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The Gold-Plated Porsche: How I Sank A Small Fortune Into A Used Car, And Other Misadventures
"This isn't a book about Porsche restoration. It's about Wilkinson's colorful life. That, along with elegant writing, is what makes this book so endearing-the tales are told without ego. This is less a tale about a machine than a tale about a man enjoying a machine."-- Car and Driver
Stephan Wilkinson was looking for something to do. So he bought an old, run-down Porsche and over the next two years tore it apart and rebuilt it in a garage behind his house. The project cost him a small fortune, and it started him thinking about many other things.
Quirky, cool, entertaining, and opinionated, The Gold-Plated Porsche captures Wilkinson's inspired digressions on his various other careers and misadventures.
As he recounts his own personal history, Wilkinson also waxes eloquent on the history of Porsche, American engineering and culture, status, and all things mechanical.
Stephan Wilkinson was looking for something to do. So he bought an old, run-down Porsche and over the next two years tore it apart and rebuilt it in a garage behind his house. The project cost him a small fortune, and it started him thinking about many other things.
Quirky, cool, entertaining, and opinionated, The Gold-Plated Porsche captures Wilkinson's inspired digressions on his various other careers and misadventures.
As he recounts his own personal history, Wilkinson also waxes eloquent on the history of Porsche, American engineering and culture, status, and all things mechanical.
213 pages, Paperback
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