Value of a 1972 non-sunroof coupe?

[M491Cabriolet]

I have been offered the opportunity to buy a 1972 911 non-sunroof coupe with factory AC. The car is quite rough, but it's all there down to the door pockets. It's been sitting since the early 1990s (outside on a farm in NC), so there is some rust on the body, but no rust through that I can see. The engine is there minus the alternator and fan. It has Weber carbs, which are all there but taken apart. The seats are the standard seats and in good shape. It has 6X15 Fuchs all around. The current owner, who's an older gentleman (I think he may be the original owner), claims the car has never been involved in an accident. Clearly, it is nowhere near running, and I would be surprised if I could even get it to roll because the brakes are surely seized. I think it's going to need a rebuild of most components (engine, carbs, brakes, etc.). I am hoping to get opinions about the value of such a car. By the way, it has a clear title. Thank you for your opinions!

[frogger]

$5k +/-

Rust is like an iceberg...

[GrantG]

I think it would be helpful to know if it's a 911T, E, or S...

[M491Cabriolet]

Sorry, I forgot to mention the model. It says Carrera RS on the factory ducktail spoiler. JUST KIDDING! It's a 911T. I think it's numbers matching, but I'll have to have a closer look. Thanks!

[Jays72T]

Sounds like this car needs a complete resto. My guess is: a T $5K.

[M491Cabriolet]

OK, thanks. So if i were to pay $5,000 for the car, how much should I budget to have it completely restored? I'm trying to get a feel of the "final" cost of this car to include the restoration/rebuild costs to see f it worthwhile. Is a 1972 non-sunroof coupe 911T an attractive car moreso than any other long hood 911T? Thanks.

[Shawn 357]

The cost to restore it will really depend on if you have the tools and time to do it yourself or if you are going to pay a shop to do the work. Whatever amount of rust you think the car has double or triple it because you always find more when you start working on it. Are you intending on bringing it back to stock? Would you be doing it to flip the car or drive it? If you want to make money on it I would find another candidate.

[CurtEgerer]

Here's what McKeel Hagerty (Hagerty Insurance) spent on his '67. Your mileage may vary

Restoration Costs

Mechanical

Engine Build

Parts - Labor

$23,191 - $7,902

Carbs/fuel system
$2,264 - $687

Transmission/clutch
$3,960 - $1,270

Chassis/steering
$6,451 - $6,563

Exhaust system
$2,129 - $25

Electrical system
$1,616- $1,848

Heating system
$523- $812

Miscellaneous
$6,957

Body
Parts - Labor

Chassis
$968 - $28,775

Bodywork
$9,268 - $6,248

Paint
$2,559 - $8,175

Trim
$2,305 - $9,567

Miscellaneous
$825 - $936

Interior

Parts - Labor

Seats
$545 - $6,983

Carpet

$1,131- $1,070

Dash
$734 - $300

Headliner
$729 - $350

Miscellaneous
$4,341

Subtotals
$70,496 - $81,511

Total Restoration Cost

$152,007

[Jays72T]

Restoration cost is tough to estimate w/o knowing the level you want to go to and the amount of rust. Here are some numbers to consider, engine will be about $10K, transmission $3-5K, and at minimum $7K for body and paint. This doesn't include carbs, exhaust, interior, brakes, suspension, and the other systems and parts prices are going up.

IMO a '72T is the best of the T's with MFI and the oil tank location but this sounds like canidate for a 3.0 w/ carbs type car.

[Jays72T]

Use Curt's numbers.

[frogger]

It will be a $30k car by the time you're done with it. OK, it'll be a fun $30k car when you're done with it.

[M491Cabriolet]

No offense, but I'd rather NOT use Curt's numbers. I mean...to spend about $31,000 for an engine rebuild on a 1967 911??? Circa $70,000 for bodywork and paint? You've got to be joking. Why would anyone in his right mind spend that much? A better question would be, why would anyone CHARGE so much? Was that car gold plated? Did they use unicorn skin on its seats? Can the car float on air? Can it fly to the moon? C'mon.

[Jays72T]

Don't let the cost stated scare you too much, it's a true number for a full resto but there are other paths to go. Being "just" a T you can pretty much do what you want plus this car might end up being parts if not rescued soon. It's worth $5k in parts.

[DonDavis]

A full restoration WILL be ridiculously expensive. Plan a budget and then triple it. Ask around. You'll see.

If the car is in reasonably sound shape, you can do ok with a 5k purchase. Then dump another 15k and you'll have a 13k 'T'..... maybe.

These are great cars, however, they can be money pits. Be careful. Post pics, be patient. Most of us would have done things different. I would have.

[RWebb]

-- "just" a T ...

Yes, but it's a '72 - they are a bit more special. I wish I had a '72....

I agree you can probably get 5k in parts but I hate to see the '72s get parted out...

I'd follow Don Davis's advice...

[Jays72T]

Originally Posted by RWebb

-- ... I hate to see the '72s get parted out...

...

100% agree.

[Mo_Gearhead]

QUOTE: "I am hoping to get opinions about the value of such a car. By the way, it has a clear title. Thank you for your opinions!"
____________________

Because the '72 was a 'one year only' type car, that has appeal for some. Being a 'T', keeps that at the low end. As it sits now, $5K seems about right.

I completely restored my car for about $23,000. But I did EVERYTHING myself (except the final body work/prep, paint and the machine work on the heads).

The more you have to 'farm out' to others and the more pieces that are missing that have to be replaced ...well, the cost rises accordingly.

[Tom F2]

I would suggest that you buy the car with the idea of doing what it takes to make it presentable and fun to drive, not with the idea of doing a concours quality restoration. Key to this is that the body is sound. Like all old cars, early 911s have their "special" spots for rust. You can get a lot of information about this by searching through Pelican. I owned a 72 T for severaal years - it's a great car, and you can't go out and buy anything like it, new, today. The valuation opinions seem reasonable to me. Maybe you can get it for less. Good luck with it.

[al lkosmal]

Mo-Gearhead's numbers are good for the DIY approach, which is the path i'm taking, as well. I'll be in the $25K-$30K ballpark, when complete. Not $150K, but not chump change either.

al

[Tom F2]

I can add a couple of thoughts.

There are two kinds of early 911s, ones where you see the rust, and ones where you don't. This is true even of cars from California, though the difference is that the California cars generally have very minor rust issues (clean up with sandpaper and some paint) whereas cars from the Northeast are often completely useless (not enough good metal to bother fixing). The message is to be careful about a car that's been sitting outside in NC for years.

Also, you have to think about the condition of the machinery after sitting outdoors. Years ago, I helped to restore a 356 Roadster, which had sat outside in a field near Buffalo for years. There was not a single useable piece of that motor, except a few nuts and bolts. The transmission was saved by the thick coating of oil and grease on it, but a magnesium case 911 transmission (they don't leak as much as 356s) could be corroded pretty badly.

On an optimistic note, the body of that Buffalo Roadster was surprisingly good - it had been parked after a rear end collision, so it wasn't the complete rust bucket that you would expect in Upstate NY. Also, the motor was a 912 replacement, so it wasn't like losing the numbers matching original.