Thoughts on this 78 SC?

SCVWGUY · 08-12-2003, 04:28 PM

I came across this car and would like to know what people think. The price is on the high side, but the car sounds nice. The owner wants 18,250.

It has 34K miles,has no sunroof,no p/w,no a/c,single side mirror,never been on track,slightly lowered with teflon bushings,H4s,tools and pump,maint. book,everything is here and in mint condition.Engine was removed and updated with new case studs and service last week.

I have the original invoice from Jack Daniels Porsche-Audi,showing first owner that matches the protecto plate in Maintenance book.This document shows Vin#,engine#,and options which are leather wheel,bilstiens,rear speakers and radio(original still in car) and a couple other little things, plus the bill for $3800 for the case studs and pressure tensioners.

Eric Mckenna · 08-12-2003, 04:48 PM

Loks like a great car, sounds a bit high tho..
I paid 17K fo rmine 2.5 years ago..
If you like it , and it sounds good . I say buy that bad jammer and treat it right..
Eric Mckenna

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

I bought a similar car a year ago (40K original miles, although without engine updates). There are some big pluses, and a few minuses to paying top dollar for a low miles car. You will be gettting the best miles out of the car, but you are also depreciating it, so the value is going down. That can be offset by having to fix less things as opposed to a higher miles car though. Really depends on what you want, and what you want to do with the car.

Markus30 · 08-12-2003, 05:02 PM

Nice looking car. No sunroof or AC and and single side mirror sounds like it could be a euro model. A no-sunroof option SC is rare in the US and for some (tall drivers, racers) a very desirable feature.

Good luck,

Markus
80 SC Targa

greenmonster · 05:10 PM

Yeah, that's the one in CT. I saw that one listed on the NE region PCA site, and then it showed a couple of days later up on the pelican classified site with a slightly different writeup.

I'm just curious to why a car w/ only 34K miles on it needed to have the head studs replaced. I thought that when a SC had headstud problems it was due to being used (high mileage). I'm still learning about 911's, so can someone 'splain it to me

Maybe the owner had them done as preventative maintence, but it seems like he spent a big chunk of change to prepare the car forsale. In the ads it was mentioned that the tensioner and popoff valve upgrades were also preformed.

Having those upgrades performed seems to have solved the problem areas w/ this SC, so it looks like a nice car to buy.

I wonder if the owner also replaced the rubber centered clutch while the motor was out too.

EDIT: Markus, one of the ads stated that this was a US car, and NOT a ROW car.

rdane · rdane's Garage

I wondered about the clutch too....because if it hasn't been changed you will have to do it if you drive the car. Can't imagine a 25 year old rubber clutch getting any better with age.

Bit pricey IMO as the SCs are nice cars but there are lots of nice cars in the 15 to 20 K range if you look around a bit. I just had my engine pulled and resealed at 180K miles (for close to the same costs quoted). My head studs and leak down are fine. I would be happier if he had added a set of SSIs and the normal up grades besides the minimum required to keep the car running.

I have an extremely nice '79, but for $18K I would go looking for a 3.2 and a G50 tranny.

All that said I would be tempted to grab it and run

It looks to be a nice car. But I would also want a couple of PP1s. My new rule is 3 of them. Money well spent IMO.

CrossT · 08-12-2003, 06:48 PM

Looks liek a great car. But, IMHO, a bit high priced for almost any 78 SC. I paid $13.5K a year ago for my 86 in near orig shape with considerable suspension upgrades and an engine rebuilt < 10K prior. However, there's alway that 'must have' car; and if this is the one for you, it may be worth it.

todd
86 cpe

1982911sc · 07:45 PM

Wow, nice looking car. I would say the car should be in absolute MINT shape for that kind of money. My car had 74,000 miles at time of purchase and was in very, very great shape both inside, out as well as mechanically and I paid much less than that. You could be in a decent 3.2 for that kind of money. You may want to test drive both and make a decision.

Although, it is nice to see some SC's commanding some decent money out there. Maybe, some of our cars will actually go up in value soon. It really has to start with us.

RazorRacer · 08-12-2003, 07:42 PM

Buy it. Buy it. If you don't I will.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

I disagree with the view that for $18K you should buy a G50 car. In some ways there is no substitute for low mileage. While you still have to replace and repair things, for $18K I'd rather have this car and enjoy the relatively unused state as opposed to getting a 100K mile car. ymmv....but I'm pretty happy I bought an unmolested low miles car. However, I also realized that as I drive the snot out of it, I am losing money. But no worries...

As far as I can tell, broken head studs are not mileage related. But I suspect they might be environment related...dryer is better. but that isn't a proven theory...

LeRoux Strydom · 08-12-2003, 11:56 PM

Buy it! But then I'm partial to '78 myself...........

