“Where horsepower meets conversation”
By Tim, Paul, Dave and Casey · December 4, 2025
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Welcome back, FTT family.
Today’s episode is a buffet of restomod steals, wild automotive news, and the This-or-That twist where we pulled REAL auction results that were actually UNDER market.
Let’s get into it…
🚗 What We Did in Cars This Week
Tim: Thanksgiving-morning therapy in the Ferrari 296 (zero cars on the road!). Hit every high-end Puerto Rican dealership because… why not? Also: we ordered a Beachman.
Paul: Rowed gears to Good Vibes Breakfast Club and started prep for the F.A.T. Mankei Ice Race in Big Sky, MT.
Casey: Helped a client pick a 997 Turbo instead of the GTS he wanted—same money, better car. Shot principal photos of an ’87 Carrera and checked out a Tuthill build.
David: Nearly finished the ’85 M491 Targa (he might keep it!). Porsches & Pints was rained out—FTT sponsors it monthly.
AUTOMOTIVE NEWS
1. Amazon Is Now Selling Fords
Ford’s certified pre-owned cars are now live on Amazon. (Yes, really.)
📌 Ford article: https://www.fromtheroad.ford.com/us/en/articles/2025/certified-pre-owned-ford-vehicles-amazon-autos
📌 Amazon Autos: https://www.amazon.com/b?node=10677469011
2. FBI Seizes a $13M Mercedes CLK-GTR Roadster
Canadian Olympian turned drug lord Ryan Wedding had his 1 of 6 CLK-GTR Roadster seized.
Debate: crush it to send a message… or auction it to fund the manhunt?
Operation code name? Giant Slalom. Yes, really.
3. The 996 Headlights Return
Simas Design Studio grafted 996 headlights onto a modern 911… and it somehow works.
Link: https://www.carscoops.com/2025/11/porsches-most-mocked-design-scrambles-onto-a-new-911-and-somehow-it-works/
Pop Quiz: Which supercar is worth MORE without its optional racing stripes?
Plain Jane > Kim Kardashian spec.
What do you think?
🛠️ Restomods for Less Than $500K (and Even $250K)
Tim’s Pick:
The incredible Kamm 912c ($460K) — featherweight perfection.
https://www.roadandtrack.com/reviews/a65898746/kamm-912c-is-as-light-as-a-porsche-can-be/
Paul’s Picks:
When you leave the “famous builder” herd, you find deals:
1973 Porsche 914 GT Tribute — listed at $90K, RNM at $40K. Should trade around $65K.
1973 Porsche 911 T/RS Tribute (Rothsport) — RNM at $203K, 3.8L Motec Gamroth engine.
1990 Mercedes 300E w/ Toyota Supra 2JZ & 6-speed — hammered at $31K. 400rwhp sleeper.
Casey’s Picks:
2016 Boxster Spyder — the hero spec for ~$140K.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2016-porsche-boxster-spyder-43/1995 BMW M3 Lightweight clone w/ race motor
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1995-bmw-m3-319/His real pick: a factory-GT-spec 914 with a monster motor.
David’s Picks:
1975 Porsche 914-6 Tribute in Gulf Livery — local build, great bones, $65K
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1975-porsche-914-108/1991 964 GS Manufaktur Restomod — $400–$500K
https://www.elferspot.com/en/car/porsche-911-backdate-1992-2656946/
Pop Quiz #2: What do we think of the Smart Crossblade?
https://carsandbids.com/auctions/9Q5ZXmQE/2003-smart-crossblade
https://www.classic.com/m/smart/crossblade/
What’s your verdict?
🎯 This or That — UNDERVALUED EDITION
Tim’s Picks:
1994 Porsche 964 Speedster — poor presentation → $125K sale (avg $180K).
https://carsandbids.com/auctions/36GbMxOn/1994-porsche-911-speedsterRUF Turbo R — $500K vs $1M+ Singer. Which is the real baller buy?
https://www.ryanfriedmanmotorcars.com/1997-porsche-911-ruf-turbo-r-c-2664/Electric 912 project for $60K. Build costs… questionable.
Paul’s Picks:
2012 997.2 GTS Cab 6-speed — $83K. Hurt by bad photos + old anchor price.
