Help! Need a quick answer!

[mhpd31]

Well I finally got my 1975 911, and have so far refused the car. The body is gorgeous, but underneath, this is what I saw(see pic). I don't know my 911's, but if this were a muscle car I would say complete frame off.

A little history, it is a Maryland car, Brand new paint job. Thought I was getting a good deal at $9000.00. Only mechanical problem is a cold start issue (stated rebuild 50,000 ago). But the rust underneath really scares me, and who knows what is under the new paint. Is this a safe bet at any price or am I overreacting??!!

P.S. The seller is a broker, and he really does seem to be a good honest guy. So if you guys have seen this car for sale before, please don't hold it against him.



Thanks in advance for a quick answer (I told him I would give him a yes or no very soon).

[mhpd31]

Heres the pic!

[Fishman7]

Run!

[GothingNC]

Run

Think of all the rust hiding that you cannot see.

[Aurel]

$9k for a 75 with a cold start problem and underbody rusted through does not seem like a good deal to me at all. For same price, you should be able to find an SC with no major issues. Bigger and bulletproof 3.0L liter, galvanized body. Keep looking.

Aurel

[Walter_Middie]

mhpd31,

As this car is a mid-year, I'd say that any rust repair will not be worth the time or effort. A really good mid-year is probably only worth $12,000 if it is in top shape. Starting with any price, you can quickly top $12,000 with a complicated rust fix and paint. You will never get back what you put into it.

I looked at a nice mid-year before I bought the one I currently have. It also had a nice new paint job, and was for sale by a really nice salesman. Once I crawled underneath the car, it looked like yours - very rusty. I pointed this out to the salesman, but he didn't blink an eye. He couldn't car less what the real condition of the car was, he only cared that it looked good to an unsuspecting client and sold for a profit.

[HarryD]

A rusty middie. As much I hate to say it, RUN FOREST RUN. You will probably have over $5k in rust repairs before you are done.

If you think you want to proceed, you need a very thourough rust nspection of this car by someone experienced in early/middle 911 body repairs.

It can be fixed but that is where you rear torsion bar connected to car. This is a serious problem. I would get the car on a lift and look over the underside very carefully. Check where the torsions bar tubes meet the car, and the front suspension attaches to the body.

Rustoration can get very expensive quickly.

[Nickatnyt]

Thank your lucky stars that you looked underneath the car and put the wallet back in your pocket until you find one that is a higher price but without all that cancer.

[don gilbert]

if youv got 9 grand to spend, go to your craigs list and get a nice sc

[w21055]

Run, and if you check any further (front suspension) there will be more rust.

[haycait911]

+1 on the 'run away'. mid-years aren't worth much these days.

as others have mentioned, for 9k you can get a decent SC if you look around. mucho better car.

[ossiblue]

Take it from a mid year owner (and those above), RUN, RUN, RUN!

[mhpd31]

Well I just let the broker know, and he was very much a gentleman about it. I figured this would be the answer, but held out a little glimmer of hope. Still I can't help but feel like the 8 year old at Christmas that just opened up the present that he always dreamed of, and it was broken by his little brother five minutes later!

Guys Thank you very much for the quick response. I am now once again a (temporary) Porsche outsider, as I am now again without one, but on the bright side I still have to look, because I already bought all the performance books and shop manuals


BTW, as I am on the hunt again, what year model should I stay above, so that I can later easily upgrade it to scary fast?

[don gilbert]

there was a running 84 3.2 car for sale here in menphis, asking 10,000

[jh225]

[w21055]

78 and up are not as likely to be prone to rust. Also the 3.0 is prefered over the 2.7.

[burgermeister]

Looks like it is toast to me ... like everyone else said - run!

[crustychief]

+1 on the 78 and up to 88. Sorry to hear about the busted bubble but in the long run you will be way ahead.

[Poor-sche Lover]

mhpd31,

I just sent you an e-mail.

[lucittm]

In mid-1975 Porsche began dipping its formed sheet steel body panels through an electrically charged 930 deg. bath of zinc. At this temperature, the zinc bonded galvanically to the steel. Every steel surface in the car body was "galvanized" at a manufacturing cost of nearly $100 per car (1975 911S base cost $11,875).

In model years 1977 through 1979, Porsche began having problems with the zinc galvanizing process and in some areas the zinc (supposed to be between 10 and 50 microns thick) ended up much thicker, and it didn't hold paint well.
- from the Porsche Buyers Guide

Stick to 1980 and newer 911's and you will be a happy man.

Mark