Mikeeee

I have the opportunity to buy a 1978 (note: since staring this thread, I now know the car to be a 1977 2.7 model) 911s from a relative, but am unsure of a fair price to offer. I was hoping Rennlist could help.

The car has 68,000mi. It was used as a daily driver for many years during the 80's and then became a garage queen for that last 15-20.

Body is in great shape with no rust, but several paint flaws. There are quarter and dime size chips in the rocker panels and the hood has a 8" crack that is peeling up along the seam. The rest of the paint is in OK condition, shiny, but some oxidation making it feel rough to the touch. I am thinking a good clay bar should help. By the way, the car is metallic salmon, which seams fairly rare; so I'm wondering if that increases the value any.

Interior, the car is pretty rough. The dash is cracked and gauges are cloudy. HVAC controls and radio look rough. Door panels could use some work as well. The seats look OK, with no tears. I think they just need a good cleaning and conditioning.

Mechanically, the car seems in good order. It starts up easily, but with a bit of white smoke for the first 30 seconds when it hasn't been driven for a few weeks. It leaks a bit of oil, but not horribly. I'm not sure where the leak is coming from. Shifter is rough (especially compared to the 6sp in my TSX), and it is hard to get into 1st and 2nd. From researching Rennlist, it looks like a Weds shift kit would help this substantially, as I am sure they have never replaced the original bushings. It has been serviced recently and I think everything is in working order.

The car has body colored Fuchs rims with newer tires (I believe 215/50-16's all around.)

Any ballpark ideas on price? Are there any options/details I should be looking at to help value the car?

Thanks!

ivangene

<$10k

no offense but the words "garage queen" don's come into play after reading the description... more like mothballed and driven when I had the gumption.

transmissions on the 901 are a "learned process" forcing or expecting it to act like a new car will lead to the need for a rebuild. It might be just fine.

get a PPI and have them check the car - tell you what's up

have a Porsche owner drive it (second opinion)

post some pics.

Ask the relative what they think its worth.....

Paint issues sound pretty bad to me - and if those are "good" and the "interior is pretty rough" from the same description I would be interested in seeing that...dont be thinking cheap to buy means cheap to own....esp if there is restro and renew work involved

welcome BTW

ivangene

lastly - the word "neglected" for 15-20 years is what I would use and you might find ALL KINDS of problems if you start driving it...degraded rubber oil lines and fuel issues, bearings gone bad, leaks from dry seals....on and on

COULD be a dream car, might be a nightmare

rusnak

Ouch. I'd pass on this car. 1978 would be an SC. Pre 78 could be an S.

whalebird

Pictures help, but I might go 8K.

911sccab

I guess it depends on what you want. I think the car in reasonably nice/dependable condidtion might be worth $10,000 - $12,000 and I think you'd easily spend $2000 - $4,000 to get it to reasonably nice/dependable... so I'm agreeing with $8,000. Although, sight unseen we're all a bit blind!

It's nice you know the history of the car... it hasn't been totaled and rebuilt, nor is it a rebodied 912 with later bumpers, a different engine, and a hokey title. It's also not a distant E-bay rust bucket. But it isn't an immaculate 911, and it just might be cost prohibitive to make it immaculate... so don't get seduced by top-conditioned cars priced accordingly.

So, for $8k and a roll of the repair dice, you could have a nice driver 911. Oh, and I happen to think that "driver" 911s are the best kind!

Mikeeee

Thanks for your input Ivengene.

Neglected is probably a more accurate description. My judgement might be slightly clouded by the family aspect.

I like the suggestion of having another Porsche owner drive the car, and based on that would then pay for the PPI as a final precaution. Does anybody know members in the metro Milwaukee area that are willing and familiar with late 70's Porsches?

My plan for this car, if purchased, wouldn't be to do a full, period correct restoration. I'd prefer to rat rod it, doing some work to make it look nicer and some to improve performance. Is it possible to do that on a relatively modest budget, or am I completely delusional?

Oh, and I should be able to get pictures soon. I'll post them when I do.

Mikeeee

911sccab,

So, if I could get the car for $6.5k I might be doing well? I think that is a number I might be able to get as a family member.

rusnak

I was thinking sub- $8K, but the concern would be the relationship with the family member.

you also mentioned the tires are all the same size, which is how midyear cars came.

If it's a 78, then the rear tires should be wider.

whalebird

I think 6.5K is a fair number on a fair conditioned 2.7 (1974-1977)car that is a solid driver. I also think that is a very nice number for a 78-79 911SC in solid shape. Try to confirm exactly what year the car is for us. That may help. I always recommend getting an intact, even if neglected, original car; So many poor examples out there with shiny new paint and they are all going to need some investment. In the end, cosmetics are the least of your worries, and a respray almost always hides damage.

whalebird

A shabby 2.7 is going to cost some money and we all know what that means with these cars. A 3.0 911SC is a little bit safer investment.
At or below average 2.7 cars can be had for sub 5K and they should all be able to be driven at that price...at any price really. I don't suggest buying a 911 that can't be driven.

rusnak

That's very good advice. There are some 911s that would be parts cars too.

theiceman

if thats a 2.7 with all that work required i wouldnt even touch it for free

imho

Amber Gramps

Are we sure it's really an "S"?

....and metallic salmon is kinda cool on a 911

GothingNC

This SC Coupe was listed for $9,500 and sold on Pelican recently as a comparo.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsc...83-911-sc.html