Hey all you air-cooled guys:

A while back I mentioned a local dealership near me that has a red 911 targa on its lot. It's been there for a long time, probably about 6 months. I went in and chatted with the owner a bit and today got the chance to go back and talk a bit more. Anyway here's the deal - it's a 1977 targa with a 2.7L turbo (yes, TURBO). It was apparently originally brown but is now red. I'll go back tomorrow and take / post some pictures. It looks to be in good shape - widebody kit, turbo twist wheels, etc.

The guy claims it has a rebuilt transmission (and welcomed me to pull up the service records at Circle Porsche near here, which I will if I pursue this). The guy is asking $15.8k but I have a feeling I could get him to come down a little due to some stuff that the car will need. It's in overall good shape but does have the following issues:

(1) Mileage is about 183K
(2) Dash has a few cracks. Rest of interior including seats looks good.
(3) Rubber stuff on the outside (seals, trim, etc.) looks sun-damaged and dry-rotted. It'll probably need a bunch of that "little stuff" replaced.
(4) Paint is good but will need some rubbing / lot of elbow grease.
(5) Engine shows evidence of oil drippage / seepage at the bottom (stuck my head under and looked). Then again, I suppose what 911 doesn't?
(6) One cracked headlight bezel will need replacement.
(7) One cracked taillight bezel will need replacement.
(8) the black painted parts at the rear of the targa roof and the parts of the fin / oil cooler are faded and will either need one hell of a rubbing compound or repaint to make nice and lustrous and shiny again.

So overall I'd say the car is cosmetically an "8" and mechanically a "9" (have yet to drive though) although I will absolutely get a PPI done if I pursue this to confirm.

If I do it (the warden / wife said I could) I'd have to give up the 951. I would need it as trade-in on the 911

The 951 I have is pretty good - mechanicaly a 9 and body an 8.5 or 9 or so with all I've done to it. I love the 951 but would consider the 911 because it has so much more "staying power" and is so much more of a "classic" Porsche. Paid off, it'd be worth much more than a 951 ever would be, especially given the attention and care I know I'd give it.

I'd still keep my early 944 (Callaway) as a project but I'm wondering:

Do 911s make decent daily drivers? (I probably wouldn't drive it EVERY day, but probably once or twice a week to work)

Is this worth considering or should I just give up on the idea?

What are annual maintenance costs on something like this?

How difficult / involved / expensive is a dash repair / replacement? I know cracked dashes are a HUGE problem with 944s, but don't know about 911s.

Other things to look for?

VIN # is: 9117211408 if anyone happens to have the ability to do a CarFax or anything on it. Thanks for the advice.

 

IMHO, there is no dilemma here. A 2.7 on its own has "issues" (pricey) which, if corrected AND documented, may bring the car up to only $10K or so, depending on the condition of the rest of the car. Then there's the turbo which, if just bolted on w/o other (really pricey) engine mods, will grenade in short order at worst, or reduce its lifespan at best. And IF the engine internals were strengthened properly, you would see receipts with a hefty list of parts and machine shop work. And even if this checked out, the wrench performing the rebuild is just as important a consideration as the work, itself.

Then there's the body. Widebody kit factory steel, aftermarket, or glass? Who did the work? And the body has been repainted ...not a "bad" thing on an older car if done well and properly documented, but a color change NEVER gets done properly, unless you are willing to strip the entire car of rubber, glass, and mechanicals (yeah, and who's going to pop for that expense on an ordinary 911?).

And if you ever decide on selling in the future, rest assured that you will be in for a long wait, and price will not be to your liking. Resale on a car like what you described is abysmal. The question of a "rebuilt" tranny is just scratching the surface...

I am not trying to burst the bubble here. 911s can make fabulous daily drivers (mine is), and if you've got another car for days when you need "real" a/c you'll be fine (pre-964s had marginal a/c unless you pour $$ into getting it re-done). They are also reliable and solid over the long haul, so long as proper maintenence and spirited driving are performed (you sound like you are no stranger to this). If you can get the car for sub-$10K AND an impartial PPI came out favorable, then maybe; but just too many unknowns here (and potentially expen$ive at that) to even entertain the idea. All just my opinion, of course, but I'd look elsewhere if you're looking for a 911 that will inspire confidence.

Edward

 

I agree with Edward. If you are going to jump to a 911 -- go for a 84-89 3.2 in stock condition, or an SC. I had an 85 and simply loved it -- built like a tank, grunt right out of the hole, etc. (The A/C, however, was a cruel joke on hot days.) These cars performed better than they should have, too. I had it and an rx7tt at the same time, and the 3.2 was faster. (I did chip it, which may have helped a tad.) The 2.7 motors have known issues even when stock, and you'll forever have a hard time trying to smog a home-brew turbo set up.

 

2.7 and a turbo? bleah - time bomb.........

 

dont forget about smog here in socal, and a turbo 77 2.7 is FAR from legal and could cost you a fortune in 2 years to pass, probably a few thousand. And if it has to go to a ref, your pretty F*cked as ALL that stuff would have to come off. So I would pass and look for a 75 and earlier car as there is no smog on them anymore.

As far as a mag case 2.7 and a turbo, I agree, time bomb.

If you do find one, bring it down for me to look at as we are practicaly neighbors.

 

911's make great daily drivers, but for $15k you can get a WAY better 911 then that one. As was stated, 2.7 engines can be good reliable engines, but only if the proper issues have been adressed on them. A turbo 2.7...I can hear the clock ticking down from here. If you really want to get a 911 instead of the 951, you should sell the 951 and decide what kind of budget you have for a 911. In the $15k range you can get a very nice '78-83 911SC. These are great cars, and you should have no problems driving one everyday, provided you like how 911's drive in the first place because it will be rougher then your 951, and that you dont need to have great A/C. Take your time on the search, there are great 911's out there for good prices, but there are also many abused money pits. If you take the time and do it right to get a good one you will never regret it. Good luck!

 

I don't normally post here, saw this on craigslist.

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/5062308182.html

Hate to dig up an old post but someone here may have owned this car. Looks like it hasn't been driven since when mentioned in this post and might still be a turbo judging by the tubing. Fits the description given here as far as color and such.

Not sure on the price. I am not interested. Posting in case someone here owned or was looking for a project.

 

That's not a turbo, that's heater blower ducting. Run Forest

 

That's one hell of a "nice" paint job.

 

Wasn't sure on tubing. I don't own, nor have ever owned an aircooled P-car. Saw the listing, searched the VIN and the thread popped up. Refreshed the thread in case anyone happens to buy it to get some history of where it has been.

I also like that the Targa top seems to be missing. How do you lose a top? Interesting since it seemed to be a running example 10 years ago, has hardly been driven at all, and now ends up on craigslist as somewhat of a "garage" find.

Wonder if the guy selling it is the guy who posted wanting info on it in 2005.