When I first saw the Little Blue Porsche I had test driven a different 911 from Panorama Bay Motors. This one, though, was not a convertible and not very exciting - but the Little Blue one was exciting but much more expensive. Gary said the case was not if I could afford the car but if I could afford the cost of the repayments. Having worked out finances it still seemed a lot but Honor persuaded me that I should buy her.
Thus it was that life with her began. Although I had been advised that this was a rare car I had not realised that she was so rare - and, indeed, she was nothing like as sought after as she would later become so I used her, like my previous 911, as an every day car. I had no garage for her so she stayed out in all weathers and was used on a daily basis on my rounds and visits from surgery.
She was originally serviced in Blandford where my previous 911 had been looked after. Then an independent Porsche Specialist garage opened in Christchurch - Jon Mitchell's Garage - and she was then looked after there. Later they moved away to North Dorset and I saw the Silvertune Porsche van in Rossiter's Marina where Eddie also kept his boat. I transferred my allegiance to him and never regretted it.
Despite the small luggage space we frequently took her on holiday at home and abroad and stuffed whatever we could in the limited boot and space behind the seats. The boxer dogs of the day would also sometimes accompany us cramped under the nearside dashboard with Honor's feet up on the dashboard!
When leaving her in Bournemouth Railway Station car park one day (something I would never do now!) I backed into a concrete dog leg of a wall which I could not see from the driver's side causing a crack in the back bumper - the only knock I understand she has ever had. I was going to have this repaired when, a few weeks later driving to surgery, someome ran into the back of me - not very hard, but sufficient to crack the bumper a little more. He admitted full liability and so the bumper was replaced at no cost to me (£3000!) and I was supplied with a delivery mileage M3 BMW convertible to replace her while being repaired!
I was horrified at first that the huge tyres only lasted about 5,000 miles before they needed replacing as the compound was so soft. I was erassured that I was doing well and obviously driving her carefully as they usually only lasted 3-4000 miles! It was when the front shock absorbers needed rplacing and I was told that Porsche had none and would be making some more in 6-9 months time that I decided to replace the suspension with adjustable KW Variant 1 sports suspension. This at least stopped the 'bottoming' problem - particularly of the Techart front spoiler.
My research of the car and collection of me memorabilia really started in 2020. The history and collection is still being added to and I hope, one day, to finally get in contact with the illusive Mr Mitchi Jinno.
Travels in Normandy 6th July 2001
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