Yesterday was a tough day. I had to say goodbye to “Roxanne.” I had second thoughts right up to the point that the new owner drove off with the 914 on his trailer.

So much effort was put into that 914. It was really my first restoration project since the 1990s, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to sell the car. From a bare-metal paint job, newly built engine, and new seats, no expense had been spared. Everything was right. It just wasn’t finished.

But I had lost interest. Five years of work and planning had taken its toll. Not to mention, the fact that my ideas of the Porsche I “needed” had changed. A backseat would be convenient. A softer ride would mean that maybe, just maybe, I could get Julie to take more trips in the car. And don’t get me started on the targa, which is notorious for leaking even if the rubber is new.

The new owner, also named Steve, sincerely seemed to appreciate the work that had been put into the car. He assured me that the little silver 914 would be put back on the road immediately, and made me an offer that eased the pain of letting it go.

When Saturday arrived, Steve showed up with a trailer to take Roxanne to her new home. We spent a little time going over the car, which he had never seen in person. Then she wouldn’t start. We spent an hour and a half trying to figure out why. It was a brand new engine, and I had already broken it in. What was the problem? The engine would turn over, but not fast enough to start. We checked everything. No luck. “Maybe it wasn’t meant to be,” I thought. “Maybe I will just keep her.”

As a last ditch effort I made a phone call. “John, I can’t seem to get my silver 914 to start,” I relayed to John Forbes of Black Forest Racing. John had become a friend over the years, and when it came to Porsche engines, he knows more than anyone I have met. “Did you check the ground strap?” he asked. Why didn’t I think of that? I had failed to put the ground strap back on the last time I had the engine out. A new ground strap installed, and she fired right up.

“Well I guess that is it,” I thought. Steve loaded her up and drove off. Bye Roxanne. Like I mentioned before, I had second thoughts right up until she went down the road. Now it is time to find a new adventure.