Is there such a thing as a $10k 911 anymore?
 

So I'm shopping. ..again. Aw hell, I'm always shopping. But there is actually I chance I may be buying again soon. Anywho...I'm trying to set a budget of around $10k. It seems there were hundreds of decent cars when I wasn't looking for them. Now? Well it seems I can't find a decent car for under $15k (asking price, of course, but still) and most of the "good" ones are over $20k. Did I miss the "cheap" Porsche? Are they all working their way up in price now? ..or is this just Murphey's Law hitting me...when I can't buy, they come out of the woods...when I decide to start actually looking, they all go away?

I think there are still some 73.5-77 out there that are decent for less than $10K, even an SC if you are patient. But you are right the pickings are getting slim.

Patience, patience, patience. Wait until Spring and/or Tax time!

With a running engine installed??

Have you looked at the values of the early 911's in the latest Excellence magazine?
Good lord, my 72 I bought a little over 4 years ago is the best investment I've ever made!
Paid $4600 for a car that had been sitting for a few years, put 2x that into it including a used motor... it's worth 25K now.
Wish I could pick stocks that well!!

There was 6 months ago when I bought my '82 SC for 10k. Can't say what has happened since, I haven't been in the market :)

The metallic blue car is $8K.

The mexico blue car has no engine, but you might be able to find a high mileage 3.0 and trans and get it back together for 10K.

http://www.gtmotorsports.us/Cars%20For%20Sale.htm

This one isn't pretty either but you asked....:)

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/car/604322160.html

I bought a 79 SC with a recently well rebuilt 3.0 with only a couple of really minor flaws for $10K a couple of months ago. No rust, all the goodies (clutch/tensioners/popoff/tierods etc) After 2,500 miles the two worst faults are a 2 inch long "lifting, doubtless a rust spot beneath the paint just under the left rear window..not a bubble, just a lifting piece of paint...and the odometer gear dissolved ($32) Great sound system, adj. sways f and r, racing seats, several chips on both the finger triggers on door handles. Great paint, although some folks are offended by the Ferrari paint code;-) high dollar ("Python?) alarm system with a two block scream if evildoers snuggle up to it. During a recent cold snap, when I fired it up,it surged for a few minutes before it got warm. Other than that, NO sneaky faults. I would LOVE for the market to shoot up now (that I own it;-) but in the cold dawn light, I admit to myself what I wouldn't tell anyone else...it is a 30 year old sports car that brings a smile to your lips, that roars and flys from 3.5 to redline and handles like t is welded to the road.....but..it IS a 10K car....BUT...while I would like to think I am Fangio's spiritual heir, I flogged it through a set of sporting twisties..a real mountain challenge...for about 25 minutes, and my wife, the social security qualified, retired ex-nun stayed right with me...in her 2004 Cadillac SRX, hauling 7 seats, a blaring Bose sound system, DVD, GPS, moonroof, back-up alarm system, heated seats front and rear and the only dreamed for quiet, cold, multi-flowing blessed air conditioning
Both the PO, and several P-wrenchs exclaimed what a good deal it was, but it took a grand total of about 30 minutes research. Yes, it was on Ebay...and was MUCH nicer than ad would have led you to believe.
They ARE there. The only folks who say NOT, have one to sell;-)
It's the Yaller one going to the recent Palooza.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...palooza-02.jpg

I bought my '82 SC Targa for $9,200 back in October. It's by no means perfect, but it's still a Porsche. So far, I've only spent money on cosmetic stuff. I think you have to be willing to accept a higher-mileage car. Mine's got 132k.

Alan

Here is one in Atlanta fir under 10k

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/car/608438090.html

77 Targa for $9,900

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/car/606070757.html

75 Targa for $7550

http://newyork.craigslist.org/que/car/608488522.html

78 Targa $10,900

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/car/590542244.html

87 Vert for $10,000

http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/car/578307019.html

78 Targa $6,900
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/car/597943901.html

Most of these will probably new a few grand of work...

