HamiltonSeth

Hello everyone,
First time post here at rennlist. I have been hunting down the right fixer-upper sc for about 6 months now. The other day I ran into the car below. It is a 1980 sc with 42k since motor and tranny rebuild. A daughter inherited it from her father ant though it would be a great idea to smash up the front. The lady really doesnt know much about the car, and obviously had no idea how to drive it. I think I could walk away with title in hand at $5,000. What is appealing about the car is that it allows me to replace the hood, fenders, and bumper with fiberglass. I had always planned on replacing at least he front bumper with an rs style. The painting is not much of an issue to me as I would have ended up painting most any of the cars I have been looking at. I cant fire the car up right now because the battery was knocked loose. I will try soon. The real questions are,: What do you think this car is worth, What can I expect to fix? How much would it cost to fix? Keep in mind, I will be wrenching the car myself, and my brother owns a hotrod fabrication shop. I will have plenty of help. Just want to get the car running. I was thinking I could do that with $3,000 in repairs. What do you think? Please keep in mind, I enjoy the work and have a tight budget. Just looking to get the cost estimate to get the car on the road. From measurements I took the frame seems straight. Potential issues found would be the wiring near battery and anything that lies underneath it. Of course I will need a PPI.
Thank you all for you help. Much appreciated.
-An underpaid newlywed with a Porsche obsession.






Thanks again

Shannon123

Hello....I am not qualified to give you an idea on value, however, I am qualified on spending money...haha.

On a serious note.....I would work the deal out backwards !! Certainly there is opportunity for value added on this car, however, once you get a fairly good handle on costs to fix this up, add that to the initial purchase cost and then see what you can buy thats already fixed and running in that price range. My guess, is that you will be surprised and find some compelling cars that are already 'good to go'. I've been religiously pricing these model year cars for almost 12 months now.....the prices just keep coming down IMHO and I have strong beliefs that this time next year, you will see further hurtful de-leveraging by US consumers and more TOYS on the market.

Daniel Dudley

Does your brother do collision ? What does he say ?

ivangene

uff da... IMO not going to fix that for $3k but depending on how resourceful and how much time you have... maybe.....highly unlikely but then what? you have no money left to drive it

Its a noble plan and surely that car can be saved by someone - but for a comparison check out this car.... estimate cam in over $12k for repairs (and I think that is WAY LOW if done correctly)
LINK

I think the biggest trouble is the differance between getting it on the road and repairing it correctly... that is a huge $$$$$ differance.

If I were you (unless you really want your first P-Car to be a project build) I would save a little more and buy something you can drive and do minor repairs with to get the feel for how much it costs just to drive around. Plus the wife will enjoy it some and support your idea where as if its a heap of rubble in the garage for years on end sucking your time and money... maybe not so much

just my opinion

welcome to the forum

500

On the one hand, it sounds like you will be able to do a lot of work yourself, which will certainly help. However, this car may not be an easy fix (relatively speaking I mean).

The car has recieved an offset blow and there is a good chance that that longitudinals in the front have been tweaked sideways, as well as back. It is all probably quite fixable, but you would want access to a Celette bench to get it right.

A lot will depend on the rest of the car. If the motor and transaxle were in stunning shape, and the interior was nice, than $5K would be a good entry point. However, the car does not exude that well-taken-care-of aura looking at that engine compartment.

Good points is that is does have Carrera tensioners and the non-oil cooler side was the one that took the hit...

Bottom line, if you want to make this car nice, here is what you are likely looking at:

1) Body and paint work to a decent "Porsche-ish" level, not show car, but not Maaco either: $10K - conservative - easily more if the damage is more extensive.

2) New body seals, spoiler, bumper etc: $3K (that stuff is diabolically expensive)

3) Then all the "other stuff" that you would have to deal with on a tired SC: Suspension refresh, brake rebuild and things to sort out elsewhere (inevitable)... Typically people find they will burn through $5K pretty easy on this stuff.

You will be well over $20K to get this car to the type of condition that you would expect to be able to find a NICE original SC for, best case. You could easily end up closer to $30K...

MUSSBERGER

You'd be better off finding a donor tub.

HamiltonSeth

Just to help save face, let me explain a bit more; The car is not at the owner's home, but at her friend's home. I tried not to let the crap around it sway my opinion of the porsche. I am not looking for a show car, but a track/ weekend driver. Looks really aren't too important to me, and I planned on going all primer for a short while before a real paint job. Sounds like the general consensus here is to let this one go. I am looking forward to wrenching on a porsche but I really do not want one with motor and tranny problems. I prefer to do the aesthetics myself instead of purchasing a restored car. I was going to low-ball offer at $4k, and see what the reply was. I would be a bit afraid of engine issues with this one, which would make it fairly worthless if problems arose. I am very eager to find the perfect porsche for me: an SC with horrible interior and paint, but strong engine and trans bought at a discount because of condition.

Thank you all for the advice, it is greatly appreciated. I will continue to look.
-Seth

theiceman

if she gives it to you for free you might get it at least with the front end fixed for about 3- 4 k depending on the damage... and that is with your hot rod brother helping out.
just price out the fenders front end pieces and go from there. i wouldn't do it though. with all the rust looks like it has been sitting quite a whille .

jakeflyer

The car was hit on the drives side before. Look at the bondo where the paint is chipped away on the hood and render. If the car was insured it was probably totaled which means it may have a salvage title--- a big problem for resale. You did not mention total miles but the rebuild. Who and what was done. If it was a good shop with Porsche parts then the engine may be worth $3000 or so. Did you hear the engine run?? If it has aftermarket pistons then I would not be impressed. I would not pay over engine value and less if better. You could then wait for a car with a blown engine or with no engine. If you part it you would have the tranny for profit, or keep it for another car.

Fixing that car is going to produce a $$$ loss. But it may be a good spares car if the engine was correctly done with the right parts by a good shop. Look at the rebuild receipt and if she doesn’t have it get the name of the shop and go in and look at it.

As Shannon stated, P cars may continue to get cheaper. Cash is scarce. With gas going up the good MPG cars are what is getting bought. Be patient. But, if you can get it super cheap for parts, do it.

theiceman

looks like a kindergarten class got there hands on that engine bay. can't see a reutable shop doing that crap. makes you wonder doesn't it. maybe it was owned by a clown at one time

Amber Gramps

It is a freakin' clown car back there, isn't it!?!

Welcome to rennlist, but..... why is there carpet and ground straps on the deck lid???

My first guess after seening the pictures is that you live in southern california. Second guess is that this candy apple paint was put on after the last time someone smacked it into something. And what the heck is with the shop_vac quality heater assembly?

and if you've got $5,000 and the desire to get into a 911:

It's a '74 (the same year as Steve Weiner's 911. the real win is no emission testing. Imagine the possibilities.)

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/2149713661.html

Amber Gramps

OK....How close to Rancho Cucamonga do you live?

GothingNC

Carpet under the rear decklid is real interesting...

Is here documentation on the motor rebuild?

I vote to use it as a parts car.

John

theiceman

just go up to the girl that smashed it and say you saw the carpet on the engine lid and were wondering if the drapes match the carpet :O

ivangene

painted the motor mounts and oil cap - points for style

tags still on cloths in truck, maybe return them to get $$ for repairs - oh and look, brake fluid (the cheap crap!)