Not all 911s are destined for greatness...

[Shaun @ Tru6]

this 71 was definitely not my best purchase on EBay (from a Rennlist member). Advertised as having a new front pan and when the seller was asked, "how are the rear longitudinals?" the response was, " they are fine, a tiny bit of surface rust, shouldn't be a problem for years."

Well, after getting it up here from TX, I really didn't have to worry about the left longitudinal, because there just wasn't one. The new front pan? I can't imagine how he got all the sparrows to line up around the seam!

Anyway, with rust all around the car, it sat and sat, sold the engine, tranny. etc. The sad part is that the doors on this car shut with the most perfect ring you've ever heard on an early car. The rear shelf is even good. The entire quarters were very good too.

Anyway, some pics after 5 Sawzall (get the vehicle rescue type) and a few cut-off wheels later:



This is actually balanced on the far side:


I always wanted a cabrio:

[Zeke]

You didn't !!! (Listen to me, I cut up a '71 Targa 3 months ago).

Longs are relatively easy to fix. There must have been some more problems, eh?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Zeke, there was rust ALL OVER this car, the more I looked (prior to cut) the more I found. There really wasn't a major panel that didn't need repair of some type or another. It could have been saved, but only with about 120 hours of quality weld time.

[Jim Sims]

Too late now, but 911's in far worse shape than that have been fixed up to good structural and cosmetic status. One of my friends is in the process of turning a $700 '72 that was in far worse shape than your '71 into track car. He however, loves to weld and has a "calling" to save early 911's. Jim Sims

[pwd72s]

A sad sight... But, we're all gonna go sometime...

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally posted by Jim Sims
Too late now, but 911's in far worse shape than that have been fixed up to good structural and cosmetic status. One of my friends is in the process of turning a $700 '72 that was in far worse shape than your '71 into track car. He however, loves to weld and has a "calling" to save early 911's. Jim Sims

I am sure this can be welded back together... all cuts are fairly straight. If your friend want's to come pick it up, it's his for free!

[pwd72s]

Shaun? Hope you were a busy lad with wrenches & screwdrivers for a spell. Early 911 guys out there are looking for all kinds of "unobtanium" bits & pieces. One tiny example, the screws that hold the seat back in place...

[irl]

Do these pieces still exist. I need a front floor piece around the master cylinder and pedal cluster. Can you cut it out and sell it to me. I can circle it on you photo if you are interested. You sure look like you can use a saw.

[pwd72s]

Ed? You just made my case!

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally posted by pwd72s
Shaun? Hope you were a busy lad with wrenches & screwdrivers for a spell. Early 911 guys out there are looking for all kinds of "unobtanium" bits & pieces. One tiny example, the screws that hold the seat back in place...

Good news and bad news. I started taking the car apart very carefully, one goal being to have a complete wiring harness for anyone needing one. Well, time, the hot sun and a few beers took their toll and I really needed to get the car out of its spot so the 73 could go there to be finished up. motor goes in next weekend if my Pelican order comes in.

I do have a lot of odd and unobtainium parts from the car and will be listing those someday. I spent an hour alone trying to get the rear deck free with clean cuts.

Ed, the pedal cluster is good, but I think I had to cut into that area as I wanted a clean center backbone for myself.

I can look tomorrow and snap a pic if it looks like something you can work with.

[cassidyp]

Shaun,

Actually the more this happens the more value is added to my car, but I hate to see this happen to any car.

[svandamme]

Originally posted by cassidyp
Shaun,

Actually the more this happens the more value is added to my car, but I hate to see this happen to any car.

yep

[LakeCleElum]

Originally posted by Shaun 84 Targa
Well, time, the hot sun and a few beers took their toll and I really needed to get the car out of its spot so the 73 could go there

I've drank a "few beers", been in the hot sun, and ticked at my 911, but NEVER TOOK A SAW AND CUT IT TO BITS!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cornpanzer]

Are you sure that you arent from California? I hate to sound like a armchair quarterback, but those pics dont show any serious rust-through. In fact, here in Ohio that would be considered a "cherry one-owner"!

