I forgot that I have never shared this car with any of you guys, so here we go.
The builders name is Robert Lindon, he is an engineer (obviously). Long story short, EVERY bolt/washer/rod/bearing/part on this car has been completely replaced with a one off hand made piece (lighter/stronger usually titanium, magnesium, or carbon fiber)...including the suspension, a-arms, trailing arms, gas tang, hood, trunk ,doors, top, EVERYTHING. The amount of work that has gone into this car, is par with what I would see Porsche putting into the carrera GT. Waste of money you say? It wasnt built to break records, he did it for the knoledge. The car now has a better power to weight ratio than the Carrera GT.
Yes---The interior color is hideous, and the exterior color could also be better---but who gives a shiz, this thing is a work of art.
Here is a quote from the OP of of the "compilation thread"
" The America GS 3.8 Hardtop Roadster, is a one of a kind car. It is a cabriolet (manually operated) with a Porsche factory built removable hardtop (with an electric sunroof and a heated rear windscreen). It has a special Porsche factory built roll bar covered in the America GS purple leather and embossed with the Porsche script. As of 2005 the car has approximately 350 miles on it.
Enjoy L4P.
A few interesting info bits (these are take from posts from Robert... so any "I" you see is Robert... not me )
The America GS 3.8 Hardtop Roadster was built a few years after Dr. Porsche's 80th birthday present, the Panamericana. With that extra time, Herr Lagaay (H. Lagaay, retired Chief Stylist of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG) was able to devise a different exterior color, multi-color hand silk-screened primary leather, accent secondary leather, colored seat belts and zipper for the America GS -- which he (and I) thought more than successful than the Panamericana. Hence, while both cars have a type of green on the exterior, they are quite different and the interiors are also quite individual.
With regard to the seats, they were available in several versions of Type 964, are fixed back and, to at least me, are very comfortable while being simultaneously supportive. As to the backs, you are correct -- unlike any of the other versions which were either painted in a color or left black, those of the America GS are completely leather clad (with the racing harness eyelets trimmed in the purple leather). Finally, in this regard, special thanks is due to 3M Corporation which assisted in this effort by sending a 10 gallon drum of a special glue to Porsche AG for use in making the covering of the backs of the seats a permanent affair.
Front Suspension:
- one piece cast titanium uprights with carbon fiber cooling ducts
- ceramic ball wheel bearings
- titanium adjustable ball joints
- carbon fiber a arms
- titanium/aluminum drop links
- titanium/aluminum track rods
- integrated 300M ion impregnated axle/center screws
- titanium centerlock hubs with integrated titanium driving pegs
- 350 mm x 34 mm carbon ceramic brake disks with floating 2618 aluminum bells mounted with titanium bobbin systems with air gaps
- carbon fiber/titanium venturi-effect integrated left and right suspension links, cross-member and under-tray with access door
- titanium fasteners
to this will be attached:
- carbon fiber struts with integrated angle adjustment
- true 4-way adjustable titanium/aluminum dampers with blow off pistons --electron beam welded hard chromed titanium outer shafts and titanium hard chromed inner shafts -- connected by stainless steel braided Raychem covered hoses with machined fittings with –4 titanium quick disconnects to reservoirs with integral adjusters
- aluminum integrated front spring caps/spacer sleeves/nut sleeves
- beta c titanium main and helper springs with ultra high molecular weight plastic transition pieces
- aluminum 4-way spring rate adjusters with integrated titanium locking mechanism
- aluminum lithium monobloc 8 titanium piston calipers with air gaps, two pads per side, quick release pad pins, titanium quick disconnects in place of bleed screws and titanium quick disconnects in the lightweight stainless steel braided Raychem covered hoses with machined titanium fittings between the calipers and the chassis hard lines
- 4130 zinc passivate coated anti roll bar with 5-way adjustable 4130 machined ends with Orkot® bushings, titanium bushing stops, titanium mounting brackets and titanium fasteners
- titanium/steel center lock nuts
- one-piece forged magnesium center lock wheels with titanium pressure shims
Engine:
1. Blueprinted And Dynamometer Tested
2. America GS Engine Management System Programmed For Use With America GS Tiptronic® Transmission
3. America GS High Flow Hot Wire Induction System