How about this 1987 for $8k? :D

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1205808337.jpg


From this:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1205808515.jpg

To this:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1205808650.jpg

HEY THAT"S ME LOOKING LIKE I AM ABOUT TO THROW A PITCH!

A good friend of mine is selling a 1981 911SC Targa here locally, and he's asking $10,500 - and the car has less than 20k miles on a fully rebuilt engine. It runs very well and looks quite presentable. I've driven it recently, and it feels very quick and composed and like an SC should feel.

The downsides? It has 968 wheels on it, and the original black interior was sort of halfway replaced with a two-tone black and tan. The seats are in beautiful shape, but it's not "correct" looking. But for the money, it's a good car. PM me if you want me to put you in touch with him.

Why, Shane, I think you're RIGHT..and wearing your Dale Earnhart (sp?) racing shoes there in mid-winter Arkansas! That is also the racing nun hiding over there behind that OTHER stalwart.

Thanks to all who are "shopping" for me! :p But really I'm not looking for people to shop for me, I'm just curious if you guys have noticed prices going up for all 911s or if I'm just going mad. Fear not, I'll be patient!

As for what I'm actually looking for, I should probably be a little more specific...I'm looking for a nice, running coupe for around $10k. I'm seeing a lot of Targas, but I just sold my '78 Targa last Fall for $10.5K. I like them on a nice sunny day, but not any other time. (Sorry Targa owners!)

And I know a $10k car won't be perfect, but I still think one can be found in good running condition and w/o rust. I'm hoping anyway. Otherwise, I'm going to be Porsche-less for a lot longer than I'd planned. :(

Skip, I'm kicking myself in a major way...I sold a perfectly good '70 911T (OK, it was metallic poo colored, but still) just a few years ago for around $10k. I saw the same thing in Excellence you did...it's now "worth" $24k. Stupid, stupid, stupid...

Are you offering? :D Because...yes please! :D

I am currently hoping this doesn't come back to bite me in the ass in a year or two. I've got a car on Ebay right now. It's a '70t targa that is not running, though it would only take a carb rebuild and a set of heat exchangers to make it run. I bought the car two years ago, running and driving, for $2000 and spent about $1000 while I had it, so $3000 is where I set my reserve. It broke reserve in less than 24 hours. Last night it hit $5600 and there's still 3 1/2 days left on the auction. I've got guys in Europe emailing me offering me $7k to end the auction today. This car may actually hit $10k before it's all said and done. I personally think it's ridiculous and that's why I am selling. I plan to try to roll my proceeds into a driver 2.7l car or a nicer 914. To quote you, what has happened to the prices of the early cars is "Stupid, stupid, stupid..."

It just seems if you want an "early car" these days, it's cheaper to buy, say, a mid-late 70s 911 and backdate it than to actually buy a good pre '73 car. Unless you're going for total originality, this seems the better route. (I know I'm not the only one who feels this way!) I suppose, maybe because of this, I don't see the early cars getting too out of hand. But yes, I'm not sure I understand (or agree) with the recent surge in early car prices.

..or I could just be bitter. :p

Doug,

I have noticed that too. The cars I have seen for less than even $12K have been rough (I'm sure there are exceptions out there before I get flames). I know on the East coast, the cars tend to be nicer with less miles since they are not driven all year. However, that also makes them more exepensive.
I once heard a good quote about old 911s. "They are all $20K cars, pay now or pay later." I think that sums it up.

Cheap cars are usually cheap for a reason, I know from experience:) So any cheap car you are looking at be sure to get a really good PPI.

Because:
The devil is in the details and the details are in the PPI.

You can find them from time to time. Check around on the regional PCA web pages lots of them have classifieds. Ebay is a good source, but they have to be local. But just watch for rust, accident damage, or broken headstuds etc. I think the first 2 are the worst because I have experienced both. Most problems with a 911 you can fix and make 120% better, but a rusty twisted car is never made 100%.

Rich

I paid $9200 for my 71 last summer, but I'll probably be into it for a total of around $12,000 out of pocket by the time it reaches 'driver' status.

Not terrible when you look at Sports Car Market and Excellence market updates...