78-83 911sc

[JayG]

I don't know much about the older cars, but is one fine looking 911

[Deserion]

Have you checked out 964s?

[itsnotanova]

Buy it before the price doubles in 6 months! Everything air cooled is going for crazy prices.

[cas951]

Originally Posted by itsnotanova

Buy it before the price doubles in 6 months! Everything air cooled is going for crazy prices.

Prices have more than doubled here in the Bay Area.

[Deserion]

Originally Posted by cas951

Prices have more than doubled here in the Bay Area.

What's crazy is that my dad bought his '91 964 Targa (C2) w/ 145k miles in mid-2011 for about $17k, and that's after the previous owner sunk $13k into it in the three years before he sold it. Also included an engine re-seal as well.



I know some dislike the old targas, but I think they're fantastic. He does need to have the roof on his rebuilt, however (to eliminate wind and water leaks).

[BYprodriver]

Congrats on the new aquisition Tom!

I don't think you will mind my pointing out an omission in the PPI report: Steering Wheel needs replacement. It was made by "Grant" so it has a adapter & there are over 30 wheels that will bolt on easily including a "Prototipo" replica.

[thstone]

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

Congrats on the new aquisition Tom!

I don't think you will mind my pointing out an omission in the PPI report: Steering Wheel needs replacement. It was made by "Grant" so it has a adapter & there are over 30 wheels that will bolt on easily including a "Prototipo" replica.

Ha! Yes, I agree. I think that a Prototipo is definitely one of the first things to do!

[jaykay]

She is a beauty! Well done Tom!

Prototipo: yes please

[thstone]

Originally Posted by Deserion

Have you checked out 964s?

Yes, I have looked at and driven some 964's. Great car, but almost too modern for me (coil suspension, ABS, power steering, rising rear spoiler, etc). Looking for something more raw and basic.

[keysguy]

I would love to have mine back. The targa top is a leaker, not as comfortable to drive as the newer cars but a big head turner.

[thstone]

Hey guys, I drove the SC this morning and the car is in very good shape. The worst that I could find was some minor rust around the left rear window sill and a few spots on the edge of the passenger door. Other needs are the seats need re-leather (hence the seat covers) and there are a few oil drips underneath (but then what old 911 doesn't leak a little?).

Otherwise, very good. Paint is very good, tires new, brakes/rotors new, engine all original. Except for the seats, the interior is in very good shape. Targa doesn't leak. Everything is stock except the aftermarket steering wheel which the original owner had installed around 1979.

It rode and drove perfectly. Engine pulled strongly and the trans shifted smoothly. Clutch felt fine. No rattles. I had a blast on just the test drive.

Current owner bought it in 1980 and has owned it ever since. Seller said three times that the price was negotiable. PPI scheduled for Monday morning. If everything checks out ok, it will probably be in my driveway on Monday evening.

Here are a pair of pic's from this morning;

[cas951]

Can you let me know if you pass on this. I'll be on Manhattan Beach all week next week.

Thanks

[thstone]

Originally Posted by cas951

Can you let me know if you pass on this. I'll be on Manhattan Beach all week next week.

Thanks

I have two friends who said the same thing! Luckily, this car isn't listed for sale anywhere and I am keeping the seller's information quiet so I don't end up in a bidding war.

[cas951]

Now you know you have a great deal there

[Deserion]

Originally Posted by thstone

Current owner bought it in 1980 and has owned it ever since. Seller said three times that the price was negotiable. PPI scheduled for Monday morning. If everything checks out ok, it will probably be in my driveway on Monday evening.

Good luck! It certainly looks fantastic.

[FormulaReed]

The worst that I could find was some minor rust around the left rear window sill and a few spots on the edge of the passenger door.

Be really careful with this... All the post 76' 911s are factory galvanized and in my experience, rarely rust at all. if your seeing rust, there's much more that your not seeing. I would take a really, really close look at the area around the rear window inside the car.

When I was looking I only saw one that had any rust damage and it was due to a repaint. At first it looked ok, but when I poked around under the sound mat in the engine bay, I saw that the fire wall was really starting to go.

[Perfectlap]

This would be my advice, if you love DRIVING this particular Porsche, then go to step #2, consider the expense of running this car. Being that you are handy that shouldn't be too much of issue as there is a wealth of information on the SC forums. I follow Rennlist member Wachuko's restorations and man does that guy do some awesome backyard work that comes out looking A+. See 83 911 to RSR project below



That being said, this a Targa. Maybe since you live So Cal that would nice. But being that you're someone that hits the track often, I would think that your only air-cooled car would have a bit more edge to it. If I were intent to own a project car/garage queen, I'd look for a car that I could turn into an RS replica. I'm making my way through Total911's RS Book. Those replica cars are very, very sought after, and not to mention a blast to drive. For a guy like you, that can do much of his own work, that could be a great opportunity to build up a car. I'd have a hangar full of these projects if I had the space and time. In other words I like the idea of SELLING into this distorted market for air-cooled Carreras, I'm not at all comfortable with the idea of buying into it.

As far as pricing, I'll just say this briefly: *any* market that sees an dramatic jump away from its historical average, is not a market I trust one bit. Especially with what is going on in the stock market now. The jumping-the-shark in Carrera prices have coincided with the overly prolonged stock market rally. At the end of the day, these are used cars, not collector cars, thus they cast a wider net as far buyers beyond the super wealthy. A shake up in credit markets, could quickly shake up all these inflated prices. So I wouldn't put a lot of equity into all this "my car was worth X five years ago... bla bla". Good for you, you got a deal. The real issue is how best can you avoid this kind of market distortion to get what you want.
You seem to have found one of the best ways, the quick seller. The other way, a car that is solid engine wise, doesn't need any metal work but could use some attention in other areas may be a better way to reduce the over-crowded bidding pool. I think it's just like houses now, do you want to out-bid other house hunters in an over-bought market for a turn-key house or do you want to put a little sweat equity behind your cash and potentially reap a big reward later.

[thstone]

The PPI results were about as expected;

• Engine runs very well
• Compression good and even (135,140,138,140,140,140psi)
• Transmission excellent
• CV joints good
• Exhaust system good
• Steering rack good
• Brakes new (incl 4 new calipers/pads/rotors/all rubber lines)
• General mechanical condition very good
• Needs major tune up (plugs, dist cap, rotor, fuel filter, valve adj.)
• Engine front cam/crank seals leaking oil
• Rear engine seals leaking oil (see pic below)
• Engine high pressure oil hose leaking oil
• Shocks need replacement
• Heater blower needs replacement
• Belts (3) need replacing
• Front hood shocks need replacing
• Rust appears to be only the couple of small areas that I noted. Shop checked everything as close as possible.

The shop estimated a total of $5-6k for all of the work listed above if they did it, but most of this I can do myself. The engine has to be dropped to replace the rear engine seals so I'll probably have a shop do that and a few other things "while they're in there" for about $3K.

Went back to the owner and told her that there were a few items that needed to be addressed. Rather than going through the list one by one (some owners hate it when a buyer "talks down their car"), I simply asked her where she wanted to be to let the car go. She said, $15K. I said fine. Deal done.

I gave the owner a deposit and I'll pick it up tomorrow evening.

[BruceH]

Congrats on a great car! Sincerely jealous! I am sure it has found a great home

[husker boxster]

Congrats!!