4. Reduced Weight Cam Deck
5. America GS Drilled Camshafts
6. Reduced Weight Adjustable Rocker Arms
7. America GS Cylinder Heads With Copper/Beryllium Valve Seats
8. America GS Cylinders
9. America GS Lightweight Pistons
10. America GS Metal Matrix Composite Wrist Pins
11. America GS Titanium Connecting Rods
12. America GS Aluminum Gears
13. America GS Aluminum Sprockets
14. America GS Titanium Intake Valves
15. America GS Titanium Exhaust Valves
16. Uprated High Pressure Fuel Pump
17. Uprated Fuel Rail
18. Adjustable Fuel Pressure Regulator
19. America GS Engine Oil System
a. America GS Carbon Fiber/Titanium/Aluminum Engine Oil Tank With Uprated Anti-Aeration Cone
b. Increased Pressure And Scavenge Engine Oil Pump
c. America GS Aluminum High Efficiency Triple Engine Oil Cooler System
d. America GS Aluminum Engine Oil Cooler Distribution Manifold
e. America GS Aluminum Engine Oil Lines With Machined Aluminum Fittings
f. America GS Machined Aluminum Engine Oil Line Fitting
g. America GS Machined Aluminum Oil Filter Console Fittings
h. America GS Machined Aluminum Thermostat Fittings
i. Goodridge G-Line XF Engine Oil Hoses With Goodridge Machined Aluminum AN Fittings
20. Uprated Gaskets
21. America GS Increased Flow Air Filter Box With Induction Snorkel And Increased Air Flow Lid
22. BMC America GS Increased Flow Air Filter
23. Plastic Valve Covers
24. Crankshaft, Flywheel, Pressure Plate, Connecting Rods, Connecting Rod Ends And Pistons Balanced
25. Engine Cleaned, Ported And Polished
26. Engine Case Windage Adjusted
27. Engine Case Dovetailed
28. Goodridge G-Line XF Fuel Hoses With Goodridge Machined Aluminum AN Fittings
29. America GS Lightweight Alternator With Titanium Shaft
30. America GS Titanium Pulleys
31. America GS Titanium Cam Deck Fasteners
32. America GS Titanium Chain Housing Covers Fasteners
33. America GS Titanium Fasteners
34. America GS Titanium Washers
35. America GS Titanium Engine Casing Studs
36. America GS Titanium Engine Exhaust Studs
37. America GS Titanium Engine Support Mounting Studs
38. Silver Plated Jet Nuts
39. America GS Carbon Fiber/Aluminum Engine Support/Engine Shroud/Air Conditioning Compressor Mounting Platform
40. America GS Titanium Air Conditioning Compressor Support Bracket And Fasteners
41. America GS Carbon Fiber/Titanium Engine Mounting
42. America GS Carbon Fiber/Titanium Solid Engine Mounts
43. America GS Titanium Engine Mounting Fasteners
44. Castrol RS Synthetic 10W60 Racing Engine Oil
Transmission:
1. Tiptronic® Transmission – Blueprinted, Polished, Reinforced And Dynamometer Tested Race Version
2. High Performance Software For Tiptronic® Transmission Including:
a. Specially Programmed For Use With 3.8 Liter Engine
b. Permits Driver To Hold Transmission In Gear In "Tip" Mode – Transmission Will Not Override Driver
c. Higher Performance In Automatic Mode
d. Transmission "Learning" More Rapid In Automatic Mode
3. Torque Sensing Differential Mounted To Ring Gear With Specifically Made Stainless Steel Bolts
4. Carbon Fiber/Titanium Side Transmission/Differential Housing
5. Wire Electro-Discharge Machined 300M Transmission Output Flanges
6. Lightweight Flywheel
7. Titanium Transmission Linkage Brackets
8. Aluminum High Efficiency, Lightweight Transmission Oil Cooler
9. Goodridge G-Line XF –8 Hoses With Machined Aluminum AN Fittings From Transmission To Transmission Oil Cooler
10. 8 Aluminum Quick Disconnects Between Transmission And Transmission Oil Cooler
11. Titanium Transmission Fluid Fill Plug
12. Carbon Fiber Transmission Fluid Pan Including:
a. Titanium Banjo Level Indicator Fitting
b. Titanium Drain Plug
c. Aluminum Fasteners
13. Titanium Transmission Fasteners Throughout
14. Titanium Transmission Mounting Fasteners
15. Titanium Differential Fluid Fill Plug
16. Magnetized Aluminum Differential Fluid Drain Plug
But as this was being done, the assembled group had three more "simple ideas" -- which, together, will save over a 500 grams of weight:
1. Replace the black steel mounting arms with titanium equivalents.
2. Modify the carrier so as to reduce weight.
3. Remake the mounting bracket to reduce its size and the size of the Delrin® mount.
The builders name is Robert Lindon, he is an engineer (obviously). Long story short, EVERY bolt/washer/rod/bearing/part on this car has been completely replaced with a one off hand made piece (lighter/stronger usually titanium, magnesium, or carbon fiber)...including the suspension, a-arms, trailing arms, gas tang, hood, trunk ,doors, top, EVERYTHING. The amount of work that has gone into this car, is par with what I would see Porsche putting into the carrera GT. Waste of money you say? It wasnt built to break records, he did it for the knoledge. The car now has a better power to weight ratio than the Carrera GT.
