RonD.

I take back what I said. That's just sacrilegious!

333pg333

I'd actually let him know you've posted on here and let him read independent answers/questions. He might reevaluate his position and drop the asking price considerably. There's no way that's a 450hp motor. It might have a 968 6 speed in there which is coveted although I don't actually believe they are better than a well sorted stock turbo 5 speed. Work and parts are way cheaper in the US but still looks to be at least $20k in repairing that car and more to update some of the ancient tech which it would invariably have.

Dan Martinic

I can tell

Turbodan

take your 10 to 20 k and buy a running non rusty example. you can find a good one in that price range. buy from an enthusiast a car you can enjoy immediately. these are great cars and going up in price. get em while you can!

gruhsy

Chicago area is probably CEP


http://www.customengineeredperformance.com

gruhsy

The KMR yellow 968 has a John Milledge engine in it.
KMR hired him to build the engine.
It belongs to Soloracer
I’ve worked on it and it’s an awesome car.

Be nice if the 89 had a JMR engine.


To the Op is there any reason you haven’t run the VIN number to find history?

vaportrail

Where would I run the VIN? No hits on Google. a VIN decoder just states it is a 1989 944 Turbo.

vaportrail

I have been after this car for a year - I am very sadly backing out of the deal based on all the feedback here, and finding a mouse nest and lots of corrosion under hood. I might do it for $5k but I think the seller would not appreciate that offer..

333pg333

Naw. But he had a contact who had a shop in Illinois that built race motors. Although whatever's in this one doesn't look like their work.

944M3

You never know. You have information now so you don’t have to feel like you’re low balling him. I bought my 87 951 in about the same condition. Owner thought it was worth a lot. I then broke down everything it needed and ended up getting the car for tons less than he wanted. I decided to go for it because I wanted the experience of “rebuilding” a car. Maybe watched to many car restoration shows on Discovery. As some have mentioned, a 951 is ease enough for a beginner to work on and yet a really rewarding car with tons of potential. Took me about 2 years to complete with around 10k spent. But I now know every inch of the car and I have a story to tell every time someone comments on the car, which happens often.

enjoyed the experience so much, I’ve purchased a complete S2 engine and playing with the idea of building a 3.0 16.v engine.

GarageYears

I don't understand what he thinks he has then? A car in that condition doesn't have a 'value' - it has a worth to someone who is prepared to do the work to recover the car to get some 'value', and that results in a fair price.

Your offer is likely considerably more than the scrap value, and anything beyond that is a bonus. If he truly cared about the car, why the hell is it such a mess?

As I said previously, my car is all original (so easier to fix) and sat in an air conditioned/heated storage space for seven years, while the estate of the decreased owner was resolved - and THEN still cost the dealership that sold me the car $7K at a motorsports specialist to bring it back to running/saleable condition (I have that receipt). But not EVERYTHING was taken care of - but it is a full two page receipt of a lot of things (belts, water pump, all the rubber hoses, fuel pump/filter, brakes/brake hoses and the clutch slave/master cylinder).

Since receiving the car I have done shocks, engine mounts, fuel rail and shifter linkage myself - so another $2K-ish.

So, it took almost $10K for a low mileage (mine had 45K miles on it when I purchased it 9 month past) stock car, and bear in mind the interior and exterior are near perfect (so no bodywork or interior expenses).

I hate to see a 951 in such an unloved condition, but it's infuriating if the current owner doesn't get real and understand all he has now is scrap metal, unless he wants to spend (probably) $15K-20K to bring this car back to running condition.

Unless he's really odd, a frank discussion breaking down the costs you might be looking at should be all that's needed to get him to come down to a fair price.

Give it a go. Unless of course you've been put off yourself?

Chapman951

Yeah I think the seller will understand your not low balling him. The car just needs a lot of attention.

I think your the one taking the massive risk. The car took a violent hit to bend the rim like that. You might find a cracked control arm or other issues. The front bumpers is falling off.


The car reminds me of this guys airplane purchase.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aVvHYTtHDrc

gruhsy

carfax

I contacted Porsche Cars of North America and got a history on my car back in 2008

You can run a Vin at a car registry in Canada

GPA951s

Ever seen that show “hoarders” amazing what people think has value.. in a situation like this the seller thinks he has gold and the reality is the car will sit and rot until the owner passes away, then the family comes along and auctions it off because they dont give a crap. The only ones who benefit from this type of situation are the mice.. they have the benefit of escaping eviction..

gruhsy

Very unfortunate seeing a car like that so poorly looked after
Not worth much in the condition it’s in.
Definitely fixable with the right person and appropriate sale price.