Mike Kast

Hi Everyone,
I have found this car for sale, I think I can get it for under $10,000.00. Possibly closer to $5000.00. Assuming it is in good shape...The claim is that there are electrical problems / Brake lights and turn signals / and other than that in very good condition.
75,000 original miles garaged... I have to find out more but, what is the general opinion about a 71 911 T? as far as getting an 80's model instead? It just seems too good to be true!

Thanks,
Mike

Mike Kast

Also! Where do I find a local Porsche mechanic? Is my ignorance showing yet?????????? lol <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" /> I really really really want a midlife crisis car!

Mike Kast

Vehicle Description

This is a fine example of a 911T. This restored 911T has New Paint*,Complete upholstery done, Altenator,(6cyl)Carborators,Muffler,90% life on Bf Goodrich Tires.....All of the above done less than a year/5k miles. All of this with only 73,000 Original miles.

Vehicle Condition

Heated Garaged kept. Car starts and Runs Fine....Inspections Valid through June 03'. NO RUST, or Dents. This 911T does need some minimal electrical work done. *Mainly turn signals & brake light. All other switches are in Great condition, such as all working lights, head lights, back lights, wipers are fully funtional
*************************************
The guy said he's selling it for his father. Seems like he knows as little about the car as me...
<img src="graemlins/a_smil17.gif" border="0" alt="[blabla]" />

Steve Wilwerding

My advice is to spend a little money and have a pre-purchase inspection (PPI) done. Especially have the mechanic look for rust, transmission problems, and engine problems. The first lesson many people learn when they buy a Porsche is that a cheap Porsche can quickly turn into an expensive Porsche. Unfortunately, I do not know of any Porsche mechanics in your area.

Dan

Mike, As Steve said get a PPI if you are serious about this car. First I would drive the 71. The earlier cars are a little more raw in feel then the mid 80's 911 and dont have some of the creature comforts you might want. If the car is as stated and you like the feel of the car, PPI comes out good and you could get down into the 5-6k range it sounds like a great purchase. 10k is not out of hand for a 71T in really good condition with no problems. The electrical could be as minor as corrosion and bad grounding.
Things that stand out about the description is a 73k mile car that has been garaged and has new paint less then a year old. A repaint could mean some body work has been done and or rust repair.
Also you say the guys knows little about this car. Ask for all records. If no records and little info on the car it could be something to pass on.
As for a mechanic check with your local PCA chapter and see who they recommend in your area. Hopefully someone on this board in your area will also chime in.
Now if it was a Targa, it would be worth untold $$$ in any condition.

Keep us posted

KC911

Hi Mike, You might want to post over on the Pelican bbs if you don't get a recommendation for a mechanic here. I monitor both boards, and find that Pelican is more active for the 'older' 911s.
I do know of a good mechanic here in Greensboro though if you're willing to drive that far...Keith

deven07

Hi Mike,

I purchased my first 911 in April...1971 911T Targa with some '73 rs style updates (front spoiler, duck tail, black horn covers) - it looks very slick! If I can find my pics I'll attatch them.

While I feel it was a pretty good buy at 10k (book value said $10,700), I definatley was not well informed or sufficiently knowledgable at the time to buy the car, and it ended up costing me more. I wish I had known about rennlist and what a PPI was prior to my purchase, probably cost me easily 1.5k extra beacuse I did not...so consider yourself at least one step ahead of the game for sure!

My car is super clean, body and engine ground up professionally restored about 10 years ago, starts, runs solid, some oil leak but no burn, yata yata, has pictures and records from then and before, virtually no rust, interior is very nice, I fell in love right away. Unfortunately what I didnt know was just what or how a dying 901 tranny sounded or felt like.

Within 5 days I found out the hard way...I did have a feeling something was amiss, this was verified when lost 4th gear to my hammerhead speedshifter buddy (new rule - at least 1 year of ownership before anyone elses *** hits the drivers seat of any of my future purchases), spent a month on jack stands in the garage playing ship ship reship the tranny...turns out the 901 box in it is from a '69...so the rebuilt '71 I had ordered before the old was out didnt fit (odd clutch system in the '70, '71 years I think...that housing is just a bit different, mine is backdated to pre '70) was shipped back, original '69 901 shipped, rebuilt, reshipped...what a fiasco. Not hard to fix, I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was, but it was a painful wait up here in north MI waiting for parts. Total spent, about $1500 on top of the 10k in less than 2 months (yep, wholesale rebuild - I think Im going to wish I spent more on it down the road, but hey, live and learn!)...cheap really, I actually feel somewhat proud that I coud do the bulk of the work myself and was able to keep my extra surprise investment that low. Other than that, I've done the rear spring arm bushings (that job SUCKED, but was under $50 and helped SO much!) and new tires, now she runs so smooth just like butter.