1989 930 Turbo Cabriolet 5-speed — $110K. Should’ve been $150K+.
Casey’s Picks:
$11K VW Passat time-capsule
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1995-volkswagen-passat-2/2009 911 Carrera Coupe that sold too cheap
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2009-porsche-911-carrera-coupe-24/
David’s Picks:
1974 911 Coupe — needed stance + wheels → sold at $84K
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1974-porsche-911-coupe-38/1994 Porsche 928 GTS in Midnight Blue Metallic — SOLD for $45K!!!
https://www.pcarmarket.com/auction/1994-porsche-928-gts-6/
📬 Got a Cool Auction Find? A Weird Build? A Car Question?
Email or DM us. We read everything, and some of our favorite segments come from viewers.
– Tim, Paul, Casey & Dave
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FROM OUR COMMUNITY
🎬 Reader Spotlight: A Lifetime With Air-Cooled 911s
By Dave Yerzley · December 4, 2025
If you’ve ever imagined the perfect two-car air-cooled garage, here’s a story from someone who’s lived with 911s for more than half a century — and learned exactly what matters (and what doesn’t) along the way.
Not too long ago, we were trying to manage six cars with only a three-car garage. Anyone who has ever played “air-cooled Tetris” knows that’s not sustainable forever, especially when the fleet includes multiple long-hood 911s.
Over the years our lineup included:
A 1972 911T (bought new)
A 1971 911E, originally an R-Gruppe car that we purchased years later as a track toy
A 993 (also bought new)
A Boxster
And a couple of other air-cooled cars that came and went
The ’71E deserves special mention.
The previous owner — an R-Gruppe guy I actually ran into recently at Chuck Miller’s memorial service — had built something truly special. The car carried an Andial-built short-stroke 2.5L MFI engine, a proper vintage hot-rod spec that made it an absolute joy on track.
We had a lot of fun with that car and honestly still wish we had it. But as our usage dropped and storage constraints became more real, it eventually made sense to let it go.
Today, practicality has brought us down to three 911s:
1973 911T Coupe (CIS)
1973 911S Coupe
991 Carrera, which replaced our beloved 993 after it was totaled by an SUV while stopped at a light. The 993 was my wife’s car; the 991 is now her daily.
After 55 years behind the wheel of 911s, I can say without hesitation:
the long-nose cars are still my favorites.
And with the two ’73s in the garage, the current setup feels just about perfect.
Which Car Do We Drive to Grandma’s?
Honestly? Either one.
The 1973 911T is the daily workhorse of the household. It’s used 99% of the time for just about everything:
Grocery runs
Hardware store missions
Errands
Local drives
Weekend outings
It’s a realistic, usable, honest 911 — exactly what Porsche intended.
A few smart upgrades make it even more livable:
Elephant Racing front oil-cooler kit
Griffiths four-condenser A/C system with rotary compressor
The heater is still classic air-cooled “mostly symbolic,” but in Southern California that’s just fine. And thanks to the upgrades, it's perfectly comfortable in real heat, too.
Come November?
Either ’73 handles family visits, holiday baking, and luggage without complaint. We’ve never lost a pie yet.
20 Years With the Two ’73s
We’ve owned both the 911T and 911S for roughly two decades. They’re maintained strictly by the book, and in all that time we’ve had very few mechanical issues. Both cars have served for:
Road trips
Around-town use
Weekend drives
Occasional longer hauls
The only real limitation is insurance:
The 911S is on a collector policy with mileage restrictions.
The 911T is on standard Auto Club insurance, so it gets the vast majority of the miles.
After 55 Years of 911 Ownership…
Here’s the truth I’ve come to appreciate:
Two well-sorted long-nose 911s in a three-car garage beat six air-cooled cars you don’t truly have the space — or the time — to enjoy properly.
These cars aren’t display pieces.
They’re driven, maintained, and appreciated as the machines Porsche intended them to be:
purposeful, durable, and happiest when used.
— Dave Yerzley
Disclaimer: Reprinted with permission from ESSES, the quarterly publication of the Early 911S Registry, www.early911sregistry.org
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