Where Did The 911s Go?

[ramonesfreak]

Back in 1997 when I finished up school, I drove cross country from NY to Seattle and down the coast to Santa Cruz and then back across the south. At that time I was making my plans to finally get a 911 and can recall vividly while driving around that area between SF and LA that there were SCs and older 911 everywhere. On the road and seemingly every used car lot. It stuck in my mind because it occurred to me that it should be easy to find one when I was ready. I recall there being a ton of 70s and 80s Ferrari’s everywhere parked on the street and used car lots. Seemed like vintage car heaven. I guess a lot has changed since then, even in Southern California

What’s important I guess is that I eventually got my childhood dream car and it’s not going anywhere. Even after 12 years the thrill of it never diminishes

Originally Posted by 996AE

Daily Driver. 1988 Grand Prix White over Marina Blue. 156k miles. Fresh rebuild bottom up engine at 155k. Suspension refresh along with lots of little things on a 30 year old 150k plus car.

Drives great. One of my favorite drivers. Top up or down. Only thing left to do is tackle AC. Not sure I ever will though.

You just dont see many on the roads anymore even in Sunny SoCal.

[glewis80SC]

I drive mine as much as possible, she isn't pretty but she's mine. I see a few air-cooled on the streets but not many I use to see a guy drive his into work around the same time but not anymore. I'm amazed and how many people comment on it and stop by the house wanting to buy it, when i got it they were giving SC's away. I do see the appeal of the more modern cars though my wife had a 997 and it was a blast to drive plus it was cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

[911 Rod]

I think we all agree that although we don't see many on the road, there are lots for sale.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

I think we all agree that although we don't see many on the road, there are lots for sale.

Actually I don’t agree. There are some on the forums, but many are overpriced flipper/dealer cars, and the volume is still down. The other standard online sources like Craigslist and EBay are way down. They used to be all over Craigslist, now it’s a rare sighting. BaT typically has a few but that’s ground zero for stupid pricing. This actually applies to all of the older stuff, I rarely see a 928, 968, or 944 either.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I see 914s like this all the time. I don't see many 911s in the same shape, if I do it's a frankenstein car and they are asking too much because "they know what they have" which always makes me laugh. These 914s could be a good investment in a little fun and maybe pay for itself down the road, but who really knows.

944s are EVERYWHERE. Very few 928s, same with 968s, those have disappeared.

1975 Porsche 914 - $2100 (Medford)

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

I see 914s like this all the time. I don't see many 911s in the same shape, if I do it's a frankenstein car and they are asking too much because "they know what they have" which always makes me laugh. These 914s could be a good investment in a little fun and maybe pay for itself down the road, but who really knows.

944s are EVERYWHERE. Very few 928s, same with 968s, those have disappeared.

1975 Porsche 914 - $2100 (Medford)

A rusted-out east coast crash bumper 914 for $2100?? Crush that POS.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Robert Adams

I'm a little late to the conversation, but I to have been thinking to myself, where are all the early 911s or 914s or even a 9xx whatever we used to see fairly often. I never see any on the roads, at all. I attend a fair number of C&Cs, PCA events and some others that just sort of crop up. Some recent PCA events there could be 100 p-cars and maybe 2 are long hoods, maybe another 5 are SC or Carreras and another one or two 933 or 964s, the rest are above the year 2000. Even at Hershey there were maybe 25-30 cars under the age of '97 and I could be way generous.
I guess times are a changing, but still where the heck are they? They all can't be going to Germany. I know my 73 sat in shed in the hills of PA for 15 years evolving into a steady decline and then I took it home. Its now been in my garage for the last 9 years while I try to undo the ravages of time, Hoping this summer it will be the second long hood at any particular crowd of p-cars. Fingers crossed. Maybe if a few more older cars start showing up regularly others may follow.

You should check out the PCA event in Eureka Spring, Arkansas in November called Porsche Palooza. The event is mostly about driving on the fun roads, but there is a show and shine car show as well. There were 15 or 20 air cooled 911s, one 356, and just a couple of 914s. All the cars were driven there, and driven on the roads.

Oh, one 918 with road grime on it, and lots and lots of modern water pumpers. The fact the newest 914 is 40+ years old and most of them that were driven have lots of rust problems is one factor. 914s are much like 356s in that they are either pristine garage queens or beat up rust buckets or race cars.

When was the last time you saw one single 1980s Corvette? They were total dogs, and it is like the Mustang II just ignored by the world as just an aberration.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by ramonesfreak

I have no pelicans around here :-(. I’m all alone haha

There are plenty of Porsche nuts buried in Rochester. Ever hear of the Akron Air Cooled 911 Mafia? Me neither. They are here, though. Mostly old.

Just gotta find them.

[pavulon]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

When was the last time you saw one single 1980s Corvette?

