How much should i expect to pay for a 911? (newb)

[needcash]

hello everyone. i am just kind of curious as to how much a decent looking/running older 911
im thinking for under 10k.
kind of like these. no rust, good body, decent interior, runs good etc...


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10156&item=2474205981&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10156&item=2475184588&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10156&item=2475146147&rd=1:


also, how about getting a roller and putting in a newer turbo motor in it? any one have any details or experiance?

like this one. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10156&item=2475754443&rd=1


thanks

[nostatic]

how good are you at DIY? Do you know about the various years/styles? All of them have their own issues and quirks to look out for. Do a search on PPI...you'll need one. The short story:

65-73 - "long nose" original design. Getting hard to find decent cheap ones. Rust is a BIG problem, and cheaper cars will likely have lots, frequently hidden under cheap resprays.

74-77 - 2.7 middle year cars. The 2.7 engine had problems with pulling head studs, but if redone properly they can be bombproof. Full galvanizing started in 76, and given the reputation of the engine, they can often be had for lower prices. Given your budget, this is likely your best bet.

78-83 - 3.0 SC. Great car. Potential issues with broken head studs, tensioner failure, and blown airboxes (all fixable, but studs aren't cheap to do). I drive mine everyday. You can likely find a higher miles car for around $10K.

84-89 - 3.2 Carrera. Another great car. Potential issues are broken head studs, rod bolts. Tougher to find one in your budget.

But, there is a saying that every 911 is a $20K car...pay now, and pay later.

[aigel]

Every 911 will cost 20k, earlier or later. I'd invest more for a good example up front. Unless you area man without TV that's a DIY masochist. (Like me).

George

[needcash]

thanks alot for the good info.


so how about part 2 of the equation? putting a newer turbo motor in it? or something to that extent...

i can turn my own wrech for the most part and will the help of you guys im confident i could do almost all of it. thanks again

[old_skul]

It's usually cheaper to just buy a Turbo than to try to source a roller and a used turbo motor, and then all the miscellaneous parts to make it work. If you buy a used Turbo, you'll have plenty to do on your hands, DIY or not.

[jmohn]

needcash-

nostatic's comments are all good, with one exception. He says, when discussing SC's, "You can likely find a higher miles car for around $10K", look where he's located - SoCal. IMHO, a $10K car here (in the frozen north) will be a "project", nice ones bring substantially more.

"no rust, good body, decent interior, runs good " in Minnesota, in my opinion, this would be a $15K to $20K car. The ones I've see for less I wouldn't (didn't) buy.

BTW, if you want a turbo, buy one. You can't build one as cheap, and it won't be as good.

Good luck,

Jerry M
'78 SC

[needcash]

thanks for the comments, any one else?

[vash]

tada!

http://www.craigslist.org/eby/car/28961609.html

[aigel]

Unfixed:

That same car was for sale about one year ago and it was on the market forever. Asking price then was 9800, if I remember right. This seems to be the same ad, the background in the pics seems familiar...

It has two things going very strong against it: The salvage title and THE COLOR! Yikes!

What's the deal with theft recovery? A car isn't a salvage car just because it got stolen, right? Someone must have messed it up or parted it to the point where it was not worth rebuilding, to the insurance?

I think if you have records (e.g. pictures of damage and repair receipts) of a salvage titled car, it is bearable to buy one at a good price. But just taking an owner's guess why it has a salvage title isn't good enough.

From my experience hunting at the low end of the price range, I guarantee that the car probably has a few more things against it than the title and the color. Otherwise someone would have bought it by now.

George

[vash]

george i hear you man! that is my nightmare, getting stuck with someone elses hell. i guess i was just trying to help the young guy out, by showing him a example of a cheap SC. i figured it was ok, since his logname is "needcash", and he is safely in Minn. (i hope he is young, sorry no offense if you are 50ish!)

personally, i expect to pay alot more for a nice SC. i have seen prices creep for nice ones. creep UP.

[aigel]

I think every 50 year old will take it as a compliment if you say he's young. Just don't say he is foolish.

10k is a realistic price for a 'starter' SC in the bay area with higher miles / all there. At that price it may need some of the upgrades, have a tired interior etc. I think for 15k you can get a real nice one with lower miles or a car that has been gone through. So, is it worth buying the 10k car? Only if you do work on it yourself and if you do not have the extra 5k but want to be in a 911 pronto.

Good Luck,

George

[needcash]

thanks again guys. i am only 19 so your safe with your young remark (hope this doesnt affect how you see me as a automobile enthusiast though)

hrmmm... maybe i'll just have to save a little more... i hate waiting

[vash]

needcash, i wish i was nineteen and knew what i know now. i would have scored with....opps. wrong dream! hehe

i would save a bit more cash. better saving money now to buy a better car than to have a POS taking up space in the garage draining your bank account. personally, i hate waiting too.

