78-83 911sc

[thstone]

Once again, I am turning to my brothers and sisters on the 986Forum for advice on buying another Porsche - this time I am considering a 78-83 911 SC. I plan to use the car mostly on the weekends and no track duty.

I have been wanting to own an air cooled 911 for quite some time and now might be a good time to make it happen.

I am going to test drive and inspect the '78 Targa below tomorrow. Seller is asking well under $20K with 155K miles.

Your thoughts? All feedback welcome!

[coreseller]

Being an air cooled convert my opinion is totally biased, having said that I know there are a few common areas of concern for the original 911's; head studs, hydraulic chain tensioners, valve guides, etc. If it were me, a PPI with a leakdown test after much research into the series' general strong points and common maladies;

The Pre-Purchase Inspection by Peter Zimmermann - Rennlist Discussion Forums

911 Forum - Rennlist Discussion Forums

[coreseller]

WARNING!!!!! I had forgotten that in the second video I linked above that there was something mentioned around the 30:20 mark that could be construed as derogatory to the Boxster. If that sort of thing gets you all worked up and offended please jump from there to the 31 minute mark and save the pantie wadding for something worthy......

[TeamOxford]

Well, that was eye-opening.

In the "Here's Why You Must Buy A Porsche 911 Today" video, check out what these two 911 experts have to say about the Boxster. Fast forward to the 29:57 to 30:30 minute mark.

TO

p.s Just saw coresellers last post. No pandie wadding here, just an eye-opening, as mentioned before.

[BIGJake111]

Originally Posted by TeamOxford

Well, that was eye-opening.



In the "Here's Why You Must Buy A Porsche 911 Today" video, check out what these two 911 experts have to say about the Boxster. Fast forward to the 29:57 to 30:30 minute mark.



TO



p.s Just saw coresellers last post. No pandie wadding here, just an eye-opening, as mentioned before.

If I remember correctly, the instigator of this drives a late model mr2.... Hrmmmmmm

As for op, looks like a great car, I've always loved targas! Hope you snag a good one.

[Porsche9]

Don't forget about installing a pop-off valve on the airbox. The 3.0L is well known for back firing and blowing the expensive airbox. If the one you are looking at has it already you are set otherwise its a fairly cheap and easy mod.

These are old cars and you can expect little things to come up. Mine got me stuck a couple times in the first few months until I got throught the age related crap.

The exhaust recommendation is a really good one. It really changes to character of the car.

[cas951]

I've considered one of these too. The last time looked prices were way high for these for a decent shape car. If asking price is under 20k buy it and run. Just make sure engine and body is decent. I've seen 30-50k for these cars lately and I've followed 911SC's for awhile. Buy it...

[thstone]

Originally Posted by cas951

If asking price is under 20k buy it and run. Just make sure engine and body is decent. I've seen 30-50k for these cars lately and I've followed 911SC's for awhile. Buy it...

+1 This is same advice that I received from a friend who owns at least 12 air cooled Porsches. He thought the price might be too good to be true.

Coreseller, thanks for the videos!

I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

[coreseller]

Originally Posted by TeamOxford

Well, that was eye-opening.

In the "Here's Why You Must Buy A Porsche 911 Today" video, check out what these two 911 experts have to say about the Boxster. Fast forward to the 29:57 to 30:30 minute mark.

TO

p.s Just saw coresellers last post. No pandie wadding here, just an eye-opening, as mentioned before.

You have to keep in mind, these guys are co-owners of Classic Car Club Manhattan (Classic Car Club Manhattan) where members spend stupid money to drive cool exotics, like it or not the Boxster isn't quite in that category.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by coreseller

You have to keep in mind, these guys are co-owners of Classic Car Club Manhattan (Classic Car Club Manhattan) where members spend stupid money to drive cool exotics, like it or not the Boxster isn't quite in that category.

That excuse has nothing to do with their turning their noses up at Boxsters. Many used Boxsters sell for as much as air-cooled 911's. And at the end of the day, the overwhelming majority of air-cooled 911, unless it's a 73 RS or similar, have not recouped their original sticker prices, especially when you consider how incredibly expensive they were in eras of steep interest rates. So most of the 911's these guys are talking about are still firmly in the used car category and not at all in the exotic car category. They turn their noses up at Boxsters because they don't know the full Porsche history. If these guys did, namely that it goes further than 1964, they would know that the Boxster is the quintessential Porsche. The very first 356A (#1 circa 1948) that rolled off assembly for Ferry Porsche, who was dissatisfied with what he'd driven at the time and wanted a one-off Porsche for his own personal use, had only two seats, had no top, and the engine sat in the middle. The very first Porsche ever... was essentially a Boxster by design. These guys in the video you posted have a vested interest in pushing the post 1964 era of Porsche... or maybe they started drinking the Boxster-dissing kool-aide straight away.

