Whilst it hasn’t always been Porsches in Mike Calvert’s world, it’s safe to say that it’s mainly been cars from Stuttgart. Starting with a 924 in the ’80s he’s had the full gamut including a Carrera 3.2, 964 and even a 928. Today he owns a 924 Carrera GT replica and a wild TechArt 996 Turbo.
There followed an MGB, Triumph GT6 and a Reliant Scimitar GTE. A limited edition TVR 3000M ‘Martin Lilley’ proved quick and wild and interesting. And his first two company cars were Ford Sierra RS Cosworths, of the ‘winged wonder’ variety. Mike wishes he’d kept his original Audi Quattro, and he worked his way through three generations of VW Golf GTI as well as a VR6 model. While living and working in the US he was the proud owner of a Chevrolet Corvette C5, a Jaguar XKR convertible and a supercharged modern VW Beetle; his fleet over the years has also included an Audi TT, Mercedes-Benz SLK and a Citroën DS. His current everyday ride is a V8-engined and all-wheel-drive Audi S4. As you can see, Mike likes his cars – at the end of the 1970s and into the early ’80s, he even helped run a Formula 2 team.
And then there are the Porsches. Lots of Porsches. ‘I bought my first Porsche, a secondhand 924, registration JEO 924X, from Parker & Parker in 1985,’ Mike recalls. ‘It was a great car to drive and on the strength of that I soon signed up to Porsche Club GB – I’ve been a member ever since. While I was in the States I also joined Porsche Club America, and I remain a member of that, too.
This story is from the October 2017 edition of 911 & Porsche World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 2017 edition of 911 & Porsche World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Porsches? I've Had A Few
Whilst it hasn’t always been Porsches in Mike Calvert’s world, it’s safe to say that it’s mainly been cars from Stuttgart. Starting with a 924 in the ’80s he’s had the full gamut including a Carrera 3.2, 964 and even a 928. Today he owns a 924 Carrera GT replica and a wild TechArt 996 Turbo.
The Usual Suspects
The times they are certainly a-changing. Bennett ponders Porsche’s move from the World Endurance Championship to Formula E, and why by 2040 we’ll be enjoying our fossil fuel-powered machines recreationally, plus front-engined Porsches on the up.
Turning Air Into Water: 20 -Years Of The 996
The 996 generation 911 is 20-years old this year. Maligned by many, it’s time to acknowledge the 996 for its place in the 911 pantheon. The 996 is Porsche’s line in the sand, which separates the old school, classic aircooled 911 with the modernist water-cooled generation – a move that Porsche had to make or cease to be. In order to appreciate the giant-step involved in making that transition, it’s worth looking back, so we’ve drafted in the last of the air-cooled 911s in the shape of the 993. This is how Porsche turned air into water and created the first modern 911 and rebooted the 911 concept into the new millennium.
Old Dog, New Tricks
Le Mans winner Richard Attwood never really stopped racing, while his current mount, a 39-year-old 928 S, never saw a circuit – till now. We watch the ace in action at Croft.
Stuck, In The Middle
The 928 is a trans-continental express, and we cement its reputation by driving 928 miles from Silverstone to the Nürburgring and back in a 928 GT. There’s a bonus ball: Hans Stuck gets reunited with his 928 CS, too.
Finally Some Good News...
Yes, it’s good news from our man Laird and the Cayman. The suspension is working well with new springs and the blowing exhaust headers have been welded rather than replaced. Finally he’s happy... For now!
Talking Italian
Racer, road tester, instructor and scribe, Roberto Giordanelli has handled many exotic machines over the years. His current inventory includes a rare Porsche 968 Sport, and he also has a stake in an even scarcer 968 Turbo RS race car.
Market Watch
Despite the hype surrounding it, the hybrid 918 Spyder did not sell like hot cakes when it went on sale in late 2013, a hypercar insider tells us. But that was before people realised that ‘you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone’.
Dealer Talk:Nine Excellence
A passion for Porsches drew Ken Napier in from the IT world six years ago, and after initially offering workshop services, his Surrey-based operation recently began selling Porsches as well
Art Of Class
Successfully fitting a brand-new windscreen to your Porsche – in this case a 993-model 911 Carrera – is hardly a DIY task but, even so, it is invaluable to know how it ought to be done, if only so that you can be sure your car will not subsequently suffer the consequences.