M. Schneider

Remembering when, say 1977. ... A guy in the neighborhood drove a '74 or '75 green 911 coupe and every now and again would zooooom past our house with a loud capturing your attention exhaust. I was driving the pedestrian '65 Beetle hand-me-down having only starting to drive a few years earlier.

"What a car that 911,,, someday maybe, that's my kind of car!"

race911

Wonder how your/our impression would have been different if you drove that Beetle past the local dealer/Porsche specialist and saw all these nearly new 911s with their engines out, and a quick query to the owner would have him replying that you'd be an idiot to own one of these POS's.

OR, wander out to the local track or autocross, and see how competely inept a stock 911 was, compared to a prepared car. That's what blew me away when I got to my first PCA DE.

M. Schneider

Back in the day an east coast USA distributer World Wide VW/Porsche/Audi was located nearby in Orangeburg, NY. At the time you could drive by the facility (in my '71 Datsun 510 Gymkhana machine) getting a wide eyed glimpse at all the 911s, VW 412s, etc, with there asses up in the air ... as the engines had been removed.
The very scene you're describing. Too funny.

race911

Would they need to do that to install the port installed A/C units? I don't THINK so, but who knows.

In any case, the pulled studs/chain tensioner problems manifested themselves after the cars were out of warranty.

Question for Steve, Colin, etc. What if you sent a Holy Grail car like a '73 RS back to the factory for a comprehensive restoration, and say it needed a replacement crankcase--would you get one with studs merely screwed into a mag case??????

matt777

I ran into another 356 Registry member at Bonham's. He was looking at all the 356 auction cars and taking notes for an article. He posted some of his comments on the 356 Registry forum. I used to think these guys were overly critical (well maybe they are when it comes to polyester fillers) but now I think not for the most part. Most of the 356s I looked at had major flaws. Most were not top dollar cars. Some were obviously restored by people who don't know 356s and/or didn't care. The 356 Conv D that sold at Bonham's had at least one run in the paint and chips. It sold for $189k.

justin993

Funny, you guys bring up good points. With the current feeding frenzy, makes me wonder how many "newer" air cooled cars are selling at top dollar, that are terds???
You can't polish a terd, the more you rub, the more it stinks

ricks993

In 1977 Porsche only made “S” Model. This also has the dreaded 2.7 liter engine the most problem engine Porsche made (before the 996) and 1977 was the worst of the 3 years production. Someone else already said thermal reactor, (they heated the exhaust causing the engines to run hotter) pulled head studs are a major problem.
WOW what a price

CalvinC4S

That would make a really sic slope nose conversion.

race911

In the US, normally aspirated. ROW there was that precursor to the SC in a Carrera 3.0, which basically had a non-turbo 3.0. Meaning it has the same crank as a 2.4/2.7.

For the record, I have rebuilt 2.7s that went 150K+ without having pulled studs OR puking a tensioner. Reactor-less, definitely, or 49 Staters that never had them in the first place.

ricks993

In 1977 all US cars had reactors

Rialas

That is one immaculte looking car with supposedly engine work done.
I presume any engine weakness those engines suffered in the past has now been seen to?

Not surprised it sold for that amount in that condition and mileage.

CalvinC4S

^ those used to be $5,000 cars not even 10 years ago. People used them for donors to cut up for ghetto 959/930/930S projects.

Rialas

^ In the same condition as this one sold?

pirahna

I had the chance to buy a very similar car but in brown a couple of years ago with 20k miles for $8500. I passed on it.

Rialas

An auction house will generally achieve the true value of a car. Whether we think it's too high or too low (give or take).