Hey guys,

I'm from over on the waterpumper side (928's - please don't hold it against me), and I wanted some input on this '77 Targa that is for sale near me.

I think his asking price of $4500 is reasonable, if it does not need any major mechanical repairs. And I can get it ppi'd by a good shop here in Seattle, so I should be able to determine what I am getting. And I can live with the body damage, until I can get it repaired, as long as there is no frame damage.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/car/334470220.html

I contacted the seller and am waiting to hear what the mechanicals are that need fixing. According to his ad, they are not major, but I will see.

In the meantime, here are a few pics he emailed me:







And I've done a bit of research on the mid 70's Targa's, and my brother in law owned a nice '75 Targa for a bit that he really enjoyed before he sold it and bought a nice 993 (then sold it for a new Saab something or other - so sad).

Sooo, I'm wondering if anyone has any input on the value of this car, and anything I should be checking out besides the obvious.

Thanks!

Ed

ps: I'm pretty handy with a wrench so will doing as much wrenching as possible if I did end up with it.

pps: And please, don't snipe me on this one. I lost out on a killer deal on an '84 928 Euro today, even after I had a handshake agreement with the seller.

ppps: don't let the 928 guys know I'm posting over here, they may try to treat me like that guy Chad from the Alltel "My Circle" commercials.

 

my advice would be to delete this post before you tip off everyone on the planet that such a great car is for sale at such a great price. hoods and bumpers are replacable, sometimes good finds are not. you are posting to guys that would pay three times that. delete post and run to the seller and give him cash.

ok, slow down, remember every 911 is a $20,000 car. it may need $15,000 in unseen repairs. paint, engine, interior could each eat you out of house and home..........

 

WOW!!

 

I had a 77 coupe. It was a fun car to drive for sure. I wish I had kept it for track and such. Very light and quick. Check to see that the thermal reactor are gone from the exhaust and look for signs that the head bolts haven snapped. It cost me $10K to get mine rebuilt 4 years ago with new pistons and cylinders after this happened. If the motor is sorted you will get a good bargin on a fun car. The car is galvanized unlike the earlier cars so thats a good plus.
Compression and a leak down check are a must on this engine.

 

Yes, headers or SSi's are a must. I have a spare set of headers if you decide to go that way.

When you get your PPI you will hear about any warning signs in the engine or trans. For that price you can afford to scoop up a 3.2 engine to run while you rebuild the 2.7 as a winter project. CIS injection is great if you can live with the mild cams that it requires. My feeling is that 2.7 CIS cars are going to be rare in the coming years, so I would keep the 2.7 somewhere even if you decide not to use it right away.

That's a light, yet galvanized, car that you can have a lot of fun with. I would scoop it up as long as there isn't anything wrong with the chassis.

 

Ha ha, yes I was wondering if I should post about this car.

And thanks for the tips, I do realize most cars that are listed for low prices usually are going to need a fair amount of $ to get them up to snuff, otherwise they would be priced higher. You usually get what you pay for.

And thanks for all the tips guys! I'll report back once I take a look at it.

If I don't snag it, perhaps someone else would benefit from any info I can learn about it.

Thanks again. -Ed

 

I would be worried about the underbelly. It looks like it has been outside in the rain and it has had a tarp over it. That would hold in the moisture and that would concern me a little. Just something to think about, but hey for $4500 you can't go wrong if it is a solid car. Nice find!

 

Although the 1977 was galvanized please remember that Porsche guaranteed them for TEN years. Let's do the math together....2007-1977 is about 30 years. Three times the warranty. The places to check for rust are at all the rubber glass to body seals, the headlight buckets (lights taken off) and the rockerpanels. The 1977s can survive if you were sending this Craigs' List notice from Phoenix or El Paso but the Pacific Northwest is not a good sign. All the rubber pieces (body trim bumperettes, etcd. contain metal stiffeners,--most likely rusted out inside).

I had a new 1977 911S many years ago and it was hands-down the worst year for the 911 in the history of 911s. But then, I'm only one guy. With the magnesium cases they pull head studs all the time until someone overhauls the engine properly. It's doubtful much of anything has been done to the engine (like Carrera tensioners).

It will be a major league hassle. One year younger and you break into the 911SC bodies with the larger rear flairs. Then you have a car that looks a lot younger (that body ran from 1978 through 1989).

As someone noted earlier, there is no free lunch with a 911.

 

Thanks Dan. Some good points to consider. -Ed

 

grab it and run ....

 

Word to the wise. IMHO...buy a 4500 pcar and spend 10,000 sorting it out. Or buy a 10,000 pcar and spend 4500 sorting it out! These cars aren't that hard to work on if you have any mechanical background. LOL!

 

this is the first post I have ever seen that has everyone on the same page...be it $15-$20,000. am I seeing a door in front of the blue 55 gallon drums? you are half way home. now get it out of the rain.

 

I do believe that is the correct door for it, and I was going to ask the seller about it, and also if he happens to have a replacement hood. If so, this could get real interesting real fast.

Still haven't found time to run over to look at it, hopefully in the next day or two.

 

have you seen how inexpensive body panels are? you could turn it into a steel slant nose for next to nothing. or go full fiberglass front and rear...just kidding, most guys are cutting off the wide body add-ons and going back to stock.

 

This is an incredible find if the PPi goes well and rust has not taken hold.