A converted 1977 Porsche 911 Targa was recently donated to the Cal Poly Motor Car Association (CPMCA). The vehicle will be used by the club to experiment with the electric industry and find ways to improve certain aspects of the car.
The car was donated by Robert Beauchamp, when he attended Open House last spring and talked to members of CPMCA. Beauchamp converted the 911 Porsche to all-electric in 2007, but because of his career demands, had to put his project on hold.
“I saw these energetic kids, and it looked like they need something to do, so I thought, ‘I’ll give them a car,’” Beauchamp said. “I talked to them for a little bit, and it seemed like they were enthusiastic and I could feel that, so I figured I would do the right thing and let them carry on what I couldn’t finish.”
Once the car was offered to CPMCA, a problem arose because Associated Students, Inc. clubs are not allowed to accept motor vehicle donations.
The CPMCA president, Sam Cates, and vice president of finance, Scott Alvord, worked over the summer to get the university to accept the donation.
It wasn’t until a connection was made between CPMCA and Industrial Technology Racing Division, which is an Instructionally Related Activity program with an academic component sponsored by one of the colleges on campus, that progress was made.
“Seeing how they were interested in cars and in restoring them it seemed like a natural fit to go with them,” Cates said.
This agreement allowed the club to accept the donation and move forward with its plans for the vehicle. Plans which include both short and long-term goals with what would be done with the Porsche.
The short-term goals would be to use the existing motor and improve tit by finding lighter batteries that last longer, Cates said.
Along with working on the interior of the car, the club plans to work on the cosmetic side as well by removing small dents, all the while keeping it in its original condition.
None of the plans are “set in stone,” but Cates said that one day they might replace the motor.
Vice president for projects at CPMCA Jakub Truty said he wants the car to be something entirely innovative.
“Since we are a well-established university, ideally, what our long-term goal is is to make the outside look like a 911 Porsche and the inside, the guts of a car, make it a fully sport-electric vehicle,” Truty said.
A challenge the club is currently facing is sponsorship for the car since it is an expensive project. They recently met with the board members of the Porsche Club of America, California Central Coast Region, and got the organizations’ support behind CPMCA, Truty said.
As well as looking for sponsorship, the club is seeking student involvement from anyone with an interest in working on cars. Cates said the students will be the ones to decide what will exactly be done to the Porsche.
In addition to student interest, Truty said the project could be a senior project that the club could help authorize.
CPMCA is holding a work day on Friday, Nov. 11, 9 a.m to 3 p.m. in the Farm Shop building for those interested in viewing and working on the car.