danglerb

Since all previous comments take the it could be nice tack, I'll provide a counterpoint.

I think if your serious about it a "real" PPI needs to be done by somebody that knows the early 928 well. I wouldn't be serious about it, looks too much like a flip to me, bought cheap and fixed up just enough to sell.

I don't like repaints, this one seems off to me somehow, and when I see one I think it justifies closer scrutiny. Same for recent work, who did it makes a lot of difference, as well as what parts were and were not replaced.

No AC on a AZ car tells me nobody has been driving it in a LONG time, and usually there are reasons for that. Some very old rubber under the hood, and other things like the seats are on the edge of needing serious attention.

$5500 seems a bit pricey for a partially cosmetically fixed up early car that is going to need large and immediate cash infusion.

Hilton

Don't pay much attention to Timing Belt replacement history on a 928. Its not really very relevant any more, as these cars are getting older. It was relevant when the cars people were looking at were only 10 years old - as it was likely due by interval, and was a (if not "the") Large service back in those days.

After 20+ years, there's so much other work that needs doing in the engine bay, that a timing belt is the least of your concerns cost-wise. Also, I've yet to see a car first-hand where the timing belt job was done "properly" by a professional shop - too many of them compromise because the customer didn't want to pay for some new parts or additional WYAIT labour (e.g. tensioner not rebuilt, cam gears not replaced, oil pump gear and seals left alone, bushings not replaced, cam bolts not checked etc.). And thats aside from the PO's who just flat out lied about it being done.

On any 928 you really need to plan to do (or have done) a complete timing belt system refresh, so it'll be in your budget already.

The best thing you can do on purchasing a 928 is to go for originality (i.e. wiring etc. not fvcked with), and good cosmetics (both interior and exterior). Which usually means low miles (but not always). All the mechanical stuff can be sorted, and its not insanely expensive especially if you DIY (as long as you avoid ones with major engine issues like thrust bearing failure, significant blow-by etc.).

So.. to the 78 at hand. Looks good - I agree it probably has new paint, and the odo doesn't look like it lines up, so check carfax carefully. I agree with Mike (danglerb) that no AC is a danger sign, and the car likely needs $5-7k in parts to be *really* good (engine rubber bits, AC, power steering, suspension, etc.). If it were me looking, I'd be buying at around the $2.5-3k mark and spending the $7k immediately (i.e. not driving it for a few months until I'd gone through it).

Bottom line is, for a "nice" 928 purchase, you really need to budget $10k. Whether you spend it at purchase, or on immediate maintenance catch-up is up to you. From the S4 era that probably jump to $15k. What does "nice" mean? I'd say reliable enough that you just jump in and drive 100+ miles away from your home without worrying, all brakes/suspension/electrics/driver aids working, and the engine putting out near factory-new power levels.

edit: there are a very few shops that I'd trust to do the TB job properly (including overriding the customer's desire to skimp).. all of them post regularly here on this forum.

Mrmerlin

Bowerbird since i posted this in the other thread you started and numerous cars for sale were posted it would be helpful if you answered these questions, may you missed them
https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...8-5-speed.html


Bowerbird it might make things easier if you can answer these questions,

how much cash do you have to spend on your new car?

How much do you have set aside for repairs?

Who will be doing the servicing of your new car?

What year are you looking for?

Do you prefer a stick or an auto?

bowerbird

These insights have been lurking in the back of my mind...cool you spelled them out. First off, it is a flip. The "owner" openly admitted that. I actually sort of know the guy, but did not realize it was him until I showed up to look at the car. Cool Guy, I taught his son 8th grade science a couple years ago. He in crazy about old exotic cars of every ilk, particularly French cars.

The paint looks shiny and red, but like you, I felt there was something amiss. Hard to say exactly...Perhaps it is the angel on my shoulder trying once again to talk me out of a potentially expensive mistake...not sure. I did not photograph this for some reason, but there was a gob of paint or some other solid that was once liquid right behind the front left wheel well. It was pretty big, about the size of a pencil's eraser. hanging down by the quarter panel.

I get leery of anything of value that has incomplete provenance. This I think compensates for my lack of detailed knowledge about the machines themselves. Buying a car from a person who has owned it for 20+ makes me feel better than a glancing reference to "collector" who sold it to him.

He commented on the paint being original..This is obviously not true. There were several places where the shine was not consistent. I pointed this out, with which he agreed.

So once again I am faced with buying a mystery 928. Once that has had some cosmetic work by when and whom I don't know and a lack of provenance which I imagine could be rectified by reviewing the records I have not seen.

To the comment about the car being worth 2.5K: Despite the lack of the nice-to-have details I mentioned, I could not fathom this car being worth such a pittance. It runs, had a reasonable interior, fantastic looking exterior (with exceptions) and is an OB 5 speed no sunroof to boot. If he was selling it for 2.5k, the photos I posted would have been taken in my front yard!

bowerbird

To sort of answer your question...I would be servicing it in my garage with my tools and whatever time it would take. I prefer the old ones and those with 5 speeds, though like all 928s. As far as repair money and purchase money. 5k would be tops for me to feel comfortable entering the 928 world and repairs would not have its own bank roll.

