elgy

So my friend Tony and I have decided on a medium term 928 project… that means buying a 928 in the next 6 months or so, work on it over the winter and have it worked out / roadworthy (depending on the initial condition) for next year.

All we need is the right 928 for the project… that’s where you all come in. What kind of 928?

A bit of background; I currently have a ratty 1991 Miata and a fairly nice ’87 924S. Tony has a Mercedes something or other, a Datsun 240Z project car and half interest (with his son) in a BMW cabriolet.

We are both retired with limited income… I’m the one that knows which end of a ratchet to hold onto.

The plan: sell the Miata, the Datsun and the BMW and “invest” in a 928.

Given our financial constraints I would like to have a clear idea of what we should be looking for, so if the right one shows up we can jump on it even if the timing is a bit off…

Evidently we would like the newest and “perfectest”… but realistically the solidest and simplest would be more like it. The car will be a weekend toy to be shared between us.

Si my initial idea would be:
1) Budget?? 5000$ short term and 10,000 over the next few years???
2) 5 speed – pretty important… but I could live with an automatic if I had to.
3) 16 valve – simpler to work on and less to go wrong.
4) More interested in solid mechanics than good looks…
5) Older model – with fewer gadgets (to go wrong)… love my Miata which has power nothing…)
- were there 928s that came without airbags? I would prefer to not have to deal with them.

Is there a big difference in reliability between the 5 speed and auto transmissions? (Other than the known problem with checking the ???)

I am not afraid of a project so a 1000$ resurrection is a possibility… the other extreme is a 5000$ runner that we would be able to drive after some basic maintenance then improve it over time.

Prices here in Canada seem to be a bit higher than south of the border, but it would be nice to find something locally… but for the right car we could be convinced to head off to Toronto or head south with a tow truck/ trailer, perhaps as far as New York or Boston.

All suggestions and comments welcome. Thanks in advance.

pcar928fan

Dean Fuller where are you?! Dean has redone an entire OB and it is AMAZING! He did almost 100% of the work himself. Down, to painting it and the interior work! AMAZING JOB! He learned along the way how to do ALL of it.

I have seen really nice OB's under $12k that need nothing and could nearly win at a concours event, I have seen cars that ran but didn't look like much (infact THREE of mine fell in to this category when I bought them) for under $4k. All three of mine could have been driven and enjoyed as they were but all needed about $3k in parts/labor to take care of deferred maintenance stuff and then to get them the way I like my cars they needed TONS of elbow grease and paint and interior repairs of varying degrees.

Each of them look and run like you can't imagine now...well, not that they are better than when they are new, but for the REALLY old cars that they are, they are quite amazing!

rbrtmchl

Did you see this thread?

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...-for-sale.html

karl ruiter

Running, driving 16v 928s can be had for $1000. The questions are mostly about the condition of the interior and paint and what you are looking for in that regard. Local to me there is a car with a nice interior, and bad paint that needs an alternator. They are asking $1000, but would go lower I think. No airbags until '89.

NordicSaab

I just dug into my 928 project last month. One thing I will say is nothing comes cheap. I bought a 1981 Euro S (5 speed, M28/11, 300hp) for $1400 from a tow yard. In the past month I have purchased $600 - $800 in parts that are mostly past due maintenance more than anything else.

I have worked on and restored many cars, but this is my first Bosch CIS equipped car. It is a pretty interesting system, and there is really a beauty in it's simplicity. Very few sensors and wiring. I would highly recommend a CIS equipped car (1978 - 80? US and 1977 - 83? ROW). BTW, ROW is indicated by a ZZZ in the vin.

From looking at your list, you are going to want an OB car between 77 and 84. 85 is the first year of the 32V. The earlier the 928, the better chance of it being a 5 speed and the less complicated it will be.

I'm currently on my journey of putting $10K into a $5K car. I'd be glad to have some company

elgy

Yes... I left a posted there to say that the car would be perfect... but from California to Quebec is a stretch...

mickster

Car carriers can get it to the NY Border...and it'd be a fun ride!

tailpipe

The early CIS cars seem to be the cheapest here in Canada but your close enough to NY to get some cheap cars from that side too. I will keep an eye out for something nice for you. There are a bunch of 928 guy here in Ontario that are close enough to stop in of you run into problems.

tailpipe

Just checked Toronto kijiji there are about a dozen 928s for sale right now starting at $1500.00

rgs944

Drive it home, it would be a few of the best days of your life. If you have never driven a Porsche cross country it is something everyone should do. I have done it twice before and will be making another 2000 mile trip next week.

elgy

To paraphrase my response to the same suggestion on the thread for Andre Hedrick's 928...

This morning we woke up to 5 inches of new snow in Montreal!
... California dreamin'...... on such a winters day...
And winter is just beginning... and the road trip would have to cross the Rockies (snow)... and the plains (more snow)... and the mid-west (snow)... and the north-east (snow) and from the border to home (most snow).
Didn't notice that there were snow tires included

I did check out shipping and it would be over 1000$

elgy

Any opinions on this as a resurrection project?
http://nh.craigslist.org/cto/3527674103.html

jbrob007

Seriously, if you have limited funds then getting into a "project" 928 is not in the cards... Dont fool yourself... its pretty damn expensive... and thats just the beginning. I bought a very nice 86.5 with 41K miles and I dropped $3K in parts making sure the maintenance items were up to snuff - it adds up quick. On most $1K to $3K project cars, you'll spend an EASY $3K just getting them up & running with maintenance caught up... Not to mention $5K for a decent (not great) paint job... $3-4K for an interior... couple grand for Wheels / Tires... the list goes on. I havent seen as nice a car as Hendrick's for $5K... EVER! He spent that much on the brakes & transmission alone. Spend an extra $1K and have it shipped. You and your buddy will be patting yourselves on the back FOR YEARS!!! I have no connection with the Hendricks and I dont mean to **** in your Wheaties... but I'd hate to see you guys make a big mistake starting a 928 project with limited funds... My two cents - take it for what its worth.

KLVA

This one seems really interesting...did you get any pics of it yet...?
The biggest pain is the interior...cannot find decent or matching parts..
Next is paint...easier to get done...yet expensive, especially with any body damage to be done....
The rest is just ...remove , clean, repair, replace.....
A good project is one that you assume everything will have to be looked at, but the outward appearance is reasonable and intact..the rest is just work....

I think that an OK condition 78 Euro that prolly has a broken odometer gear
ran two years ago and does NOT have major corrosion issues would be a major find at $900....
might be interested for myself......unless it is brown....!

Cheers, Kevin in VA

elgy

Just read the thread "advice on purchasing a 928" from a year ago. It would seem that California is 928 heaven... a lot less selection here, even if I extend my search as far as Detroit and New York...