Porsche 356A #1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTcEB3h0cgQ

[Porsche9]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

That excuse has nothing to do with their turning their noses up at Boxsters. Many used Boxsters sell for as much as air-cooled 911's. And at the end of the day, the overwhelming majority of air-cooled 911, unless it's a 73 RS or similar, have not recouped their original sticker prices, especially when you consider how incredibly expensive they were in eras of steep interest rates. So most of the 911's these guys are talking about are still firmly in the used car category and not at all in the exotic car category. They turn their noses up at Boxsters because they don't know the full Porsche history. If these guys did, namely that it goes further than 1964, they would know that the Boxster is the quintessential Porsche. The very first 356A (#1 circa 1948) that rolled off assembly for Ferry Porsche, who was dissatisfied with what he'd driven at the time and wanted a one-off Porsche for his own personal use, had only two seats, had no top, and the engine sat in the middle. The very first Porsche ever... was essentially a Boxster by design. These guys in the video you posted have a vested interest in pushing the post 1964 era of Porsche... or maybe they started drinking the Boxster-dissing kool-aide straight away.

Porsche 356A #1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTcEB3h0cgQ

Well said!

[coreseller]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

That excuse has nothing to do with their turning their noses up at Boxsters. Many used Boxsters sell for as much as air-cooled 911's. And at the end of the day, the overwhelming majority of air-cooled 911, unless it's a 73 RS or similar, have not recouped their original sticker prices, especially when you consider how incredibly expensive they were in eras of steep interest rates. So most of the 911's these guys are talking about are still firmly in the used car category and not at all in the exotic car category. They turn their noses up at Boxsters because they don't know the full Porsche history. If these guys did, namely that it goes further than 1964, they would know that the Boxster is the quintessential Porsche. The very first 356A (#1 circa 1948) that rolled off assembly for Ferry Porsche, who was dissatisfied with what he'd driven at the time and wanted a one-off Porsche for his own personal use, had only two seats, had no top, and the engine sat in the middle. The very first Porsche ever... was essentially a Boxster by design. These guys in the video you posted have a vested interest in pushing the post 1964 era of Porsche... or maybe they started drinking the Boxster-dissing kool-aide straight away.

Porsche 356A #1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTcEB3h0cgQ

That took longer than I expected. Right after posting up the videos trying to help out the OP'er I winced and thought of you, leading me to post the follow up "Warning", apparently to no avail. Why you are so concerned (and ready to get offended) with others perception of your vehicle is beyond me, drive it and enjoy it.

I hope the targa checks out for you Tom........

[BIGJake111]

Originally Posted by TeamOxford

Well, that was eye-opening.

In the "Here's Why You Must Buy A Porsche 911 Today" video, check out what these two 911 experts have to say about the Boxster. Fast forward to the 29:57 to 30:30 minute mark.

TO

p.s Just saw coresellers last post. No pandie wadding here, just an eye-opening, as mentioned before.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06piJBFmFoY

Despite an ims crack, they are hard core loving on the cayman S in this video, i guess the cayman>boxster strategy works on even the most well versed enthusiast.:ah:

[FormulaReed]

Head studs are the big weak point on this car, but your PPI should catch that.

Another thing is, Targa tops can be really bad leakers. Mine was really bad and the seals and rebuilding the top is really expensive. Even after all that it would still leak a little until I got a saratoga top for it.

Other than that, they are great cars. Replace the stock exhaust with some pre 74 heat exchanges and a free flowing muffler and the car will really come alive. The CIS fuel injection does not have the best throttle response, but replacing the exhaust system really helped mine.

Super fun cars, I sometimes regret selling mine.

[husker boxster]

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but keep these things in mind...

The 77 VW bug conv I bought for my winter project has brittle wire insulation, petrified gas line, and sketchy ground wires. It's 37 yrs old, that's par for the course.

And we wax nostolgic for cars of our youth and remember all the good things about them. Plus we think cars of yesterday are reliable like cars today and they'll go 150K care free mi. Remember how we used to sell cars at 70K mi because they'd be junk at 100K? No one wanted a car back then w/ 100K mi. The VW has already stranded me on a short jaunt around the neighborhood. A VW mechanic stopped to help me and said my best purchase would be Triple A towing service.

That 78 is a beautiful looking car in the pics. Just remember it's 36 yrs old and there's bound to be foibles.

[thstone]

Originally Posted by husker boxster

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but keep these things in mind...