Spun

Bowerbird,
I have been toying with picking this up as well, but my conversations with the guy that owns it have concerned me. I just saw this thread, but most of my thoughts are captured here already. I knew it was a flip when I started talking to the guy and then he sort of agreed that was the case. $5K seems fair, but I was thinking $4-4.5 max

I did not catch the bumper change... and I would not. I need to study these older ones more. I would love to have a good 1978 to go with my 89... but this one left me a bit uneasy. I have nothing to go on but a feeling...

He also told me he owned 3 of these so far, which really seemed strange once I asked him about the rack and the other 'standard things to look for when buying a 928" from here and the 928OC and he did not seem to be familiar with those items at all.

I think it would be worth taking it to Chuck here in Tucson to toss on a rack first.

Anyhow. Your up first if you want it. He said a guy was heading there tonight and another from Benson tomorrow AM.


... and what part of Tucson do you live? I am out in Vail.
Emerald

LT Texan

The front running light trim is post-1978. Was it is an accident? Maybe that explains the spoiler.

Looks like a nice respray.

A light '78 5 speed is a lot of fun to drive. Even bone stock.

bowerbird

Good to meet you Emerald. I'm not too far from you. (Houghton/Golf Links area). I had similar thoughts about price I'd be willing to pay. I was considering offering him some $$ but held back, partly for more input from the members here. In the end, the car would stand on its own. I know he has owned at least one other 928. It was one he was selling from an old estate. It was an S4 and IIRC it sold for between 6 and 7k on ebay. I also know he is not a fan of 928s from comments he made about the s4 being something he would never want to own do to expense. He is a big fan of Citroens and we all know the Germans can't hold a candle to the French when it comes to car-making Nothing against him, like I said, I think he is a cool guy, but the car a bit of a mystery and when it comes to 928s that is not a good thing

Spun

Off of Houghton and Maryanne Cleavland near the 2nd high-school east of Houghton myself.

If I have $4500 cash on me right now, that is what I would offer him. If nothing else.. if you get it, I will help you toy with it. If it sits a few more day after all the folks he said has looked at it.. I will go see it. I am tickled with my 89 and I looked at a bunch first. There are so many for sale right now that its worth waiting for the one you want. Even flying and driving it home like I did.

linderpat

Is this the same car from this thread - https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...78-928-a.html? I like it, and Sweet928 said it perfectly. I love my 78 Blumaxx - much easier to work on than the 86.5 was with the 32 valve engine, and my 78 5 speed is more fun to drive than either the 86 or 84 was - lighter and can be tossed around more. Hilton is correct with everything he said, altho for the price, I'd be inclined to just drive it and fix the things over time. It is a non-interference engine, so if the belt breaks, not likely to do damage (altho still possible to damage valves even in a non-interference - the job as a DIY isn't hard, and the parts aren't that much to do it right). Get it for less than $5k if you can, and enjoy it! These early cars are a real sleeper secret to enjoy!

danglerb

I would not refer a "friend" to that car if it was selling for $2k.

bowerbird

OK...tell me why. Seriously. I need to know how you can conclude the car is worth so little. Please don't take this the wrong way. Generally the take here is that your cars are woefully undervalued BUT when a half way decent one pops up like this one seems to be, suddenly its worth next to nothing to many of the contributors here. I agree that 5k is too much but hell, I'd easily throw 3.5k at it. How can you devalue it to the level of a 92 corolla?...common!

docmirror

Ad is now down to $5200. The clutch is pretty costly, verify with receipts. Hard to tell on the respray but it looks good in pics. I think the mileage is bogus, the seat bolster shows > 100k of wear. If you like it, offer $4500 and see where it goes. No sunroof is a bonus to me, and I don't mind the spoiler. If you take it off, it's worth some coin if in good shape. check the synchros carefully, and all elec items. AC repairs are common, no one wants to spend the money to fix it right. All new seals, o-rings, comp seal, dryer, clean the evap, and then load with R-12.

<edit; For my two cents, a running car, with 16" dials, nice paint and just the regular 928 'issues' is worth around 4k. Sure, you'll spend a bit to get it to your liking, but it's a fine baseline. I only hope there are no surprises after you get home, like the clutch not being repl, or a bad engine.>

Dave928S

Which raises the question of where the wiper switch is now ... or was it somewhere else on OB's?

3000teeth

Looks good, IMO, but I'd offer $3500. It's going to cost you tons of money no matter what, and you'll never get it back. So, buy it if you want to keep it, fix it, and drive it for the rest of your life, but stay away if you're doing it as an investment.

BTW: If I could change one thing about my purchase of a hard-top 5-speed OB, it would have been to buy a '78.