78 928 on craigs list
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,675
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From: TEXAS
A couple of years ago there was a petrol blue 78 euro 5 speed for sale here in DFW. I think the owner was asking 2500-3000 dollars. The car looked to be in very good shape cosmetically. But the engine was taken apart. Timing belt and intake I believe. He sold it pretty quick.
Then there was another forest green 78 euro automatic with the S4+ or the original euro headlights. Paschta interior. The car was rough but it supposedly ran. He was asking about $3000 for it but after I talked to him he was willing to take $2000.
I like this one, has no rub strips, looks to have no sunroof either. If the body is straight with no rust issues (paint may be original given how its faded, should be single stage with no clear coat), I would pay no more than $900 for it. Offer him 700 as a starting point. You would be surprised how much people will drop the initial asking price down, specially for a project like this. Look inside the engine bay and make sure there is no evident of accident or frame damage or a new from clip welded on. That one scares me the most.
Then there was another forest green 78 euro automatic with the S4+ or the original euro headlights. Paschta interior. The car was rough but it supposedly ran. He was asking about $3000 for it but after I talked to him he was willing to take $2000.
I like this one, has no rub strips, looks to have no sunroof either. If the body is straight with no rust issues (paint may be original given how its faded, should be single stage with no clear coat), I would pay no more than $900 for it. Offer him 700 as a starting point. You would be surprised how much people will drop the initial asking price down, specially for a project like this. Look inside the engine bay and make sure there is no evident of accident or frame damage or a new from clip welded on. That one scares me the most.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 115
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From: Fla
Don't touch that car! Don't even go to see it. You'll die of old age before that car is right, and even if you do get it back to correct, when you're through you'll have a 1978 928 with a 3 speed automatic. You can do way better than that...probably for about the same money.
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I get that, "I want to save it feeling" when I see classic wooden speedboats....so far have remembered enough about the wooden boats of my youth to avoid adopting one 
It is the "Pretty Woman" syndrome where you think it will be Julia Roberts but too often ends up being Julia Child .... that desire to save one !!!
It is the "Pretty Woman" syndrome where you think it will be Julia Roberts but too often ends up being Julia Child .... that desire to save one !!!
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Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 427
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From: prescott valley AZ
I think I get it now! You guys have helped me see the light about getting into no win deal. Wish I'd been on RL before I bought my 83 but it's finaly a decent car and upside down like I hear a lot of here. Thanks for helping me answer my questions. This is a good site with a lot of helpful people.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,025
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From: Thorndale Ontario Canada
I buy cars like that but I was a mechanic years ago they are lot of work to bring back....If the paintwork is very good then they are usually worth getting but if they need body work and paint then don't waste you time its a parts car
Rennlist Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 773
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From: Tucson, AZ
This car has been for sale for a long time. I looked at it over a year ago. '78 auto red that was brown and he did a full paint less pulling the window trim out. Not bad really, but I dont like red and I dont like repaints to new colors unless done like what Tony and others have done...a full job.
Paint is faded all over, He things all the parts are all there and interior is OK. He has a 2nd set of rims with new tires, but all of them are 7 plus years old now.
The story on the motor is not the same that I recall... as I understand it, he built the motor up. I thought about it for a project, but she will be a long haul to get her there... It has been in the condition for at least 10 years. There is at least one other 78 down here (black on black) for sale off and on as well - another non runner. If they were worth anything, I would have grabbed them, but I do not see any collector's value, no real return on $ for even the fun factor... to do them right these will be full strip, rebuild from the ground up to get them right... no telling if pack rats or other have gotten into them....
This one has been outside for at least 5 years and my guess is much longer than that...
Nice guy that owns it, but he really has a parts car at this point... The best part is the 2nd set of off set rims he has....
If you want a project for fun, go find a 78 5-speed. It will be worth something one day and will be at a min fun as hell...
The others in the are that I know or knew of are:
'78x2 Black on Black non runners 5-speeds
'81 beige 5-speed
'85 Red Auto with an S4 motor in it
'85 White auto
'89 Baltic Blue Auto Bueaty that was over $20K
'90 White S4 that was meager
'
If you get to town, let me know. We can meet up. I am off of I10 and Ajo.
Emerald
Paint is faded all over, He things all the parts are all there and interior is OK. He has a 2nd set of rims with new tires, but all of them are 7 plus years old now.