Yes---The interior color is hideous, and the exterior color could also be better---but who gives a shiz, this thing is a work of art.
Here is a quote from the OP of of the "compilation thread"
" The America GS 3.8 Hardtop Roadster, is a one of a kind car. It is a cabriolet (manually operated) with a Porsche factory built removable hardtop (with an electric sunroof and a heated rear windscreen). It has a special Porsche factory built roll bar covered in the America GS purple leather and embossed with the Porsche script. As of 2005 the car has approximately 350 miles on it.
Enjoy L4P.
A few interesting info bits (these are take from posts from Robert... so any "I" you see is Robert... not me )
The America GS 3.8 Hardtop Roadster was built a few years after Dr. Porsche's 80th birthday present, the Panamericana. With that extra time, Herr Lagaay (H. Lagaay, retired Chief Stylist of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG) was able to devise a different exterior color, multi-color hand silk-screened primary leather, accent secondary leather, colored seat belts and zipper for the America GS -- which he (and I) thought more than successful than the Panamericana. Hence, while both cars have a type of green on the exterior, they are quite different and the interiors are also quite individual.
With regard to the seats, they were available in several versions of Type 964, are fixed back and, to at least me, are very comfortable while being simultaneously supportive. As to the backs, you are correct -- unlike any of the other versions which were either painted in a color or left black, those of the America GS are completely leather clad (with the racing harness eyelets trimmed in the purple leather). Finally, in this regard, special thanks is due to 3M Corporation which assisted in this effort by sending a 10 gallon drum of a special glue to Porsche AG for use in making the covering of the backs of the seats a permanent affair.
Front Suspension:
- one piece cast titanium uprights with carbon fiber cooling ducts
- ceramic ball wheel bearings
- titanium adjustable ball joints
- carbon fiber a arms
- titanium/aluminum drop links
- titanium/aluminum track rods
- integrated 300M ion impregnated axle/center screws
- titanium centerlock hubs with integrated titanium driving pegs
- 350 mm x 34 mm carbon ceramic brake disks with floating 2618 aluminum bells mounted with titanium bobbin systems with air gaps
- carbon fiber/titanium venturi-effect integrated left and right suspension links, cross-member and under-tray with access door
- titanium fasteners
to this will be attached:
- carbon fiber struts with integrated angle adjustment
- true 4-way adjustable titanium/aluminum dampers with blow off pistons --electron beam welded hard chromed titanium outer shafts and titanium hard chromed inner shafts -- connected by stainless steel braided Raychem covered hoses with machined fittings with –4 titanium quick disconnects to reservoirs with integral adjusters
- aluminum integrated front spring caps/spacer sleeves/nut sleeves
- beta c titanium main and helper springs with ultra high molecular weight plastic transition pieces
- aluminum 4-way spring rate adjusters with integrated titanium locking mechanism
- aluminum lithium monobloc 8 titanium piston calipers with air gaps, two pads per side, quick release pad pins, titanium quick disconnects in place of bleed screws and titanium quick disconnects in the lightweight stainless steel braided Raychem covered hoses with machined titanium fittings between the calipers and the chassis hard lines
- 4130 zinc passivate coated anti roll bar with 5-way adjustable 4130 machined ends with Orkot® bushings, titanium bushing stops, titanium mounting brackets and titanium fasteners
- titanium/steel center lock nuts
- one-piece forged magnesium center lock wheels with titanium pressure shims
Engine:
1. Blueprinted And Dynamometer Tested
2. America GS Engine Management System Programmed For Use With America GS Tiptronic® Transmission
3. America GS High Flow Hot Wire Induction System
4. Reduced Weight Cam Deck
5. America GS Drilled Camshafts
6. Reduced Weight Adjustable Rocker Arms
7. America GS Cylinder Heads With Copper/Beryllium Valve Seats
