Who is an original owner?, Bought it new Options

[Pat Garvey]

Think we did this some time ago, but an update is due.

As the title says - "original owner".

You should have bought it new from a dealer and still have it.

What's its status & why have you kept through all these years?

Any interesting things on your COA?

Pics appreciated.
Pat

[Pat Garvey]

Good stories boys! Not easy to live with something crude for so long.

I'll put my story in here. Some of you already know it.

Late 1971....put my order in for a 240Z (at the local Pontiac dealer!). Ordered red with equipment I've forgotten. Told it would be 6 months.

May 1972, I recieved a cal that my Z had arrived. I was super excited & rushed to the dealer within 10 minutes of the call.

It was orange! Dealer told me "that's what came in". "Take it or go back on the list". Cancelled my order & got back my deposit. Pissed, and went looking for a used red one. None found, but I'd been enamored with the TR6, so I went to used dealer in Cincy (Rally Ralph) who had one. It was BRG, but he also had a used '70 914-4 in Irish Green. Drove them both. The TR had been abused & had a lot of problems (2 yrs old?). The 914 was sans appearance group, fun to drive, but it stank of cigar smoke. Walked.

No eBay or Craigslist in those days (come to think of it - not computers or internet). Watched & waited for the right TR6 & put out feelers.
A fellow by the name of Frank Bork (who else remebers the saleman that sold him thier 914 new) called me from Classic Porsche/Audi & said he had a 73 TR6 with only 4K miles on it. I was there again in 10 minutes. Gave me the keys for n afternoon. Fun car, shift linkage"snick, snick" but it was July and the heat from the transmission to my feet was horrible. When I took it back, Frank asked me to drive a new 914. I did and loved it. Placed my order right there for Bahia Red & got it within 2 weeks.

Very long story short - I still have it. Drove it for 2 years every day, before the concours bandit lured me. Won a total of 36 concours awards including 2 Parade class wins. It's on stands now, waiting for the right mechanic to bring it back from 7 years of non-driving. Getting close to that right now.

Getting older has caught up with me & I can no longer get off a creeper without screaming & farting, so I've finally realized that a pro is needed.

But, I still have it. No one else every has. I had it repainted & replaced the sail panels in '79. Fritz has no rust anywhere (except the old gas tank). I'll die with this car.