Well I'm new here because I'm looking at a 1969 911T. I'm thinking about buying it but I'm not sure I don't know much or anything actually about porsches. The guy said he's asking $5000 but he'll sell to me for $3500. I guess it's a wide body with a tail. 10" rear tires. What do ya think? Any tips on what to look for? I guess it runs good but might need new gaskets since it's pretty much been sitting. And actually it's for my dad but I'm the mechanic in the family and he asked me to check it out etc. I own a 67 camaro that I've basically redone everythng myself except the body. I don't do body work or paint but I'm pretty good with mechanical/suspension stuff. Also I guess it could use a new paint job but supposedly it's mechanically sound. Any help is much appreciated.

 

The only thing I can say is, that car will cost less than a valve job on my 89 Carrera so what do you have to lose?
The worst that can happen is you sell it whole or in bits and get your money back. Then you have all of your cash and still get to tell all of your buddies that you once owned a Porsche 911 and it didn't cost you a penny.

 

Watch out for rust on any 911s that pre-date the galvanized bodies (I think that was 1977). I've heard of and seen some cars where the rust was so bad you could take your finger and stick it right through what was left of the metal. If rust is on the underside and it's severe, and the car needs a lot of work to get it running, it could be essentially worthless (and possibly even dangerous). I'm not saying the car is worthless or that you should assume it's rusted out...just be careful about what you're getting into.

Good Luck,

Bill Wagner

 

Thanks.
I haven't seen it yet so I don't know how rusted out it is. My camaro was rusted pretty bad in the rear quarters, I could stick my fist through it no problem on each side after I removed all the bondo that is. I guess I need to go take a look and see just how much body work it needs.

Any tips on where to look for technical info like OEM assembly manuals etc for it? And are parts hard to find or are they somewhat common? Any aftermarket stuff/companies out there I should know about?

 

Key to buying any 911 is getting a pre-purchase inspection by a knowledgable mechanic. Parts availability is generally pretty good, but can be expensive. With a good inspection, you'll have a better idea of what you're getting into. Of course, if your dad has deep pockets, maybe a scenerio where he buys this 911 for $3,500 and puts in another $4,000 to $8,000+ is OK.

If you want some stuff to read, Bruce Anderson's "911 Performance Handbook" has alot of good information, and the factory manual set is around $175-$185. Porsche Club of America has a series of books called "Up-Fixin'" which also has lots of good information. The series is a compilation of technical articles that appeared in Panorama.

 

Other information sources:

The Used 911 Story by Peter Zimmerman. Helps you go into this with your eyes open. Best $22 you'll spend.

Find a copy of Excellence, the Porsche Magazine. 415-382-0580. In it will be every ad for parts suppliers in the industry.

Pelican Parts. Great source for parts and knowledge. Performance Products, AJ USA and Tweeks are other reputatble sources, though they tend to be a bit pricier.

PartsHeaven. Great source for experienced parts.

Good Luck!

Don