Help Me Place Market Value This Track/Street Widebody - Pix

[RarlyL8]

A friend wishes to sell his '84 Widebody Targa.

Problem is it has EXTENSIVE modifications that include a 3.4L Carrera engine that dynos at 292HP. The car was built by a PCA president on the East coast as a track/street car. None of the paperwork was included when he bought the car but one ride tells you no lies.

I don't think it is worth listing all the mods, I'm just looking for a reasonable selling price range. Everything works, you can drive it anywhere, you can beat up on mildly modded turbos, but the most amaizing thing to me is that BOTH the engine and the targa top DO NOT LEAK.

[kepperly]

WITH THAT MUCH WORK ALREADY IN THE CAR AND PER THIS MONTHS PANORAMA. WIDE BODY CARS (M491) ARE THE ONES THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BRING GOOD MONEY. I DON'T LOOK AT CARS AS AN INVESTMENT. AN INVESTMENT GRADE RARE CAR WILL ELIVATE IN VALUE ONLY IF IT IS NOT ENJOYED EXCEPT TO LOOK AT IT IN A PLASTIC BUBBLE IN THE GARAGE. THIS LEADS TO MY
PHILOSOPHY TO ENJOY THE CAR THAT WILL SUSTAIN THE LEAST DEPRECIATION. WE LOVE PORSCHES JUST FOR THAT REASON EVEN THOUGH WE SOMETIMES DOUBT IT WHEN TIME TO DO THE
MAJOR REPAIRS.

JUST MY THOUGHTS BUT NOT KNOWING THE MILEAGE I WOULD SAY LOW TO MIDDLE $20'S.

KEITH EPPERLY 87 SLANT NOSE TURBO LOOK CARRERA CABRIOLET

[trader220]

Hard to place a value on it without slightly more detail.

[JBO]

Without records, $17,000.

[trader220]

how many miles on the motor and chasis?

[RarlyL8]

If memory serves, the motor and tranny were rebuilt a couple of years ago. The current owner has most of those receipts, something in the neighborhood of $30,000 was spent on the drivetrain and suspension. The motor and suspension may have 15,000 miles on them.

The receipts that are missing are the most important. We know how much money was spent, we just don't know exactly what it was spent on. The mechanic that did all the work closed up shop and refuses to turn over the specs and the dyno sheets.

These are my observations from viewing and riding in the car:

- Motor is a solid 300HP, factory Motronic was modified.
- Euro car with same gearing, a bit higher than US gearing.
- Interior is new.
- Targa seal is new and bar recently painted.
- 18" Roock (look familiar?) wheels with brand new 235/295 tires.
- Unknown size stiff sway bars and torsion bars. Rides like a go cart.
- COLD, yes COLD A/C (this is Alabama after all).
- SSI heat exchangers with custom Magnaflow exhaust. EXTENSIVE dyno time was used to tune the EFI and exhaust. It is optimal.
- Car is in perfect running condition. It makes a trip to The Dragon monthly.

That is a short list from memory. You all know what type of car this is, a weekend warrior. Well the current owner doesn't believe in weekend warriors and drives the car hundreds of miles on a whim. So it's a weekend warrior that can be a daily driver for the hard core.

We all know that the men who built this car and the current owner will never get their money back on a modded car. I'm thinking mid-20s and someone gets a well sorted bargain. Do you agree?

[JeremyD]

Low to mid 20's and that is if EVERYTHING is optimal.

[89911]

He'll most likely get what is the general value for a car of that age and miles. I've done many of the upgrades that were done on this car and I know I would take a bath on them if I ever sold this car. If the right buyer comes along, who knows? Until then the only figure that matters is the one from someone who is offering to buy it.

[RarlyL8]

Yes, the market will rule the sale. I just wanted a feel for proper placement in that market.
I will recommend $25,000. Some will say this is too much for a Carrera. Some will need a ride to see that this is no ordinary Carrera. The correct buyer will recognize the value in a car modified the way this one is.

Just took some pix out in the parking lot.

[trader220]

You may very well find a 25k buyer, it sure appears to be a nice clean car. The problem is it may take a while... a long while. Good Luck!

[RickM]

If as solid as you say I'd bet $20-$25k is doable.

[wholberg]

M491's have a devoted following. It is worth closer to 30K for the right person, and if the seller wants to take the time to find that person.. An '87 M491 Targa with 55K miles on it sold for ~37K on EBay in 2004. I would say the modifications detract from the originality of the car, so 25 - 28K is what I would pay for it.

[doc18015]

i am w/Wholberg.....check out M491 car sales on B-Jack, Panorama and other auctions and you will find a solid upwards trend and values in the $30s as aan average. Just saw a B-J wide body cab go for $47!! I would look to mid $30s to start...always can go down if needed