1975 Carrera buying advice.

Orange914-6 · 06:24 PM

Here is what I know about the car:

bad?
has engine leaks, the whole bottom of engine is covered in oil
smokes upon startup when been sitting for more than a few days
smokes upon startup a little puff even if been sitting just minutes
minor rust at bottom of doors and a few minor spots here and there
no signs of accidents
been repainted in cream color (was red long ago)
has bbs 15 x 7 and 15 x 8
whale tale rubber is separating from lid.
will be needing clutch soon
brown interior a little beat
dash has crack
sunroof sticky

good?
pre-smog
Drives straight and quite quick!
no major or structural rust from what I can see
straight and solid floors
brakes work well
has newer bilsteins and stiffer torsion bars

I am looking for a car I can drive and enjoy a little while I fix up, possibly for auto X. I would plan to strip the interior and basically keep it minimal with a roll bar and a pair of recaros.

The owner is looking to get about 7500 OBO for it, he seems to be negotiable.

What is a fair price?

Thanks!

carrera turbo · 02-13-2010, 06:40 PM

well the price seems ok but with all the changes to the car I.E wheels repaint mirrors missing i wouldn't value it much over any other mid year car that had been flared. as the carrera stuff seems to be missing or in bad shape from your description.since you are looking for a daily driver track car i would recommend stepping up to a SC and get away from the body rot problems you will find when you start looking. I am very familure with the mid year cars and own a 75 carrera and having been around a bunch of these mid year cars, if you see rust under the paint at lower doors there is more hiding, that is for sure. look close for rust in the upper fender areas, when you open the door peak in at upper area where the fender meets the body, a common place for rust to be overlooked. kinda odd you found one of the cars that used to be red thats now tan or cream, most of the ones it seems i run into used to be tan and are now red

.

maybe you should start a thread on searching for a car if i recall you have three threads started at this time. i t will just be easier for you to compare notes and others to fallow what car your looking at now.

cheers ed

Dr J · 02-13-2010, 07:58 PM

1975 was not a good year; the price is good, but I would keep lookin for other years. Parts are just as expensive for a 75 or an 80s model. I had one a long time ago and it ran very hot. Of course, this was in Miami with traffic.

carrera turbo · 02-13-2010, 08:12 PM

Drj

the hot running was probably due to the 5 blade fans these came with when new, plus the thermo reactors for emissions. but you are right the 75 non galvanized body and potential motor issues would have me keep looking.

cheers ed

greg79s · 02-13-2010, 08:16 PM

I would keep looking. From what you listed, the car needs alot of work.

group911@aol.co · 02-14-2010, 06:49 AM

I think it has potential. If you can confirm low or no rust issues, it's then a restoration that you at least stand a greater chance of recouping your money on. The 75 US Carrera's may not have been anything special mechanically but they are still a low production, desirable car that will always bring more than a normal 75 and probably more than an SC.

jmz · jmz's Garage

Buy it. Plan on putting some money into it and you will have a unique car.

The '74 and '75 Carreras are nice light cars and underestimated in my opinion. They still have the early car feel are probably a bit more valuable than a run of the mill SC.

With a set of Hi Compression 2.7 P/C with a good set of cams they are a hoot.

Not sure if this one is stock or not but it sounds like it would be the perfect minimalist auto-x Beater/Fun Toy.

LWJ · 02-14-2010, 07:13 AM

There are two schools of thought here. One is run. The other is buy it. I think they are both right. For your wants (a hot rod) this car is ok. Remember that many if not most hot rods start out cheap and a little rough. Kind of like this car. My thoughts are if this car does it for you, then the only issue is price. There seem to be some costly issues ahead but if you can factor them into the price, do it. I think most people would jump all over this at 5k. The big costs will be rust and hopefully (but not realistically) the doors are it. As to the leaks, you could just leave it for a while. Smoke? Same thing.

Good luck and have fun!
Larry

Steve@Rennsport · 02-14-2010, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carrera turbo

Drj

the hot running was probably due to the 5 blade fans these came with when new, plus the thermo reactors for emissions. but you are right the 75 non galvanized body and potential motor issues would have me keep looking.

Ed,

FWIW,.....75's all had 11-blade fans.

