Have recently come across a "barn" find - a 1979 911 Turbo (930). The vehicle has substantial rust and the interior is very musty. Can't open the engine bay because the driver door latch cable is broken. The brake lines seem corroded from what I can see behind the fuchs rims.

Passenger door is rotted. Front end is corroded as is area around rear window. Various rust pots throughout the body. Can't see the floor pan but have prodded the floor in the cabin and it seems structurally sound but some areas of surface corrosion.

The vehicle has been sitting for over 15 years, open to the elements. It has approx. 55,000 miles. Can probably get it for a nominal fee (couple of grand), but........IS IT WORTH IT?

Have heard the '79 is particularly collectible but want to get some thoughts on potential value if restored as well as pitfalls and cost of restoration. Thoughts and feedback deeply appreciated.

 

I hate to say this but .."You can't be serious?" If you have to ask is a purchase as such viable you likely aren't up to the task of redoing it..period
Either buy it and resell ..pass it on or post the info so someone who will appreciate it can...sorry Bert

 

$10-$15,000 body work (paint/rust repair) and not any body panels

$25,000-$30,000 for mechanical/engine repair.

$10,000+ for interior rejuvenating, at-least

so you will have at-least, if not more, $60,000 into it.

If mileage is low, then you can make some dollars other wise finding a shop familiar with doing authentic work is a job in itself

 

It will need a lot of things but i believe that you will have some collectible! It's a '79 930 Turbo!

 

Can't add much more, other than to state it in a different way--done it's a six figure car. Would take close to six figures to get it to that point. Have the resources to realize a 20-25% return on your money?

(Funny that yesterday I stumbled across a '66 911 and a '67 S in even worse shape than this. Owner is not a Porsche guy, and acquired them as junk in a warehouse he bought. Yes, he knows what they're worth restored. Yes, he knows each will be well north of $100K to get them there.)

 

Thanks, all. It'll definitely be an uphill battle to turn this around. Can't believe these are fetching six figures when restored!

 

Can't believe that someone would let them sit and rot!

 

Buy and resell for a profit. Restoration would be for someone who wanted to keep it. That said, I would be interested in purchasing it from you as is.

 

I think you are off by half on body work. Otherwise it sounds about right.

 

+930. Really really sad........

 

Such a shame.

 

+1

 

Thanks folks. It's a travesty indeed. Does the 25K to 30K estimate for "engine/mechanicals" include replace/restoration of electrical, fuel system, suspension and brakes? Seems a little low, no?

 

Posting one more pic of rough interior.

 

Ouch! Interior pics going to give me nightmares tonight!

If you commission a quality shop, restoration will be $100K+ easy. If you don't consider $25K to be your basic unit of currency, this is probably not the project for you.

However, this car is collectable, and there are folks that will pay some significant bucks for it, so establishing a clear title and either purchasing it or getting a finder's fee from a legitimate collector car broker may be an option.