porscheconvert

Contemplating a project car...and doing my best to immerse myself into understanding scope and skill set required to rehab a car. For those that have owned many generations, do you have perspective on which generations would be better candidates for someone that doesn't have a mechanical background?

As example, seems like dropping engine on SC is not really that invasive. Thoughts?

ADias

1964 901.

linderpat

I'd go even further back and say the 356 pre A! All kidding aside, and assuming you have some kind of budget restraint, it will be one of the air cooled gen cars, and the best deals are the mid-80s vintage. A 996 isn't all that bad either, and you can get them quite cheap, allowing lots of room to work on it and do what you want with it.

Marv

My 1/64th scale Gen I 996 GT3 Die-Cast Model.

porscheconvert

Dennis C

ADias

If not a 901... yeah, in an SC or on a 3.2 there's a lot that a reasonably skilled owner can do.

porscheconvert

sloanfiske

Bruce In Philly

The easiest one is the one where you have access to the most/best information.... and a great set of tools.

Peace
Bruce in Philly

Meursault88

Any version that a Haynes manual exists for. I did a 901 but would not do it again. The quality of the metal just isn't that good. Like many, I spent a lot more time restoring the car than I ever did enjoying it.

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Ben Z

If by not having a mechanical background you mean you have no experience beyond the rudimentary, and by rehab you mean restoration, then frankly I would get my feet wet with something like an 80s Mustang where a project car and the parts are cheap and plentiful. The cost of buying any project Porsche, plus the parts, is rather expensive if you mess anything up. But if that doesn't faze you then I would suggest as others have, a 911 from the 80s. But beware of rust. Mechanical work can be learned on the fly, but fabrication, welding, and bodywork including paint-prep are things it takes a lot of practice and experience to get good at. I've done frame-off restos, and believe me those shows on Velocity make it look a LOT easier than it is!

OnlineAlias

996's and 7's are so similar from a repair-ability perspective it doesn't really matter. They are all very, very easy to work on.

I've owned over 80 cars and I worked on all of them myself, for the most part. A 911 is crazy easy when compared to something like a BMW of the equivalent year. Porsche doesn't have to over complicate the engineering by re-inventing everything to impress with the latest features on things that don't matter. (heads up display? Nope. Power steering column? Nope. Keyless go? Nada.) In this way, a 911 is somewhat unique in the marketplace.

Look at the windshield wipers on a 997, for example. Same arms and configuration they've been using on VW/Porsche/Audi since the late 70's. Now look at the ones on any modern Mercedes. Just replacing the blades is a PITA.

Doug H

S.C., 3.2 and 964s are super to work on and generally easy to get parts for.