There really is nothing like it, the handling, feel, sound, smell...I havent had too many opportunities to drive newer 911's in the last 20 years (used to work as a car porter at a Porsche dealership), but I'll tell you my little 2.2l scoots good enough for me, handles better than any new car I've ever owned.

So the moral of my rambling? I'd say dont be afraid of that '71 because to me it is totally worth it as a daily driver (as mine is in the summer) or to preserve or both, if it was indeed well maintained and or restored, and you are just looking at minor electrical, it could be super easy and not too expensive to fix (when I bought my 911 the guy said the windshield wipers didnt work, well they did once I cleaned the contacts on the fuse!)...and soon you'll be grinning ear to ear in your sweet classic machine...but then again...if I could do it over...I'd be getting that PPI!

Regards,

Jamie
'71 911T Targa

deven07

wow that was really long...sorry

billwagnon

Jimmy Elliason (sp?) at Performance Porsche there in Raleigh did the PPI on my 73 - I was driving down from St. Louis while he was doing the examination. He was very helpful and easy to talk to.

Hank77

Hey Mike,

I'm in the Raleigh area, and even though I don't have a Porsche (yet), I've been keeping an eye on <a href="http://www.motorcarinvestments.com" target="_blank">www.motorcarinvestments.com</a>

I don't know much about them, but from reading what they have on their web page, they seem decent. They seem to have a service department, so it wouldn't hurt to give them a call. Anyone in the area have stories about these guys?

Hope this helps just a little bit...

Mike Kast

Thank you all for answering my post. I looked at Car Talk.com for a list of Mechanics, its a pretty cool site. Anyway, here is some response from the seller to my questions...

OK! i just called my dad and varified some more info.....if this car
doesn't meet the reserve he will not mind you coming with a mechanic. My
dad had the car for about 10-12 years. The car has been sitting for quite
sometime. The car worked fine, and had hit road ready 5 years ago. The
car painted had some scrathes...so he decided to give it a make over.....new
paint and upholstry completely done. The to the Engine the carbs neededd
balancing so he did...and bought 2 brand new carbs to replace the original
new ones that have gone bad. But he did misinform me about the
miliage...the car on PAPER has 173,323 miles. but out of the 10 or 12 years
he had it, he put less than 8,000 on it. I'm sorry again for the misinfo
on teh speedometer.....i took the pics for him with digital camera and got a
pic of the speedometer....and that is what it reads......but back then in
teh 70's the speedometers only read 10's of thousand not hundred thousand.
yes i have driven the car..its rides and handles well. its the original
engine...i belive 2.2 6 cylinder 150hp. Ihave a 96' vette with 350hp so i
cant say its all that fast...and my dad only let me drive it less than one
hand full of times....hey! who can blame him. anyways if it doesnt sell you
can give him a call anytime and set somthing up.....if your planning on
going there this weekend e-mail me and i will supply you with his cell &
home # for scheduleing and further info about the car.....thanks again for
your interest


My dad will still sell for 5,000 regardless of
anything....my dad is just lookign for a for sure buyer....if you were to
win the bid at 6,000 or so...my dad would still only want 5,000 from you.
it a sacrifice sale at 5k considering the amount of money he put into it
within the past 4 years.

So... It is tempting. Is it worth it? For $5000.00 it has to be a mess right? Sorry such a long post.

HarryD

Sounds ok but get a PPI for peace of mind.

I bought my '73 T after the PPI releved several minor and several serious problems but overall, I felt it was a fair deal

The car needed some mechanical repairs but the body was sound and apparently rust free. For me, on a pre-76 rust free is of tremedous value. While mechanicals may sometinmes cost long $$ to fix, once fixed they stay fixed, rust on the other hand never sleeps and once a car is infected is is extremely expensive to truly eradicate.

good luck