RSR Conversion on my '71S? Should I?

[jester911]

I think doing an RSR depends on whether or not you are going to do the work yourself. If you love projects and tearing apart a car and rebuilding it does it for you, then you should go for it.

On the other hand if you are going to farm out most of the work just to get to the end result then you should sell it and go for a project that is done or at least close to done.

The cost of having others do it will be much more in the long run and not near as satisfying.
Just my .02

[Kevin Stewart]

you would probably be better off selling and buying one that is done, it will cheaper then converting your car, Kevin

[Cornpanzer]

The wisest thing is to sell it and buy something else to cut up.

However, if you decide to keep it and mod it, please dont do another RSR. Go with an ST look and keep it all period 71. Perhaps its just me, but upgrading an S to ST using all the correct parts is more sympathetic than making an RSR replica from it. Besides, a lot of people feel that the RSR look is a bit played out.
Just my two cents

[Kevins911]

wow, again thanks for all the input. The original color was tangerine. Selling is not an option. I've thought about it many times when not looking at the car. This isn't just a hunk of metal that can be replaced, it has a soul and a personality. I love this car, plus it is the first Porsche that I bought. If I could sell I wouldn't have started this post. I knew nothing about wrenching before I owned this car, now I'm the guy my friends come to when they have a problem with their cars (now all they'll have to do is buy Porsche's and I'll be happy to do it for them) I plan on doing all of the work myself except for paint and the machining of engine parts. I have considered the ST, it would be period correct but I really don't like the look of the ST flares.

Thanks
Kevin

[Jeff Alton]

You are under no obligation to restore the car because it is an "S". You are also under no obligation to sell it and buy something else for a project. It is your car, build what you want to drive!

flame away


Cheers

[Gearbox]

My vote is for an RS conversion. Without the original engine it's not a viable canadate for a restoration to original. Plus a good restoration to a RS would be worth more to a larger pool of buyers. Well that's my 2 cents, good luck

[pjv911]

Originally posted by aigel
Sell and start with another car. It makes better financial sense, as you don't need an S body to start from.

George

Exactly ! I bet this car will pull $15k on ebay. Also your 68`s engine should be a 901/02 aluminum case motor. I would sell it by itself and put a run of the mill 2.0-2.7 in its place. The S engine should fetch $6-$8k by itself and wont really get you much more if left in the car.

In short $15k on car
$7k on engine
-$2k for replacement engine
= $20k towards ready to drive RSR car

And as a bonus you preserved an early S car since the buyer will restore it .

Kurt Williams

[Kevins911]

Unfortunately it's not an aluminum engine case, in mid year '68 they changed to the mag case and thats what I have. I couldn't get 7k for the engine, it has '69T heads on it, I have the original heads but they need a valve job, it has solex cams and it leaks a lot of oil. I'm sure selling my car wouldn't be a problem but getting another one would. I live in Canada, an imported car has to be bone stock and in perfect condition. I would hate to buy a roller, do the conversion and then not be able to register and insure it. Canada is limited and pricy when it comes to P-cars, a $1500 944 in Cali. would probabily sell for $5000 up here.

[jwetering]

Originally posted by Kevins911
...I live in Canada, an imported car has to be bone stock and in perfect condition. I would hate to buy a roller, do the conversion and then not be able to register and insure it.....

I don't think that's quite true kevin. You may be right about not being able to import a roller (maybe) but a car you import doesn't have to be stock original etc. It has to pass a safety inspection , but even then I don't think this has to be done right away, I think it can be done when you register it.

You are right about the value of Porsches up here though. A $10K USD car is worth pretty much $20K CDN up here, depending on model, condition blah blah blah

That all said, there's some good advice up there. A few votes for a restoration, but really it's not a viable option AFAIAC.

As far as not liking ST flares goes....from some angles I agree, but not from this angle:

[Porsche]

A 2.2S is appreciating - keep it, restore it.

[randywebb]

that could end - or pause for years...

but I still say restore it - it is an S and you can do things to move it back towards stock while driving it for a few years.

put any motor in it while you look for an S motor; it wouldn't be the same engine # as was on a CoA (assuming the CoA's are ever correct...); but the car will be worht quite a bit with an S-type motor even if not the original motor #. After all, if your 35 yr old motor finally blew up and you got a new one, couldn't you still win a concours?

[Kevins911]

Jasper is that your car? I love the flares on the front, thats exactly what I want!! A flare that stays away from the top of the fender leaving the body line intact. The ST flare starts at the top of the fender and slopes down steeply to the wheel opening, the RSR flare also starts at the top of the fender but has less slope to the wheel opening. The reason I dont like the ST flare is because it looks too droopy, the RSR is not as bad. Who makes the flares on the car pictured? What do the rears look like? Anyone know? Ok, now I'm excited!!!

[Kevins911]

Randy, you make a good point. I'm not much of a concourse guy but I can appreciate originality. It's just my fenders and quarters are so hacked up, they are going to require a lot of work either way, flare or no flare.

[wesayso]

Here you go... (not mine but you wanted to see these pictures right?)

[70SATMan]

ST or sell it if you're hung up on the RSR thang. A proper ST flare is the sexiest piece of work period.

Makes the RS, RSR, SC & turbo flares look like crap!

[swa911]

dibs on the white fuchs!!

[jwetering]

Originally posted by Kevins911
Jasper is that your car? I love the flares on the front, thats exactly what I want!! A flare that stays away from the top of the fender leaving the body line intact. The ST flare starts at the top of the fender and slopes down steeply to the wheel opening, the RSR flare also starts at the top of the fender but has less slope to the wheel opening. The reason I dont like the ST flare is because it looks too droopy, the RSR is not as bad. Who makes the flares on the car pictured? What do the rears look like? Anyone know? Ok, now I'm excited!!!

Hi Kevin - no, not my car, I wish. That's an original S/T that made the rounds on the web recently. As you can see, more pics have been posted. That's actually the first S/T I've ever "seen". I agree there's been a few since that made the rounds where the fenders look "droopy". This one is all cool though, you'll agree.