{"id":7873,"date":"2024-06-01T11:15:35","date_gmt":"2024-06-01T10:15:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.design911.co.uk\/blog\/?p=7873"},"modified":"2025-06-18T09:37:05","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T08:37:05","slug":"a-car-is-never-complete-a-chat-with-sam-lander","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.design911.co.uk\/blog\/a-car-is-never-complete-a-chat-with-sam-lander\/","title":{"rendered":"“A Car is Never Complete\u201d. A chat with Sam Lander."},"content":{"rendered":"

Sam Lander, subject of the latest in our Porsche People profile series, talks to us about his journey from apprentice to owner of his own Porsche specialist outfit in Malton, Yorkshire.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

In this interview, look out for\u2026<\/p>\n

Questions and answers: \u2018How did I get here\u2019, those we\u2019ve interviewed in the past often seem bemused that they have gone from simply liking Porsches to either owning one or a showroom\/service centre working with Stuttgart\u2019s finest all day. Sam\u2019s in the latter camp.<\/p>\n

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The Road so Far: Sam unrolls his mental CV, having worked with Porsches for 17 years. He\u2019s offered a share in a workshop, the business grows over three years, he took on another workshop \u2013 and here we are.<\/p>\n

What he can do: In the case of Sam Lander Engineering, that\u2019s pretty much the lot \u2013 servicing, repairs, stereo upgrades, body, and engine stripdowns, suspension upgrades on anything from the Porsche 356 to 991 (992 aren\u2019t old enough yet).<\/p>\n

What\u2019s in the workshop: Sam shows us the 964 Carrera 4, nicknamed Lego by the owner\u2019s grandchildren because of the different panels. It was intended to replicate the 964 RS race car variant \u2013 so it\u2019s fitted with orange, green, and Maritime blue panels. Then there\u2019s the \u201874, 2.7 Carrera, ready for servicing and preparation for a few summer tours.<\/p>\n

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His philosophy: \u201cDo we see ourselves as different from the rest? I don\u2019t know about \u2018the rest\u2019, we just do things our way. If your car\u2019s in for a service and we see little bits that aren\u2019t right, we\u2019ll just fix them. We won\u2019t ring you or charge extra \u2013 we just put it right. It\u2019s what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Is he old school or engaged with the new? \u201cAir-cooled, water-cooled, it\u2019s all good. But not Panameras or Taycans. We just make your car as cost-efficient as possible \u2013 but a car is never complete.\u201d<\/p>\n

Who does he work with? \u201cThree technicians and an apprentice. Lee loves his VWs. James is very thorough, does a cracking job, and Vaughan \u2013 he\u2019s Mr Diagnostics. He\u2019ll come to work in the morning having worked out what\u2019s wrong with the car at half past two in the morning. Our young lad, Oliver, wants to get into F1 and begins his apprenticeship this summer.\u201d<\/p>\n

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And the future? \u201cWe might move again in the future \u2013 maybe look at taking on some sales, too.<\/p>\n

His opinion on Design911? \u201cCracking. I order the part on Thursday, the part\u2019s there on Friday and I can get the job out the door for the weekend, start again on Monday. We can get jobs finished. Daryl, Kevin, Josh and Phoebe \u2013 spot on. They always answer the phones, which helps.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s your tagline? \u201cFuelled by pig\u2019s ear (beer)!\u201d<\/p>\n