Guy Slack

I've found two local 944's and can afford them. I want to build a project car.

I know the prevailing wisdom is "find the nicest one you can that you can afford." but I actually want to strip these guys down and rebuild.

Is this a bad idea?

Arominus

Depends on the cars and whats wrong with them. If they are both beat down the same way then it won't help you a ton.

That said it is nice to have a parts car if you can store it in the long term.

Ben951S

Worst is you're out what? $1k if you have to flip both in a fire sale?

MAGK944

Unless you are lucky:
A $1,000 944 usually requires a $4,000 spend.
A $2,000 944 usually requires a $3,000 spend.
A $3,000 944 usually requires a $2,000 spend.
A $4,000 944 usually requires a $1,000 spend
A $5,000 944 is normally good to go.

Guy Slack

http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/cto/4231994060.html

This one looks beat down. I saw it in person but they say it runs.

And:

http://scottsbluff.craigslist.org/cto/4197471351.html

It's the second car that is non-running. Talked him down to $1000

Butters944

If you're down and willing to do lots of work and put the 2 cars +$1-2000ish together into 1 nice car, go for it! Looks fun, if you have the time for it!

lart951

where is this?

StickShift

Keep in mind you are looking at an early car and a late car. Pick one, and go with it, or spend the money and get something better.

But if the 86 comes with the bits to fix the clutch, that is a great deal.

Does the 84 at least have matching rims? If not, I wouldn't even spend the 900 bucks to part it out.

V2Rocket

get out the saw and welder and make a 4-door four-four

Dougs951S

I was just talking with a buddy today about making a 44' pickup truck...that hatch is pretty long, about like a short bed truck. I want a pickup that I can take to the twisties

Guy Slack

I went and saw the '84. It was rough. It had the 4th rim in the hatch. This car has probably not seen routine maintenance in 10 years. The treads on the tires were seperating. The inside is equally rough. The only redeeming quality is that it runs, has the porsche mono-tail light (something I really like on the earlier models) and 3-point steering wheel...

I also found this guy with a listing (a month old). I'm pretty sure I can talk him down. How much though, I'm not sure. I'd maybe be willing to go $2300

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/4170812902.html

"For Sale/ Trade Black 1986 Porsche 944 N/A

I originally bought this 944 with the intent of complete restoration. Unfortunately being a full time college student has put that dream on hold. I do not have to funds to go to school and get this car back to the condition it deserves. You can restore it, or quickly turn it into a track day driver, or daily drive it.

Mechanically: It runs like a champ, engine has a nice deep rumble, still has the power to burn some rubber. Has 126k original miles. I have records of the day it was imported to the U.S from Germany, in fact it's a document written in German, with the Porsche German stamps of import on it.
Transmission: flawless, shifts great, no grinding or anything, all smooth. Shift linkage on the **** is loose so the stick is a little floppy, but it didn't bother me so I never took the time to get in there tighten it up. Clutch was replaced prior to me buying it, and only has roughly 5 thousand miles on it.
Since I have had it, I've put about 2,800 dollars into it.

New:
-Full Bilstein Suspension (shocks and struts all around), less than 50 miles on them
-OEM Control arms ($500 per arm), less than 50 miles on them
Porsche grade oil 10 miles ago
Oil Filter at same time I did the oil
Tires (have about 300 miles on them)
The Good:
-Runs Strong, shifts smooth, recent clutch replacement
-clean title and history (have records)
-Power Windows
- Original records and receipts
-126k miles

The bad:
Mainly cosmetic. Has a few dings. Needs paint
Driver seat is pretty torn up on the base
Needs carpet on driver side, and trunk liner
Missing rear passenger side bumper guard ($15-$30 at a junk yard)
Audio needs to be rewired, front door speakers were cracked so I removed them.
Short in left turn signal
Right tail light is cracked
Sunroof needs a clip/hinge to seal all the way, I have it taped down so water doesn't get in.=
Geer in odometer just went out a few weeks ago, shows 125k+
Power steering leaks (I didn't mind not having power steering)
Dash is cracked (normal for 944's)

I think that is everything. Needs some work, none of which is too bad if your car savvy. I would keep it and finish it if I had the finances to do so, but I don't. They are beautiful cars and are one of the best handling cars of all time. I'm open to trades, might be able to put some cash on top depending on what you have, otherwise I'm asking $3800obo. Don't be shy, I'm a nice guy."

Red1

That was an aftermarket accessory. Not an OEM part. Frequently added by dealers back in the day. Just FYI..

I've always been partial to the 85.5 and later interior. The early interior has always looked old, and by now look antiquated. Updating a steering wheel in a late non-airbag 944 is about as easy as it gets, if a three-point steering wheel is so highly desired. Slap an adapter in there and a Momo wheel in a matter of minutes.

Intruder196

That all depends on what you define as "rebuild". Once you have sorted everything and get it back on the road, you can have a relatively worry free driving experience. Or you can pay $5k up front roll the dice and hope the PO did the repairs correctly or the shop he took it to knew Porsche's. Either way you still spend the money.

Guy Slack

Still unsure of what direction I'm going to take.

OnlineAlias

What is up with the DONK wheels on the black one? How did that even happen? Are those wheels off of a Cayenne?

Edit:Now that I think about it, those wheels might end up covering a lot of the purchase price on Ebay.