3 times last week, 2 were for sale. They still look good (to me) but time has not been kind to their relative performance or handling characteristics.

edit: I have yet to see a single 911 this year.

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Actually I don’t agree. There are some on the forums, but many are overpriced flipper/dealer cars, and the volume is still down.

BaT typically has a few but that’s ground zero for stupid pricing. This actually applies to all of the older stuff, I rarely see a 928, 968, or 944 either.

I usually agree with you on all things cars, but still have to disagree with you on both of the above.

I already showed the many, many driver quality, reasonably priced 74-89s on just the pelican site, on just one day.

I also disagree with what you say about BaT. 2 years ago, I'd agree. But these days, big bumper stock(ish) 911s don't bring crazy numbers any more.

There's so many reasonable sales I couldn't even list them all, it's actually a crazy amount.

This is just a few from the last TWO days. All nice, low mile G50 Carreras, 80-130K miles, etc. in the $44-51K sales range

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1987-porsche-911-carrera-32/

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1987-porsche-911-carrera-targa-11-2/

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-porsche-911-carrera-44/

Even an '85 for $29K:
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1985-porsche-911-carrera-targa-14-2/

The prices have been so low on BaT that when I went to sell my G50 last year, I listed it elsewhere. They accepted it, but insisted on a reserve that was way to low (mid 30s for a 75,000 mile car). Although I had previously successfully sold 3 other cars on BaT, I think it's too risky there now for SCs and Carreras. They just don't pull big numbers anymore. I believe I did $8-10K better elsewhere.

[McLovin]

Very nice '88 Coupe for $44K

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-porsche-911-carrera-42/

You're normally spot on with the market, so what you are saying is very puzzling to me.

I guess unless you think something like $45K for a very nice driver 80-120,000 mile G50 coupe is crazy pricing. I just don't think that's true, and in fact they were going for more than that 2 years ago. Pricing is down.

And soooo many big bumper air cooled 911s on BaT for sale, certainly every week, and these days pretty much every single day.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by McLovin

Very nice '88 Coupe for $44K

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-porsche-911-carrera-42/

^^^Reserve Not Met. Any ideas as to what it actually sold for after the BaT auction expired?

[ramonesfreak]

Are you taking about Akron Ohio or Akron NY. We have an Akron near buffalo

Btw, in the early 90s I lived in Akron OH.


I have heard of the Youngstown mafia but I don’t they were a 911 related group

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

There are plenty of Porsche nuts buried in Rochester. Ever hear of the Akron Air Cooled 911 Mafia? Me neither. They are here, though. Mostly old.

Just gotta find them.

[dar636]

I drove from Auburn WA to Everett WA and back on I-5 today, score for the day was 2 944's, one was a turbo. No 911's. I was not in my 911 to be honest, so I guess I am part of the problem.

It did rain a little...

[Jim Richards]

Nowadays, I see an air cooled 911 once or twice a week. I see 996s slightly more often, and all of the newer stuff is plentiful.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by McLovin

I usually agree with you on all things cars, but still have to disagree with you on both of the above.

I already showed the many, many driver quality, reasonably priced 74-89s on just the pelican site, on just one day.

I also disagree with what you say about BaT. 2 years ago, I'd agree. But these days, big bumper stock(ish) 911s don't bring crazy numbers any more.

There's so many reasonable sales I couldn't even list them all, it's actually a crazy amount.

This is just a few from the last TWO days. All nice, low mile G50 Carreras, 80-130K miles, etc. in the $44-51K sales range

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1987-porsche-911-carrera-32/

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1987-porsche-911-carrera-targa-11-2/

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-porsche-911-carrera-44/

Even an '85 for $29K:
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1985-porsche-911-carrera-targa-14-2/

The prices have been so low on BaT that when I went to sell my G50 last year, I listed it elsewhere. They accepted it, but insisted on a reserve that was way to low (mid 30s for a 75,000 mile car). Although I had previously successfully sold 3 other cars on BaT, I think it's too risky there now for SCs and Carreras. They just don't pull big numbers anymore. I believe I did $8-10K better elsewhere.

I agree w you wrt pricing, $40-60k is the new normal for nice 3.2 coupes. A little less for SCs, maybe $10k less, apples/apples.

Just curious where you think you did better selling than BAT, if you don't mind saying?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I see a lot of 991s out and about. More Cayennes and Macan's than anything thought.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

Nowadays, I see an air cooled 911 once or twice a week. I see 996s slightly more often, and all of the newer stuff is plentiful.

New and late model 911s are very common in any decent part of LA. You know what you saw a lot of back in the '80s? New and late model 911s. Not many people DD an older car but there are always a few.

[R K T]

Always a bunch during the winter in the desert.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by R K T

Always a bunch during the winter in the desert.

Especially this week in Palm Springs.