This one is very similar to my '79 SC that has been in my family almost 40 years. It's been with me so long, I drive it all the time without thinking about it. It's so familiar to me that I'm actually taken aback when people compliment the car. People complimented the car in 1980. But now the praise seems extreme... "ooh, aah, aw man! what a car!

Whenever this happens, I have a kinda 'out of time' moment' where I look at these people and in my head, hear myself saying, 'that's a little over the top buddy, it's just an SC...' Then I come back to the moment and realize that it's not 1980, or 1990, or even 2000.

I do agree with everyone here. I see very few 911s on the road these days. When I do they are mid-eighties models and concours.

But maybe I'm even contributing to the situation by renovating the 'family' 911 with every single part as new as I can make it. It won't be concours, but it will be darn good! Then again, I did the same thing to my 15 year old GMC Sierra. (Funny, no one oohs and aahs over that one).

In any case, I'm closing in on finishing the family SC Targa. Should be on the road by the end of the month. And I will drive it! Anytime, anywhere. I have and wiil again park it, at, Walmart... in the far, empty, end of the lot! :-)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1557671407.JPG

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1557671407.JPG

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1557671407.JPG

Just in Pelican’s classifieds, I see lots of driver quality SCs and Carreras for sale, every day. Plenty more at other sites, too.

I don’t think the selection would qualify for “lots”, at least not in my book. Plus most of them are $60k dealership sales that have been on there for months.

Robert/piscator, that is a nice car you have, great story. I like COAL (car of a lifetime) cars. I get some of the same responses though a lightly used 2010 Honda Civic cost more when I bought mine. At the end of the day it’s just an old car that a small group of people still like enough to own.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1557682733.jpg

That thing has some serious grip.

Go to the Cars and Cappuccino at South park mall in Charlotte. You’ll see your fill of P cars. Not a lot of air cooled by any means. But enough. There were probably 20 more aircooled not in the picture and a lot of other newer cars.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1557684760.jpg

I'm waiting to pull out of the local farm market after buying a mothers day gift for mom just a few hours ago . Typical Pa day, dreary, cold, and --pouring down rain. I look up, and a red SC targa with red fuchs goes rolling by .
I think I may have built the motor in this car about 10 years ago .
I still see a few here and there. My buddy Jay has a business right around the corner from me, and he drives his in once in a while .
Twice now, I have seen a white middie couple with Ohio plates, at the little eatery by my shop at lunchtime. Im pretty sure that one is a Pelicans car .
There were probably 12-14 air cooled cars at Porsche day cars and coffee last summer.
I just got a 72 e in for service this week. There are a few out there.

From the looks of the pix you must be from Australia.

And when you come out of Wallys all you will find is an empty space with an oil spot on the ground.

Aaah.... Tabs, you worry too much! Or, you may be right. I don't work at Walmart; I just stop there once or twice a year. Pretty low percentage of risk. And, by the way, my car doesn't leak a drop of oil! :-)

Thanks for the compliment Jeff! I love white and your car is beautiful! I also love the coupe and sometimes wish my dad had opted for that over the Targa. But then we get a nice sunny day and... off comes the top!

Robert, that's a great looking car. I'm not a big targa guy but when everything comes together, (color/rims/targa roll bar/etc.), they can look pretty good and yours is a peach.

Tabs actually brings up what became a pretty serious problem here in CA. when the air-cooled cars took off in price a few years back. Every single person I know who DD'ed an air-cooled 911 had it stolen in L.A. in about 2013-15. Every single one. I can think of 5 cars right off the top of my head.

This never used to be a problem w older 911s, at least not since the 1980s or so. I think that they all went straight to Long Beach and into a container bound for Europe or Asia. In the olden days, they went to a chop shop where some moron was ruining an early car by turning it into a slantnose turbo look alike.

From what I can gather, it was and is not such a problem in other parts of the country that are not near a port. :cool:

Cool. I am glad they are doing well with the Porsche turnout down at SouthPark. We went down there a few years ago and it seemed like all the Ferrari and Lambo crowd was there. Too high class for me.

My question is: where did all the 944's go? I see far less of these than similar year 911's in my travels.

Yeah...I know. So many of these were trashed to the point of no return - but I maintain that a well sorted example is a truly great car.

I like the compliments from younger women. Sub 30. They have not a clue what the car is, they just like it.

