In a case of Manifest Destiny, the voracity of which was generally reserved for American colonial settlers, a Montreal-based Canadian racing internet forum has apparently claimed a stricken Porsche 924 as their own after a member found it languishing in the wilderness. Without questioning who the car belonged too, whose land it was on, or what the legal ramifications of towing the car out of the underbrush without permission might be, the members of the forum thought it a good idea to plan out a kickstarter campaign to restore the car and turn it into a community track rat.
The would-be claims maker of the bunch, known as ‘ThePapi’, who stumbled upon the car had this to say of his find:
Not sure if 944 or 924.
At some point in the 80’s, someone bought this car new and was real proud of it. Now it’s sitting amidst a field of poison ivy and is being progressively filled with branches and leaves brought in by the tide through the broken rear window. It’s sitting in the ground but still seems quite solid, the door opens and closes perfectly. Couldn’t figure out how to open the hood and didn’t want to spend too much time in shorts and a t-shirt rolling around in poison ivy but if I ever get back there (very likely), I will try to get better pics.
Some forum contributors said that the Porsche could be stolen, and that it should be left alone. Others stated that the car deserved a viking-style funeral pyre (“If the wheels are magnesium light them up and enjoy the show“). ‘ThePapi’ later said of the Kickstarter idea “Well if some guy raised 50k for a salad it’s worth a try…“, further proving that some of the members of this forum view Kickstarter as a source of free money.
There was later a short argument about which of the contributors to the project would be responsible for it, and which among them would be endowed the right to drive it most often and why. The talking heads prevailed and suggested that the car be registered to the forum’s business entity, and the owner of the forum “can use the $$ from the pop-up ads on the photos to pay for reg. and insurance.” Brilliant, that solves all the problems, right?
In The End, I Really Hope That None Of This Comes To Fruition
Firstly, because these gents are in over their respective heads, and have no idea what a financial burden the restoration of this 924 can be. Secondly, because this is an all around terrible idea. Perhaps the best course of action here is to just let the old ’24 rest in peace in its wooded grove. Assuming their poorly planned Kickstarter does go live, please, whatever you do, don’t give them any of your hard-earned money for this harebrained scheme.
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View Comments (5)
Certainly these folks with a little effort can find out who the property owner is. If someone came on my property and removed a vehicle (remember what happens to horse thieves) they'd be in a world of hurt.
Besides, good luck with finding a rear glass for that buzzard.
If they remove that vehicle without the land owner's (and car owner's) permission, here in Alabama, they would be charged with larceny...on the other hand if the landowner didn't own the car, didn't know where it came from and let them have it (with no title present), and if after running the VIN at the DMV to get a title, the car was found to have been stolen, and you are in possession of it, then it's grand theft auto.
No Porsche deserves to die like that. They should try to find the land owner and establish whether the car is available. Of on public land, maybe take the VIN and talk to the police about it.
If nothing else, there must be a few valuable parts left on it that can get other cars back on the road, and they can haul it away and clean up the forest.
Not worth the effort to pull it out of the woods. You can buy one of these cars is good running condition for under $3,000. This car is $30,000 away from being a $3,000 car. Guaranteed the underside is a rust pit...any time a car sits on dirt it is murder on the bits under there which are seeing all that moisture from the earth.
There is a reason that pretty much EVERY Insurance Company in the country will deem a 924 or 944 a total loss if the rear window is broken. They cost more to replace than the car could ever be worth. And that's JUST the window. Then there is rust repair, the upholstery, the engine.....So the logic of restoring this particular car is lost on me.....