Boyhood Dream
Long ago, when animals still talked and I was young, I, like every young man, admired beautiful car “s. In the ’70s and ’80s, those were the icons for me: the Jaguar E-Type, the Lamborghini Countach, Ferrari” s… but also more accessible sports cars like the Triumphs, certain models of Alfa Romeo, and of course the Mercedes SL. Every manufacturer had a sporty car that seemed almost affordable for ordinary people. And then there were the Porsches, perhaps even more of a status symbol back then than today.
Playboy
I also remember occasionally buying a Playboy. Not for the pictures, but for the articles, of course. (And okay, sometimes for the beautiful cars featured in it.) One day, there was a special insert in the middle: a Porsche brochure, printed on different paper. Dark red, sleek design, purely dedicated to Porsche models. I kept that brochure for years because one model made an impression.
Frog Eyes
For purists, the Porsche 928 is not a real Porsche because many design elements do not align with the Porsche philosophy. But a 911, for me, lost its appeal over time. No, it was the 928 with its distinctive ‘frog eyes’ that I always dreamed of. I believe there was a price listed at the time of three million Belgian francs, equivalent to about 75,000 euros (without inflation adjustment). A huge amount back then, just as today’s super sports cars are completely out of reach.
Years passed, life went on, but the dream of a Porsche 928 lingered. Until I started looking into what a second-hand 928 would cost. The prices were actually reasonable, but it quickly became clear that maintenance was very expensive. A visit to a Porsche garage confirmed my fear: this was not a car to buy second-hand without risks.
Chance of a Lifetime
Until I met Peter. Great guy and almost family. A true Porsche expert, mechanic, passionate. And he had – yes – a 928 for sale, at a price that really appealed to me. Moreover, I could rely on him for maintenance. So it happened: I bought my own Porsche 928, white in color (see photo below). “A boyhood dream comes true”.
Embarrassing
I had it for a few years. And of course, there are anecdotes. Like the time I went to a “drive-in cinema” with my eldest daughter. She wasn’t a fan of the car at all, she was even a bit embarrassed by it. But anyway, we were sitting in the car, watching the movie, and suddenly the alarm went off. Not once, but twice. I never really understood the alarm system, and apparently, it went off if you stayed in the car without properly disabling it. Very embarrassing. And to make matters worse, the battery was dead by the end of the movie. Tow service involved, shame all around.
A second memory: the Porsche had a V8 engine, and when you pressed the gas, you could feel the whole chassis slightly tremble – pure power. I was proud of it. One day, a friend asked if he could take a ride, of course. Only… he drove with his right foot on the gas pedal “and his left foot on the brake”. It made me nervous. You don’t do that with an automatic, do you? Maybe race drivers, but he wasn’t a race driver. I was relieved when we got out.
Z4 Wrangler
At one point, I sold the Porsche. My next sports car was a BMW Z4 Coupé. I saw it in the showroom and was immediately sold. What a line, what a style! I found (and still find) it one of the most beautiful affordable sports cars.
But unfortunately: after a while, I developed back problems. Tried everything with the seat, to no avail. Eventually, I bought a Jeep Wrangler as well. So I had two fantastic cars, depending on the occasion I would take one or the other. Two iconic cars, both driven with great pleasure.
Until the Belgian Di Rupo government decided to heavily tax cars based on power and original purchase price, even retroactively. Unforeseen cost. The only logical option: sell them. With a heavy heart, I let them go.
Mini Years (with Character)
Since then, I’ve been a Mini driver. From model so-and-so to now my current Mini Paceman. Bright red as always. My motto: if you don’t immediately recognize your car in a parking lot, you’ve chosen the wrong one. My car must stand out – by color, or by character.
And one thing my wife already knows: if anything ever happens to my Mini… then there will be another Jeep Wrangler.
Here are some links to the sports cars from that time:
- https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datsun_280Z
- https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_928
- https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumph_TR7
- https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumph_Spitfire
- https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_944
- https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa_Romeo_Spider
- https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corvette_(automerk)
- https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_E-Type
- https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aston_Martin_Lagonda
- https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Esprit
As you can see in the gallery below, I also had a Mercedes 280 SL. But that’s a story in itself. Maybe someday.
