ZipperHead

I am in the military stationed in Italy. I found a pristine 1983 911sc Targa with 106,000Km/63,000miles recently. The just went through a service...everything checked out good. The owner was very upfront/honest about the car. He said the only issue w/the car is that the vents inside the car "seep" hot air. He said the doesn't overheat.....and it does not have ANY oil leaks. The car was extremely clean, the engine compartment wasn't as clean as the rest of the car but, there was no oil or excess dirt. I can get the car for $11,000, I have already secured the money...

I just wanted to get another opinion and some advice!

Thanks
Zip

imcarthur

Have you had an independent Pre Purchase Inspection by a garage that's working for you?

Have you checked compression? leakdown? head studs? chain tensioners?

The price is good if all of the above is sorted imho.

Ian

ZipperHead

I haven't yet..but definately will before the purchase! The owner said I could take the car anywhere...to get what ever I want checked out.

imcarthur

These cars suck money. The biggies:

Engine, paint, transmission, seats

If the color & style work for you & the paint & seats etc are acceptable than send it for a PPI. The wrench's report will give you a yes or no on the engine & some possible price leverage. Bear in mind, that regardless of condition, it almost immediately will suck $1 - $2K in 'stuff'. . .

So take it for a good drive, take it to a wrench & . . .

Ian

theasphaltgambler

Dumb question here. What will it cost to safely ship it back to da States? That would also be a significant cost factor. After a PPI done by a qualified shop, take in consideration the needed repairs plus shipping. Hope it works out for you.

ZipperHead

I don't leave Italy until 2008, the car will turn 25yrs old then. Shipping back will not be at my expense...

The interior is as nice as the rest of car.

imcarthur

Italian roads & a 911 . . .

I just had an auto Renault or something & it was a blast . . . cities would be hell though . . . I got lost in the traffic hell of all traffic hells in Napoli . . . but that's another story . . .

Where do you live btw?

Ian

ZipperHead

About an hour north of Venice, about the same distance from Austria. My wife and I have already lived in Italy for 3 years. I absolutely love to drive here. I currently own a '92 BMW 520, its fun on the local mountain roads. I do have some reservations about taking the porsche (if the PPI goes well) into the bigger cities. I will also avoid the packed parking lots that seem to be the norm here.

Peter Zimmermann

Zipperhead: Wow, sounds like you found a good car - the '83 SC by nature is a wonderful car! Make sure the valve covers are removed at the PPI, you have to know about the cylinder head studs! Also, learn if the timing chain tensioners are updated to Carrera parts. Hopefully your PPI will be done by a Porsche specialist - that makes all the difference. Ciao!
Pete

Dan Cobb

I've been to that area of Austria before (3 times actually). There is a Porsche museum in Gmund, Austria that is definitely worth the time to visit. There is also a great casino in Kranska Gora , Slovenia... but that is another story!
Seriously, take the time to visit the museum if you haven't done so already. You won't be disappointed.
I can acquire additional location information from my brochure if you can't locate it yourself, just let me know.

BTW, nearly any Porsche in decent condition is worth $11,000. Many may disagree, but that is my opinion.
Good luck with the PPI.
+++

earlyapex

Just for reference:
Porsche Market Letter prices (US) for 83 911SC Targa:
Low $9,999
Median $14,807
High $19,500
Change from 2003 = +9.28%

Take off the cost of repairs for any items found during the PPI and budget $2,000 for "other" repairs that come up in the next 6 months.

RockyMcD

Having the car inspected by a reputable tech is extremely important. All of the above suggestions are good ones. Insist that the tech put the car on a lift and get under it with a bright light to see if there have been any repairs to the body and suspension. If properly repaired, it could be difficult to spot the damage. A good inspection could last 2-3 hours. The cost is well worth it. Good luck.

JackOlsen

$11,000 is a fair price, I think. If you love the car, get it checked for snapped head studs (and whatever else the mechanic can find).

JCP911S

Double check the emission rules where you will move in the States. most states have sunset provisions....but you don;t want to get stuck with a non-conforming car.

dak911

Check, very carefully what you will need to do to make the car EPA and/or DOT compliant.
This could be areal problem!