with help, it wasn’t the ‘complete sports car’ trumpeted by Autocar back in 2016. There was a lot missing and what remained was dinged, damaged, or smashed.
And just as the Cayman’s predecessor helped to rebuild reputation of the parent company, Mat had pledged to coax out the hidden beauty of this battered Boxster. And boy, was it carefully concealed.
Crazy enough to work?
Despite the damage, the logic was sound enough: Mat’s thinking was that picking up a Cayman S, with a 2.5L, 3500 bhp mill on board for the same price as the Cayman 2.0L, 300 bhp equivalent was like buying money.
But one man’s idea of profit is another’s money pit, so caveat emptor, as we all say when putting down the phone and not buying the project car that was not going to sit on blocks annoying everyone for a year before heading for the crusher it should have gone in the first place. But not Mat. Where others talk the talk, he walks the walk. And puts his money where his phone is.
Money: not a driver.
If you want to invest, use a bank. Sit on the interest. A project like this may just as easily bite you in the same place. But this is about love, not lucre, even though all the red flags are there. Only bidder? Check. Didn’t meet reserve price? Also check. Cheapest Cayman in the whole of the UK? Yup.
Mat’s no fool and has been burned more times than a Cat A recovery. So, he checked out his purchase on carVertical (probably should have done that first, Mat!) which gave him green lights on the finance, mileage and theft. And if damage is a red, there are photos on site, so no-one needs to fly blind or take a leap in the dark. Handy when Mat’s Porsche is missing wing mirrors, and a headlight is smashed.
However, experience is what we get just after we needed it. As YouTuber @Laerei commented, “the price was about double of what it’s worth … but it looks repairable.” But, is it, Laerei? Mat gave this a full two second’s thought and hit ‘buy.’ Buyer’s regret? Not yet. What you don’t know isn’t going to hurt you, right? But, as the big reveal piece shows, suddenly Mat knew.
Spoiler Alert!
Spoiler, door panels, roof. All gone to the great breaker in the sky. So, it’s not a pretty sight. But the auction house and insurers agree that this is a Cat N job, which the AA agree is at least doable. So, repairable, and damage is non-structural. However, there’s only one intact panel, the glass is gone, the 10-spoke wheels are struggling for numbers and the car has spent time on its own roof.
We have ignition.
The aluminium panels are super-light to assist with handling and weight reduction, and so they scuff easily, and look terrible when damaged. But the panels are superficial, not superstructure and beneath the bulges, the frame looks sound. And where there’s life there’s a runner, and the engine fired first time. We’re off to the races! So, that’s a start. Let’s see if the ending is happy, or not.
This is just a sample of what Mat got involved with during this rebuild, to watch the entire series click here.
Stay tuned for part two coming soon!
Dedicated to the upgrade:
Also used:
- Front brake disc, rotor slotted, two pieces: A1-203
- EBC yellow brake pads: DP42307R
- Brake pad wear sensor: 99160916500/1
- 982821022YGRV
If you want parts for your Porsche, visit our website here.
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