Air-Cooled Porsche prices skyrocketting? Will they ever come back down?

[99 Boxster]

While it's no surprise that air-cooled 911's have been going up in value, I feel like that's had an interesting side-effect that has cause ALL air-cooled Porsche prices to skyrocket.

Anyone want to buy a beat up, non-running 1986 Carrera 3.2 with 140,000k miles and a ripped out convertible window for $35,000? Apparently, this guy thinks someone will:



OK, so we can't buy a nice air-cooled 911 for $35k, what exactly will that kind of money buy you?

a) A new 911 b) Front-engine Porsche
c) Flying DeLorean d) 20 Vespa scooters

If you guessed front-engine Porsche, YOU ARE CORRECT!
"Rare" Porshe 928 Collectors Item for $33k

I may be totally off, but I don't think anyone here would buy either of those cars. I bought a 928 10 years ago for $4,000 and "real Porsche owners" turned their noses up and kind of talked down to me. When I showed up to events and rallies, it was like I was an outsider or something. "Poor man's Porsche" was what they called it.

I guess this trend is cool for Porsche owners who want to say "I have an expensive car" or sellers looking to cash out, but I don't like it. I've also noticed a huge increase in parts and maintenance. 5 years ago, I paid $450 for a tune up on my Carrerra 3.2 and now the SAME DEALERSHIP wants $1,700. He went off on some epic rant about inflation that ended with "You drive an air-cooled 911". I was like "cool story bro" So now I find myself under the hood a lot more, which I guess isn't a bad thing. But I totally jumped on eBay this morning thinking I could buy a cheap track car... Boy, was I mistaken.

[techweenie]

Well, Magnus Walker just bought 2(!) 928s, so watch for prices to rise. ;-)

[pcardude]

You can have a cheap track car. It is totally doable man. What would you be into other than a p car?

I'm thinking about selling my 911 to start a business. It's not just Porsches that have skyrocketed.

Look at jaguar XKEs even early camaros and mustangs that used to go for 12k are now going for 40k

It's the way of the world these days.

[yetibone]

No, they won't come down.

356 prices are now somewheres around 6 figures for anything that you can drive, 7 figures if it has more than one camshaft, about $20k if it rolls, and between $5, and $10k for piles of rust with a VIN.

Next up, 911 prices are following along to where they're nearly too valuable to enjoy as intended. Pre-73 cars are mostly 6 figures for running, driving examples.

Now, 912's and 914's are starting to command big ducats for the privilege of ownership.

Once all the aircooled cars turn into either rust, or unobtainium alloy, I'm sure NARPs will start upwards too, but not into the territory that aircooled cars are in.

[Arizona_928]

I've been noticing the price of 928's have gone up as well. 4-5k cars 5 years ago are commanding 15k. Only way the prices are going to go down is when the economy tanks and people need food instead of an air cooled German sports car...

[look 171]

I worry about the old geezers dying off then no youngster will be interested in these cars, so price comes down. Buy Honda now. No, seriously.

[pcardude]

Originally Posted by look 171

I worry about the old geezers dying off then no youngster will be interested in these cars, so price comes down. Buy Honda now. No, seriously.

This... Yep young kids today have zero interest in early p cars.

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by pcardude

This... Yep young kids today have zero interest in early p cars.

Nah. Judging from the kids at my local Cars and Coffee the interest is alive and well. They are doing cars they can afford but most still ooh and aah at classic Porsches and other stuff that's beyond their means.

[dewolf]

Originally Posted by Nickshu

Nah. Judging from the kids at my local Cars and Coffee the interest is alive and well. They are doing cars they can afford but most still ooh and aah at classic Porsches and other stuff that's beyond their means.

Absolutely agree. I just recently bought a 928S4. Very nice car. Every where I went it was getting thumbs up and kids were singing out "nice car Mr". I would stop at service stations (gas station) and people would be snapping pics. Also had a couple of people filming while I was driving along. I paid 15K for the car and sold it two weeks later for $22K. Spent 500 bucks on it.
The 928 had reasonably low production numbers too. Only about 60,000 made.

