70-73 911T
02-22-2002, 02:10 PM
#1
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Southern California
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70-73 911T
I'm flirting with the idea of purchasing an early 70's 911T. I've never owned a Porsche (although they are my favorite cars) and theses vehicles seem to be in a very reasonable price range.
Could anyone please give me some advice? I have a good job and earn a decent wage but I cannot afford to pump hundreds of dollars into a car due to mechanical failures. Are these auto's mechanically prone to difficulty? I've read that they are fairly solid engines, I hope I'm right.
Anyway, any and all advice (feel free NOT to abridge your dialogue) would be much appreciated.
Could anyone please give me some advice? I have a good job and earn a decent wage but I cannot afford to pump hundreds of dollars into a car due to mechanical failures. Are these auto's mechanically prone to difficulty? I've read that they are fairly solid engines, I hope I'm right.
Anyway, any and all advice (feel free NOT to abridge your dialogue) would be much appreciated.
02-22-2002, 02:18 PM
#2
Racer
I'll sell you my 1973 911T Targa. $8500. Just had the motor and transmission rebuilt. Presently I have a idle problem. It will only continue to idle when the gas pedal is depressed. I am checking out possible problems. Good tires, new fuel tank, new fuel pump new fuel injectors and fuel filter. New front seats and interior upgraded door pockets. Targa top needs to be recovered to eliminate wind noise.
Let me know if interested.
Scott
1973 911T Targa
2.4L MFI <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />
Let me know if interested.
Scott
1973 911T Targa
2.4L MFI <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />
02-22-2002, 03:08 PM
#3
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I have no experience with early 911's, but I do have experience with maint. problems. If you can't afford at least $1000 a year for maint., don't buy a 911. I do as much of my own work as I can, and still budget for $1000 per year in parts. Not saying it costs that much, but you should be prepared. Unless you get a perfect, early 911 with a rebuilt engine, no rust, new clutch, then plan to spend some money and a lot of time researching problems and preventative maint. 911's are super cars, but it takes money and time/labor to keep them that way.
02-22-2002, 04:04 PM
#4
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I am not an expert on the early cars either. But the early 70's cars were not galvanized and many have rust problems. I would be very carefull in taking on an early car for that reason.
On the positive side, the earlier cars weigh less and in many camps are a more pure sports car. They dont have all the extra add on's that can take away from the enjoyment of the car.
But, keep in mind that it is a 30 yr old car. Unless it completely restored things are going to be ware out and need replacing. Simple things like brake lines and carpet all the way to engines, fuel injection and transmission replacement could be on the horizon. I saw always have 2-3k available just in case.
One thing people on this forum always stress is a pre purchase inspection. Get the car checked out by a Porsche expert, best money you can spend. Take you time and find the right car for you. Also, I highly recommend buying the best, most complete car you can afford. I bought an average SC and I have paid for it in the long run. By saving 3-5k up front I have invested about 7k over the past 2 years. No complaints about my car, but if you are $$ conscious keep that in mind.
Best of luck
Chris
81 SC
On the positive side, the earlier cars weigh less and in many camps are a more pure sports car. They dont have all the extra add on's that can take away from the enjoyment of the car.
But, keep in mind that it is a 30 yr old car. Unless it completely restored things are going to be ware out and need replacing. Simple things like brake lines and carpet all the way to engines, fuel injection and transmission replacement could be on the horizon. I saw always have 2-3k available just in case.
One thing people on this forum always stress is a pre purchase inspection. Get the car checked out by a Porsche expert, best money you can spend. Take you time and find the right car for you. Also, I highly recommend buying the best, most complete car you can afford. I bought an average SC and I have paid for it in the long run. By saving 3-5k up front I have invested about 7k over the past 2 years. No complaints about my car, but if you are $$ conscious keep that in mind.
Best of luck
Chris
81 SC
02-22-2002, 10:28 PM
#5
You should probably not consider this, given the budget constraint. A 911 could easily surprise you with a bill that is $000s, not $00s. Even if you are doing your own work you will spend $00s routinely to take proper care of it.
02-22-2002, 10:41 PM
#6
Race Car
If you decide to get one, you MUST get a thorough pre-purchase inspection, including checks for important engine upgrades (oil-fed chain tensioners), rust (not just you looking, but someone probing key structural areas), and things like the brakes, shocks and transaxle. The early cars are the best looking of the 911 litter, and the lightest, and the ones that make you feel the most connected with the road. But they're also like puppies -- you see a nice looking one and you start trying to convince yourself that it's such a cool car that it MUST be totally sound mechanically.
Find a good p-car mechanic and invest in the $150-$200 for the PPI. It's like insurance for a lifetime of ownership.
As a side note, be cautious about low-priced 74-77 cars. While many models from this era have been upgraded and improved, they seem to be the most common 'first 911,' because a lot of them -- the ones that have NOT been upgraded and improved -- get sold (again and again) for a song to impulsive buyers. Unfortunately, most of these cars aren't worth buying even if they were free -- the magnesium-cased engines have been overstressed by emissions-control equipment and heat, or studs have snapped or pulled, or... well, the list goes on and on. The bottom line is that it would cost more than they're worth to get them up and running. This isn't true of all 74-77 cars, and it sometimes applies to other year models, too. But the lousy ones just keep showing up -- like bad pennies -- and they've often got narrow bodies and accordion bumpers.
Find a good p-car mechanic and invest in the $150-$200 for the PPI. It's like insurance for a lifetime of ownership.
As a side note, be cautious about low-priced 74-77 cars. While many models from this era have been upgraded and improved, they seem to be the most common 'first 911,' because a lot of them -- the ones that have NOT been upgraded and improved -- get sold (again and again) for a song to impulsive buyers. Unfortunately, most of these cars aren't worth buying even if they were free -- the magnesium-cased engines have been overstressed by emissions-control equipment and heat, or studs have snapped or pulled, or... well, the list goes on and on. The bottom line is that it would cost more than they're worth to get them up and running. This isn't true of all 74-77 cars, and it sometimes applies to other year models, too. But the lousy ones just keep showing up -- like bad pennies -- and they've often got narrow bodies and accordion bumpers.
