Dave Howerdel

I would love to believe this but I have my doubts.
I bought my 78 in 86 for 11,000 and change.
Sold it in 90 for 7000.

For me at the time, it was a cheap supercar since quite a few parts for it were readily(cheap) available.
As time goes on, the cost of maintaining these cars is going up as fewer and fewer parts become available.

Sadly, I fear that the enthusiasum we have for maintaining/restoring these cars will wane.

Many of us today question our sanity, me included, when we realize the amount of time and $$ we spend to keep a 5-6000 car up to snuff. I am able to justify it due to the passion I've had for these cars coupled with performance I've enjoyed from what is considered by most a superb but obsolete automobile.

As newer, more advanced models continue to depreciate, I am sure that the 928 will eventually be supplanted as the enthusiasts affordable supercar.

For example, 10-15 yrs from now would you rather pay 13-14000 for a 996 and spend 2000 per yr to maintain it with readily available parts or buy a 928S for 3000 that costs 5-6000 to maintain and deal with the down time when parts are practically unavailable. Considering cost and performance, I believe most would go with the former.

What it comes down to is that I enjoy my cars today, for what they are and what they mean to me. I would never consider ownership of a 928 as an investment since few if any of us will ever get back even 1/4 of the $$$ we put into them. So my advice is customize to your hearts content.

Rob M Budd

I'm just starting the 5th year of driving my SBC LT1 powered 928 with over 30,000 almost trouble free miles so far. Although I did have it stroked, bored, balanced and blueprinted last winter to the tune of $5,000. HP is 401.
I say almost trouble free, since I had to replace the intake air temp sensor last month ($9.99 at Autozone). And the alternator a couple years ago ($120.00 Pep Boys).
Its been at a few shows (hood open) here in the Detroit area and received compliments from domestic and import owners and even won a couple awards. (One was $30.00!)
I've got $8,000 in the engine including the first stock rebuild but I'd much rather have a 400 HP, stroked and blueprinted S4 though its doubltful that can be done for 5K.
Its a fine engine in a great car which adds up to a lot of driving pleasure.
On a side note, it weighed in at a whopping 3810 lbs with me (180lbs) aboard.

m21sniper

"I would love to believe this but I have my doubts. "

The older cars are all hitting antique and classic status now.

You put classic or antique tags on pretty much any car within reason and it's value goes up, and keeps going up.

In 20 years, i reckon a really nice 928S or S4 etc will fetch a very handsome sum.

There aint a lot around, and the fanatics among us...that have kept the original drivetrain, we'll have the last of them within 10 years or so, and they'll be worth pretty decent money. Way more than i paid for mine at any rate.

FBIII

I don't know Sniper. I bet 10 years from now your Buick Grand National is worth more than your 928.

Drewster67

Isn't the ZR-1 motor made by Lotus? I heard it made great power but a royal PIA to work on?.

Malibu310

Here is another thought.... think of this.... the Classic and Antiquers think of Hot Rodders as evil beings just ruining their classic original cars because of the modifications, ruining the classic appeal of the limited number of 1936 Buicks (etc) in existence. In many ways the rare P-51 Mustangs modified for Air Races quickly erase history. The 928's however, are not that rare and many are in so awful condition that it does not even pay to save them, given the costs of parts... I have two 928's and both have worn shocks... those alone (installed) will cost about $5,000... more than many 928's costs! Yet that investment will make the cars worth hardly any more... just propeer maintenance. In fact I'll most likely find some non standard but better performing shocks (and springs) instead of original equiptment... is that "ruining" the car? At what point does a 928 cease becomming a 928? Will these ever become rare collector vehicles? I doubt it, as they for the most part have overall good owners who keep them up. They are over built and are made of non-rusting materials.

Even the antique purists today realize that to actually enjoy their cars they are allowed some flexibility inn systems to make them more enjoyable, driveable, and safer without destroying their "antique" value.

The 928 is more "car" than "engine"....

Our Blower Motor changed the personality of the 928 to be more hot-rod than exotic car... it's loud and rough, more dragster than sports car. However, it's really for show. Its very fun to drive, but in small amounts... it's a hoot to drive around town with the blower sticking out... in Minnesota that is rare to begin with on a street machine... let alone a Porche! We are not alone, we won best in show out of 4700 entries at the Car Craft Summer Nationals.

My other car is extremely refined... quiet unless you hit the gas... smooth and flat power curve. Will it out accellerate a 928 GTS from 70 Miles per hour on... probably not, but 0 to 70 it will leave the GTS in the dust and 70 is pretty much the speed limit. In fact now in Minnesota at 100 MPH the ticket will pull your license for 6 months. If it looks and feels like a Porsche 928... its still a 928.

Rick

G Man

If you are going to build an engine from a bare block, just use good, matched components and have the engine balanced and blueprinted. I have always been a Ford guy and would like to see a built 5.0 engine in a 928! Lots of power adders for Ford engines available too.

Kaz

I don't think you have to do much except take care of it. Chevy engines generally last a really long time with the cars/trucks themselves falling apart around the engines.

m21sniper

FBIII- "I don't know Sniper. I bet 10 years from now your Buick Grand National is worth more than your 928."

It already is.

But if you look at a lot of the undesirable(at the time they were new) cars that sell for stupid money nowadays just because they're old and in good shape, i think it's a safe bet that the 928 will be worth a pretty good coin.

This is not to say i view 928s to be good investments, clearly they're not...but i think that we'll see go up in value as the years roll by. Just my opinion, of course.

m21sniper

Malibu- "I have two 928's and both have worn shocks... those alone (installed) will cost about $5,000"

Wow, dude....you're getting brutally raped if you pay 5k!

Figure the cost for a complete set of bilstiens at about a thousand bucks, and six hours labor time.

Malibu310

The first two quotes I got was from Carousel Porsche and AutoEdge in the Twin Cities, the two shops that can do a 4 wheel alignment and install, both were $2500... mostly for labor... I'm pricing around still...

Jim Nowak

Please show me where you can by the ZO6 motor for $13,000?????

sublimate

http://www.crateenginedepot.com/stor...05-P930C0.aspx

Malibu310

Adam (my son with the blower 928) made a good point... we are debating whether a "chevy" engined 928 is still a Porsche... he said most Porsche 911 owners don't see the 928 as a real Porsche... just an observation.

FBIII

Dam Victor you're good. I thought I had read the 13K number but had no idea where to look for it.