What Foundation Car - For My Backdate

Sean_irl · 09-01-2006, 02:18 AM

Hi All,

the time has come to start planning to gett back into 911 ownership. The last 18 months since I sold the S has been tough.....but its now time to start the slow road back.

My criteria is still at at pretty high level..but heres the golden rules:

#This car is a keeper.
# I've no garage (at the moment) so it needs to be as rot proof as possible
# This will be my daily driver
# Will definitely back date it
# Needs to be more tourer than track spec so I can hit Mainland Europe with the family

So my dilemma is now what do I buy for the base car. Due to the lack of a garage I need to get the shell 100% rot free. So the Back Date/Welding work will be done by the correct people.

Engine Wise: I will want to be able to retune the engine over time (funds permitting) so am I best sticking to a 3.0 SC Engine.

As ever all comments, suggestions & questions appreciated...

Sean

eimkeith · 09-01-2006, 03:03 AM

I'd reccommend 3.2/G50 carrera models.
Galvanized, Good Transmission, Dependable Engine, Better A/C than the earlier models (if that is important to you)

Backdates just like the SC and midyear stuff, really.

Go Carrera with the existing rear flares, or cut them off and go narrow, for the ultimate illusion. I found it beneficial to buy a rotty roller for backdate parts (economy of scale in that)

MotoSook · 06:08 AM

Sean,

If you are on a budget, an SC will likely be the least costly base car. Finding one that is rust free in Ireland or in Europe will probably cost you some time and money. With an SC that is in good shape with good paint, all you have to do is change the fenders, hood and bumpers....remove rockers of course. Then you pretty much have an RS replica.

The paint work should then be limited to matching the new parts to the chassis. This is where you'll save money over starting with a galvanized mid-year. If you had chosen a mid-year as the basis of the backdate, you might add flares in the rear, which you would then have to paint the quarters of the car too. Also with a mid-year, you'll want an engine upgrade unless the car already has it. I don't think there are many 27230's or 27232+ in Ireland, so you'll likely be buying an engine to swap with the 2.7. Of course you could have gotten a car with a sorted 2.7 and it'll be fine.

If your budget is a little bigger, go with the Carrera like Keith posted. I like driving my '89 Carrera on the street over my '76 "Bastard." It's not so tempermental. I love my "Bastard," but I don't love it for going to work in or going out to dinner in. So a Carrera would be a great backdated daily driver. And just like the SC base care, you'll only need fenders, hood and bumpers.

Having said all of that, I have to ask about your choices or the availablity of good SC's and Carrera's in Ireland. Is importing a car to Ireland cost prohibitive? I seem to recall you (or someone in Europe) making such a statement once. If you don't have a lot of choices, you may have to find the best semi-rusted car and bring it back to a good state.

I wish you luck in the hunt for the next car. If you need an early car's fenders and hood, shoot me an e-mail. I'm getting ready to post a whole backdate package in the classifieds, complete with great steel fenders and a choise of hoods (steel or fiberglass) and even whole fiberglass SC quarters.

Sean_irl · 09-01-2006, 06:34 AM

Souk...

yeh theres not much choice in Ireland. But i'd be looking to the UK. Main delimma's are importing from the UK...if its over 30 years its classified as a classic and you pay about $60 import and about the same in Road Tax.

BUT....if its less than 30 years you pay 30% of the IRISH value of the car . So that could be another $10k on a $20k car. Also the Road Tax is about $1.8k a year.

One option is to back date a later 3.2 or 3l SC onto a pre 78 car

Or to get a Pre 78 car and update the Shell, running gear, engine, suspension, electrics ...as you back date it ....you getting my drift

I suppose my real question is ...budget aside is the 3.2 a better base then a late 3l SC for my back date.

Alternatively i could get a 76/77 3.o Carrera and give it the full restore.

Sean

SLO-BOB · 09-01-2006, 07:14 AM

Or go my route-964. It may be more than you want to do, but the backdate isn't that much more involved. When you're done you have the stuff everyone else is upgrading to already plus some things that are harder to add-

a 3.6 motor

coil over suspension

G50 transmission

galvanizing

great A/C and heat

.....etc

A 964 can often be had for prices similar to SCs or Carreras.

Sean_irl · 09-01-2006, 02:07 PM

Hi Bob.....my main worry about the 964 and 3.2 is that the engine is more complicated then the 3l....more electronics.

However, the upgraded parts may balance it out.

Did you backdate your 964? Have you a link to any pics of it...tx.

randywebb · 09-01-2006, 02:07 PM

The 3.2L motor is a lot better than the 3L SC - for one thing, the heads flow a lot better.

Is rust bad there? I thought you had no snow(?) In Oregon, the valley gets no snow and the early cars don't rust much - that would mean you could import something > 30 years old.

Back to the 3.2 cars, beyond the motor I don't think there is too much difference -- they are a lot heavier but you can (laboriously) remove that and toos it out or sell it - the rear heater blower is worth some good money.

IIRC, the SC's don't have the good spacing for brakes on the F struts, tho.

SLO-BOB · 09-01-2006, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sean_irl
Hi Bob.....my main worry about the 964 and 3.2 is that the engine is more complicated then the 3l....more electronics.

However, the upgraded parts may balance it out.

Did you backdate your 964? Have you a link to any pics of it...tx.

I haven't backdated my car, but I am considering it. Here's a link-

Porsche Doc 964 RSR

No doubt the 964 is more complicated, but I can't say "too" complicated for sure. I still have a lot to learn about all 911s.

Sean_irl · 09-02-2006, 03:16 AM

One of the beautys of having the 71 S was that the engine was so straight forward.....once you didnt mess with the MFI.

Randy...I hear what you say about the 3.2. But 1 thing for sure the 3l is recognised as a bullet proof engine.

We get little snow in Dublin and thankfully we don't salt the roads as much as the UK. But what ever car I get I need to undo any rust bugs that we inherited from the UK roads (as i'll probably source from there).

Bob... I think i'd probably go as far as the 3.2. If I was to enter 964 territory the self maintenance will probably be alot less.

randywebb · 09-02-2006, 10:54 AM

the rep. of the 3L comes from it following directly after the 2.7 and those problems, esp. in hot hot Calif.

I dunno that the 3L is anymore bulletproof than a 3.2L

I think you need to figure out what the mix of cars available to you is there; and then add import & trans. charges

StayGold808 · 09-03-2006, 07:05 AM

I would think a 3.2 carrera is a much better platform to begin with then an SC. As, SC's are not really much cheaper then 3.2 Carreras.

David · David's Garage

I vote for the G50 Carrera, less engine maintenance.

I saw a backdated Carrera at Protechnik the other day. It was green with Carrera RS lettering. The engine had ITB's with a Motec ECU. Very nice car. I believe it was sold to someone in Montana.