Need Advice on 911sc I'm Looking at.

[ICD]

I just test drove an '79 911sc. Gold over brown. Second owner (for last 17 years). Miles are 82K. Original paint in nice condition, a few dings. No rust anywhere. Interior is a bit shabby. Needs new seats (just old), needs new headliner and driver door panel (arm rest is ready to fall off). Second gear syncro is worn. Can't get it into first unless stopped. A few leaks from the engine (no idea from where).

It seemed a bit slow to me, but I guess you need to take into account the year.

Seller is asking $14000 with two sets of rims.

Here are my questions.

1. Price seems high to me based on condition of tranny and interior. What do you think this car is worth?

2. It came from California orginally. How worried do I have to be about the head studs and the thermal issues (I seem to remember a post on this).

3. How can I confirm that this is a California car?

3. What does a replacement headliner go for? This one is leather. Do I really need to replace it with leather, or are there other alternatives?

Thanks in advance for the assistance! I have driven so many POS in my search, and this one is the only one that is a contender so far.

ICD, I think you should keep looking. This one sounds about $5K high for condition. Tranny rebuild alone is $2500 at a shop. Good luck.

[Jim Smolka]

Hmmm. Needs Tranny work, interior work, headliner work. $14000 seams a little steep. The car is only worth someone is willing to pay for it. I know where a nice SC is with rebuilt motor, very nice car for $13,000. Also a 85 Targa, nice car, not perfect, 160K miles, $12,900

Headliner for a coupe require the glass to be removed.

Head studs, have a PPI and have the lower vavle covers removed.

[GrindingGears]

too much... keep searching my man!

[JeremyD]

WHat does the Barber say?



Next!

[1982911sc]

For $14,000 you can get one in Much Better shape. You should be able to buy one that needs little or no work to start. It should not feel slow. Be patient and keep looking, you will find something. Look in the Pelican Classifieds, you will many better cars than this for less $$$$.

[Schrup]

ICD, what area are you from. You may find this thread usefull in getting an idea about price.
How much did you buy or sell your 911 for?

[Sonic dB]

LOTS of 915s have the issue with not going into first when rolling. This is very common and although is the beginnings of a rebuild...it could be a long way off.

Car is worth about 9-10K in this market. Add rims in and you get 11K or so if they are nice.

[bigchillcar]

Ditto. 11k.
Ryan

[UTKarmann_Ghia]

I'd say right about 10k...not more unless it was VERY nice. Check your local PCA division. Ours puts out a news letter with many cars in very good shape for between 13 & 15k.

[Shuie]

$14K should get you an SC thats already been sorted out. Get a PPI if you are serious about the car. Based on what you've said, I would think its more in the $8K-$10K range depending on the transmission.

[dickster]

ditto the 1st gear thing. mines only ever gone in at a standstill.

[Superman]

I'm not even as optimistic as these guys. I'd say $10k is pushing it. Besides the issues mentioned above, I am concerned about your impression that the car is not as quick as you expected. Unless you have been driving a lot of newer, high performance cars, this one should feel pretty spunky. In fact, sick Porsche engines are still strong enough to impress most folks. When I step on the gas with my SC, the rear end squats, the eyes open wide and I get an irresistable temptation to place both my hands on the steering wheel.

Finally, Gold/Brown is not a color combination that causes fistfights between prospective buyers.

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

ICD,

Send a PM to Jim to get information on the cars he has seen. I think like Superman, 10K is way too high. The colour combination is not overly popular (but I drive an unpopular colour and love it), the extra rims could be sold but might not add much value, it sounds like an engine and tranny re-build is needed. Budget 10K for the combination, it could be more or less. The interior issues add cost, I drive mine with cracks in the seats (PO let it sit for three years without attention). There is additional cost to re-covering and doing the headliner. Keep on searching or get the price down to where you are able to afford to do all the work.

[Jdub]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!

14K is early '80's Carrera money - keep looking and let your head and wallet rule the purchase.

If you have 14K to spend, I'd reserve 10-12K for the purchase price and the rest for the inevitable details like chain tensioners, 915 rebuild, and suspension mods among other things.

John

[Chas911]

ICD, I also think that sounds expensive. I have a 79 that sounds like it is about the same shape as that one, although it is definitely not slow, and I am going to sell it in the 8K-9K range. Mine does have 160k on it though, but mileage in these cars isn't as critical as the condition, IMHO. (Nice plug huh?)

[Superman]

If the spare wheels are cookie cutters, those things are nearly free these days. I know where there is a nice set of 15" cookie cutters for REAL CHEAP. Nearly free.

[1fastredsc]

To give you a comparison, i bought my SC last october for 9300, and my list of problems i was aware of go as follows. Trans needed attention, fuel mixture and idle was off, tires were dry rotted, stereo was horrible, some wiring might need attention, and interior needs some mild attention. Things that i new were good was the exterior, which was nearly perfect, never been in accident, and oil changes were done religously. The one thing i didn't expect to have to do, a top end job when i broke an oil ring during stud replacement. All in all, i got what i paid for, and it's got 140k on the clock. Considering that the market right now should be even cheaper, i'd say keep looking.