911 Restore or Backdate
 

So I am caught in the middle. I have an 82 sc with 70k original miles on it. I have owned the car for a while, solid car, rebuilt suspension, all new stock interior, etc. The paint is tired as it was a Texas car before my for its whole life. The clear coat is cracked and spidered, so were going to do a window out respray on the car (Schwarz Metallic)

I have always hated the bumpers on the car, so do I change the front bumper to a RSR style front bumper, and the rear to an RS bumper, along with the ducktail?

OR..... Do I leave it stock and just respray the car?

We have to take the bumpers, mirrors, glass etc off the car. I just dont know what I want to do...

Any opinions?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/54885659@N08/51737580938/in/dateposted-public/

Here is a phot of the car. The paint looks great in the photo, but 2 feet away you can see it all.

I'm a big fan of backdating but only advocate it on a car that's more needy than yours.

If your car is a numbers matching, mileage documented, no damage history car I would leave the body stock and that includes the bumpers. Maybe go with euro rubbers on the rear and weld up the extra holes for the headlight washers in front to clean it up a bit. Even add a ducktail and an early style 74-75 flag mirror?

Jonny is spot on. I say bolt on a few mods, nothing that can't be undone easily. Car is too nice.

Yes, it is documented, numbers matching. I have kept everything I have changed (down to the original interior etc). I was leaning this way also to be honest. I dont really want to paint the car, but it is getting bad and unattractive lol...

Bottom line it is just a car, your car. Do to it whatever you want. Virtually any modification away from stock will make it harder to sell when that day comes, as you will need to find the buyer that likes the look of your modifications.

The factory would have painted the car with single stage paint, so you are almost certainly looking at a second paint job at least.

I vote SCRS front and rear.

Dan,

There is the option of backdating these cars using all bolt on parts. You would need to make custom brackets for a few things but that's about it. I have done it to my 83SC several years ago, saving all the original parts just in case someone (not me) wants to bring it back to original. Even the front fender light boxes are EB Motorsports bolt on and can be removed easily. I attached a couple of photos of my car for reference.

Just food for thought.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1639169987.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1639169987.jpg

Nice car, OP.

If I were to backdate, I would want to go the full hog and get the cars weight down to a long-hood zip code to try and tap the handling dynamics of an earlier, lighter car. In a similar vein, I'd want a high revving "period correct" engine. Either carbs, MFI or EFI. I may be in the minority here, but I get a bit put-off by a backdate that still has its OG CIS or Motronic engine in the back. A lot of sizzle and no sausage.

I have your car's twin btw. It's a really good example of a 70k mile car. I think when a car's that good, it knows what it is and has it's DNA in tack. I'd celebrate that, before I wholesale sought to change it. There's a place in the world for 3.0L cars and a pristine IB is a thing of beauty. These are very subjective views and there isn't a wrong answer. For what it's worth, I'll continue to take weight out of mine, will eventually shorten the gears and most likely swap in a built engine that's not too crazy (original goes on the shelf).

You can improve the looks of an impact bumper car with small modifications.....


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1639179198.jpg

I have 9 collector cars. some are original some not. I dont care about ROI I just like cars.

Life is short do your thing.

Yeah, pretty much my situation.. enjoy them how you like them, and enjoy them some more!!

My opinion is that when every model that Porsche makes gets to be a certain year people start to make modifications to them. As time goes on they inevitably become more and more valuable and people realize that they were perfect they way they were.

Did you know there was a time when people were front dating F bodies to be G bodies. I've spent the last few years trying to undo that mess.

Love who you are... I mean, Love your G body. The SC stands for Super Carrera and that is exactly what that car is, a SUPER Carrera. Customize it with the best mods you can for your year, tweak the stance, put SSIs on it, short shift, better tires, lights, stereo, gauges, maybe even get crazy with some Webbers/ITBs and twin plug it.

Nothing better than a Porsche set up perfectly no matter the year.

Heck, people are now starting to love the look of the 996s.

People used to hate the 964s, 74-78 911s were shunned, 89 speedster who cares....

I've had 2 SCs and 3 F Bodies. Buy an F body if you want one, but don't back date a G body unless it needs all types of work like Johnny said.

Good luck,

Rodney

Beautiful car. Too nice to backdate.

I like the SC models just the way they were designed. If I had a different year model I would probably like the way it came from the factory. If I didn’t like the way it looks I probably wouldn’t buy it. Updating the car to newer/ functioning ancillary parts is a necessity due to the age of the car. Granted, this is just my opinion and you should do what makes you happy. As these cars age they will become more valuable and a numbers matching original unmolested car will be worth more if you ever sell it. Just check out what a 356 A, B or C car in almost any condition is worth today. I know I would love to own any 356 model but I can’t afford it. Well that’s not true, I can afford it but my wife would skin me alive and I like my skin.

backdating a forward dated 70....
 

Here is my 70T....years ago, this 911 was forward dated into a Turbo-bodied G series, short-hood.....

Now it is being returned to its long-hood roots.....kind of, as a 73, 2.8 RSR-ish hot rod......(it would be a shame, not take advantage of those flares)......

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1639350555.JPG

You don't have to back date to the early bumpers to get rid of the impact bumper look. Back date to the '74 RS or RSR bumpers which bolt right on. When you paint the car paint both sets of bumpers. That solves any issues that may arise in the future should you have modder's remorse. I did that with the Red Rocket and swapped up the look a few times over the years. Had several bumpers and deck lids all painted guards red.