[304065]

Oh the Humanity!

[svandamme]

small question , while yours is cut up :

the hot air piping , is that steel? eg > is that stuff that can rust or is that some form of plastic/polyester tube?

trying to find out if i could use that to channel oil lines for a front mounted oil cooler , eg push em throug that tube

of course , if they're plastic, or PVC , then that wouldn't be such a good idea...

second question > if metal : how rusty were they ?
do i have to worry bout them beeing rusty on my car ( since i can't see that from the outside, and didn't work on those last winter...)

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally posted by svandamme
small question , while yours is cut up :

the hot air piping , is that steel? eg > is that stuff that can rust or is that some form of plastic/polyester tube?

trying to find out if i could use that to channel oil lines for a front mounted oil cooler , eg push em throug that tube

of course , if they're plastic, or PVC , then that wouldn't be such a good idea...

second question > if metal : how rusty were they ?
do i have to worry bout them beeing rusty on my car ( since i can't see that from the outside, and didn't work on those last winter...)

Stijn,

The hot air tubing is metal. They weren't too rusty (just surface), but the insides of the rockers were pretty bad.

Guys, I realize some of the concerns here are tongue in cheek, but trust me, many people looked at this car and everyone decided it needed just too much work to save. I could have sold it, but then all the hidden rust I found during cut up would surely come back to haunt me no matter how many disclaimers I gave.

To me, rusty old 71 T's are pretty much MGBs. Sure, they are nice cars, but unless you have unlimited time and really know how to weld, or have unlimited "stupid" pockets, these cars are just better off put down.

Here is what would have needed to be done to this car to make it whole again:
Left and right longitudinals
torsion bar tube or least repair at the ends
Left and right inner and outer rockers
left and right jack posts
Entire front pan (repair job was so bad you needed to redo the entire thing)
both front fender attachment wing
both front fender rails
left and right lower windshield corners
top of back seats or very bottom of back deck
left and right rear floors

Anyone want to take a guess at how much $ it would take to put this on a bench and do all of this work? Sheet metal alone is probably $2000 +

[Zeke]

Originally posted by Shaun 84 Targa
Stijn,

The hot air tubing is metal. They weren't too rusty (just surface), but the insides of the rockers were pretty bad.

Guys, I realize some of the concerns here are tongue in cheek, but trust me, many people looked at this car and everyone decided it needed just too much work to save. I could have sold it, but then all the hidden rust I found during cut up would surely come back to haunt me no matter how many disclaimers I gave.

To me, rusty old 71 T's are pretty much MGBs. Sure, they are nice cars, but unless you have unlimited time and really know how to weld, or have unlimited "stupid" pockets, these cars are just better off put down.

Here is what would have needed to be done to this car to make it whole again:
Left and right longitudinals
torsion bar tube or least repair at the ends
Left and right inner and outer rockers
left and right jack posts
Entire front pan (repair job was so bad you needed to redo the entire thing)
both front fender attachment wing
both front fender rails
left and right lower windshield corners
top of back seats or very bottom of back deck
left and right rear floors

Anyone want to take a guess at how much $ it would take to put this on a bench and do all of this work? Sheet metal alone is probably $2000 +

Your list is redundant and your assessment of "what would have been need to be done" and mine differ. You could have sold that shell/tub without remorse.

RIP '71 911 (mistakeningly wasted through misjudgment; beer)

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Milt, where are the redundancies?

What is your assessment? Sorry, I didn't realize you've seen the car in person.

Again, I could have sold it if: I wanted to entertain everyone thinking they found a gold mine for $300 and then realizing how much work it needed and again, I just don't need a phone call saying... "hey, this thing has more rust..."

with over 30 60s to 70s old cars bought and sold in the last 20 years, it happens.

Lastly, it had to go. new company, finishing the 73...

[nostatic]

you should see Milt's S that he's restoring. It has some...ummm...."issues", but its back alive.

I hate to see non-sunroof coupes bite the dust. imho they are worth saving if possible. But, your car, your call. I'll be the sawing was fun though...