gth452

Hello All,
Long time reader / but haven't posted here in so long I don't even remember my original username so I created this one to post again. I became the third owner of a black on black 74 911 Targa when I lived in San Diego back in 1998 (was always a SD car from new). I bought the car from a customer of mine who had owned it from the early 80's. At that time, no one thought these cars were that special but looking back now it was. All original car with the exception of the upgraded tensioners and pop-off airbox and all the records going back to new. I believe it had about 90K miles on it around then. I moved back to the east coast in early 2000 and transported the car back with me to where I ended up living in NH. I kept it but drove it rarely until my second child was born in 2002 and ended up selling it to a friend of mine who really wanted it. My wife couldn't understand why I would sell it but for some reason I thought I shouldn't have it and be a new dad of two..... stupid. Anyway fast forward about 5 years later and that same friend called me telling me he was going to sell it but would sell it to me for what I sold it to him for. He had put about 8K miles on it and had the maintenance done but it was still original. I decided not to (stupid again) so he sold it to a guy in Maine. Trying to make a long story short - at the urging of my wife to find the car again (although I just bought a 2003 996 TT X50 from another friend of mine which is a fantastic car). After some searching, believe it or not I found the car in Florida and contacted the current owner. I told him I regretted selling that car and would he be willing to consider selling it. He is a collector and has 2 dozen cars and several Porsche's but he liked my story and would consider it. The punch line is he will sell it to me and is looking for $35K for it which seems like a lot even for an all original car. It looks as if it is in the same condition my friend sold it (has about 105K miles now) and he just put it in storage since buying it from the guy in Maine sold it to him 3 years ago. I have been out of the aircooled market for a long time and the truth is for me it is a one of one car as I really want this one back (he even sent me a picture of my old California title addressed to me and old blue CA plates) and he doesn't need the money. I did ask for a PPI and compression test specifically as I know the engine has never been apart. Would love to hear what you all think? How much above market am I paying to relive my first sports car experience? (I sold it for $9K..... ugh)

Amber Gramps

LOL....You are getting a family discount, not paying a premium. Seriously.

GTorTT

Hard to put a price on the rare opportunity to get back a car you wish you had never sold. That's RARE! I'm guessing that given the work you apparently put into tracking the car down, if the price is reasonable (or modestly unreasonable), you want it.


Wonder if my 1974 Triumph TR6 is still on the road. I'd love to have that car back, and would probably pay above market just to do so. Maybe some day I'll see it.....

Mark Salvetti

But sentimentality aside, isn't $35K for a 1974 with 105K miles a bit high? I think that's where OP is coming from. Not crazy high, as maybe high $20K's is current market value?

Plus the cost of getting it back to NH.

Mark

GTgears

Nope, not high at all. You can have my S title 3.2 swapped theft recovery 74 for high $20s, but finding a no stories solid 74 for cheap is ancient history unless the seller lives in a cave with no internet connection.

Freddie Two Bs

Buy it!! 996tt with X50 and 74 targa is an unbeatable combo

gth452

It certainly is a great combination. Maybe just me but I was surprised how much the driving position in my 996 felt like my old 911 (at least until I hit the accelerator pedal). I really missed the all mechanical experience of the 74.


Yes I am glad he didn't ask $50K for it as I did find him and called him out of the blue. Truthfully I think he has been very kind to even consider it which I greatly appreciate. It did take some investigative work to find it for sure as the car has been sold on a bill of sale since I left NH so no real records to track just owner to owner. It will be a great story and I do know the car has no bad stories - only mine to be the 3rd owner and then the 6th owner which is RARE for sure. I love cars with a story and this one is hard to beat. I was thinking the market value was high 20's to maybe $30K so I'm paying $5K for my stupidity and to get my old paperwork back. It is IMHO one of the nicest looking mid-year cars going. Attached is a picture of it when I lived in San Diego - next to my beater 86 735i

Amber Gramps

Great looking car.

Speedster911

If you don't buy it back, you'll regret it when you think about the car in the future. Go for it, we only live once.

Freddie Two Bs

That's exactly it. There's something special about a car with no electronics, unassisted steering and braking, power nothing. It's not gonna go 200mph (you got the 996 for that) but it offers a very unique experience.

TerryShugart

I guess I don't see a question. If you can afford it buy it.
Terry
75 911S

gth452

No specific question just thought a few would enjoy the story. I love cars with stories and now this one will have one that goes for me nearly 20 years back driving it though the hills in ,north county ,San Diego (where I learned first hand what trailing throttle oversteer meant). . I bought it today! Now the wait.....

Seems Rick that you and I almost have twin cars? Now I will need a 4 post lift and decide which goes on the top bunk and what goes on the bottom. Tough problem to have I know.

Speedster911

Cool that you got it back!! Congratulations.

Freddie Two Bs

Twin garages too! I'm remodelling the house I just bought and a bendpak is going to make its way to my garage, too. 996 on top in the summer, 74 on top in the winter as I won't be driving it much at all from Thanksgiving to Easter.

gavonder

Great story & congratulations on getting it back. I sold my '76 Targa in '99 for $7000. I'd love to find it now. I had it for 10 years & had a ton of fun with it.