I'm not usually much for retro cars nor replicas. The classic autos that I actually like, which is few and far between unless you consider cars from the 80's to be classics (ouch!), I pretty much only like the original versions of. Replicas feel like "what's the point" to me. Kind of like drinking decaf coffee.

However, after coming across the PGO web site, and their Speedster II, I may have found an exception to those feelings. This is one sexy beast from a French car manufacturer. Classic styling with a contemporary twist.

PGO's two founders, Prévôt Gilles and Olivier, got their start about 25 years ago building replicas on a very small production scale. In 1998 they decided to build a prototype of a "completely new and exciting car" for the 2000 Paris Auto Show. It was the Speedster II. This presentation propelled them to car manufacturer status. They ended up adding 2 more models to the line up and have ramped up production.

The Speedster II, as well as the other 2 models, all follow the philosophy mentioned above. The cars are based on the Porsche Speedster styling while providing a modern take on the lines, equipment and creature comforts. One of the things I love about PGO's cars is they have maintained strong ties to the original styling from the 50's and 60's. Every time I look at their cars, I'm reminded of an Outlaw 356.

The cars look quite a bit shorter to me than the original Porsche Speedster, but at 151 inches they're less than 5 inches shorter than the longest first generation Speedster (which was 152-156 inches). I suppose the biggest reason is the shorter hood and longer rear end. It's more split proportionally than the original Speedsters.

It's 138 hp engine (I think they're using Peugot engines) propels the 2156 pound car from 0 to 62 mph in about 7 seconds. Not bad for a Speedster. On that note, that's always been one of my beefs with replicas. Since you don't have anything original, why not give your ride a little more juice. Course I'm also the guy that would drop a turbo into a 356 Outlaw and be dang happy.

All in all, these are cool cars. Nothing available in the States yet that I can see. I'm sure that's just a matter of time though. Check out the PGO web site for more info and pictures: PGO Automobiles.

[Source and Pictures: PGO.fr]

Frank, one of our PorschePerfect.com readers sent me the above picture of his garage containing "his and hers" Porsches. With one of them being a GT3, I HAD to hear the story. You don't see too many of those sitting in garages much less side by side with a brand new cabriolet. Following is a history of Frank's love affair with Porsche…

It started in 1986. After reading a Time magazine article on Ralph Lauren (of all people). The story included his love for his 1976 Turbo. I was intrigued, and soon bought a 1976 911 S targa. Loved it for 18 years.

In 2004, I sold the Targa and ordered a 2004 Boxster S Special Edition. GT Sliver with Cocoa Full Leather interior,  & Tiptronic. Lovely car.

With that, I discovered track days. The car was really incredible, but after a few years I knew I wanted a 6 speed coupe for my track days. Conveniently Porsche unveiled the Cayman S.

Perfect, I got one.

In 2007 alone,  I did 17 DE weekend track events. I was hooked deep. I handed the Boxster over to my wife (always nice to have an open top Porsche in the garage!). Her only complaint, "it will always be yours".  The 987's came out, so we swapped. She had "her" Porsche now. 2006 Boxster with Tiptronic.

After all that track time, I was coming to a crossroads. I wanted a roll cage and 6 point harness. I considered modifying the Cayman S, but that just never felt right to me. A fellow Rennlister put his 2007 GT3 up for sale and wham, it just made sense. A universally adored Porsche, factory prepared for track use. Exactly what I lusted for.
A couple weeks later, I'm on a plane to Virginia Beach, and drive the GT3 home. The greatest 10 hour drive of my life!

In the meantime, my wife has started to join me at the track and is getting hooked on the scene as well. She takes the PSDS Women's only class at Barber, driving 911's.

Afterwards, she expresses the need for more horsepower on the track. How could I argue?  Porsche obliged us with the 997.2 and the fantastic PDK transmission. This March, we traded the Boxster for a 2009 Carrera S Cabriolet, with PDK. One impressive car.

PJ and I have done multiple PCA track weekends together again this year. We have a blast, and the two cars are quite a pair.

It can be hard to explain to people, I'm sure you know. These cars really add joy to our lives.

Great story Frank! Thanks for sharing it.

Here's another great Porsche story. This time from James O. Remember, every Porsche story, even if it isn't used on the blog, counts towards entries as long as you follow the guidelines in the entry method.

I've wanted a Porsche for as long as I can remember. They have always bean there lurking out of reach. I still can see the first one that I fell in love with, I was nine and we were walking through the parking lot at the German grand prix in 1978. A black 930 turbo, it was the meanest looking car I had ever seen, and I wanted it. Now I am 40.

I have restored plenty of other peoples Porsches. I've worked on and driven some amazing cars like 356's, 550's, RSK's and 911's. I even had the opportunity to work pit crew for a profesional porsche racing team. I still have not owned one.

Every time a 911 goes by I see it with nine year old eyes and wisper to myself, "someday…"

Isn't it funny how vivid the first experience was that captured your interest in Porsches? I've talked about mine being the 944 I drove when I was 15. Still remember it like it was yesterday.

