`75 911S in Del Mar

[911TE]

Hi all you Porschephiles!

I just did what you normally shouldn`t do, I bought a `75 911S in e-bay without having it seen before.(item number is 4513826260)
According to the e-bay description it is a rust-free unaltered original car with signs of wear on the interior (especially front seats) and a dent in the left rear fender.

Car is located in Del Mar, CA 92014, but I´m still in Germany.
Before paying the whole price in advance it would be perfect if any of you who knows a little bit about these old P-cars and is living near San Marcos/ Del Mar in California could look at the car and tell me if the condition is as described.
I would of course accept a lot of not mentioned minor problems, but something really bad, like engine or gearbox damage or serious rusted out sheet metal would keep me from sending all this money to a unknown guy.

(I would of course pay you for the expenses to drive to this place)

Hope anybody can help!

Sebastian

[Granite]

It is a little late to back out of deal now isn't it? Did you have agreement with the seller so that if it doesn't check out you can bail on the deal? Just curious.

Steve

[911TE]

Don`t get me wrong, I am still happy with the deal and want the car urgently, but I will probably see the car the first time weeks after paying.

So I would be happy to get confirmation that the car is according to the description.

Would be better knowing it now than recognizing it after having it shipped to Germany.

No, I don`t have an agreement, the seller did not respond yet, the deal is under a e-bay warranty, but there seem to be a lot of exemptions (no rust warranty for cars older than 10 years despite a "rust-free description" of the seller par example.)

Sebastian

[Beethoven]

Sebastian,
did you have a PPI (das ist eine Vor-Verkaufs-Inspektion) done on this car? If you're concerned about rust, you also should have a body shop go over the car carefully.

[silverc4s]

From EBay Ad:

"CHARITY DONATION TO HELP FUND ANIMAL SHELTERS"

I would be a bit wary of this car, personally.
I must say though, that it looks to be in well above average condition for the age.
Is that still the original smog equipment I see?

[Beethoven]

I didn't find it on ebay. Can anyone post the link?
Thanks,

[911TE]

Thank you very much for the tips, especially Brian, I will try to reach Black Forest in San Diego!
@Beethoven: Just do a search and put in the mentioned item number and you will find it!
I didn`t do a PPI before, hard to organize from here! As I said, I´m not concerned about normal problems with such an old car, I would just like to know if there would be any real bad things not mentioned.
The smog pump is original equipment, but I wouldn`t need it anyway!

Sebastian

[Beethoven]

Sebastian,
you're clearly a braver man than I am (I bought my car sight unseen as well, but after a thorough PPI, and many conversations with the owner and cross-ckecks to establish that he was legitimate). The ad says nothing about the car, except that it's average. It looks well cared for, and it obviously turns over and drives, but that's about it.

I would pay the seller to have Black Forest or another shop in SD go over it for you. The seller has email, I'm sure, and you can call the shop and speak with the mechanic on the phone. I've done the same thing from Germany, it is NOT difficult to arrange. I'd be glad to speak to them for you, but I'm not close (Chicago), and it looks your English is well up to the task.
The difference between "normal problems" and "real bad things" is often very small!
Must be the strong Euro emboldens you.

[911TE]

Beethoven,
I will call Black Forest. As I already bought it, it is to late for a detailed pre-purchase action. I just want to verify what the seller is declaring.
@ Brian
Who might be the right person to speak to at Black Forest?

Of course the braveness has to do with the strong Euro. All goods from the states are about 30% cheaper for Europeans in the moment. So there is a little bit left for repairs...On the other side, shipping and import duty adds to the price.

[Bob's Flat-Six]

I looked up the car on ebay. It doesn't look to bad and will probably clean up fine. Looks all stock.

[Bob's Flat-Six]

Here's the link
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4513826260&category=10156&sspagename=WDVW

[stone43]

I live real close to Del Mar (10 Min. away), but don't know the early cars very well.

Ask for Jeff at Black Forest, great guy, they do all of my work.

[911TE]

I have spoken with Black Forest, very nice and helpful guys, but they have no time for an inspection before Monday, because of the holidays.

@ stone 43: So I would be very happy if you could drive by and just verify that it is 1. running and driving
2. Has no visible rust on the out-side. 3. Is not leaking a quart of oil a week.(It will for sure have minor leaks)

I don`t need a specialist, just somebody to have a look at it, I`m sure you would do fine!

Exact location of the car is Chula Vista, near the mexican border, not Del Mar as posted before, so it is probably more far away than thought!


Sebastian

[stone43]

Yes, Chula Vista is quite a different place than Del Mar. Send me an address and I will see what I can do.

[ken_xman]

Chula Vista ..... is no place I would want to purchase anything. I lived in San Diego a few years ago... believe me. RUN!

[911TE]

@ all:
Sorry for not replying the last days, I had to spend some days in Italy without beeing able to read here.
@stone 43: I had to pay the deposit on the 30th of December, so for cancelling this deal it is already to late.
I just have to hope the description was true, as today i will send the rest of the money.
If you anyway would like to have a look I would be happy to send you an e-mail with the location of the car and would call the seller, that a friend is coming to see the car.

@ken_xman: You make me nervous..... very nervous.
But in Chula Vista is only the (he says "armed " yard) where the car is parking in the moment.

Does anybody know if it is legal to drive the car to the shipping agency in L.A., if there is still a valid sticker on the rear number plate?

Thank You for all your help!

Sebastian

[JK-81SC]

I looked at the car from the link provided above. It gave the car's location as:
Item location: San Marcos, CA
United States

San Marcos is in northern San Diego County, a nice area. I couldn't find where it said anything about Chula Vista, maybe it was moved there?

The good thing about CA cars is they very rarely have rust, just sun baked interiors. I think the car will clean up fine.

My guess is some guy donated it before the end of 2004 when the IRS rules changed. Since the car is a 911S, he probably used a very high write-off value like $30k. If he donated it this year he would have only gotten $7559. If it's a true 911S, you got one heck of a deal.

[austin552]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?MfcISAPICommand=ViewItem&item=4513826260
Wouldn't you have been better off buying a Euro 911S in Germany? I would think you could get a deal there...

[ttweed]

Originally posted by 911TE
Does anybody know if it is legal to drive the car to the shipping agency in L.A., if there is still a valid sticker on the rear number plate?

As long as it is registered and insured, it would be legal. You have 10 days to transfer ownership in CA, I believe.

TT

[911TE]

Does a valid sticker on the rear plate mean it is registered?

In Germany most of the pre-galvanized era 911s are either rusted away or badly modernized and still rusty, lots of salt on the roads in winter! Only the interiors are better in most cases.
If you should be lucky enough to find a good one in Germany, it will be around 10-12 KEuro which is 13,2 K$ to 16K$.