hebrewhomeboy

I've wanted an older 911 since I was a little kid (since they weren't that old!) and today I finally got one. It's a 1978 911SC targa, silver with a black interior, and only 33,000 miles. There isn't a chip, scratch or flaw at all on the paint, and the interior looks really nice also, just a little bit of wear on the driver's seat. It has an aftermarket Apline CD player and speakers, other than that it's completely stock. The A/C still blows pretty cold air, too! The dealership said it needed a new starter (started just fine for me though) so I'm picking it up early tomorrow. The price was $15,995. I've read up a bit on these, and the SC seems to be a very reliable model, and this car is friggin immaculate, so I feel like I'm getting a good deal. But in the end, I'm happy with the car, so that's all the really matters.

Are there any specific problem areas with this particular car that I should watch out?

hebrewhomeboy

By the way, here's a picture of it (at the dealer)

Vfrealtor

Wow nice car, color combo and wheels looks great...I am just like you, looking for one but still do not know the problems and maintenance of owning one. Keep all your records and receipts, get all the scheduled maintenance up to date. If you do a search on here , there's plenty of info that's been talked about these years, that's all I can really help you out on....Nice looking Targa..

psychoideas

Congratulations and welcome from Australia.

Marlon

Very nice and a nice price too. 78' was the first year for the SC! No maintenance issues on the SC's - super good on the Tq too. You can drive around town all day in 2nd gear - I always like that feature in the SC's that I owned. The 'starter' issue might be tracable to a faulty starter GROUND or battery ground strap that causes the car to not engage the starter while sitting between warm engine starts. In other words, you stop at the convenience store after an hour or two of driving and the starter does not turn over when you get back in with your gatorade and chips. I had an SC with that problem and a new starter did not fix the issue. So I made it a habit to park the car facing downhill if possible whenever I stopped on the road. Pop the clutch in second gear and wa-la, car starts and drives fine.

SC's are qute literally, bulletproof - I love them. Enjoy!

WPOZZZ

Welcome aboard. Try and have the mileage verified as a car dealer friend went to look at that car and said it looked like it had more than the stated 33k on it. A BMW Honolulu salesman even said the same thing. I believe the car was traded in on April 1 as I saw it in the Diamond Head parking lot adjacent to the used car sales area that evening.

Have a PPI done on the car before you purchase it. Motor Werkes is around the corner on Cummins and Kawaiahao Street. They may be able to take a look at it for you.

Just looking at that pic you posted, there may be some paintwork on the driver's door.

Amber Gramps

pop out the clock, reach thru to the spedo and pop it out, then look for the production date on the back of the spedo. it only takes five minutes to take 100,000 miles off a car. It should match the production date on the car. get a www.carfax.com on the car and it should tell you lots. My brother-in-law and sister-in-law both have Porsches in Hawaii that had salvage titles in New York that fell off when they got to Hawaii so be careful.

she is a beautiful car.

J. Brinkley

even if paintwork, it does look like it but it could be the sun, if it's the car you want/like don't worry about it too much. Of course undisclosed paint work leads down the undisclosed mileage road also, and that would **** me off

ron mcatee

Nice car. Just drive it and enjoy it. I spent 2 years on Oahu at Camp Smith from 1963 to 1965 and loved it. Kinda miss the place over the years. Many happy memories from there. Aloha.

bargamon

I saw they have a insulation wrap for the Starter and I too have that problem. Carry a hammer and just tap it a few times. Works like a champ.

Mine is a 74 targa with a SC engine from a 78. Lots of fun to drive and very fast.

Try to verify the milage. Even with 133k you might be just fine if the car looks good and drives good!

Edward

Welcome to the board, and congrats on a great car!! It is a wonderful thing to realize a long-term dream ...I know this firsthand

These really are reliable cars, but remember that age is age, and things will start wearing, especially rubber pieces like bushes, seals, and the like. For example:
- suspension bushings
- brake caliper seals
- valve cover seals
- starter (as was mentioned)

And make yourself aware of upgrades as items wear and you need to replace things anyway. Immediately coming to mind off the top of my head :
- oil-fed (Carrera-type) cam chain tensioners
- turbo tie rods
- misc suspension pieces (T-bars, sways, bushings, etc.)

Be proactive on maintenance and wear items and you'll save money and love driving it more. It's easy to get caught up in "mods" (especially hanging out in this place ), but if I may offer advice to a new-porsche owner, focus on making sure the car is sound before plunking down cash for goodies. Enjoy in good health!!

Edward

Brett San Diego

Congrats on your first 911. My 1978 SC is also my first 911.

Buy and read "The Used 911 Story," by Peter Zimmerman, a regular poster here. Usually you would read this book before you go shopping, but no matter. There's good info to answer the question what to look for in the SC models (and any other model 911 for that matter). Buy and read "101 Projects for your Porsche 911." Lots of info on typical items that need fixing and upgrades.

Verifying original mileage can be a concern. No carfax possible since the car predates the beginning of the modern standardized VINs in 1981 (I think). You will only have service records, if you have them or can find them or can track down where the car has been serviced, and previous owner statements to go by. Rock chips in the paint on the nose (if it doesn't appear to have been repainted) and the condition of the headlamp glass and foglamp glass with regard to rock chips (again, if they don't appear to have been replaced) can be clues to having a little or a lot of miles. And condition of interior, too, of course.

If you have no history on the car, get it "baselined" with regard to service immediately. Bare minimum have a normal routine full service done (oil change, oil filter, air filter, spark plugs, distributor cap and rotor, fuel filter, valve adjustment, and timing and fuel mixture check and adjustment). Other maintenance items to think about in addition to what has been mentioned: spark plug wires, flexible brake hoses, brake fluid flush.

Depending on your level of involvement/interest in the car's true condition, you might have a full post-purchase inspection done by an experienced Porsche mechanic including compression and leakdown test on the engine.

Brett

Marc Gelefsky

Congrats and Welcome to Rennlist!

JBO

That's a great deal if it really has 33k, and if it checks out still a decent price even if it has 133k. Check for broken headstuds!!

jwilson95

Pretty color and good looking in the pic. Hope it turns out as good as you think/hope.

Welcome...

More/better pics if you wind up brining it home is a must.

Jeff