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by look 171

I worry about the old geezers dying off then no youngster will be interested in these cars, so price comes down. Buy Honda now. No, seriously.

Some serious wisdom here......Look back 20 years and check the prices of old Model A and Model T Fords.......

Go buy an old '70's van with shag carpet while they are still cheap......

[speeder]

Originally Posted by techweenie

Well, Magnus Walker just bought 2(!) 928s, so watch for prices to rise. ;-)

Not sure I want to tie-up any cash and parking spots on that bet.

[dewolf]

Originally Posted by speeder

Not sure I want to tie-up any cash and parking spots on that bet.

It's already happening. 928 prices across the planet are on the move up even before Magnus showed interest. He's bought now because he's well aware of what's happening.

[BE911SC]

Wait 'til Magnus kicks out an "outlaw" 928 or two and suddenly they'll be the Next Big Thing.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Some 928s have already entered bubble status in the same way longhoods did before impact bumper cars. GTS's have always commanded higher prices but as expected, the H1 car values are climbing vigorously meaning, I think, collectors are moving on the best examples.

But look at GT and lowly S4 valuations. Same thing. I think 6 months to a year will yield some interesting data. The 928 population is fairly small with about 3,000 cars made per year from 87-on, no US 93 model and very few 94 and 95. Looking at 928s to buy, taking out cars like the Club Sport, I would focus on 89-91 GTs. I hope to get one in February if it is still available. I would also look at the European delivery early cars. All of the hp without all the weight of later cars.

As we all know they are complex cars, some with a typical Porsche major engineering design flaw built in, thrust bearing, cough cough, and electrical gremlins are an issue, but after removing and dismantling my 928 motor, I can say from that experience, it is an easy car to work on. There is a thriving, enthusiastic DIY crowd on Rennlist and I expect it to only grow. Like 911s, they are incredibly rewarding cars to drive and drive fast.

[99 Boxster]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

Some 928s have already entered bubble status in the same way longhoods did before impact bumper cars. GTS's have always commanded higher prices but as expected, the H1 car values are climbing vigorously meaning, I think, collectors are moving on the best examples.

But look at GT and lowly S4 valuations. Same thing. I think 6 months to a year will yield some interesting data. The 928 population is fairly small with about 3,000 cars made per year from 87-on, no US 93 model and very few 94 and 95. Looking at 928s to buy, taking out cars like the Club Sport, I would focus on 89-91 GTs. I hope to get one in February if it is still available. I would also look at the European delivery early cars. All of the hp without all the weight of later cars.

As we all know they are complex cars, some with a typical Porsche major engineering design flaw built in, thrust bearing, cough cough, and electrical gremlins are an issue, but after removing and dismantling my 928 motor, I can say from that experience, it is an easy car to work on. There is a thriving, enthusiastic DIY crowd on Rennlist and I expect it to only grow. Like 911s, they are incredibly rewarding cars to drive and drive fast.

There are 4 different lines on those graphs. What do they represent?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Hagerty classifies car values in 4 different conditions, 1 being concours and 4 being drivable.

[Scuba Steve]

Originally Posted by look 171

I worry about the old geezers dying off then no youngster will be interested in these cars, so price comes down. Buy Honda now. No, seriously.

I look at things the same way. If I could somehow stockpile unmolested CRXs, 3 door Civics, Integras and maybe Del Sols...

[reachme]

If I could somehow stockpile unmolested CRXs, 3 door Civics, Integras and maybe Del Sols...

I can think of about 5 good ways to finish that statement. . . .

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Scuba Steve

I look at things the same way. If I could somehow stockpile unmolested CRXs, 3 door Civics, Integras and maybe Del Sols...

The "unmolested" part is the challenge with those cars. They were inexpensive and never treated in any special way.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I've been looking at 70s CVCC's and aren't too bad for a neat old car to run around in.

1977 Honda Civic