looking for early 911, what about this one?

[blucille]

saw this car on ebay, a few emails back and forth with the seller, it's only a few miles away from me...what do you think about it??

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2475169550

-Lewis

[silverc4s]

Pretty nice looking early Targa. Unmolested. Wheels look like orig 15" deep Fuchs, not 16" as stated. Saratoga top is rare and desireable option. Only concern isd the actual level of RUST 30 yrs between CT - NJ...... Worth a close look for sure...;-)

[Shuie]

I think its been on ebay recently, but I could be wrong. Looks like the MFI parts are still there. It bugs me that they painted over the door strikers. It makes me wonder what else they painted over? You cannot be too parnaoid about rust so make sure you get a good look at it before talking money. What is the reserve? If its a relatively clean and straight running car it could be a nice find.

[Jim Sims]

I question if the paint is original; look at the image of the door jam. The factory never painted over the latch mechanism like that. I would suspect rust is the reason for the respray. Look for rust around the door jams, at rocker panels (especially under the deco trim), under the battery boxes, up front underneath by the front suspension/gas tank support, around the lower part of the windshield, around the gas filler flap, the fenders at the joints to the body, the bottoms of the doors, under the carpets inside and the bumper extension mounts under the back of the car. Multiply rust seen by a factor of 10 to gage it's full extent. Cheers, Jim

[chrisp]

With the details about the special clear top I expected a picture but there wasn't one. Perhaps it's not in good enough condition to take a pic of and thus not worth that much.

As the others note: huge problem for me between "original paint" and the painted door strikers.

If it's local go take a look. If nothing else it'll give you one more data point to help set your targets appropriately.

[john70t]

Nawww. Rust isn't a problem. Just scuff it with 80, slap on some bondo to get it smooth, rattlecan, and give 'em a taillight warrentee.
The painted latch is a respray(ask yourself why) which they didn't bother to even mask, and if you look closely the color doesn't match and there is a rust pucker popping up through the paint.
It looks nice now but unless you live in the interior of Texas, that little rust will grow big fast.

[Rich Lambert]

I used to have a '73 almost identical to that car. Mine had Webers and factory sport seats. I sold it right after one of the batteries exploded (alt. problem).

The door jamb picture/original paint statement is troubling...if you look at this car bring a magnet.

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Evidence of re-spray. I also worry that the top is not shown. Is this one of those aftermarket jobs that raise up in the middle or the factory original? Take a magnet.

[dafischer]

This car was recently sold on eBay. Here's the link to the completed auction.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2468757488&category=10156

[D Hanson]

Dude changed his ID and couldn't even afford to pay $ 8,100 for a car he bid on under his old ID.

[klaucke]

rust= bad.
I don't buy cars like a Porsche with rust.
My advice, stay away until you find a car that doesn't need [body] work. My car is from CA which helps... I don't think you'll find cars in NJ w/o rust b/c you can't find em in New England.

The seller even says there is rust/rot. Rust isn't even *that* bad a problem if it's minor... but rot, you *definately* don't want rot. For rust I just sand and use Rust-O-Leum rusty metal primer, then cover with an almost correct color of rustoleum paint. Obviously, that applies only to undercarraige.

[Randy Webb]

rust, rot, Ebay sale.... sounds like something to avoid.

[RickM]

What's with the circa 1978 Honda Civic floor mats? I would have gotten rid of them for the pic even if the carpet was all by it's lonesome. Hiding something under there?

The same for the For Sale sign.

[blucille]

I saw the car, clearly one to avoid, overspray everywhere, rust and evidence of rust all over the place, the saratoga roof looked great, but that was the only thing the car had going for it....maybe a $4000 car, but not an $11,000 car.

-Lewis

[Larry Harris]

Maybe the film in the camera, but are the back seats grey and the front seats black?

[Zeke]

Rust? Did someone say rust? I'm gonna have to change my user name to "Rusty." My point is that I have a rusty car from KY. If you're not prepared to do weeks of work on rust, then be prepared to spend 1000's for proper rust eradication and repair. The car I'm working on now is my third rusty car.

Like I said, 'Rusty.'

The 914 race car I had took 3 months to clean up to shiney bare metal in and out and reapir the rust. And it wasn't that bad as it was a CA car.

If you want an early 911, get one that has been restored well and pay the money. Or welcome to your new life in the garage.

[azasadny]

Run away!!

[limble]

If they didn't take the time to remove the latch mechanism when they painted then who knows what else they skimped on.
If they say there is "minimal rust, rot" then I take that as visible "rust, rot" and most likely more is lurking under the respray.
A good paint job, 3k-5k.

My vote: pass on buying it. If it's close go look at it, then you will have something to compare the next one to.