It happens from time-to-time. A person will own a classic car that is their pride and joy, and for one reason or another, the fire in the belly, the passion that fuels their love for their prized and desirable vehicle, simply withers and dies. That is the story behind this 1969 Porsche 911. It has been in the owner’s possession for many years, but a minor mechanical malady saw the car parked in his garage. The owner’s passion for the Porsche has died, so he is looking for someone with that same quality who would love to return the car to active service once again. If that sounds like it could be you, then you will find the 911 located in Holland, Michigan, and listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $35,300 in what is a No Reserve listing.

It appears that the Porsche has undergone a color change at some point in its life because according to the included Certificate of Authenticity, it rolled off the production line in April of 1969 finished in the much darker shade of Slate Grey. The paint itself doesn’t look to be too bad, with no obvious major flaws or dings. As far as rust issues are concerned, it seems to be limited to a single spot on the passenger side A-Pillar. It is in the spot where the door limiting strap attaches to the pillar, and it definitely looks to be like a fairly easy repair job. The beautiful Fuchs wheels look to be in good order, with the same being true for the trim, chrome, and the tinted glass.

Powering the Porsche is the numbers-matching 1,191cc flat-six engine, producing 110hp. The car is fitted with a 5-speed manual transmission, which the owner believes, but can’t positively confirm, might be a factory rebuilt unit. Now we come to the crux of just why this 911 has found itself laid-up for the past 5-years. The engine developed an oil leak from somewhere in the region of the oil cooler. The owner is unsure whether the issue is with the cooler itself, or with one of the hoses or fittings. The upshot is that it now drips oil onto the heat exchanger on the passenger side of the engine, producing some smoke and an oily smell. He chose to park the vehicle before any damage could be done, but simply lost the passion and desire to address the problem. Having said that, he has been firing the engine up a few times a year to keep things working. While he believes that it could do with some work to the carburetors and would benefit from a tune-up, it does still run okay. If that is all that is required, then returning the Porsche to active service could potentially be an easy and relatively inexpensive process. During its time in his care, the Porsche has been treated to new synchros in the transmission, a stainless steel heat exchanger, turbo valve covers, hydraulic tensioners, and an MSD ignition system. The owner is also including the Certificate of Authenticity, along with a comprehensive set of service records.

The interior of the 911 presents to about the sort of standard that you might expect from a car that has been owned by a passionate enthusiast. The upholstery on the seats looks to be in good condition, while the dash is close to flawless. The only upgrade that has been performed is the fitting of a radio/CD player. The headliner is new, and there is a new carpet set included in the sale. Flaws are relatively minor, with some repairable wear showing on the leather-clad wheel, and some minor wear on the door trims around the window cranks. Both could easily be rectified, and with the new carpet fitted, the interior should present quite nicely once again.

I always find it quite sad when I come across a classic car where the owner has lost the sort of passion that helps to define the ownership experience. That is the case here, but some consolation can be gained from the fact that this owner has come to recognize this, and has decided to part with the car before it has had the chance to deteriorate beyond the point of no return. It would seem that it is not going to take a lot of time, effort, or money to return the 911 to a daily-driver state, which is a really positive thing. Classics like this simply don’t deserve to be locked away in garages. Porsche designed the 911 to be driven and enjoyed, and hopefully, that time will come again for this one very soon. It just needs a new owner with the right level of passion.