8. America GS Cylinders
9. America GS Lightweight Pistons
10. America GS Metal Matrix Composite Wrist Pins
11. America GS Titanium Connecting Rods
12. America GS Aluminum Gears
13. America GS Aluminum Sprockets
14. America GS Titanium Intake Valves
15. America GS Titanium Exhaust Valves
16. Uprated High Pressure Fuel Pump
17. Uprated Fuel Rail
18. Adjustable Fuel Pressure Regulator
19. America GS Engine Oil System
a. America GS Carbon Fiber/Titanium/Aluminum Engine Oil Tank With Uprated Anti-Aeration Cone
b. Increased Pressure And Scavenge Engine Oil Pump
c. America GS Aluminum High Efficiency Triple Engine Oil Cooler System
d. America GS Aluminum Engine Oil Cooler Distribution Manifold
e. America GS Aluminum Engine Oil Lines With Machined Aluminum Fittings
f. America GS Machined Aluminum Engine Oil Line Fitting
g. America GS Machined Aluminum Oil Filter Console Fittings
h. America GS Machined Aluminum Thermostat Fittings
i. Goodridge G-Line XF Engine Oil Hoses With Goodridge Machined Aluminum AN Fittings
20. Uprated Gaskets
21. America GS Increased Flow Air Filter Box With Induction Snorkel And Increased Air Flow Lid
22. BMC America GS Increased Flow Air Filter
23. Plastic Valve Covers
24. Crankshaft, Flywheel, Pressure Plate, Connecting Rods, Connecting Rod Ends And Pistons Balanced
25. Engine Cleaned, Ported And Polished
26. Engine Case Windage Adjusted
27. Engine Case Dovetailed
28. Goodridge G-Line XF Fuel Hoses With Goodridge Machined Aluminum AN Fittings
29. America GS Lightweight Alternator With Titanium Shaft
30. America GS Titanium Pulleys
31. America GS Titanium Cam Deck Fasteners
32. America GS Titanium Chain Housing Covers Fasteners
33. America GS Titanium Fasteners
34. America GS Titanium Washers
35. America GS Titanium Engine Casing Studs
36. America GS Titanium Engine Exhaust Studs
37. America GS Titanium Engine Support Mounting Studs
38. Silver Plated Jet Nuts
39. America GS Carbon Fiber/Aluminum Engine Support/Engine Shroud/Air Conditioning Compressor Mounting Platform
40. America GS Titanium Air Conditioning Compressor Support Bracket And Fasteners
41. America GS Carbon Fiber/Titanium Engine Mounting
42. America GS Carbon Fiber/Titanium Solid Engine Mounts
43. America GS Titanium Engine Mounting Fasteners
44. Castrol RS Synthetic 10W60 Racing Engine Oil
Transmission:
1. Tiptronic® Transmission – Blueprinted, Polished, Reinforced And Dynamometer Tested Race Version
2. High Performance Software For Tiptronic® Transmission Including:
a. Specially Programmed For Use With 3.8 Liter Engine
b. Permits Driver To Hold Transmission In Gear In "Tip" Mode – Transmission Will Not Override Driver
c. Higher Performance In Automatic Mode
d. Transmission "Learning" More Rapid In Automatic Mode
3. Torque Sensing Differential Mounted To Ring Gear With Specifically Made Stainless Steel Bolts
4. Carbon Fiber/Titanium Side Transmission/Differential Housing
5. Wire Electro-Discharge Machined 300M Transmission Output Flanges
6. Lightweight Flywheel
7. Titanium Transmission Linkage Brackets
8. Aluminum High Efficiency, Lightweight Transmission Oil Cooler
9. Goodridge G-Line XF –8 Hoses With Machined Aluminum AN Fittings From Transmission To Transmission Oil Cooler
10. 8 Aluminum Quick Disconnects Between Transmission And Transmission Oil Cooler
11. Titanium Transmission Fluid Fill Plug
12. Carbon Fiber Transmission Fluid Pan Including:
a. Titanium Banjo Level Indicator Fitting
b. Titanium Drain Plug
c. Aluminum Fasteners
13. Titanium Transmission Fasteners Throughout
14. Titanium Transmission Mounting Fasteners
15. Titanium Differential Fluid Fill Plug
16. Magnetized Aluminum Differential Fluid Drain Plug
But as this was being done, the assembled group had three more "simple ideas" -- which, together, will save over a 500 grams of weight:
1. Replace the black steel mounting arms with titanium equivalents.
2. Modify the carrier so as to reduce weight.
3. Remake the mounting bracket to reduce its size and the size of the Delrin® mount.
Very sad. The initial threads are missing the photos or linked to incorrect photos (anything that was uploaded later with the same file name is getting picked up by the threads...)