[jmohn]

needcash,

If you're seriously looking for a car, send me a PM. I was just notified, by the local club, of a '78 SC for sale. From the brief description, the car sounds worth looking at. The asking price is about $13K. I must advise you it's wise to have a thousand or two in reserve for the unexpected (there's almost always something unexpected).

Cordially,

Jerry M
'78 SC

[ubiquity0]

That car has definitely had a major accident. The theft salvage is BS... although I assume that the accident may have occured when stolen by joyriders. The A pillar is not straight (windshield doesn't fit) & it has a severe pull ('pull' is not really a strong enough word) to the right.

Originally posted by aigel
Unfixed:

That same car was for sale about one year ago and it was on the market forever. Asking price then was 9800, if I remember right. This seems to be the same ad, the background in the pics seems familiar...

It has two things going very strong against it: The salvage title and THE COLOR! Yikes!

What's the deal with theft recovery? A car isn't a salvage car just because it got stolen, right? Someone must have messed it up or parted it to the point where it was not worth rebuilding, to the insurance?

I think if you have records (e.g. pictures of damage and repair receipts) of a salvage titled car, it is bearable to buy one at a good price. But just taking an owner's guess why it has a salvage title isn't good enough.

From my experience hunting at the low end of the price range, I guarantee that the car probably has a few more things against it than the title and the color. Otherwise someone would have bought it by now.

George

[svandamme]

Originally posted by aigel
Every 911 will cost 20k, earlier or later. I'd invest more for a good example up front. Unless you area man without TV that's a DIY masochist. (Like me).

George

if it's not sooner, then it's usually not that much later

[dmcummins]

I talked to a guy today that said he would sell his 73.5t to me for $4000. The problem is it has a older, poor paint job, and the interior is shot. Even if you stripped the car yourself, and painted it yourself your looking at $1000 to $1500 for paint. Weatherstrip is probably $500. Seats, carpet, and door panels are probably another $1000 to $1500. Dash pads arn't cheap, maybe $250 for one with a small crack.

So your at $7000 to $8000 and a lot of work right off the bat. If anything else pops up your way over.

Of coarse if I didn't already have a 911, I would probably buy it anyway but would plan on having $10000 to $15000 in it.

[aigel]

ubi ... :

I take it you looked at the car in person? I think it may have been sold since last year and this is the new owner trying to unload it? Here is the updated ad:

http://www.craigslist.org/eby/car/29779122.html

Looks like more things are coming up here. Odometer rollback! GREAT!

I'd probably buy that car for the drivetrain, if I needed one. Sell the flares, the wheels and other leftovers and toss the rest.

George

[88 Club Sport]

Most of it has been said but here's my 02 cents:

-Buy as clean a car as your budget allows
-Make sure you leave $2k extra for incidentals
-No salvage titles.....a ***** to re-sell even if it is a good deal
-Make sure you do a PPI on any prospective car
-Do not let high mileages scare you. SC's can go for ever if well taken care of........remember to PPI
-Be willing to be your own wrench and learn.....many of the items that do go wrong are easily rectified by the home mechanic. This board has some great knowledge and has helped me many times
- I love the earlier pre 74 cars but I'd stick to the later galvanized bodied cars
- The 2.7 when rebuilt is ok, that said, there were enough SC's out there that you ought to look for a 3.0.

Be patient in your search....deals do exist. I found a 78sc in Dec that has a '85 3.2 in it. Great compression/leakdown etc. Stole it for $5700.

Have fun looking....hook up with some local PP and or PCA guys who know these cars and ask them to help in your search.....most of us are happy to spend others money looking for another car

[banjomike]

I agree with craig. I have a $10k '76 911s w/ a 3.0. I love it. I've had it a bit more than a year and have around another $5k in it (don't tell my wife!) I'd love to put another $5k in it tomorrow if I could, and that wouldn't include paint!

On the issue of putting in another motor. The hot motor upgrade is the 3.6liter from a 964 or 993. Many have done it. You can buy a motor and put it in for somewhat more that the cost of rebuilding your current motor. But if you are looking for a $10k car this is probably out of your budget.

As others have already said, the pre-purchase inspection (ppi) is sooooo important. If you buy a $10k car and find it needs a rebuild AND you do it yourself I see others saying that they spend $5k or more in parts and machining alone. A good mechanic will charge around 40hours to rebuild, at $80/hour (a really good rate) that'd be another $3200! PPI PPI PPI!

There are several good books on the market that detail all the things you want to look for in a 911. Buy one read it, and don't be afraid to walk away from lots of cars when doing your search. Any real problem (rust, engine tranny, crappy paint, crappy interior) will cost more to fix than it would cost to buy it in good shape to start with.

When you do get one, you will enjoy it! They are incredible cars.