August 2022, I get a text message form Dion Ronin (Dion's endeavor) that there was a Creamsicle on the Hagerty website for sale at an auction in Main, at Owls Head Transportation Museum. Dion said you already have one you should look at this one. Most of the 914 MOB guys around here are always ribbing each other about crap and LE's are a topic they always pounce on me about.
So I look! Sure as shit there it was. Jeff Bowlsby posted that he saw this car back in 2005 in California and that it was sold to a guy in Vermont around that time. He also said that the advertised vin number is incorrect! The last two numbers are transposed making this the FIRST Ceamsicle produce and its on the registry as such. DAM I hope Sienfeld doesn't hear about this was one comment on 914world. Sooo off to Main I go telling my wife I am going to look at a job, which I always do when on the hunt for cars or parts
I arrive in Main and get a Sam Adams Boston Lager and a lobsta sandwich. Sitting by the dock of the bay watching the tide roll away the Tuesday night before inspection opens for the auction. I looked at all the cars the next day, trying not to lust to much over the 914. I kept looking at adjacent cars every time someone would inspect the 914 to hear their comments. A few said lets bid up to $2500 because there is water in the trunk! I thought that was great, because its not leaking out and that's a good thing I said to myself. I inspected the car on my back crawling under as far as I could with nobody watching. WOW no rust, super clean suspension and a super exhaust system and it has the original holy grail front spoiler. Not a pretty car by no means but solid as they come and a LE and #1. I look at the engine and dam, its some kind of race engine and the serial number starts with RAT. Stupid me says to myself its not a Raby engine because that would be RAB and not RAT. I know I am and idiot. At the time. I was a little disappointed that it did not have the original engine, but more about that later.
I give my $100 deposit to bid via phone on Friday, we will call you don't call us they said. This was the Friday one week before Labor day weekend I think. On Friday all of the auto memorabilia was on the schedule and just 7 cars. So I don't get a call till 4:00. Sir please stay on the line for item # 453. Now by 4:00 in the afternoon most people are having their Sam Adams beers and a lobsta sandwich. So there were probably just two or three people bidding. So I kept saying yes,in $500 increments hoping that Sienfield wasn't one of the bidders. Not that he would stoop that low to buy something like this but you never know I kept thinking. Bam you got it states the person on the other end. YYAAAHHHOOOO .
I do the wire transfer on Monday and drive back up with my trailer and my two brothers on Tuesday. We pick it up and yes its running no need for the winch, holy crap. We start driving back home but its been a long day so we get a hotel. While sitting out back of the hotel having a few Sam Adams beers and looking through all the paperwork I find that the past owner was William Twigg Smith. I goggle his name and wow their family helped Hawaii get their independence from the royal government that they were under in the early 1900's. Bills father wrote a book about it called "Sovereignty" the truth of what really happened.
I also found all the receipts from Chris Foley/Tangerine Racing. Also all the notes and sketches on wiring etc by Ed Morrow who worked at tangerine racing at the time and who built the car for Bill Twigg Smith.
Ed got to drive in the car with me at this years NEG Northeast Gathering in the Pocono mountains (hills) of Pennsylvania.
Bill had passed in 2016 I think and was a recluse type billionaire who's family had extensive real estate in Hawaii and Vermont. There were also letters notes etc. between Bill and Jeff Bowlsby among the paperwork Jeff later sent me all the correspondence that he had with Bill back in 2005-2007. Thank you very much Jeff! Bill stated that he would never race the car and would not be going to shows because he is a very independent person. Bill wanted a strong car to drive the back roads and hills of Vermont. He would also never do anything that could not be easily reversed because it is an LE car. Among the other cars that were sold at the auction I later found out (28 in total) were from Bills collection. All at no reserve.
Three had raby engines one a concours winning 76 911 and one a Karmen Ghia.
So once we got the car home I contacted Chris Foley who got me in touch with the caretaker of Bills cars in Vermont. I asked the caretaker if he knew were the original engine was. His answer was I might. Soooo grab some cash and drive to Vermont. On my way to Vermont I stopped by at Tangerine racing to drop off some philly soft pretzels to Chris and talk about this car some more and its past owner. Once in Vermont at the caretakers shop there is the original engine in the same box that Chris Foley put it in when he shipped it 15 years ago.
Back to the car. Dion comes over and I had already cleaned out the gas tank and filled with fresh fuel and was getting ready to start the car. We started it up and it ran a little rough. We determined it was just a bad wire and a bad plug. Four new wires and four new plugs and its been running ever since.
Still looking for the manuals that go with the raby engine. I contacted the estate and they searched in Vermont and in Hawaii. No luck as yet.
Thanks to Dion Ronin, Jeff Bowlsby, Chris Foley and Ed Morrow for all their input on this great car.
Pictures to follow.
