1973 911 T Coupe “Revive the Passion” PCA prize project

1973 911 T Coupe “Revive the Passion” PCA prize project
Hella KGaA Hueck & Co. tops Porsche ten best suppliers list
Lamborghini expands in Macau, celebrates ten years in Singapore

Posted: 21 Jul 2011 07:10 PM PDT

Porsche 911 T Coupe

Gallery after the jump!

Thanks to the “Revive the Passion” project, a US version 911 T Coupe from the year 1973 is one of the main attractions at this year’s Porsche Parade organized by the Porsche Club of America (PCA). As part of the festival week for all Porsche enthusiasts in Savannah, Georgia, from July 31 to August 7, the fully restored classic will be raffled off among PCA members and handed over to its new owner. The outstanding feature of this project is the fact that all fans and enthusiasts of Porsche classic vehicles were able to follow the restoration of the vehicle on the Internet.

The winner can look forward to becoming the proud owner of a collector’s item of great value. This is because the 911 T has been restored to its former glory by the experts at Porsche Classic in its home city of Stuttgart, where it was originally produced for the US market. “Made in Germany” for the second time – after 38 years.

The idea for “Revive the Passion” was born during the “Rennsport Reunion” in Daytona in 2007. During a conversation, representatives of the PCA, Porsche Club Service and Porsche Classic took the decision to offer an attractive Porsche classic car instead of a new vehicle in the traditional PCA raffle. A suitable car was found near Los Angeles and was subsequently presented to club members at the Porsche Parade 2010 in St. Charles, Illinois, in its then rather pitiful condition. The 911 T then went on a journey to Stuttgart, where the experts at Porsche took care of the vehicle.

The US version 911 T Coupe originates from the last year of production of the so-called F model. It features an air-cooled flat-six engine with a displacement of 2.4 liters and a power output of 103 kW (140 hp) at 5,600 rpm. Its top speed is 127 mph (205 km/h). This Porsche is characterized by its narrow body and is finished in the classic color combination Silver Metallic (exterior) and Black (interior). Paul Gregor from the Porsche Club Service: “The body form, color combination and year of production make this vehicle especially popular among collectors and ensure good value retention.”

However, there was not much of this to be seen before the start of restoration. The specialists in the Porsche Classic workshop received a vehicle without headlights or windows. The paint had peeled off and numerous parts, some even “home-made”, were not from the original vehicle equipment. In addition, there were many defects in the interior. Nothing is known to the present day about the history of the vehicle and the long period out of service meant that the vehicle was clearly suffering from the ravages of time. The remains of bird’s nests were even found in the underbody.

Fans and enthusiasts were able to follow the transformation of the classic vehicle into a collector’s item from close up. “We regularly reported about the progress of the full restoration on our website, supplemented with numerous pictures and film material of the individual work steps,” says Barbara Bockenhoff, who is responsible for project coordination at Porsche Classic. PCA members also received updates through the club’s online newsletter. In this way, Porsche Classic was able to demonstrate its outstanding expertise and its ideal factory restoration facilities to customers in the USA in particular – with more than 100,000 members, the PCA is the largest Porsche Club in the world. In the Porsche Classic workshop close to Stuttgart, work is carried out only with original tools, original parts (or parts reproduced on the basis of original drawings) and using original data and dimensions. Alexander Fabig, Head of Porsche Classic: “Every year we service and restore around 250 Porsche classic cars from all over the world, from the 356 through to the last air-cooled 911 model, the Type 993.”

Work on the 911 T took just under a year, from complete disassembly through to complete transformation. Right down to the very last screw, there was no part that did not pass through the hands of the experts at Porsche Classic to be checked, refurbished or replaced. For the extensive body work, the mechanics used either original parts or parts reproduced on the basis of the original documentation. In contrast, the latest methods were used to treat the body for corrosion protection. Electrophoretic dip coating is a standard process in the automotive industry. It guarantees optimum priming of the bodyshell and is therefore also used during complete restoration of vehicles at Porsche Classic. The experts at Porsche Classic have also moved with the times in terms of paints and therefore use only water-based multiple-coat paints for environmental reasons. As part of final acceptance, the vehicle was also subjected to stringent function and performance tests, using methods from current production in some cases.

