looking to purchase '79SC

[broseed]

Hi everyuone,

First I want to say I've missed reading this board for the past few years. I owned a '81 SC from March of 01 to August of 03 and have missed having a Porsche in my life ever since :>.

However, a lot has changed since I sold it:

- I got married

- wife's father is a doc who has owned a 1979 silver/lobster red SC since new and drives it back and forth to work every day (about 10 mile round trip)

- he wants to sell his car

This car appears to be in very good condition:

- It has always been garaged (at home and at office)

- interior is almost perfect (driver's seat was restuffed and entire interior was re-dyed a couple of years ago - headliner is perfect)

- never in any major accidents

- all paper work since the beginning

- exterior has a few minor knicks and scratches, but body is great

- 112,000 miles

- always properly maintained (for the past decade or so at Bauer Porsche in Oakland for those of you familiar)

- He's asked me to name the price (only because he doesn't like doing businees with family, which I can appreciate - but I must have this car).

I test drove it yesterday however, and while my father in law does say it's due for a tuneup (been about 1.5 years), I found the car to have noticeably less power than my 183000-mile-81-SC with the same engine.

the engine seemed to run smoothly - but the pickup just wasn't the same which has me a bit worried.

obviously before i make the purchase I'll have a PPI - but what might cause the lack of power? My father in law agrees that the car is not as powerful as it once was...

could it possibly mean that the engine is simply tired and in need of a rebuild? if so, i'm not sure i'll want to make the purchase...

what specifically should i have done at the PPI (outside of the standard lead-down/compression test)?

thanks all of your help and advice! i'm excited to potentially join the club once again!

-broseed

p.s. any thoughts on what the car is worth?

p.p.s any recommendations for shops to do a PPI in Northern California (I live in Oakland)?

[onlycafe]

you might want to check if the throttle opens all the way.

[Danny_Ocean]

$8 ~ $10k

[joe payne]

Make sure the distributor is fully advancing along with getting full throttle.
Fuel injectors may need a good cleaning. That car has alot of miles left in it before a total rebuild.
Also, have the head studs checked for the broken ones that may or may not exist on the exaust side of the heads.

[tcar]

and, the catalytic converter may be partially plugged.

[oregonmon]

I just purchased this 79 SC with 127,000 miles with the required upgrades for $10,000. Which I thought was a pretty good deal. As far as condition, I'd say pretty good. The interior is pretty nice, and the paint is about a 7ft. and away for it's 2nd paint job.
Most people I talk to say it was a steal.
I just recently had some service done which consisted of replacing the exploding rubber center clutch as well as valve adj, plugs, timing, air/fuel adj., and some seals. When I got it back from him it was way down on power which he warned me there might be some more tweaking so I took it back for a few more hours on tuning and it runs better than ever.
This being my first Porsche to drive, I was pleasantly surprised by the power from the beginning but now it runs really nice.
Hope this helps and post more questions if you've got'em.

[bigchillcar]

any pics? silver/lobster red is classic racing porsche..love that combo. one-owner, family-priced, nice cosmetically..definitely worth buying and sorting out. get a compression/leakdown for sure. how much oil is it using? tune-up might bring her back to life if cap, rotor, plugs. wires, etc are all old..filters, air, fuel, oil..

[aigel]

Not sure if I'd deal with the dad in law unless you are close. Lots of potential for disappointment - on both sides. If you insist, Porboys in Oakland would be a good place for the PPI.

3640 E 9th St
Oakland, CA 94601
(510) 437-9400

10k that others have thrown out there is a good ballpark number. If the family is reasonable, the 10k will stay in the family anyway. I would just offer 10k - pending the PPI showing that it has no major engine issues that are pricey to fix.

George

[broseed]

tks for all the tips guys!

oregonmon: nice lookin' ride - congrats on your purchase!

bigchillcar: i don't have any pics right now, but assuming i go ahead with the purchase i'll post a couple hundred or so :>. the silver/red combo is indeed classic - seems to be a rare one as i don't recall seeing any SC's with it recently. I'm not sure how much oil it's burning through - I'll be sure to ask.

aigel: i've known his daughter for 17 years - and we live about a mile away from each other - so we're definitely close. i have no reservations about buying this car from him assuming i can get the lack-of-power thing worked out. tks for the tip on Porboys - I'll give them a buzz. Is this where you have your car serviced?

[aigel]

Originally posted by broseed
aigel: i've known his daughter for 17 years - and we live about a mile away from each other - so we're definitely close. i have no reservations about buying this car from him assuming i can get the lack-of-power thing worked out. tks for the tip on Porboys - I'll give them a buzz. Is this where you have your car serviced? [/B]

I am my own mechanic (aside from tires and alignments) but if I ever needed help, I'd go to him. Many of my pals in the club use Joe and are happy with their work, Porsches and other Euro cars. Porboys also actively supports the Golden Gate Region PCA.

Cheers,

George

[vash]

dylan, as a fellow bay area-er, i am looking forward to seeing this car. silver with a red interior would be HOT! since he is family Lowball him! just kidding; i have seen SC's go for a wide range of money. 8 to 18k. good luck.

[Drdogface]

Jimmy Deering is your guy for the PPI. He will come to your/his home. Very thorough and knowledgable guy. He does ALL my work. His company is Mobileworks East. Email is: porscheworks@aol.com

http://mobileworkseast.com/

Sounds like a great car to buy IF you have a good relationship with your Father inlaw. Buying/selling cars between relates can cause problems.

[nostatic]

there is a saying about buying/selling stuff with family and friends...

Lack of power could be throttle or that it needs a valve adjust. Or it hasn't been run at redline enough. Putting 10 miles to work every day is NOT what these cars particularly like...

Needs an Italian tune up. After a German one.

[bigchillcar]

+1

[holtjv]

Originally posted by nostatic

Needs an Italian tune up. After a German one.

I'll bite.

[onlycafe]

run the peedoodles out of it

[yelcab1]

Nothing really special about this car other than lower miles than some. 10K$ max.

[Bill Douglas]

Yes, an Italian tune, then check the oil level because it may be low after burning all the water out of it.

Make sure the PPI chap looks for broken head studs

[foamy911]

+1 for Mobile Works East, Jimmy is 'Da Man !!!!