Should I buy good Cond. or restore old 911?

[Slant_Nose]

Hello,

This is my first post. I would like to become a Porsche 911 owner. I am looking for a 911 Coupe, Slant Nose with a 3.2 ltr or Cabriolet with the same (Coupe 1st choice). My question is, should I try and find a clean 911 with my color preference, options, and spend the extra money or would it be more economical to purchase one that needs to be restored and turn it into something that I really want?

I don't mind putting in the mechanical work which I would probable find fun. My thinking is that if I got a hold of a 911 which needed new interior and may even need exterior body work, I could turn it into something I really like. I find nice 911's with the slant nose but they tend to be the wrong color and I don't want to spend $25,000 to $28,000 and then a $4,000 paint job on top of it to get the color I want (red).

Can you save money by restoring something? I can get a steel slant nose conversion for around $4,000 new or even less if fiberglass. Other work I don't mind doing and I could then put in a transmission and engine of my choice. Then the color I want. However, after this is all said and done, do I end up spending $30,000? Has anyone had experience restoring? What would I be getting myself into?

Any thoughts and advice would be greatly appreciated as I am very new to this obviously. Thanks in advance for your comments.

I want to own a Porsche!
Slant_Nose

[Zeke]

I'm on my third car in as many years. I do ALL my own work and I'm in each one probably more than I can get out. Plus, I don't get a dime for my time. I end up with a car that I know EVERTHING about. That is the only advantage. You will be way money ahead if you find the car you are looking for at least partially done the way you want it. Be patient. They come around, you just have to be ready when it happens. I'm not an expert, but I think a slant nose conversion may sell for less than a pristine original car, saving you some money going in. Happy hunting.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

It depends what you want. I spent $65,000 turning an '83SC into a Turbo-killer, but it's still only worth $20,000 on its best day. Like I used to tell people who asked me about building your own airplane (which I've done), don't do it to save money, you're better off buying a used Cessna. To restore or even just "fix up" a 911, you will spend more money than you ever dreamed possible. About my car, I tell people, "project car $10,000, parts $55,000, experience priceless."

Stephan

[TRE Cup]

Hi
And welcome to the board. If you have decent resources out there in Arizona, and like to do work yourself, we have a cabriolet turbo slant project that just might your budget
This stillborn 1980 911sc has slant nose steel front fenders, C2 turbo look body, 75 915 trans, manual cabriolet top, some interior bits, 17" 8 and 10" wide wheels
What it needs:
engine, oil tank, pedal assembly, guages, wiring work- connecting everything, oil cooler, suspension servicing, recover top, install some kind of interior, paint job, tires, rear tail and lid, windshield, turn signal lens- front, front bumper screen
Cost ? about $6000
Located near Universal Studios, North Hollywood
Pics available

[Hetmann]

I never thought my car would be a fixer-upper when I bought it. But in retrospect, I have spent way more on it then I ever thought I would. And it still needs.... No matter what you get there will be many opportunities to open your wallet. I'd say be patient and find something that's pretty close to what you want. Then your just improving it and not building it from scratch.

[tsuter]

Sounds like "Stephan's" 6 + 60 project. Its only $.

[BGCarrera32]

"There's no wrong way to eat a Reeses..." or whatever...

Just something to keep in mind is that you'll spend a year and a half + getting what you want if you start gutting and restoring (unless you quit your full time job), meaning you won't be driving it. Buy a better example, find out what you like and don't like, then continue from there.

I admit I bought a sub-par Carrera and it sat for plenty of time the first year as I was wrenching on it. Got sick of hearing "when ya drivin' in that 911?"...

On the other hand, that TRE car sounds pretty cool...

- BG

[jwernquist]

Restore an old one if your up for it. Been a great learning process and financial strain.

I bout my 73 in 1994 and This week it's finally going to the BodyShop for a Factory look spray. Everything else i have done. Its been a nightmare and a blast all at the same time. This week i will be learning how to rebuild and replace a front wiring harness since my has a few fried wires. EXCITING : hehe SARCASM... Buy a perfect car if your not patient!!!

[Schrup]

I was at the dealer a few weeks back & someone traded a 88 slant nose Ruf turbo with about 50k on it for a new TT. The dealer turned around & sold it for about $50k. I saw the car a week later, the owner had switched the ruf wheels with some turbo twisties. I don't think you can find a decent factory slant nose turbo for $30k, I think the conversion route is the way to go. Beware of shoddy craftmanship & do alot of homework so you know what to look for. If you want to make sure it's done right, damn the budget & do it yourself. Alot of people are not fond of the slant nose look, but I was awe struck the first time I saw one in Germany & would love to own one .Good luck. **OUT**

[350HP930]

I did both.

