Sikorsky

I have found a 1976 911S that I'm interested in. Since pricing has gone through the roof in the past 18 months, I'm having a helluva time figuring out what a decent price is.

Details:
- left coast car
- 131,000 miles
- Bamboo beige (yellow?)
- tan interior
- Sunroof coupe
- cookie cutters
- lowered (too much for my eyes, but whatever)
- Pristine interior
- Very good exterior (there has been touch ups here and there)
- no oil leaks
- no rust
- no A/C
- Engine rebuilt by a reputable shop 30,000 miles ago with Mahle 8.5:1 jugs and pistons, 930 rockers (?), new head studs and other worn items ....... stuff that added up to $11,000.
- Clutch/flywheel redone 500 miles ago and transmission gone through at same time replacing worn bits and bobs ....... another $6000 bill from a decent shop.

The seller is asking $25,000. Pretty damn steep in my eyes, but it is in pretty fine condition. A PPI has not been done yet.

Any and all input welcome.

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

Hi,

Its difficult to accurately assess any car without seeing it in person, however IF this example is in pristine condition and with a proper engine rebuild, that's not steep in today's market.

Remember, a 2.7 rebuild is an $18K-$20K project to do it correctly so its as reliable as all the other 911 engines. Naturally, WHO did the mechanical work makes a difference here.

There are other parts to a proper PPI such as determining the condition of the suspension, CV's, brakes, looking for hidden rust, and any sign of collision damage repair.

This one sounds somewhat pampered and it might be a really great car if it passes muster.

Sikorsky

Hi Steve;

I know that asking on a forum is only going to get me the roughest of estimates. Kinda like me saying "It hurts when I do this, what's wrong with me?" I appreciate your feedback.

Sikorsky

And another question ..........

Are the 2.7 cars so atrocious that they should be avoided?

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

LOL,..I've been driving one for 40 years so I hope that answers your question.

Sikorsky

Glutton for punishment?

Joking, thanks.

theiceman

I would want to see evidence of case work during the rebuild. If that can be shown, I think you would be okay.

That car gets a bad rap, but for good reason if the repairs aren't done properly.

pu911rsr

$25k for a good air cooled 911 is a fair price anymore. A nicely rebuilt 2.7 is a fine motor, as Steve said all depends on expertise of the builder.

Phil

Sikorsky

Can you explain what needs to be done for case work?

What I've seen on the bill states the following:
- re&re eng
- tear down eng
- replaced pistons & barrels
- replaced all lower cyl head studs
- replace all valve guides & springs & valves as necc
- replace two chain rails
- reinstall eng and tune as necc

If nothing else, it has gone another 28,000 miles since then.

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

If the case was not disassembled to replace main bearings & IS bearings, the $3K in machine work is not necessary.

Without seeing the WO for myself, I cannot offer anything constructive, however it sounds like the bottom end may not have been rebuilt.

I certainly cannot understand why the lower head studs were replaced since the 2.7's had steel, not Dilavar ones, and they are very very reliable.

theiceman

I can only hope that it woud be to install some type of insert into the case to remedy the studs pulling out of the magnesium case .

This is what i meant by case work. I was helping a budy do his 74 and you could definitely see where they had pulled once we had the pots off. well .. you could hear it before that
.

race911

One "known, high end" Bay Area shop back in the day installed Dilivars on the exhaust side of their 2.7 rebuilds. Go figure.

JCP911S

After being stable for decades, the market for these cars has gone wild in the last 18 months, so pricing is anybody's guess, but traditionally, the 2.7 cars sell at a 20-40% discount to later SC/Carrara in comparable condition.

There are several factors:

The flared (Carrara) body offers better handing and is considered more attractive.

The aluminum case (930) 3.0/3.2 engine offers proven reliability, and more power.

The fully galvanized body offers better rust resistance.

All of these are somewhat subjective, however, and markets often shift, so nothing is carved in stone, but my guess is in comparable condition, the SC/Carrara will continue to maintain a premium over the 2.7.

Whether that makes the 2.7 less desirable, or a good value is really a matter of perspective, these cars are really very similar. While I would consider $25K top dollar for a 2.7, if it is in excellent condition, it might not be a bad deal, so due diligence is the key.

Generally, when buying a collector car, if you get something that is in top condition, that you like, and can afford, a few thousand on price won't really matter much in the long run.

GothingNC

Market is crazy now, $30K for this 911S with 144,000 miles.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsc...9-76-911s.html

JCP911S

Anyone can ask anything they want for a car... what matters is the actual sales price. People can fish cars they don't really want to sell in case they hook a sucker.

BTW... I have a 6-pack of Billy-Beer for $100... I'll consider offers...

Seriously, whether we are in a speculative frenzy, or a legitimate market correction, prices for "collectable" cars is definitely in a spiral right now... certainly, prices for "A-list" cars are unlikely to go down much, but we're talking 550 Spyders, Carrara Speedsters, 917 etc...

Post 74 911 are nice cars but hardly rare, I'd still be cautious in this market, as there are still lots of really nice, no excuse cars for sale, and I have seen some really questionable prices.

That said, if you find a car you really like, that has no major issues, and you plan to keep for the long term, I would not be scared away from the market, but I would cross shop as many cars as possible, not be afraid to make offers, and be patient.