Breathing new air
What do you do when a previous love re-enters your life?
There’s truth in the saying “If you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it’s yours.” Just ask New Zealand’s Michael Hapgood, a passionate Porsche driver whose stable of 911 sportscars has included versions of Carrera S, Carrera 4S and GTS, “each one a special character.”
His current drive is a 2021 911 Turbo S, a car he says, “that offers the most complete driving experience yet,” but there is one previous love from his sportscar past that grips his heart. It’s a special car that entered and then re-entered his personal orbit, thanks to chance.
“I had admired the Porsche brand for many years before purchasing a new 1997 Carrera S,” he says, referring to the stunning Vesuvius Grey car in these photos. He bought it new from Giltrap Porsche in Auckland, one of just 60 built in this paint finish and the only example sold in New Zealand.
Porsche aficionados are quick to point out the Type 993’s place in the 911 anthology. Known for its superb driving characteristics and classic styling, Type 993 is widely regarded as the greatest air-cooled 911 and a crowning achievement from the “analogue era” of Porsche.
First-class cabin:
The interior of Michael Hapgood’s 1997 Porsche 911 Carrera S was fully restored.“I purchased the car unaware it was such a rare colour and body combination,” Michael says. “I enjoyed it for three years before selling it back to Giltrap Porsche to take delivery of a later model 911, which was a 2000 Millennium Edition of the new water-cooled Type 996. With hindsight, this might seem an odd decision, but I have always welcomed new Porsche innovations. It was only some years later that I discovered my first Porsche was becoming collectible and had become regarded as the pinnacle of the air-cooled models.”
But it wasn’t collectability that kept Michael thinking about his Vesuvius Grey 911 C2S long after he had sold it.
“The understated and timeless looks, the exceptional engineering and the build quality attracted me to Porsche. They still do. I decided several years ago to purchase my original 993 if it ever came to market.”
In a surprising stroke of luck, Michael found the car for sale in 2023, 26 years after he took delivery of it when new. The car was in New Plymouth on the North Island’s east coast, about four hours’ drive south of Auckland.
“I couldn’t believe it,” he says. “It was a thrill to be reunited.”
Keen to return his car to its original condition, but with a view to enjoying it on the road, Michael sent his car for restoration to the one place that could bring it back to as-new condition.
“Michael is a long-term customer of Giltrap Porsche,” says Porsche Certified Service Adviser Cameron Zeylemaker. “This was his first classic restoration project.”
Reunited:
“I decided several years ago to purchase my original 993 if it ever came to market.”Over nine months, Michael’s cherished Type 993 received a full engine rebuild, complete refurbishment of the suspension and brakes, and a total interior restoration. The extensive detailing work included dry-ice cleaning and ceramic coating of specific components for long-term durability. Michael and the Giltrap Porsche team addressed even the smallest details; for example, the original engine bay decals were replaced with factory originals.
“Everything has been returned to its original condition using Genuine Porsche parts,” says Cameron. “Only the stereo is non-original, but it is the Genuine Porsche Classic Communication system.”
Did the restoration reveal any surprises? “Yes, the condition of the car after 300,000 kilometres of driving,” says Ricky Urry, the Giltrap Porsche technician who led the restoration. “A lot of cleaning was needed and a few non-genuine repairs required sorting, but overall the car was in remarkable condition.”
According to Michael and Cameron, the availability of Genuine Porsche parts was instrumental in the restoration’s concours-level result. The quality of the car’s finish, including its deep Vesuvius Grey paintwork, makes it look at home on the Giltrap Porsche showroom floor, even today.
After 26 years and a complete restoration, what is it like to drive second time around?
“Just like when I took delivery the first time,” Michael says. “It’s as if it never left.”
