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The Gold-Plated Porsche: How I Sank a Small Fortune into a Used Car; and Other Misadventures
Just as life is often described as a road one takes through the aging process, Wilkinson's experience rebuilding a Porsche is the exit ramp that leads straight into his garage to a world of wires, leather trimmings, and memory pit stops with each turn of the 911 manuscript.
Quirky, cool, entertaining, and opinionated, Wilkinson's rebuilding project leads to inspired digressions on his life. Learning about the inner workings of a car is also a lesson in tracing the thought-streams of the human mind. While rebuilding his car, Wilkinson waxes eloquent on the history of Porsche, American engineering and culture, personal status, his unfulfilling stint as editor of Car and Driver, his love of flying and all things mechanical, not to mention the integrity of wedding dress silk when it's woven amidst engine pistons. According to Wilkinson, "Most of the work that my Porsche required, I was confident I could do myself. Turning nuts and bolts, replacing pieces and parts, disassembling and reassembling, rewiring and renovating were within my basic-competence envelope. Anybody who can overhaul a lawnmower knows how a car engine works. Anybody who can drive a vacuum cleaner or polish shoes can redo a car interior. Anybody who can read a home-wiring diagram can at least begin to fiddle with a car's electrical system." He makes it all sound so easy. Yet, the expensive misadventures he had while rebuilding the German masterpiece were like mirrors of a life experience; the eventual purr of the redone motor felt like a long-awaited jaunt upon a road temporarily closed, and the traveling sure was sweet.
Quirky, cool, entertaining, and opinionated, Wilkinson's rebuilding project leads to inspired digressions on his life. Learning about the inner workings of a car is also a lesson in tracing the thought-streams of the human mind. While rebuilding his car, Wilkinson waxes eloquent on the history of Porsche, American engineering and culture, personal status, his unfulfilling stint as editor of Car and Driver, his love of flying and all things mechanical, not to mention the integrity of wedding dress silk when it's woven amidst engine pistons. According to Wilkinson, "Most of the work that my Porsche required, I was confident I could do myself. Turning nuts and bolts, replacing pieces and parts, disassembling and reassembling, rewiring and renovating were within my basic-competence envelope. Anybody who can overhaul a lawnmower knows how a car engine works. Anybody who can drive a vacuum cleaner or polish shoes can redo a car interior. Anybody who can read a home-wiring diagram can at least begin to fiddle with a car's electrical system." He makes it all sound so easy. Yet, the expensive misadventures he had while rebuilding the German masterpiece were like mirrors of a life experience; the eventual purr of the redone motor felt like a long-awaited jaunt upon a road temporarily closed, and the traveling sure was sweet.
213 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 5, 2020
No one buys a Porsche or Ferrari to save money. Like the guy at the Ferrari parts department says, “That’s why God made Toyotas, Sir.” Still, $69,805 for a 1983 SC has a little premium built into it.
So, why? Well, Mr. Wilkinson talks about how his favorite toy as a kid was an Erector Set, and how much he loves taking stuff apart and putting it back together. Later on in the book he relates how he built a friggin’ plane for heavens sakes.* So there’s that.
So he’s definitely, and voluntarily, going upside down with this thing. The reason being he likes, even needs, to do the work, and secondly, he’s GOING TO DRIVE this car. It is not an INVESTMENT. (Sorry about the CAPS.) It’s a trend we’re seeing at the Barrett Jackson** auctions with C1 and C2 Corvettes. The stockers are now being, in some cases, out priced by restomods.*** The old adage about stock being worth more than upgraded and modified is being challenged by cars being bought for driving purposes. If that 1965 (1963?) Corvette split-window is going to sit in your fifteen car garage attached to a Battery-Tender under a cover, who cares what it drives like? And it is probably a safer, more predictable investment. On the other hand, if you only have an SUV and a sports car, you may well want to upgrade to disc brakes. (Heck, 400 horsepower with side pipes and some fiberglass screwed on, might be a good idea to be able to stop, right?)
Anyway, all that being said, not having a fetish for 1983 911s, I myself might be inclined to pay Mr. Wilkerson a premium over a stock version of the same car. Not anywhere near $69,000, though.
