If it's Euro, PCNA will be a deadend.

 

"I wanted to keep it original, partially to keep it true to what it once was and also for investment value. Would an "upgrade" to a 2.7 or 3.0 hurt the value?"

You'll get a wide range of opinions on these matters... so my idiosyncratic pov...
- it already is no longer original, so what's the point - are you trying to perform a resto to original at a concours level?
- God knows what constitutes an "investment Porsche" to each of us - since you don't have the original "matching #" motor for the car, I wouldn't consider yours to be over-the-deep-end-nutcase- collector grade (arguably making it a potential investment in the purely financial sense), regardless of the displacement (or yr model sourced-from) of the engine.
- Given you don't have the original motor anyway, I don't think one from any later yr would hurt value in & of-itself. More important is the totality of the execution of the work & feel of the car on the road.

I advise Porsche owners (& any old sportscar owner) to satisfy themselves first & foremost - everything else flows from that. Have fun!

 

Checked the serial number and it is a Euro for sure. Think I will try the Porsche Museum route when I am there.

I did some further reading and found out that 14" Fuchs were standard on the 911T in 72, the E and S had 15" with Mahles as an option. Can anyone confirm this?

Ked, to answer a couple of your questions. I don't plan on building it to concourse standards, but I would like it to be attractive to someone who can't afford concourse standards as an alternative. I bought this as a project and in doing so want to build my knowledge of the car from the inside out. That is why I decided not to buy the Carerra a while ago. I think this is going to be a great learning experience and I will have a lot of fun with it. The reality is that I will likely drive it for the summer next year and then sell it to move on to another project, likely an SC. I might fall in love with the car, but my current financial situation probably won't let me have two. Who knows, that may change by next year, but for now that is the plan.

 

"I will likely drive it for the summer next year and then sell it..."

then the less $ you put in to it the better your return. make the project labor-rich & expensive hardware-purchase light. if that 2.0 can be used on-the-cheap, do so & let the next owner address the myriad engine choices in the way that makes HIM happy while you see the best % net gain - my simplistic pov.

{a decent 2.0 is desirable to some of the swb set, so you might be able to make a straight trade to one of them w/ a 2.4 in similar state laying around}

 

I agree with Ked. Unless we're talking investment grade 911's, or one plans on keeping it, you either need to do it on the really cheap, or assume you may lose money on this.

 

I agree with you both. I'm not doing it to make money. I just want to learn as I go. If I lose a bit in the end, I won't be that upset, as long as I am learning more about working on the cars in all aspects it will be worth it. I won't let it turn into a worthless money pit either. I plan to take my time and do everything properly. It may take longer than I plan and that is fine with me. I have already realized part of my dream by owning one, now it's time to learn. Next comes the enjoyment of driving it!!

 

Is there a reason you couldn't work this into being a "keeper"? It would seem to me you'd be able to learn the ins and outs of the car, take the time and money to do it right, and end up with a car you'd be extremely proud of. You could enjoy driving it along the way with the proper organization of tasks.

 

It may end up being that way in the end, but my plan at this time is to build and sell and build another one. I enjoy big projects. If I get this to a point where I am happy with it, it is a success.

The problem with where I live is that we really only have good "driving" weather from May to September. That leaves 7 months of "storage" time. I would rather be working on something during that time than paying to store it. Now that I have been bitten, I am sure there will be very few times that I am without a 911 in my possession, just not sure how long I will have this one.

My plan is to start stripping it down as soon as I get home and get it ready for paint as soon as I can. That way I can start reassembling over the winter and be driving it when the snow is gone.

I've never been one to really hold onto anything for too long. I have lost money on projects before, but always went into it knowing that I was going to learn something and usually don't make the same mistake twice. I am sure I will find a "keeper" one day, and this could very well be it, but I can't say for sure right now.

I do take all advice on here seriously and will take it all into consideration during the rebuild. I hope to keep it well documents and photographed to help others along the way, just as you guys have helped me. I still have lots to learn and I am looking forward to every minute of it.

 

the ancient Greek maxim, "know thyself", is relevant - you seem to have taken that to heart.
kinda ironic that your 1st 911 is an example that is highly prized by collectors & long-time owners - a variant that after owning many 911s, is THE one they want to have & to hold.
if things go as you hope, I wonder if you'll have that conversation w/ thyself in a coupla yrs...
"should I really let this one go & move on... or in my dotage will I rue the day it drove away?"
all part of the experience...

 

Time will tell for sure. Right now I will continue to enjoy it (well soon, I just found out that I am staying here until September!!!).

Oddly enough, in my search over the past few months this is the third 72 I have come across in Canada. One was in BC and in the high 20s, but was a really nice example. The other was "updated" and needed to be put back to original, but the rear quarters had been cut to install flares and I didn't want to have to deal with that. It was the same money as the one I have and had the original engine. Perhaps I will check back and see if he is parting it.

 

I love the '72s...the only year, I believe, that had the oil filler cap in the back, where clueless gas station attendants filled them with petrol!

Nice car!

 

The only other Porsche with that filler port is the Porsche 959!

 

I think I have decided, at least for the initial build, to stick with the 2.2 engine. That leaves more in the budget to do things right on he rest of the car.

 

Similarities are scarey!! Signal yellow 72 targa, they even have the same crack in the dash!! I just did the interior and swapped the headlights. I personally don't think there's anything wrong with 14" fuchs......

IMHO, the more you do to this car the more you'll want to keep it. Once you do the body work and paint you'll have done all the 'hard' work. I would enjoy it as is and if eventually, you're going to do a swap, do a PMO'd 3.0 keep it simple and strong!

 

AGW911,

Your car has, or originally had, a 2.4 liter motor. The 2.2 was used for 1970 and 1971. The 2.4 was used in 1972 and 1973.

I would not swap the motor if it is original; a 1972 2.4E Targa is a pretty nice, fairly valuable car. Your car came with 15x6 Fuchs which used the three-prong center cap, not the later ring type. The part number for your wheels is 911.361.020.00. There is also a date stamp on the webbing.

You should change the decklid. I don't think ducktails look right on Targas, speaking as the owner of a 1973 S Targa.