Porsche 911 T Coupe

The 911 T Coupe now shines again in its former glory and exudes the sporty charm of the 70s. Whether it is too valuable to move or too beautiful to be admired only standing still is something that the new owner must decide. The chances are that the temptation to drive the 911 T will just be too great.

- Porsche

Porsche Classic at Techno Classica 2010

1973 911 T Coupe “Revive the Passion” PCA prize project

Hella KGaA Hueck & Co. tops Porsche ten best suppliers list

Posted: 18 Jul 2011 10:37 AM PDT

ONEIGHTURBO

Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, honored last year’s ten best suppliers at the Porsche works in Leipzig. First prize went to Hella KGaA Hueck & Co. from Lippstadt, which manufactures innovative headlight systems for the sports car manufacturer. Uwe-Karsten Stadter, since April head of the newly created procurement position on the Porsche AG Board of Management said: “Recent months have been characterized first and foremost by an unexpectedly rapid recovery in the world economy as well as the tragic events in Japan. That the consequences for Porsche have been kept to a minimum is also attributable to the particular efforts of the suppliers.”

To cope with future challenges, Stadter called on suppliers to make their company financially weather proof and to continue to bring their expertise and innovation to bear in helping to ensure that Porsche continues to be capable of providing quality and delivery reliability of the highest order. In international studies, the sports car brand constantly excels in terms of its outstanding quality.

The Zuffenhausen company wants to emulate these successes with the new generation of the legendary 911 as well. Supplier partners, responsible for approximately 80 percent of the value creation, have an important role to play in ensuring quality. “I want to see the new 911 as well right up there in the J.D. Power quality rankings from the very first year”, said Matthias Müller, Chairman of the Board of Management of Porsche AG. “And I am convinced that, together, we will do it.”

In addition to Hella KGaA Hueck & Co, Porsche honored a further nine suppliers with the Porsche Supplier Award 2011 in recognition of their top-notch performance.

In the production material category, they were: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Takane, Fujii-cho, Anjo City, Aichi, Japan, Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH, Paderborn, Eberspacher GmbH & Co. KG, Neunkirchen, GKN Driveline Deutschland GmbH, Offenbach, Plastic Omnium Auto Exterior S.R.O., Levallois, France, Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG, Herzogenaurach and Willi Elbe Gelenkwellen GmbH & Co. KG, Tamm. Companies honored in the non-production material category were: Witron Logistik + Informatik GmbH, Parkstein. The prize in the logistic services category was awarded to: BLG Automobile Logistics GmbH & Co. KG, Bremen.

- Porsche

Porsche sets new quality standards

Hella KGaA Hueck & Co. tops Porsche ten best suppliers list

Lamborghini expands in Macau, celebrates ten years in Singapore

Posted: 18 Jul 2011 07:30 AM PDT

ONEIGHTURBO

Lamborghini Macau

Italian supersports car manufacturer Automobili Lamborghini has opened Lamborghini Macau expanding the Lamborghini network to 15 dealerships in mainland China.

Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., said: “The opening of a Macau location is an important part of our representation in China, and reflects the potent growth opportunity in the region.“

The dealership in Macau is the latest development in Automobili Lamborghini’s strategy for growing its robust worldwide network, and reflects the significance of the brand in China.
Located in central Macau, the new Lamborghini showroom incorporates the Lamborghini brand concept. The dealership is operated by Kam Bo Motors Limited, selected by Lamborghini as its commercial partner within the important Macau market for its expertise in the luxury car sector.

Lamborghini sold in China 206 cars in 2010, with a growth of 150% over 2009. Deliveries in the first half of 2011 were up to 138 units, more than 60% growth versus 2010. Sales are expected to grow further by the end of this year, also thanks to the first deliveries of the over 200 ordered Aventadors LP700-4.

Lamborghini has also celebrated ten years in Singapore with a celebration party, organized by Lamborghini Singapore. The exclusive event included the official unveiling of the new V12 flagship model, the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4, and a charity auction raising nearly $200,000. A guest of honor, Automobili Lamborghini’s President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann paid tribute to the Singapore dealership’s significant achievements under managing director Melvin Goh.

Singapore, one of Automobili Lamborghini’s top performing dealers, has an astounding year-and-half of orders for the new Aventador LP 700-4. With the highest number of deliveries per capita, Singapore has become among Lamborghini’s most significant markets.

- Lamborghini