The story on the motor is not the same that I recall... as I understand it, he built the motor up. I thought about it for a project, but she will be a long haul to get her there... It has been in the condition for at least 10 years. There is at least one other 78 down here (black on black) for sale off and on as well - another non runner. If they were worth anything, I would have grabbed them, but I do not see any collector's value, no real return on $ for even the fun factor... to do them right these will be full strip, rebuild from the ground up to get them right... no telling if pack rats or other have gotten into them....
This one has been outside for at least 5 years and my guess is much longer than that...
Nice guy that owns it, but he really has a parts car at this point... The best part is the 2nd set of off set rims he has....
If you want a project for fun, go find a 78 5-speed. It will be worth something one day and will be at a min fun as hell...
The others in the are that I know or knew of are:
'78x2 Black on Black non runners 5-speeds
'81 beige 5-speed
'85 Red Auto with an S4 motor in it
'85 White auto
'89 Baltic Blue Auto Bueaty that was over $20K
'90 White S4 that was meager
'
If you get to town, let me know. We can meet up. I am off of I10 and Ajo.
Emerald
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,575
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From: Orange, Cal
Time has changed my views some, so that a really nice exterior with original paint in a color I like might tempt me even if the rest was a mess. Respray, just the opposite, parts car with few regrets.
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,453
Likes: 8
From: Pennsyltucky
If i was looking for an early car and project, I would buy this car, but very cheap.
I would talk on the phone with him/her first though. Explain the case against 1800 bucks once you determine he is willing to hear you out.
His asking being high means to me it is a nice example and cared for. If he was asking $300 i'd run.
The plus to this car is it's early and the paint looks terrific and only oxidized from the pics shown. Shame if not original though.
The motor looks clean and well prepped, i would be willing to bet it was done right, and the upside is: it is the correct matching motor.
The interior looks carefully and thoughtfully dis-assembled. The vinyl seats are also nicely done to my eye and many early cars wore vinyl.
Paint just needs a buffing and waxing from what i can see. Carpet looks nice.
I would bet this car was really cared about in the near past and is now.
Buy it at $500 as you have a long way to travel and a lot of work to move it all.
Tell the seller at least (at $500) it will be cared for and running (someday) and not crushed. He will probably balk at this offer but call you in a month when his wife starts bugging him.
I would talk on the phone with him/her first though. Explain the case against 1800 bucks once you determine he is willing to hear you out.
His asking being high means to me it is a nice example and cared for. If he was asking $300 i'd run.
The plus to this car is it's early and the paint looks terrific and only oxidized from the pics shown. Shame if not original though.
The motor looks clean and well prepped, i would be willing to bet it was done right, and the upside is: it is the correct matching motor.
The interior looks carefully and thoughtfully dis-assembled. The vinyl seats are also nicely done to my eye and many early cars wore vinyl.
Paint just needs a buffing and waxing from what i can see. Carpet looks nice.
I would bet this car was really cared about in the near past and is now.
Buy it at $500 as you have a long way to travel and a lot of work to move it all.
Tell the seller at least (at $500) it will be cared for and running (someday) and not crushed. He will probably balk at this offer but call you in a month when his wife starts bugging him.
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,453
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From: Pennsyltucky
Perhaps is more of a reflection of how far upside down the current owner is given that he bought it as a running driving car then discovered the engine problem and started down the rebuild path. And you can pretty much bet that his wife is ALREADY tired of seeing that dead 928 sitting around
It was a nice looking car and now he no longer has the time
and or inclination to finish the job.
The repaint over brown is pretty common.
(I personally like the brown though)
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 427
Likes: 14
From: prescott valley AZ
update: The owner called me back about the 78 to see if I'm still interested in the car. I offered him five hundred after explaining what I'd read about the car on the RL. He didn't take it to well and said if I wanted the car for free he'd put me on the waiting list. Also said he had 2k in the engine as it is. I asked him to counter offer and he laughed at me. I feel bad about it but we'll se if he calls back. Dunno . He didn't know anything about RL either....
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From: Rep of Texas, N NM, Rockies, SoCal
Buyers set prices, not sellers. The buyer will have this car until it rots back into the earth. The engine will wind up in some machine shop for a few years, and be scavenged for other parts. Quite sad.