NOISE MACHINE

Noise Machine

Ian Longwell on his delicious Sepia Brown 911 longhood.

Sepia brown paint, Fuchs wheels and original sugar scoop headlights, it’s hard to imagine a more honest west-coast spec for Ian Longwell’s longhood 911. A drummer and music producer by day, Ian takes a delightfully casual approach to Porsche ownership. There are no outlaw parts on this car and nothing is over-polished, it is simply used and cared for as it would have been in period.

“I’ve never owned a new car” says Ian, who’s only other mode of transport is a 35 year old truck. “I somehow get confused in newer cars, or automatics in general. I didn’t grow up in a car family, my dad always had a station wagon and my mom didn’t even have a driver’s license.

I came across my 911 in 2022, I’d been searching for a Longhood and this one was in Orange County near a hockey rink I played at occasionally. I went and saw the car, met the seller, test drove it, and came to a deal.

I’m in the process of redoing the carpets and putting a set of high bolstered race seats in the car, which I upholstered in Pasha fabric. It’s a little Frankenstein for the era, but it looks awesome and I wanted more support. I’d like to do the engine and upgrade the carbs, I don’t believe it has the original cam in it but one day we’ll pull it apart and see. It’s a pretty unique car with a factory 4 speed. I used to think I’d want to add a gear, but I’ve really grown to like the 4 speed, I don’t think I’ll ever make it a 5.”

Of course as a professional musician, there was really only one way we could ask Ian to accurately express his thoughts on the 911’s design, and that was by asking what instrument he’d compare it to best.

“That’s a good one. A round badge Gretsch drum set, the early USA Custom. Just a perfect 60s design that they’re still running with today.”