Would you buy a new early car?

cantdrv55 · 09-01-2005, 07:33 AM

If Porsche or an outfit that sells replicas were to sell an early car look with new car appointments, would you buy it? You know, just leave the motor air cooled, maybe a 3.6, but add great AC, great shifter, great radio, PS and PW, no sunroof, Fuchs. I'm not talking backdating a 964 or 993. I mean totally brand new. Would you buy it? You think there'd be a market for it? That'd be my dream 911. An SCRS is a close second.

B D · 09-01-2005, 07:35 AM

If it had power steering not a chance. It's not just the looks of the cars I love it's the rawness.

cantdrv55 · 09-01-2005, 07:38 AM

What would you pay for a car like that? Cayman prices?

bob tilton · bob tilton's Garage

didn't nissan buy up a bunch of 240Zs and restored them to new and sold them as new a couple years back?

vash · vash's Garage

if i had that kind of money. i would do what my heros on this bbs have done. rebuild one of my own from the wheels up. in my mind putting a car together isnt that hard, it is the money part of the formula that kicks my butt.

Moses · 09-01-2005, 08:01 AM

In a perfect world, the 915 tranny is the only think I would change on my car. No PS or PB. Light, fast, raw. If I had a little short throw tranny that you could shift with one finger, I would be in heaven.

If they built an early car with more power, good A/C and a modern tranny, I'd buy it.

Zeke · 09-01-2005, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bob tilton
didn't nissan buy up a bunch of 240Zs and restored them to new and sold them as new a couple years back?

Well, it wasn't Nissan directly. The remants of that operation sit in a shop next to a one man Porsche shop in Signal Hill, CA. It didn't work. I wouldn't buy a "new" old car, myself.

72doug2,2S · 72doug2,2S's Garage

It sounds like something Harley Davidson did when the reproduced those 50/60's classics a few years ago. They definately sold. I would be favorable to the idea. I'm not sure if the original vintage would be helped or hurt, I guess it depends on the quantity that are built. It would be nice to see those classic colors, although I should talk.

Dantilla · 09-01-2005, 08:23 AM

It would be difficuly to remain true to the early 911 while meeting current DOT and EPA rules. All the new requirements for crash testing, OBD-II, emmissions, etc., are the reason a new 997 weighs over 3000 lbs.

It would be cool, but there would be a very limited market at the price neccessary to be profitable.

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

if they make one exactly like they did in the old days, maybe with the exception of some reliability additions like a carerra cooler and carrera tensioners , yes , but nothing else should be changed
no new seats, no fancy electronics, more displacement, no efi crapola , power steering , braking , clutching , not even a new radio

realistically i still wouldn't go for it because
A it would be a replica , and it would make baby Jezus cry
B it would be priced beyond my budget

arerrac · 09-01-2005, 08:25 AM

Autofarm in the UK is doing something simular.

from ther web site
"Using our 30+ years of experience we take a sound 'modern' (galvanised) 911, with its later technology and in particular its improved corrosion protection, and onto this solid base we hand build a totally reconstituted and 'close to new' 911 utilising the classic body style of the original and evocative early 911s. But our Classic Re-Creations range (including the Autofarm RS) aim to owe little to the accepted concept of a 'Replica' - it is not about achieving the popular 'retro' look as cheaply as possible, but rather a bespoke build of instantly recognizable Porsche quality. "

-W

http://www.autofarm.co.uk/new.php3/Classrecr.html

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by arerrac
Autofarm in the UK is doing something simular.

from ther web site
"Using our 30+ years of experience we take a sound 'modern' (galvanised) 911, with its later technology and in particular its improved corrosion protection, and onto this solid base we hand build a totally reconstituted and 'close to new' 911 utilising the classic body style of the original and evocative early 911s. But our Classic Re-Creations range (including the Autofarm RS) aim to owe little to the accepted concept of a 'Replica' - it is not about achieving the popular 'retro' look as cheaply as possible, but rather a bespoke build of instantly recognizable Porsche quality. "

-W

http://www.autofarm.co.uk/new.php3/Classrecr.html

41000 pounds... not uncluding the donor which they charge another 15000 for... that's a lotta money for a backdate job
i'm sure they are quite good at it , but it's still a lotta money for essentially a backdate.

Chuck Moreland · 09-01-2005, 08:51 AM

The Autofarm approach looks like a good marketing spin on an early car resto and build, however extensive.

TRE turns out cars like this all the time, each tailored to its owners personal liking and budget. Other shops do this too.

How about a truly new early 911? Performance would exceed that of the original. Tube frame chassis and full lightweight FG/CF body, with panels interchangeable with the original car. Entire chassis built new, but accepting the original drive train.

The motor could be to the owners specs be it peaky 2.0/MFI, or 3.8 EFI.

Truly a new car, only the running gear is refurbished. But clocking in at... oh maybe under 1800 lbs. Maybe 1700, and with chassis more rigid than the original tub.

This would be rocket. I'd like to have one.

Markus33 · 09-01-2005, 09:14 AM

I'd be surprised if Porsche could build new early cars, sell them for Cayman prices and still make the profit margins they're getting these days. This is assuming that they would still be made with the same hand work and build quality as the originals.

Markus
'80 SC Targa

Eric Schaeffer · 09-01-2005, 09:35 AM

It would get me into a dealership to look.

Beyond retro styling the key would be preserving build, engineering and performance characteristics. Not to mention some galvinizing!

I would love to see more old cars or back-dated or "new" old cars on the road.

rlh930 · 09-01-2005, 09:52 AM

To me, it would be a total turn-off to look in the engine compartment and see an engine with all the smogified, EFI-ified, OBD-II-ified, air-conditioned junk all over it. Period correct look and sound are crucial to the value of the car. I would far rather pay TRE or someone to rebuild a real early car to real early specs, or something perceptually identical to early specs, than to pay for something like Autofarm is selling, where only the visible bodywork is backdated.

It's a good question whether I would pay Cayman prices for such a thing in any case. I think one can do a driver-level restoration of a real early 911 for significantly less than the $60-70K that a Cayman will cost. I say that as someone part-way through the process of doing just that. Admittedly, the early cars are getting rarer and it is thus increasingly likely that one would have to start with a less than solid car, increasing the expense.

72doug2,2S · 72doug2,2S's Garage

What does a new 72 smell like?

cantdrv55 · 09-01-2005, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 72doug2,2S
What does a new 72 smell like?

The world's most expensive fragrance - that new car smell.

jose luis · jose luis's Garage

Hey 72Doug :

quote:
My Uncle has a country place that no one knows about. He said it used to be a farm before the motor law...........seems familiar :

That is my favorite RUSH Song ...........

JL Garcia
912, 1968

72doug2,2S · 72doug2,2S's Garage

Jose,
I can still remember Jr. High and how huge "Moving Pictures" was.
Doh! now I've dated myself
Rush Rocks!