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PCV member’s well-known Porsche parts business for sale

One of the world’s leading Porsche spare parts businesses started and owned by a well-known PCV member of the past 43 years, is now for sale.

After more than 30 years’ operation, globally-known aPorschaPart Pty.Ltd. is looking for a new owner due to the retirement of its founder and long-time Porsche enthusiast and PCV member, Dennis O’Keefe.

O’Keefe, who joined the Club with his wife Santa in 1979 says Porsche knowledge would be an advantage, but not essential to operate the business, due to the increasing demand by enthusiasts around the world for Porsche parts in order to maintain the estimated 70 per cent of all the cars built since 1948 on the road, many of which do not have access to new parts to maintain.

“Parts fore many of the early cars and racing models are now serious scarce,” he told Porsche Parade. I have things like early sandcast aluminium 911 Turbo 911 crankcases that are not virtually unobtainable today.”

Located in Mordialloc, aPorschaPart has a 15,000 sq. ft stockholding that O’Keefe says encompasses the largest range of predominantly used parts in the Southern Hemisphere for both air and water-cooled Porsches, plus a substantial stock of NOS, new and reconditioned parts to suit the expanding global market.

The IP and equipment of the fully-operating and Internationally-recognised business, including its substantial plant, full workshop equipment. Its yard and workshop forklifts and delivery vehicle are also part of the sale, as is assistance to the purchaser from O’Keefe.

Included in the IP are Porsche and online parts systems, parts and customer databases and a MYOB operating system,

A generous property lease agreement and an on-going business plan are also part of the sale, as is transition assistance from the current owner.

O’Keefe joined the PCV after being goaded by his younger brother and f356 enthusiast Greg. He resisted until 1979 because he knew that once he did, Porsches ownership would become addictive!

He is best-known in PCV circles for his commitment to PCV competition activities that saw him win the Tony Jones Memorial Award for the ‘Most Consistent Competitor in all Events’ on the Club’s calendar in 1983.

He was prominent competitor at the wheel of his white 1974 911 Targa – IZK-911 which he referred to as his ‘thrash machine’ – in all PCV events, from motorkhanas to sprint and even economy runs, frequently lending the car to other members who found themselves car-less for points-scoring championship events. This generosity worked against him in 1984 when he was narrowly beaten to the Club Championship by Ric Halgren, who scored some of his points driving O’Keefe’s Porsche!

He sold the car with its retro-fitted 3.0 litre engine some years ago to a Home and Away actor who lived in the Dandenong Ranges and now has another favourite ‘thrash’ Porsche – a 2.9-litre Cayman with a PDK transmission. 944 Challenge racing series for front-engined 944 models that is still going strong today.

He also forged a close friendship with late PCV member Don Tryhorm, with the pair competing regularly in the Mt.Buller Sprint in Tryhorn’s distinctive 1992 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 3.6 – a car now owned by O’Keefe, who is currently restoring it to its original Signal Green with yellow wheels glory as a tribute to Tryhorn.

He established aPorschaPart after being concerned that original parts for earlier Porsches models were drying up around the world, purchasing the stock of international parts collectors to enhance his inventory.

A particularly attractive feature of the purchase of his business for International investors is the potential it offers to fast-track Australian Citizenship, as those who own and manage a business in Australia may be allowed to stay in Australia indefinitely.

O’Keefe say the potential for future sales has a split focus divided between local and export sales, with the former presently more than covering all overheads and operating costs.

While local sales will predominantly draw on locally-sourced later model stock, he believes much of the business’s future growth and potential lies in the businesses early air-cooled, 911, 964 and 993 stock on hand, which he says will benefit from further exposure by simple Internet marketing to the growing global market.

Genuine Fuchs forged wheels and engine casings, for example, are always sought after by restorers.

“I can see the day coming where many of these original parts simply won’t be available,” he says.

Boxster, Cayman and Cayenne parts are also increasingly in demand as these popular models cover much higher distances annually than is traditional for older model Porsches.

An important fact here is that there are no Australian Government taxes on export sales.

PCV Life Member Michael Browning is assisting O’Keefe with the sale. Expressions of interest should be directed in commercial confidence to him at michael@browning.com.au