1989 Porsche 964 Carrera 2

When walking back from work through Surbiton one evening I walked past a beautiful Porsche 964 Carrera 2. Its nose peaked out of the driveway and I slowly approached it. It was in such an astonishing condition that I couldn’t help myself but to leave a note behind. About a week later, Alan reached out to me and we organised a day for the shooting. Alongside taking the following photos I asked Alan some questions about the car. I would also like to use this opportunity to thank Alan once again for taking me out and letting me shoot his beautiful Porsche, but mainly for welcoming me into his house and talking to me about everything that he does. It is these kind of human relations that are the most valuable about meeting new individuals. 

What model do you drive?

I drive a 1989 Porsche 964 Carrera 2. It’s the 3,6L machine with 6 cylinders. Oil cooled. 

How did you find your 964 and did you have to do any work on it? 

I saw it advertised and recklessly bought it. I then put a new engine in it, and went through clutch and flywheel, so all the mechanics were renewed. 

Do you find it difficult to get replacement parts in the UK? 

New parts are expensive and hard to find. I prefer to use Porsche parts. It works occasionally. To try and keep the interior rather basic, a bit of restitching on the seats is going on at the moment. I also bring it to Porsche Brooklands for one or two weeks each year. It’s a phenomenal place, like a hospital for cars. No oil on the floor. They’ve got a list with all the bits that need reworking so we’ve been working our way through it. 

What are the recent parts that you have worked on? 

I just put a new cabriolet on last year. That wasn’t simple. I didn’t find a Porsche cabriolet because that would’ve been a fortune. So I bought a replica but then had to reengineer the frame, which turned out to be more difficult than expected. 

How regularly would you say do you drive your Porsche? 

I drive it every week, on most days. It’s a car I love. I do garage it for some of the winter months. I also very select where I drive it. Motoring in the traffic is not very enjoyable. If I go to London I take the train. 

What would you say is your favourite detail about the car?

I think it’s the engine really. Just the noise of it when you fire it off. But I don’t really race it. When I’m on the motorway I do take it up to high speeds but we’re not on the Autobahn. It’s simply great to drive. A wonderful car! The body design is superb.