This car had been sitting for ten years. That alone, when I saw it, suggested it is a car that needs someone with experience and some insight on what could be done and what it could be.
Restoration of a 1969 911 T Chapter 1: The Find
By the Editor, in conversation with Angel Martinez and Rod Hersberger Rod Hersberger: This started last December. An e-mail found its way to me stating that the sender knew of a widow living across the street from him who has a 1969 911 T and could I help them find a buyer. I contacted SBR member Angel Martinez and we went to see the car. He was interested enough to want to take it to his shop for further evaluation. Angel Martinez: Often when you go to look at a garage find you see something that is not pretty: there may be frame damage, hidden body damage, rust, rat’s nests, etc. The engine may not even turn. I wasn't expecting a lot, but when I saw this car I was surprised at how straight the car was, with no evidence of accidents or body damage and no sign of serious rust. This was a car that definitely wanted attention. So I decided to take it to my shop to give it a thor-
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DER AUSPUFF March/April 2022
ough inspection. I told the owner that I may be interested in purchasing it, or I may know someone who would be, but if not I would give her a full appraisal on what it would need for anyone else who might want to buy it. We brought the car to my shop—The Paddock Motor Club in Goleta—and got it up on the lift. We didn’t find any significant rust and nothing was too alarming. The car was running when it was stored ten years ago and maybe started once after five years. The car had sat with oil and gas in it so the carburetors would have to be rebuilt before we could see if it would start. But before that, a compression test and leak down test would be necessary to determine the overall health of the internal engine components. The fuel tank may have to be removed and cleaned. Most important, the engine turned by hand. And so I decided to buy it.