Sorry, this is in Russian (I think), but it's pretty funny, and sad at the same time. A little Porsche vs. Porsche with a Cayenne and 911. Give it a second to load before you get impatient and click on something else.

Paul's trip is winding down. He's got a final spotting for us. Here's some info on the shot: "This is a great one. I was in the back seat of the car and was dozing off, when I saw this baby out of my peripheral. I had to scramble to find the camera and then had to shoot out of the back window after we had passed. But check out that setting for a backdrop! This was on a lonely stretch of highway in a town called Ennis, Wyoming."

Check out those mountains in the background!

"On another note, while driving through Yellowstone National Park, we saw three cabriolets in a mini convey cruising through the park. Again, camera not handy as they came at me from the opposite direction."

Porsche will debut Panamera in August for North America audience – Looks like Monterey Car Week in August will be when it all goes down. Porsche is supposed to have the debut at The Quail which is an exclusive classic automobile show on the grounds of the Quail Lodge Resort. An appropriate time and place for NA to see the car. The Panamera is supposed to go on sale October 17th in the U.S. [Via Motor Trend]

Porsche denies reports of 5 more potential investors – How can a week go by without mentioning something about this deal? According to Porsche, Qatar is the only group they're talking to about a stake in the company. Porsche now has a massive pile of debt to the tune of $12.5 billion. Porsche's stock is down too. [Via Forbes.com]

Porsche Human Performance Centre helps break world record – I've talked about Porsche's Human Performance Centre in the past, but didn't realize they were on task to do something like this. Guess it legitimizes their entry into the Human Performance arena. Basically 12 runners set a new world record for the longest distance covered in 48 hours. Previously set at 495.76 miles last April (2008), this time they covered 539.86 miles. That's a lot of trips from the couch to the fridge for me. [Via Autoblog.com]

Techart releases specs on their tuned Porsche Cayenne Diesel – Upgrades to the Cayenne Diesel include comprehensive engine and chasis conversions along with interior and aerodynamic styling upgrades. One of the more interesting upgrades is an option to increase the output of the Cayenne's 3.0-liter diesel from 240 hp to 290 hp which also includes a torque boost to 465 lb ft of torque. 0 to 60 mph drops from 8.3 seconds to 7.7 seconds. The coolest thing is CO2 emissions and fuel consumption remain unchanged. [Via 4WheelsNews.com]

Deanna, remember she's the one that drove the Giveaway Porsche a month or so ago, sent this picture she snapped in Sausalito which is in the San Francisco Bay Area. I love the old Speedster next to the bay. Great shot Deanna! (she doesn't get any entries since she's an employee).

As for this week's Porsche Giveaway photo highlight, here's the BIG shot…

This one was submitted by Andrew. I know I have "Slantnose Whore" written all over my face, so I won't even comment on this picture. Here's some comments from Andrew:

Not generally a big fan of slantnoses, but she's got the Guards Red and is the same vintage as me so I made an exception and actually started to like it once I started looking at the finer details as I edited the image.  It turns out they're not that bad after all.

He also mentioned this is taken from the public domain, so if it looks familiar, that's why. Great job Andrew! He earned himself another 5 entries into our little Porsche Giveaway wrapping up in LESS THAN 3 weeks.

I was thinking the other morning while in the shower, about the little Boxster argument we've seen come up several times over the past few months. Don't get me wrong, I love the lively discussion and don't even mind a little name calling here and there as people take sides. All part of what makes an enthusiast site great in my opinion.

What struck me though, is that the 944, and in many ways, the 928, were the "Boxsters" of my day. The funny thing is, I LOVED the 944 (hated the 924 though strangely enough) and 928 models. Still do and would like to own each at some point. Two vastly different models, I know, but more critical at the time was they were NOT 911s. Which put us in the same discussions then that we have today with the Boxster.

I remember one time someone telling me that lots of people didn't like the 924/944 series because of where the engine sits. I guess I just didn't know enough about Porsches back then to get it. All I could say was "well that's stupid". It blew my mind that there were people that didn't like the 944 purely because the engine was up front.

I'm not sure why I didn't think about that whole time period sooner, but it kind of put the Boxster into a different light for me. Back in the 80's, I never thought of the 944 as an "entry level" model or lesser of a Porsche because it was less expensive than the 911 or had a different engine placement. In fact, I had a buddy who had a white 944 that I darn near got my hands on in a trade for a Honda Accord. I wanted that car so badly I could taste it!

In reality, I don't think less of Boxster owners. As I've always maintained, a Porsche is a Porsche and those of us who own one (or two or ten) are dang lucky to have the pleasure of these car's company in our garages.

What does this have to do with anything important? Not much. Just thinking. As my Dad likes to say, "That and two bits will get you a cup of coffee."

"This is a drive by shot…noticed it at the last minute. Downtown Colorado Springs.

From the Porsche Mecca of Franklin to GA, S. Carolina, N. Carolina, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, and into Colorado…..I only saw one other Porsche sitting out in front of a repair shop named Stuttgart Motor, as we were leaving Georgia."