912E Find & Resto

[Bulldog9]

Good day gents. I recently rescued a 1976 912E from certain death and decay. The car was sitting parked in a wooded driveway for 15 years. After looking at it (and the other 5-6 cars sitting and rotting) I decided to knock on the door and ask the question..... Short end of the story is $300 later the car is in my driveway. My dream is a similar year 911 SC, but this is close enough for a good start, and different enough to rationalize keeping it when I do realize the dream!

BLUF: I am looking for a bodyshop recommendation in Northern Virginia (Alexandria) area.

I want to restore the car, but do not have the budget for a 'concours' restoration, nor do I think a 912E will ever bring a return or equity equal to the cost of such a project. I do plan a solid restoration and near show quality. I will make some tasteful mods, and updates, but not looking to do a matching number factory restore. Thankfully, much or most of the work is cosmetic, and so far the car appears solid, with few structural rust issues if any. Because of a terrible re-paintjob, rust problems, and peeling paint/exposed bare metal, I want to strip and send the body out to be repaired/stripped and prepped for paint this summer. I dont want to paint the car at this point, just stabilize the body, and make it weather proof as I cant store it in a garage at this time. I will pull the engine when I send it to the body shop. I dont have the tools or time to do this right, and I want to save this beautiful car, #770.

I've been tearing into the car for the last month or so, and finally have the interior stripped. Good news is there is very little rust in the floorboards and floor/pans. As the pics will show (photobucket link) the car had standing water and I have discovered that the windshields leaks like a seive. Fortunately, the floorboards are 99% good. I have stripped all the tar and have the floor boards down to bare metal, so far, only the pedal section needs some love. Next up is the removal of the gas tank (which has rusted out). Once I explore that area, I will pull the motor, prep as much as possible then pull off all trim, glass, etc and send it to a body shop. I want to stabilize and stop rust, reinstall all glass with fresh rubber seals (and door/window, etc. Then I will take my time with the engine/chassis/interior rebuild and restore, and finish with paint. Yes, I know I will have to pull the glass and window/door seals again, but is worth it.

OK so here is my question. I am in Northern Virginia (Alexandria). I have a great body shop who has done work on my other vehicles (Old Town Auto Body). They do great work, but I wonder if they are the best for this job? I'd prefer to go to someone who KNOWS old Porsche's. This is necessary for me as I am a TOTAL Porsche NEUBIE I dont know what to look for. I've restored many cars over the years (Classic Muscle Cars, 280-Z, Several SAAB 900's, 84 442 and half a dozen motorcycles). This is new territory for me. The metal seems VERY thin on the trunk and rear deck, and the 20 year old re-pain has chemically reacted terribly. It is peeling, and looks terrible. I am afraid of touching it........ I shot all the bare metal sections with heavy metal rust primer, and want to get it to shop asap.

Would appreciate any advice or recommendation for a bodyshop in Northern Virginia/DC area who know Porsche body work. I know there are lots of old Porsche's in the area, I see you out on the GW parkway on th weekends (while I am running or cycling) I tried to make it to the show this last week on the riverfront, but my wife had other ideas.....

Sorry for the book, here is the link for those interested. 1976 Porsche 912 E pictures by spratel - Photobucket

Thanks all!

[david dolan]

Welcome to the forum, looks like a lot of work, the buy in price wasn't too bad though!

[Ender928]

wow $300 bucks!!! what else did they have?

[Jrboulder]

$300!?
I'd probably pay $3000

It's great to see an "E" being rescued. They are my favorite car ever.
My uncle had #520 and it was guards red and tan.

Jackson

[TOM RUE]

Just noticed your post on the 912e was wondering how it was going and if you kept orig engine i too have 76 e that i got 3 months ago and am in process of bringing back i need an engine or at least sheet metal for one if you know of some...good luck with yours..

[msort81]

I am looking at some E's right now. As I understand the heater box setup can be replaced with some $$. I believe the Samba is often a good source of engine tin.

[Steve F]

You might want to poke around in the site as well as Samba

http://www.912bbs.org/vb/forum.php Good luck

[rpetty01]

I bought my 912E for 3500 stripped it and repainted it and sold for 13,000. If you do it right there is some money in it for you. Remember these were only US issue cars so around the world they are very rare. Mine was shipped to Austria.

[1-ev.com]

Originally Posted by rpetty01

Remember these were only US issue cars so around the world they are very rare. Mine was shipped to Austria.

Steve, Congrats!!!

You might have to leave "Sugar Scoops" intact - untouched (Euro guys like them)

... to be serious, good luck with purchase, if you plan do yourself, look around this forums, lot of info here...

My 2 c,
-Y.

[John1180]

Steve, I sent you a PM

[Bulldog9]

Update - I've completed the body/suspension/engine rebuild and restoration and am ready to start with the interior. I've spent most of my time in 914 world the last 2 years due to the mostly common powerplant and how active the 914 world board is. I've also updated the 912 BBS as the project has developed. The 912BBS is a great site, but VERY slow in discussion and responses given the small number of cars.

914 thread: 914World.com - The fastest growing online 914 community!
912 thread: #770 Update

As I move to the final/interior, I will likely spend most of my time here in the 911 pages of Pelican, as the 912E is essentially a 911 when it comes to interior.

[wayner]

Originally Posted by steve pratel

wow wow wow!!!