77 Carrera Turbo Thinking of buying

Hi guys. I want to look at a 77 Carrera Turbo that is for sale and just wondering what kind of specifics to look at about this car. I looked through Bruce Anderson's book and couldn't find anything bad about this year's engine/body/brakes/suspension. The ad states it is a 77 Carrera Turbo, great engine, but needs paint. 96K miles. Any thoughts on this car would be appreciated. I haven't had a chance to talk to the owner yet, so anything you can come up with will be appreciated!
TIA,
Craig

Paint is expensive.
96K is a lot of miles on a turbo, esp. If it has not been rebuilt, you could be in for a world of hurt. If it has been "rebuilt" look at the paperwork carefully to see what was done and by whom.
The '77 has no intercooler, which is kind of desireable. And, it has smaller displacement than the '78 and newer turbos. Because of this, the value of the '77 is somewhat less than the later ones.
Don't know how much the buyer is asking or what you are looking to pay, but a high mileage, early non-intercooled turbo that needs paint is generally a risky proposition.

I tend to agree. The non-intercooled 3.0 liter could be easily abused. Modifications put the engine at greater risk. The high mileage may say something about the owner(s) and how the car was cared for. Find out the history and let us know.

I think the brakes before 78 on the 930 are standard, so you wouldnt have the 4 piston calipers. It is true they have no intercooler, but I figured the turbo bearing really couldnt cool itself well enough, and is short lived because of this. If the price is really really low, then it will allow you to make proper upgrades for par performance the 930 is expected of. I drove a 77 a month ago. It has really nice zip-but not Punch-as in BOOM. Good luck............S

Thanks for the replies so far. I tried to call the owner, but he is out until after 10:00 tonight. I will probably try again tomorrow night. Here is a little more info:
I mispoke when I said 96K miles, it says 90,300 miles. Also, nothing mentioned in the ad about a rebuild or any upgrades, so I suspect neither has been done. The asking price in the ad is 11K, OBO. Currently I own a 77 911S, with tensioner upgrades, 11 blade fan, and pop-off valve in air box. I kind of like my current car as it runs like a top, but always keep an eye on the want ads to see what else is out there.
Thanks for all replies, keep posting, and I will update when I talk to the owner.
TIA, Craig

I bought mine specifically because it was the first year for the Turbo. If you like kooky, old, fairly low production cars, this model might be for you. If your looking for all out performance, look instead for a later model intercooled car. If things like Pop-out rear quarter windows, no consoles, 15 inch Fuchs and that beautiful Carrera whale tail appeal to you, a '76/'77 may be for you. I bought mine in need of a paint job and with some oil leaks that eventually required a rebuild. The total cost with me doing over 50% of the labor was in excess of 12K. I love my car and the quirks that distinguish it from the average Turbo, but if performance is what your after, a '78-on is much more suitable.


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