What has worked and what didn't work in your Concours efforts? 

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From: Joseph Armstrong;  ; G'day Rick, Just got back from the Australian Porsche 50th celebration tour. Yesterday's parade, there were 850 privately owned Porsches in total, & from the pre '73  911/912, three 912s' came gold & silver. Mine was the silver. Attached is one of the pictures taken on the Australian Porsche 50th celebrations. As I mentioned earlier, the 912s' won gold & silver placing. My car is the one on the right (the only one w/ fog lights). It just shows you that you don't need a 6 cylinder to be a winner.  Later mate !  Regards, Joseph Armstrong

From: Victor Oliver;  ; Dear Rick: Thank you for posting my Concours comments. As past Concours Chair for the North Country Region, I had a complete set of instruction which I gave out to newcomers. However, thought I would pass a few to your
posting.

I own a 1988 924S which I have entered in numerous Concours. To date the car has been driven 12,000 miles - mostly to competitions. I am actively looking for a 912 which is how I came across the 912 website and the Question of the Month.

From: Vic Oliver; ; From V. Oliver, Sandwich. MA:
As a serious Concours competitor who has won 1st place and Best of Show on the regional, Zone and Parade level I offer the following comments:

Give yourself twoweeks to get the car ready for a show. Begin with engine, then interior and finally the exterior - don't forget the tool kit.  Carry your supplies in large rubbermaid storage boxes.  Chemicals and wash buckets in one Towels, rags and paper toewling in another.  Plastics bags for storing mats, seat covers and misc, go in the tqwel box.  Develop a check list for the day of the show:
Empty car and stow mats
Wipe down engine.
Mist spray wheels ans wipe down
Clean pop up lights and front plate of bugs.
etc. etc.with mask taping interior last.
Once the car interior glass is polished with a soft rag and the interior is taped, close up the car and STOP WORKING
SIT DOWN on the lawn chair you bought along and wait for the judges.
Occasionaly, dust off the groves of the car with wide soft paint brush (masking tape covering the metal part) of tree particles or air bourne dust.
DO NOT keep going over the car.
RELAX in your chair and enjoy the day.
Most importantly, don't take what the judges say personally. It's all a game.
Vic Oliver

From: Mike Kieley; ; I bought my '68 coupe just this spring - it had won first in its class at the PCA 10 years ago, and I decided to try for it again. I needed to replace some worn trim bits, and I was lucky enough to pick up a good parts car. I replaced worn or cracked signal light assemblies, front and rear, and little stuff like broken seat control knobs. The rest was just hours of work cleaning everything, pulling up all the rugs and trunk mat and painting underneath. The engine was already clean, but it's amazing what you can do with a well-aimed toothbrush! (I won't repeat my wife's snide comments on this effort!) Fortunately, my paint was excellent - I got a big surprise when I went to touch up the stone chips, as the can of original paint was of course much darker than my faded exterior!
Anyway, June 14 was our local PCA concours day. I was very disappointed with the judging format, particularly that there was no allowance for originality. I was the only car in my class that is completely original - the others were mostly modified 911's with new leather interiors, etc.etc.
I still came first in my class - pre-1974 911/912.
I entered a larger show the following week - 400 cars of all types. I was in the tiny class "Imports, 1890-1978" !! I came in second to a 1933 Fiat. This show had 5 judges cover each car. Here I learned DON'T forget to clean the underside of the car. I also swear by the tire blackening sprays - they make the alloy Fuchs stand out nicely against the rubber.
Mike Kieley

From: Jeanette Ahlgren; ; Concours... AKA "better life through chemicals"... and how to blow (at least) three months of one's life sweating the small stuff.
First: Don't tell anyone what you're working on. I don't care how close knit your family is, there is nothing that will scare them more than your detailed account of cad plating engine hardware.
Second: Remember it IS a car... and (hopefully) you bought it to drive. Tack that note up close to the phone so it's there to guide you when you just HAVE to order the OEM full leather interior kit.
Third: Get as many books and info for your particular model and year. Decide BEFORE you start whether the quest for authenticity is worth the grief of hunting down rare '68 interior parts or reverting to perlon carpeting and rubber floor mats.
Fourth: Know that when you ARE done, you will have a much greater appreciation for the remarkable 912 build quality, and maybe even the secret knowledge of a perfect headliner installation.
...The last will probably only get you odd looks, so don't use it as an icebreaker.
Jeanette Ahlgren

New! 912 Registry Members can share technical information, add technical information, and access quality, up to date technical information on our 912 Wiki.