I bought my low mileage mint condition and modded 930 about five years ago. It did have a pesky electrical problem when I bought it (which took a couple grand off the price and was quickly fixed) but besides that it was my exotic daily driver for almost 90K miles.

All that wear and tear eventually took its toll (not too badly I must add) and now the car sits in pieces in the garage as I slowly restore it to its former glory and then some.

Unless your seriously into restoring cars or have some experience at it I recommend getting a car that is at least still in OK shape so you can get some use out of it before it spends months or years in pieces.

[AbbyAk]

I'm in the restoration boat. The rowing is pretty tough. I have owned 3 previous "daily driver" 911's prior to this one. I bought a 1967 911 "S". The mechanicals were quite good , but the body had the usual rust spots: rear window corner rust, right rocker and lower rear corners of the front fenders. Fortunately, everything else is in good, solid shape. I bought the car last summer. Drove it 5 miles and started gutting it. Finally dropped the engine and transmission last weekend. The body is stripped of all trim and interior save the dash and steering wheel. I am turning this into an "R" themed car. It has been one year and will soon be into year two with no fun car to drive. I anticipate completion by fall of '04 or spring of '05 at best. It is easy to become burned out on the project and the lack of P-car to drive can be frustrating.

On the other hand, I am learning a ton about these cars, I am enjoying the work (albeit in stops in starts due to time issues), and I know what I will have when i'm done. This method is NOT the way to save money however. I will have countless hours in this thing, not to mention a hefty parts and outside labor bill.

So, if you want to have instant fun and manage your wallet strictly(well as strictly as possible-there are always upgrades-and once you become hooked on these cars--you find a way to buy 'em), I'd buy the best car I could, in the best condition possible. I knew what I was getting into and (despite my own better judgement) plowed into this project. It is fun, but I sure miss having a car to jump into and drive.

A.B.

[caliber60]

If you are buying 911 after 1980's, you should buy in good condition, not restored. 356, of course, it has to be in restored condition, original driveable condition is 7 digitis.

[needlevalve]

Welcome to the board Slantnose. I believe buying a car that you can use immediately is good advice, especially for your first p-car. Once you have driven it for a while your priorities for the car will probably change and you will find your first upgrades being preventive maintenance stuff like chain tensioners etc., then comes the detailing afterwards.

I'm currently on porsche number 3 which was purchased as an inoperative project with a timeline of 2 months to complete. Now I find myself with 5 months and an excessive amount of $$ invested (wasn't part of the plan)...praying to the porsche gods that I will at least get 1 weekend out of the car this summer

Best of luck and don't forget to post pics once you acquire your new wheels.

Matt

[caliber60]

It depends what you want. I spent $65,000 turning an '83SC into a Turbo-killer, but it's still only worth $20,000 on its best day.

Nightmare come true but priceless.

[Slant_Nose]

WOW, Thank you for all of your comments. I wasn't expecting such good and abundant advice. I think I shall wait for a good quality 911 with perhaps some minor imperfections. I'm in no hurry so I guess the waiting game will start some day.

Thank you again for the advice.

Hope to own a Slant Nose!
Slant_Nose

[wrx paul]

I have always had the goal in my life of owning a 911. So one day my old man mentions he saw a 77 real cheap in the paper. We go and check it out and I'm shocked. This thing has zero rust, marks, or even a chip in the 26 year old paint. We couldn't believe it. So we make the guy a lower offer and he takes it. Then the problems start.
We get it home and find that everytime it starts to get warm and I don't mean hot but just before it gets to running temp. it dies. So I find out that the cdi box is bad. I replace it with a msd unit. Now I get a nasty exhaust leak. I replace all the gaskets. Leak still there. I get a new muffler, leak still there. I join the pca and find some local experts. Now I find it has pulled head studs.
So we look for a new engine. Find a used 30 and put that in. Now I love the car. I've spent the better part of the last 6 months under the thing but I got to do something cool with my old man who was too busy most of my life. I know a lot about these cars now and still learn more each day. And I could probably sell it for more than I have in it, but wouldn't trade it for anything.
Just a bit of advice that helped me.. Get Waynes 2 books, they really helped. And find the local pca group, they made a world of difference to me.

[JEB]

The general rule in buying cars is "Buy someone elses project".

Invariably it is cheaper and easier to buy a car that has been completely done by someone else.

That being said some people enjoy doing the work - and look at it as a cheap (well mabye not) form or entertainment.

All depends on what you want and like

[Kemo]

If you have the garage space and the time to put into a project, why not. i have seen some really nice projects unfold on this BBS, why not yours?