What is the best option when restoring 911?

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

I know this is killing you, but the number one desired option in any vehicle, I don't care who or what vehicle, is a clean title! Save your money. Go out and kick tires with your hands in your pockets and your wallet empty. Keep the Jeep! It is lovely and worth keeping (I still have the old Chevy truck with vinyl bench seat and manual everything). In about 18 months or so you will find a nice post 69 example for ~$7200 or more. They are there, you just have to look. Keep looking until you can pay cash and not compromise. I spent $10K on my '83 three years ago. No rust, clean. I have spent another ~$8K in rebuilding the motor, replacing items, parts, and other must haves that I could damn well do without. I had the car for about 18 months before the head studs broke.

We can all always find a vehicle, but finding the right one is worth the wait! I'd wait. And if I didn't say it before, nice Jeep! Keep it!

The soapbox is now available for further use....

[nostatic]

I would be worried about the repaint (hiding rust?), I don't like newer style seats in an early car (personal preference), and it would be nice if the other original parts were there.

It depends on what you want and like, but this sounds like a quick money pit...engine rebuild (tranny too perhaps?) and who knows how much rust in the rockers, etc.

How many cars have you looked at? Until you've seen quite a few you can't really judge how "good" the deal is.

[bigrubberjeep]

I think you guys are right, and I havent even mentioned the fact that my wife is 2 1/2 months away from delivery.

And I do love my jeep.

I guess I will wait.

I hope this story has a happy ending, I would hate for 6 more months to pass and not find a car as good as the one I test drove last night

[724doorE]

You might want to check out some archives of guys like Nick Moss who have purchased some "projects". I must say, I personally have no problem with that approach and may well use it myself since i can't keep my wrenches off anything I own anyway. But, Nick is in the minority as these posts suggest. Plan a project only if you truely understand what is involved and if your honest with yourself about how much you really want to go through with it. Most will tell you that such a project is an endless money pit and that those who take a project on do it for their own pleasure.

That said, one can drive a beater 911 everyday just as easily as one could drive a beater Celica. I've driven my 72 everyday to work for the last year and a half and haven't spent a dime on it (gas/oil excluded) until last month when my ign. switch broke. Thats good, cause i didn't really have a dime to spend on it!

got ta stop, I don't even know what we're talking about anymore!!!

[Kemo]

how bout this...find a local credit union to finance 10K for a nice SC. I say 10K because you got 5K ready... That means you can search for a really nice SC in the 12-15K range. Now...if you could swing 5K a year then you could pay the car off in 2yrs. This is how I bought mine. And I just happened to have a Jeep as well! It sounds like you are on the same budget I am, just enough to have some fun. Check the YJ behind my new valence.



nostatic took his sweet time searching for the right car. This type of patience will bring years of happiness to those wise enough follow example. Plus, it's alot more fun to drive a 911 than it is to wrench on it. I purchased my current 911 long before I found this BBS. Knowing what I know now, I would have passed on it. My next one, however, will be a real gem.

Good luck.

[bigrubberjeep]

Hey, nice wrangler! However the crome has to go! Just kidding.

I guess i'll be patiant. I could hardly sleep last night though thinking about the test drive.

[47silver]

get one of the later 70's that have mostly galvanized bodies for rust protection. put an ad in pelican that you want to buy one for x dollars. you will be surprised i think how many people will contact you and the people on this site are top notch so you can feel pretty comfortable with what they tell you. find a good mechanic that can do a ppi for you. i did not have one done but i was lucky and the guy i bought it from was a good guy. remember every little part cost 20% plus more

get one they are a lot of fun

[9XI]

I have been where you are going, Jeeper. You are dangerously close to buying a car, just because you g-damn have to buy a car right now. This would be a bad move in my opinion.

Figure out what you want, with only modest cost restraints. If you decide a '72 S coupe is your dream car, start zeroing in on that. You will find that everyday driver '72 S cars are out there to be had at $10K give or take a few.

You will be FAR happier in the long run understanding what you really lust after and figuring out a way to get there -- whether it takes you another year or two or whatever -- rather than just jumping into the next $2,000 garage-space filling, sometimes running, money-pit. If you buy the latter, you will end up spending the same $10K and you will not have your "dream" '72 S to show for it.

If you really cannot derail the car-bug, how about another reasonable condition driver 912 to tide you over? At least you won't be throwing gobs of money into a non-functional vehicle. 912s are a kick, as you know, having owned one.

[bigrubberjeep]

Wow, that 69S was a nice one. I love those pre 71's in white or silver

[nostatic]

Originally posted by 9XI
You will find that everyday driver '72 S cars are out there to be had at $10K give or take a few.

For a 72S I think you'll be giving quite a bit more unless it has "issues". You could get a pretty nice T for that if you look around though...

Well, except for at Pomona.

[bigrubberjeep]

What is the dealwith Pomona? I have yet to go.

[nostatic]

long running joke that you can find pristine early cars at Pomona for $6-7K. From time to time there have been deals to be had, but it seems more fiction than fact these days.

Are you located in SoCal? If that is the case you should be able to check out plenty of cars, and also hook up with other owners to get more insight/info.

[bigrubberjeep]

Yeah I live in Huntington Beach and work in Costa Mesa

[9XI]

My '69 S would have been one of those "$10K give or take a few" cars. Good driver, lots of things to work on and improve value, totally drivable as-is if you were short on cash, little rust.

Good luck on the search!

[Brad_H]

RubberJeep,
I'm you in reverse. I bought a 71 911T for 4K, drove it daily for a year, then bought a red 89 wrangler when the 911 broke. Still driving the Jeep, but I can't seem to find time to fix the 911.
Don't sell the Jeep, it goes well with the Porsche, totally opposite driving experience. Just make sure you buy a red 911 to match.

[bigrubberjeep]

exacly my purpose, I want to have the best of both worlds (within my budget)

Best off road vehicle ever mass produced. (Jeep Wrangler)
Best on road touring vehicle ever mass produced (porsche 911)

[bigrubberjeep]

anyone

[pwd72s]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by 9XI


Figure out what you want, with only modest cost restraints. If you decide a '72 S coupe is your dream car, start zeroing in on that. You will find that everyday driver '72 S cars are out there to be had at $10K give or take a few.



RIGHT.....

[banjomike]

If you can stand the wait take the $5-6K that you have now and put it in some intrest bearing account. Buy a CD or something (earn intrest instead of paying it). Next year you will have enough for a mid year (74-77) with a 3.0 (there are a suprising # out there).

Or save the $$ again and the year after you have enough for a pretty nice SC! or a nice 911T! I love the early body style, but it's hard to beat the rust free rock solid reliability of a well kept SC.

The advantage to this approach is you get to spend a few years kicking the tires and test driving every promising car that comes along. You'll begin to recognize what they should look like.


The smart money will always buy the well preserved and maintained p-car. The fixer-upper will ALWAYS cost much more.

*Look for complete records showing the car was well maintained.

*Fear rust. Visible rust almost always means lots more rust hiding somewhere important.

*Always take the car to a reputable mechanic for a PPI! (best money you'll ever spend.

*Buy one of the 911 buyers guides, you'll learn how to find problems and eliminate many troubled cars without the need for a PPI. (Does the seat wiggle? rusty pan! run don't look back!)


Of course this is all based on the fact that I'm dangerous with a wrench, my welds look like bad modern art, and I'd rather spend my free time driving than restoring. If you really want a project, then staring from a bare rust free tub would be great fun!

[banjomike]

Originally posted by Kemo

WTB a white 84-89 911 Carrera to mount on my valance...