California cars got the thermal reactors.

These bodies were not non-galvanized; these had galvanizing on the bottom and they are much better than the 73's and older in that regard. That said, such rust treatments are sacrificial in nature and after 20+ years, most of the benefits are gone.

Orange914-6 · 02-14-2010, 09:59 AM

I am very tempted by this car for some reason. The "cool factor" is there with this early example for sure. At the same time I can probably save a lot of work by getting into a 911sc instead and even get a 3.0 out of it but will have to worry about smog then which is tough in California.

Thanks for the input so far and boy am I confused now.

carrera turbo · 02-14-2010, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve@Rennsport

Ed,

FWIW,.....75's all had 11-blade fans.

California cars got the thermal reactors.

These bodies were not non-galvanized; these had galvanizing on the bottom and they are much better than the 73's and older in that regard. That said, such rust treatments are sacrificial in nature and after 20+ years, most of the benefits are gone.

thanks steve for clearing that up.

my history isn't as good as i thought, but now i have had a history lesson and is filed away in my mind. probably to be lforgotten or replaced with some sort of useless information, i hate getting older

cheers ed

fintstone · fintstone's Garage

I think it is a reasonable price depending on how rusty it is and personally would certainly make a $5K offer....but would expect to spend another $10K or more to get it the way you want it. I would probably be interested myself if you choose not to buy (of course, I already have most of the parts needed to fix it right). If you really just want to autocross it, you would probably fare better with a stripped down SC in better condition.

cfries · cfries's Garage

Make sure its a Carrera if thats what you are looking for. '75 Carrera's had black anodized window molding. If I am not mistaken, I see chrome in the picture.

tcar · 02-15-2010, 10:58 AM

Why get a Carrera if you're just going to strip it.

IMO, I think someone that wanted to return it to original would be better. IMO.

There are many, many thousands of SC's you could do that with.

fintstone · fintstone's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfries

Make sure its a Carrera if thats what you are looking for. '75 Carrera's had black anodized window molding. If I am not mistaken, I see chrome in the picture.

Agreed, need the VIN number.

mikeferg75 · mikeferg75's Garage

I'm a bit bias, but I'd do it

check vin first, and yes, 75's had black window annodizing, single black (some body color) drivers mirror. ect. Also inspect the tail, real ones had a metal undertray (sometimes missing).

skinnerd · skinnerd's Garage

Actually I have seen a couple early US Carrera's with chrome window trim, not black....so that may have been a rare option.
But check the VIN for sure.

I would still do a PPI....funny no one else has recommended it.

And yes, a very nice 74 or 75 US Carrera is worth a good chunk of change these days.
The only problem....
You're going to need to drop a bunch of money in this car to get it back to that kind of condition.

Really depends what you truly want to do with this car.
Restore to original....get ready for sticker shock.
You could easily drop $20-30k.

Take your time in purchasing this car.
It could be a great opportunity.
Or a nightmare for you.

carrera turbo · 02-16-2010, 01:27 AM

this is a original carrera car 146 it has been repainted in 1981 to its original color something about acid rain or some crap in oregon. these are the stock mirrors and with the black trim . of course a targa i know ewww no one likes the targas. and yes there is a metal under tray on the bottom of the wing, it should have alloy S calipers front and rear, and maybe a full leather interior, ours does has leather dash and a leather headliner on the hardtop. as well as the 7 and 8s. im not sure the carreras are worth much more than a normal 75 but im thinking one day they will.

ed

don gilbert · don gilbert's Garage

I agree with Ed, excellence mag. list a 75 us carr. in good shape,,,,24000, exc shape.....32150.00 This is a low number car and rare, do you ever watch Barrett Jackson. Someday these cars are going to be worth something, I guarantee you, i sold a 67 shelby gt 500 for 22 grand in 95, thought i made a killing, A big block 69 mach for 18g in 92,what a dumba$$, if the means allowed it i would jump all over it if i where you, and start a slow restoration on it, and go find a good sc to drive. What the ser#? The first one you inquired about (the 74) turned out not to be a carrerra, the second one turned out to be a 74 iroc car, what happened to that car, thats the one you should have bought.