The 77 VW bug conv I bought for my winter project has brittle wire insulation, petrified gas line, and sketchy ground wires. It's 37 yrs old, that's par for the course.

And we wax nostolgic for cars of our youth and remember all the good things about them. Plus we think cars of yesterday are reliable like cars today and they'll go 150K care free mi. Remember how we used to sell cars at 70K mi because they'd be junk at 100K? No one wanted a car back then w/ 100K mi. The VW has already stranded me on a short jaunt around the neighborhood. A VW mechanic stopped to help me and said my best purchase would be Triple A towing service.

That 78 is a beautiful looking car in the pics. Just remember it's 36 yrs old and there's bound to be foibles.

+1 An excellent reminder of the realities of owning older cars. Everything you say is accurate and thanks for bringing me back down to earth just in time for the PPI tomorrow morning. Now I can inspect the car with my usual cynical, jaded, and untrusting point of view. I'll be ticking dollars off that asking price as fast as a gas station pump ringing up the total. But I have to say that I felt pretty good up in the clouds the last few days.

And yes, I already have AAA towing with the extended range option.

[TeamOxford]

Originally Posted by thstone

+1 An excellent reminder of the realities of owning older cars. Everything you say is accurate and thanks for bringing me back down to earth. But I have to say that I felt pretty good up in the clouds the last few days.

I would think you could stay "up in the clouds" as long as you realize that initial maintenance will encompass more than what is the norm.

And there's a reason why the owner "is asking well under $20K".

Good luck..................and just sayin'..........

TO

[Porsche9]

Originally Posted by TeamOxford

I would think you could stay "up in the clouds" as long as you realize that initial maintenance will encompass more than what is the norm.

And there's a reason why the owner "is asking well under $20K".

Good luck..................and just sayin'..........

TO

Double that and I'm saying that from experience on my '78 SC which at the time was just 25 years old. Still loved every minute of it but I did learn the hard way what old cars are about. One good thing about the SC is their motor is known to last 200k plus.

Hope the PPI goes well and I am jealous.

[coreseller]

Originally Posted by husker boxster

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but keep these things in mind...

The 77 VW bug conv I bought for my winter project has brittle wire insulation, petrified gas line, and sketchy ground wires. It's 37 yrs old, that's par for the course.

And we wax nostolgic for cars of our youth and remember all the good things about them. Plus we think cars of yesterday are reliable like cars today and they'll go 150K care free mi. Remember how we used to sell cars at 70K mi because they'd be junk at 100K? No one wanted a car back then w/ 100K mi. The VW has already stranded me on a short jaunt around the neighborhood. A VW mechanic stopped to help me and said my best purchase would be Triple A towing service.

That 78 is a beautiful looking car in the pics. Just remember it's 36 yrs old and there's bound to be foibles.

Point: All very good advice, but given the current market on these cars taking time to think it over could quickly cause you to lose your place in line, especially if the seller learns of the demand these cars are in. When I bought my 993 locally a few years back it was literally hours after it hit Autotrader on the web, while looking at it in the first 20 minutes the guy's phone went off 8 different times, at the hour mark when we struck a deal it rang nearly 30 times, not exaggerating. I initially thought it may of been a ploy but later asked the seller (we still correspond) and they were legit, half of them brokers.

Counterpoint: My initial search for what proved to be a unicorn to me; a 1980 911SC in Venetian Blue sans rear spoiler, did indeed open my eyes to exactly what Husker was referring to, a lot of hidden work. Having no stomach to dig deep and go into full restoration efforts I then decided to buy a garage queen example of the newest air cooled version which even then needed attention / updating.

[Swhitcomb]

Originally Posted by husker boxster

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but keep these things in mind...

The 77 VW bug conv I bought for my winter project has brittle wire insulation, petrified gas line, and sketchy ground wires. It's 37 yrs old, that's par for the course.

And we wax nostolgic for cars of our youth and remember all the good things about them. Plus we think cars of yesterday are reliable like cars today and they'll go 150K care free mi. Remember how we used to sell cars at 70K mi because they'd be junk at 100K? No one wanted a car back then w/ 100K mi. The VW has already stranded me on a short jaunt around the neighborhood. A VW mechanic stopped to help me and said my best purchase would be Triple A towing service.

That 78 is a beautiful looking car in the pics. Just remember it's 36 yrs old and there's bound to be foibles.

I too am a VW guy. I disagree however. My 71 Ghia has never left me stranded and I drive it 100s of miles at a time. My wife owns a 73 Thing. Never broken down. The key is to keep up with the maintenance. I am my own mechanic. I only use good german parts of whenever possible. Take car of it, and it'll take car of you. Same thing with a 78 911.