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...

Hey guys, be careful about that "stupid." I remember selling my 425 hp factory offroad 65 Corvette convertible low miler in mint condition for $2200 back in 1973. Nobody wanted a big block. Then a few years later other Corvettes of the mid sixties became unobtainable for less than $3 or 4k and I said that was stupid for a plastic Camaro without a back seat.

The icons were cheap in their day as other cars were being scrapped. Think of these icons: Ford three window coupes of the 30s, the early Vettes, 60s muscle cars. The 911 is probably the all time international icon whose time is about to arrive, albeit, on the eve of a potential international economic problem. Sometime, when it gets too expensive for me, I'll sell some of my old 911s and start enjoying my old 944 Turbos which never achieved the icon status.

In the meantime, I will enjoy driving and wrenching my 911 passion.

Diverdan

So much of it hinges on the currency exchange and the fact that 35 years ago we got the lion's share of the 911's. Add to that terrible issues with rust in Europe and you have your answer. It's really an issue of supply and demand. Everything for the 65-73's is getting hard to come up with.

I see if everyday in my business. I specialize in vintage porsche gears and transaxles. Just yesterday I quoted an FIA spec. race geared 901 for a guy in England. It came out to around $7200, and that's without an LSD. He didn't even bat an eye. Done deal. Here in the states, you've still got to sell guys on the value of it. But with what they have to work with over there, he can buy it from me for less and still air freight it and come out $1000 or more under what it would cost from a UK vendor.

Furthermore, when you start to look at the pieces and the current cost to properly build a transmission or an engine, $10k starts to seem like a cheap car. I think the "you pay 20 now or pay 20 later" rule is sliding up closer to 30 and has at least hit 25k when you factor in a 10k motor...

OK Matt, I get that. My Targa went overseas last Fall in fact. I'm just surprised at how much the prices have gone up and so suddenly. It seems like early 911s were at a certain price for such a long time. Then...boom...two - three times value!

By the way, I'd be very curious to see how your WRX transplant into the 914 goes! :)

Is this the same matt monson that has done some interesting n/a impreza builds in the past?

What's with the lumping the 73 cars in this list? First time I've heard them being excluded from the "longhood" craziness. Seems to me, there was a 73.5 T that was one of the very first to be thrown around on this list as an early non-unique/special 911 over $100k asking price. Of course it was only the asking price, but there were others that were reported as going for over $60k and $70k.

Of course I'm biased. But, I do need to defend my car's honor!

Guilty as charged. I will post a thread about the transplant once it gets further along. I need to change my signature. I just this morning bought a rolling chassis for the project. The purist in me decided it was a sin to bastardize a '73 2.0l like that.

I agree. I started to see the CIS t's spiking in price long before the rest of the t's followed suit. Less than 2 years ago, the 73.5's were going for 69-71 911e type prices...

:) Quote: "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." ...or USED to sum it up....why shouldn't 911s increase in value?
Doug, sir,
You have single-handedly tipped the demand in favor of the sellers. The cars are in fact worth more when YOU shop...:D

Some people on this board think the longhood prices are due for steep decline due to the cyclical nature of markets, just like the IT stocks of the dotcom bubble, or tulips in the tulip craze.

That wouldn't surprise me one bit. Truly. :p

I tend to agree on some level. If you use the genuine RS's as the benchmark, those particular cars are on what I would consider their 3rd spike in roughly a bit more than a decade. Each time when they slide back a bit, they never go back to where they wer prior to the spike. I think it's the increasing costs of the parts that create that piece of it. $200k+ '73 RS's is pretty crazy and there are a couple in the 150-180k range that have been on the market for months and months without selling. Just like in the real estate market the top and the bottom will slip first. It may have already happened.

However it's hard to say. Just look at the market for 356 Speedsters and 4-cam Carrera. They keep going up and up. Now I would say that those cars are a slightly different demographic and may even be collected by a different generation than the 911's are, but if you hold them as an example of where the Porsche marque stands, it's very strong and they might just keep going up this year.

Several for 10K and under on the Seattle Craigslist.......If you time it right, delivery would just cost you fuel and a plane ticket back!!

Prices here in Seattle are about the same as as year ago I'd say. There seem to be fewer longhoods for sale, but more Carreras.

I picked up my '84 last May for $10,500 with 180,000 miles. It's a "driver" for sure, but I still think it's the bees knees.

Don't get me started. My '83 was totaled last November, and most folks here seemed to think the insurance settlement offer of $9600 was reasonable. Admittedly, it needed paint.

After a couple of months of fairly intense shopping, I found a '79 Euro coupe for $11,500. In decent condition. The two main beliefs I have about this car are 1) It is worth the price. Coupes are not easy to find. Not at all. Targas all over the place, but coupes that are not Guards Red are rare. And 2) This car is in nowhere near the condition mine was in.

In a couple of months, when I expect to have time, I'm going to take virtually ALL the parts off the '83, which had just undergone a several-year full mechanical restoration, and put them on the '79. When I finish that, it will drive better and be acceptably reliable.

Southern Californians will have you believe that good SC's (like mine was) can be had for under $10K. I'd like to race those "good SC's" from here to Peru and back for money. I'd win.

I bought my '86 Targa with 193k on the odo for exactly 10k a year ago. I've invested a few k more and had some items fixed, but am still happy with her. In the end, they are all 20k cars, as I am finding out.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1205889650.jpg

Carrera Badge
 

tshore. When did they start putting a CARRERA badge below the Porsche crest? I know that I have never seen that before. Very Interesting.SmileWavy

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1205889650.jpg

Interesting the high mileage cars...there is a 3.2 Carrera locally for "only" $10,500. The ad reads:

1987 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA COUPE, 169k miles, gold, dark brown int, newer tires/alternator, new brakes & batt, looks/runs good, absolutely no joy rides, vehicle is 1985 year, call for more details, $10,500 OBO

I've seen this car on eBay with a no reserve starting at $9500. Maybe I should look at it? I'm just not a fan of high mileage cars, even 911s. :p

Edit: Make no mistake, I don't think there's any chance of getting a good later year 3.2 Carrera for anything like $10k, but it seems the only 911s at this price range anymore are "fixer uppers" or high mileage cars...of any vintage. This is just an illustration of that.

1987=G-50

1985=915.

Which is it?

Sounds fishy to me.

Good luck finding another Pcar though Doug!

Paul.

Tim, please take that Carrera badge off the front of your 911, that is just so wrong!:eek::eek::eek:

Probably why that car has been for sale for well over two years.

Thanks!