Post the VIN so we can check if it is a RoW or US car. Not that this would make a difference, the engine power was the same for both in 78 and 79 (180 HP), but it might explain the options or lack thereof on the car.

Enjoy it.

LeRoux

Sonic dB · Sonic dB's Garage

It does look nice...but Id personally skip it. No SC is worth 18K right now... IMO, unless literally brand new or completely pimped out and sweet.

The tensioner upgrade was necessary and the new studs were nice preventative maintanance, but to add the cost of the repair $3800 to the price of the car (which the seller apparently is doing) is unjust. As B. Anderson always indicates, this is maintanence and not an upgrade to the actual value of the car.

15K is about top dollar for this one.

Bill Douglas · 08-13-2003, 01:42 AM

18k, what the hell, it will make you a very happy guy

1973911s · 08-13-2003, 05:39 AM

Nice looking car, I saw this one on Rennlist and Pelican Site also. The back wheel doesn't look right.

RazorRacer · 08-13-2003, 05:45 AM

6 to 4 - buy it. Rdane, you are disproving my theory that SC guys are more satsified with their cars than Carrera guys.

To get what this car is offering in a 2003 model would cost well over $40,000. I mean the new Audi TT can't out perform this car and it's the best value in that price range.

There is no used car in this price range that can out perform this car either. Then you have the added value of low mileage. I would guess that this car weighs under 2800 lbs and has over 185 HP.

Since it's more than 25 years old, it can have the cat bypass added for some additional HP and emissions are not tested, at least, not in Texas.

And if you are a Guards Red kinda guy, oh baby!!!

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Sonic dB
It does look nice...but Id personally skip it. No SC is worth 18K right now... IMO, unless literally brand new or completely pimped out and sweet.

The tensioner upgrade was necessary and the new studs were nice preventative maintanance, but to add the cost of the repair $3800 to the price of the car (which the seller apparently is doing) is unjust. As B. Anderson always indicates, this is maintanence and not an upgrade to the actual value of the car.

15K is about top dollar for this one.

I disagree. This car is better than brand new. It likely is in near-perfect cosmetic shape, and the engine is better off than when it left the factory.

How many 20+ year old cars have 34K miles and a well-sorted engine? The answer? Not many. And the ones that do command top dollar. I think this car is worth $18K, and I think that someone else will too. This isn't "just another SC or Carrera." You can never get the miles back off the car, and some people are willing to pay a premium for the honor of putting the first 100K on the car.

You still need to do your homework though. Thorough PPI (things wear out from age) and check for accident damage. One reason for low mileage cars is that they were hit and then sat for years until fixed.

Jdub · 08-13-2003, 07:20 AM

Neat car. I like the single mirror, non-power SCs myself.

The '78 needed the bowler oil pickup screen update (if AutoX'd) and the spring and pressure valve updates. You might inquire about those (do a Search here for more information).

Price seems high. I'd figure $14.5 for a top-notch SC.

John

Schuey · 08-13-2003, 07:39 AM

is that CLOTH interior? the no sunroof, no a/c makes me think its a ROW car, not US...especially if it's got cloth interior...

IMO the clutch will need to be done ASAP, what about the POP-OFF VALVE?

Looks very nice, so I feel it could be worth it with the above work done and subtracted from the price...

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by LynnsABCs
The car business is very soft right now. My son bought a 2000 323I 4 door BMW 5 speed on Ebay from a Honda dealer in Atlanta for $15,600 with similar cars in Knoxville at $22 to $24 and no deal for cash. The NADA trade-in for the car is $18K so he bought close to wholesale. All the rebates and low financing have really distorted the market for cars.

Apples and oranges. This is a very low miles 25 year old 911. There are very few around. That is not the case for 2000 323Is. I agree that the market is soft, but prices will still hold for authentic, ultralow miles, unmolested older 911s imho.

I'm willing to bet this car will go for close to asking. And in the grand scheme of things, what's a few $K? If this is the color and style you want, why not splurge and get a totally pristine example that appears to also have fixed the major $$$ potential engine issues? Very few cars out there have had the head studs redone unless they are a high miles car that has been rebuilt. And this is in a different league.

And don't forget Carrera owners...your head studs can break too

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

not sure if it is cloth...at first I thought it was vinyl, but it may be the perforations on the leather looking odd in the photo.

I just noticed manual windows. My, this is a low spec car. Of course that could be a plus if that's what you're looking for. No sunroof, manual crank windows....great starting point for a street/track car. Kind of a shame to do that to a low miles example, but again, for some people, low miles is important.

Tyson had an interesting comment after working on my car...I believe it was something along the lines of "it's like it just came out of the factory." You have to pay for a time warp, and only the individual can determine if the upcharge is worth the price of admission...