Where Did The 911s Go?

[piscator]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

I looked at this tonight for a customer.

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! :-)

[McLovin]

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

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by McLovin

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.

[manbridge 74]

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.

[speeder]

That thing has some serious grip.

[seafeye]

Originally Posted by p911dad

I used to see anywhere from 15 to 20 aircooled 911's at the Charlotte Cars and Coffee when it was across from the Music Factory. The last time I went (last October) at the new location there were none. We had a row for just P-cars, now there are none. It is mystery.

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.

[fastfredracing]

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.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by seafeye

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.

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

[tabs]

Originally Posted by piscator

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! :-)

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

[piscator]

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!

[speeder]

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.

[p911dad]

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.

[OK-944]

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.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by piscator

People complimented the car in 1980. But now the praise seems extreme... "ooh, aah, aw man! what a 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.

[speeder]

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:



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

[Bob Kontak]

IPhone?

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

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

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."

[piscator]

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.

[DanielDudley]

Originally Posted by piscator

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.

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