I don't see many. PCA gatherings are 20 to one water cooled 911/914/944/968 vs air cooled 911.

Off topic, in Akron last year, I saw a Miura between two pickup trucks in line to get on I77. Old man driving. Put a perspective on how low those things are.

Plenty still running around my part of town, the only weird thing is that a well used mid-year car is now desirable. Just saw this 20 minutes ago:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1557701947.jpg

Why is it sideways posted here but right side up in photo library? :confused:

IPhone?

My SC has been getting compliments from high school kids - boys and girls. I say to them "Yeah, but modern cars are better, faster..." And they always say "But this car is COOL."

Bob, aren’t you the lucky one!

Speeder, thank-you! I tend to prefer the coupe myself, aesthetically. I do think the metallic paints and chrome trim helps the Targa’s looks, for whatever reason.

I try to drive mine every day there's nice weather, and often on less-than-nice days, unless it's on the lift getting its next modification on its way to being a hot rod. It was a decent driver when I got it, with at least two fairly minor and well-repaired accidents in its past. Part of the appeal was that I could modify it however I liked because it wasn't a pristine showpiece. I've put some money and a lot of sweat equity into it, and have it insured for what it's worth, but I still drive it--even to Walmart. I do it in the daytime, always lock it up, and rarely leave it unattended for more than 15 minutes or so. But--if someone wants it badly enough, they'll get it.

But consider this: the pool of applicants who can even drive a three-pedal car is dwindling rapidly, especially in the shallow end of the gene pool from whence your average car thief descends. And, while I get that there are eager far-east and european buyers out there, it seems like a lot of trouble to go to when you can hack into a new Range Rover and make more $$ shipping it off to wherever.

I think the G Body cars, even at $60-70K for a really nice one, are relative bargains in a world where people drop that much on a new pickup or a new Audi sedan that will depreciate like a stone.

They look a lot better from the inside, with the top off on a nice day.

Mad, this is an interesting and sound perspective. It's certainly true but it also seems bizarre to me that so few people can operate a clutch. So many things we once took for granted are being toppled by the technology and production capacity of our 'modern' age. At the risk of sounding like the ol' faht that I am, I don't think there was ANYBODY who didn't drive standard when I first got my license.

Speeder, I didn't realize that Porsche theft was such a problem in L.A. -- that's amazing. One more reason I keep shuffling more toward the countryside and away from the metropolis where I once made a living.

Daniel, indeed they do! I think they look better from the outside with the top off, also!

I was searching my old posts/threads looking for my 911SC engine rebuild thread and came across this:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/65288-if-doesnt-set-bar-early-s-prices.html

Fk me running. The quality of cars that used to be around before the whole bubble/export thing happened. :eek:

Read the first and last post on that page.

I've got one in my garage and I'm keeping it. I don't care if it's worth $10k or $100k, this is my toy and its value to me is not $$$.

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Nice garage.

thats a beauty tidy. yes keep it. i will be buried in mine! plus none of my offspring drive stick... just a tragedy

This is it.
I use to buy, drive, sell 911's with out ever worrying about getting another one. Not now.

Mine went to Slovakia...

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That was a beautiful car. My condolences.

I think you don't see them because the owners have newer cars to drive and they like the lazy comfort.

For sure, that's part of it. Anyone who has had an air-cooled car for a while is by definition not a kid anymore and new cars are much better as DDs. There are a bunch of reasons but that is definitely one. Jumping in the Tesla to go to work or dinner is a lot less hassle than waiting for an old 911 to get the oil up to temp, etc.

One thing I forgot to mention before is that the old guys I see driving air-cooled Porsches are mostly long time owners who love the car and don't need the relatively small amount of $$ they would get from selling them. They don't follow the market, could care less and will never sell.

That's part of it, but equally so is the fact that no one gives a schit about other people's property. If I daily drove my 911, it would pick up as many door dings and parking lot bumper scrapes as my daily driver has. Or it just might not be there when I got back to it. (In comparison, no one's stealing my beater DD.)

They are safe in their garages obviously. Sometimes its just a PITA to hop in a 20-50 year old car to just trudge around. The mindset is that its use needs to be dedicated.. a show, C&C, a long trip, concours, track day etc. The older the car, the more concern about a breakdown and knowing that no one will likely be able to help in that case. Risk vs reward. That said, I try to make it a habit to take my boys to practice in it when the weather cooperates (but the older I get, the more I like heat and working ac) so comfort is also the issue.

Those who bought these cars on the cheap are the most likely to keep using them. Those who bought on the rise, see it as a possible investment when they sell.. those who bought high and perhaps even financed it, are even more worried about using it. How many 1970s and 1980s Ferraris do you see these days? Heck how many of most cars from the 70s-80s do you see in general?

My case more or less, 35+ years of ownership. I do however follow the market somewhat and will eventually sell. I drive to a local C & C most Saturday mornings but it's not getting the oil temp up that is an issue, it is getting the ambient air temp down. Driving with no A/C in this part of the world just doesn't suit my lifestyle anymore...

I see lots of water pumpers around here but very seldom do I see any air cools. Anytime i drive it to the local grocery store, big box hardware or even the Mart, it never fails to attract some nice comments.

I just opened the PP cars for sale page to see, there's at least 8 74-89 911s on the first page alone. I didn't click on all eight, but for the ones I did, none are $60 dealership cars. They seem like reasonably priced driver level cars for the most part to me.

If I wanted a 74-89 driver, I know I'd have no problem finding one within 2 weeks.

Examples from just the first page

$40K 88 Carrera
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-cars-sale/1022781-1988-targa-guards-red.html

$35K 86 Carrera coupe
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-cars-sale/1029493-1986-carrera-iris-blue-metallic-sunroof-coupe.html

$42K 74
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-cars-sale/1029521-fs-1974-porsche-911s-targa.html

$35K 77
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-cars-sale/1029322-fs-1977-911s-no-sunroof-sc-upgrades.html

$35K 85 Carrera
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-cars-sale/1029317-1985-porsche-911-cabriolet.html

The market actually at this time seems fairly flooded with driver quality 74-89 911s.

Remember, the ones above are literally from just the first page of PPs classifieds. That's just the ads posted or refreshed in the last few days. There's similar amounts on pages 2, 3 etc.

Also, prices seem lower than they have been in at least 3 years, and continuing to head downward.

Perhaps it's an age thing
 

At age 75, there's really no car, new or old, that puts me in a "gotta have it" mode. Heck, not even a "I want it" mode. I look at it all, not just cars, as just more stuff I'd have to take care of.

However, I do know where a certain '72 911S went, and I'm more than okay with it being there.

Also there was a time when my wife would ride in it with me, now she says it's too noisy and stinky. Hell, she won't even follow me in another car.

My wife would be thrilled if I sold my 85 911 and bought a new Cayman S. Ain't gonna happen until I can sell my 911 for the full price of a Cayman S or maybe the GT4. Not very likely to happen.

After 24 years of ownership, it doubt there is a system or component that I have not touched and either improved or kept in perfect working order. The AC kicks ass, and the drivetrain is all ready for my trip to Key West this summer. I will put 5,000 miles on it most likely for that trip.

I have been in well over 100 autocrosses in it, and run Laguna Seca and Roebling Road and three other tracks going as fast as possible.

In the 24 years I have put only 120,000 miles on it, and it is insured as a fun car and not a daily driver. I have agreed value insurance, and know just what I will get if it is stolen or totaled. That insurance is just about 60 cents per day.

It is worth over twice what I paid for it, and it has provided me millions of smiles.

GH, is your A/C modified or stock?

One concern I have and it’s probably why I don’t see a lot of vintage sports cars anymore is the lack of shops that can work on them.

We have 1 shop. They are amazing but if they were to close up, I would be screwed if I needed major engine work.

I see almost no vintage Ferrari’s. We used to have a very good Ferrari mechanic in town. He must have closed up at least 25 years ago

Hell even if I wanted a new Ducati or new Ferrari, i would have to drive hours to get a valve adjustment. Theres no dealers in my town and I don’t live in the middle of nowhere. Can’t imagine If I did.

Work often takes me to beautiful rural villages and farming communities around New York State and i often ask myself could I manage maintaining my 911 if I lived out here when the only shop in town is billy bobs muffler and lawnmower repair

I occasionally go to car shows and I’ll see a lot of MG’s, triumphs maybe 1 e type a 308 parked next an f430 and a crap load of old corvettes and a VW fastback and a long row of miatas

This ain’t Southern California