A Horse-race to remember...

Hyperno Wins the '79 Melbourne Cup

Yes, that famous horse race was 40-years ago this year, I remember that as clear as if it were just yesterday for a very special reason. That year and that race in 1979, sticks firmly in my memory bank because that was the year and the day, 40-years ago, that I purchased my 1977 Porsche 2.7 Coupe in Melbourne, Victoria.

Way back then I was only a young man, I had joined Qantas Airways 5-years earlier, employed as an International Trolly-Dolly, & the world was my oyster.

My friend Anthony Clarke (best man at my wedding) called me up one afternoon in early November of 1979 to tell me about his friend in Victoria who was selling his 2-year-old 1977 Porsche in order to purchase a Ferrari.

Photo of my 1977 2.7 Porsche Coupe taken on the day of the
2018 Concourse De Elegance at Wanda Beach, Cronulla.

Anthony was well aware that I had a love affair with the 911 Porsches ever since I started my motor mechanic apprenticeship as a 16-year-old kid.

I said to my wife at the time (and I have only had one of them) why don't we fly down to Melbourne & check this vehicle out, while we were at it we could go to the Melbourne Cup at the same time. Of course she agreed, why wouldn't you.

We flew staff travel down to Melbourne, I had pre-arranged to meet up with Anthony's friend (Dr. Robert Cannon who was a dentist). We meet him at his practice in Collins Street, Melbourne. He told us the story that he intended to purchase a Ferrari so he wanted to sell his Porsche. He gave me the keys to his Porsche that was parked in the under ground parking bay of his building. 

He said have a look at it & take it for a spin if you like. My wife & I caught the elevator down to the car park level, as the elevator door opened there right in front of us was this magnificent Yellow 1977 Porsche 2.7 Coupe. I almost passed out, because the colour of this vehicle was my favourite colour (yellow). 

My 1977 2.7 Porsche Coupe taken at the
Parklands Resort & Conference Centre at Mudgee.

Over the previous years of looking at these beasts in brochures & magazines I said to myself, if ever I am lucky enough to own one of these incredible sports cars that is the colour that I would like to have. Of course if you are trying to purchase a 2nd hand Porsche you really have no choice with the colour unless you purchase a new car. That, for me, was totally out of the question because of the price tag.

So far so good. This Porsche was originally sold by Hamilton's Porsche of South Yarra, they were the Porsche Distributors in Melbourne at the time, and it came with an Australian Compliance plate. So far we had ticked all the boxes. Now for the BIG road test. I was absolutely shaking in my boots as I jumped into the driver's seat, turned on the ignition switch & fired up the engine. No other car looks like it, or sounds like it, no other Sports car can match its unique driving dynamics.

Before I had driven out of the underground garage I was SOLD. We drove around the city of Melbourne for quite some time, I was in my element. Once the road test was over I drove the Porsche back to the car park with out bending it. I do not think that the Dr. would have been too impressed if I had bent his vehicle.

So to cut a long story short we negotiated a price & I was now the owner of this 1977 Porsche 2.7 Coupe. I paid for the car, insured the vehicle then drove off to Flemington Race Course to experience the thrill of my 1st Melbourne Cup. What a Day.

My yellow 1977 2.7 Porsche Coupe joins a group of Porsches at
the 2018 Concourse De Elegance at Wanda Beach, Cronulla.

We over-nighted in Melbourne that evening after watching the Melbourne Cup. The following morning we were up at the crack of dawn to commence the long drive home to Sydney via the more scenic coast road. Arrived home safely in the 'SHIRE' with my pride & joy.

It is hard to believe a car that shares its roots with the 1930's VW Beetle and is the most influential sports car of the 20th Century (voted by a panel of 133 car journos from around the world, by the way).

The Porsche 911 is an incredible sports car, no question. Thing is, it should never have worked. This rear-engined Coupe is a Teutonic middle finger to laws of physics because centrifugal force should fling it off the road at every corner.

That's after what happened in the '60s, '70s & '80s when overly ambitious drivers lifted off the throttle mid-corner. But other more talented drivers used the 911's power, light weight & inherent agility to dominate races like the Monte Carlo Rally, Targa Florio & the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

My yellow 1977 2.7 Porsche Coupe joins a group of Porsches at
the 2018 Concourse De Elegance at Wanda Beach, Cronulla.

In 1977 this car's price ranged from $28,160.00 to $33,940.00 - depending of course on what extras you custom ordered with it.  These days, classic 911s can cost ten times more than a brand new 911 Turbo, which is $390K by the way, however not every 911 will cost you a large house. Being such an enthusiast, such vehicles have become motoring legends as well as classics.

Landmark Porsche 911s: Porsche turns 70. Over 7 generations an automotive icon has been forged. No one model of car has ever set so many hearts awash with LUST & ENVY...

Two years ago my pride & joy was looking very tired after 40-years, so l decided to give it a BIG LICK.

I stripped the vehicle down & we then took the paint back to bare metal. The vehicle now looks better than brand new as you can see by the photographs, the original Colour looks sensational. These photographs were taken at the 2018 Porsche's Concourse De Elegance at Wanda Beach, Cronulla in Sydney.

I hope that you have enjoyed the journey of my 1977 Porsche 2.7 Coupe.

Regards for now.

Warbo