—————-
*He also tells of how he flew Russel Means (Indian activist guy) around in it, was investigated by the FBI, edited “Car and Driver” and “Flying,” went to Harvard, etc. He’s kind of a Baron Munchausen, I guess. Not doubting his stories, they’re really pretty interesting, there’s just more of them then there is of actual, um, wrench turning. (“Like my car? Let me tell you about myself...”) Like those guys in Stereophile always talking about their wives. Why’s this guy talking about his wife? Why does he think I care about his friggin’ wife? What’s she got to do with tube amplifiers? Is he afraid I’ll think he’s gay? I thought we were beyond that. Don’t get me started on David Eggers in the New Yorker always talking about his boyfriend. Is he afraid we’ll think he’s straight? Jesus.
** “You couldn’t build it for that.”
*** Restored and modified. I think.
So, why? Well, Mr. Wilkinson talks about how his favorite toy as a kid was an Erector Set, and how much he loves taking stuff apart and putting it back together. Later on in the book he relates how he built a friggin’ plane for heavens sakes.* So there’s that.
So he’s definitely, and voluntarily, going upside down with this thing. The reason being he likes, even needs, to do the work, and secondly, he’s GOING TO DRIVE this car. It is not an INVESTMENT. (Sorry about the CAPS.) It’s a trend we’re seeing at the Barrett Jackson** auctions with C1 and C2 Corvettes. The stockers are now being, in some cases, out priced by restomods.*** The old adage about stock being worth more than upgraded and modified is being challenged by cars being bought for driving purposes. If that 1965 (1963?) Corvette split-window is going to sit in your fifteen car garage attached to a Battery-Tender under a cover, who cares what it drives like? And it is probably a safer, more predictable investment. On the other hand, if you only have an SUV and a sports car, you may well want to upgrade to disc brakes. (Heck, 400 horsepower with side pipes and some fiberglass screwed on, might be a good idea to be able to stop, right?)
Anyway, all that being said, not having a fetish for 1983 911s, I myself might be inclined to pay Mr. Wilkerson a premium over a stock version of the same car. Not anywhere near $69,000, though.
—————-
*He also tells of how he flew Russel Means (Indian activist guy) around in it, was investigated by the FBI, edited “Car and Driver” and “Flying,” went to Harvard, etc. He’s kind of a Baron Munchausen, I guess. Not doubting his stories, they’re really pretty interesting, there’s just more of them then there is of actual, um, wrench turning. (“Like my car? Let me tell you about myself...”) Like those guys in Stereophile always talking about their wives. Why’s this guy talking about his wife? Why does he think I care about his friggin’ wife? What’s she got to do with tube amplifiers? Is he afraid I’ll think he’s gay? I thought we were beyond that. Don’t get me started on David Eggers in the New Yorker always talking about his boyfriend. Is he afraid we’ll think he’s straight? Jesus.
** “You couldn’t build it for that.”
*** Restored and modified. I think.
August 4, 2009
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. All I expected (and would've been more than content with) was a book about the trials and tribulations of completely restoring a complex piece of German automotive engineering. It was that, but it was so much more, as well. Wilkinson interspersed chapters on the restoration with chapters on his life. And his fearless honesty with exposing his shortcomings, as well as triumphs, was refreshing and poignant. I'm really looking forward to reading more by him.
February 15, 2008
I read it twice through in one month. Then I bought a Porsche.
August 22, 2008
author is a bit of a tool. was expecting more entertaining misadventures, more pain and suffering
February 27, 2009
A great story for anyone with an appreciation for things mechanical and working with your hands. As I finished I found myself scouring the internet fantasizing about my own project car!
January 2, 2010
An enjoyable enough read about one man's observations regarding his past, centered around his disassembly and restoration of a moderately old Porsche 911.
September 11, 2012
Great book with lots of humor and a must before you buy that "fixer" Porsche. Hell even the 993 I have my eye on is a fixer now...
February 1, 2009
My 2nd reading of this fine book. If you are a car guy this book is great.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews