Repair vs. Roller?

SeaDweller · 12-18-2001, 06:00 AM

I'm at a crossroads with the SC, and really need some advice. I know many of you have been down this road, so I look forward to your input for direction.

I've pretty much collected everything I need to finish the car; perfect glass from a '92 C-4, new gaskets, new dash, and other goodies to "restore" the car. I even recently installed a newly rebuilt '83 engine and replaced the entire factory wiring harness. Basically, a new set of carpet is all I'm missing at this point.

The car has not seen an easy life. The two previous owners obviously enjoyed driving the car, as it has almost 400K km on the clock. It's been bumped here and there, and painted once or twice. The last paint job is stunning Glasurite white, and the PO paid dearly for it.

The current condition of the car from a body perspective is pretty good, except for the following:

1. Front half pan needs to be replaced.
2. There's some mild rust in other areas of the car; a small spot under the roof drip edge, a small area under the door stiker plate, some surface rust along the edges of the some of the doors and hood, a spot under the quarter window gasket, and a some spots under the front fender where it tapers into the windshield post.
3. One of the fenders is not aligned properly.

I've been quoted $1K to do the pan by a local Porsche restoration specialist, which is indeed a good deal. His recommendation is to wait until I do the entire car, as he said nearly the whole front end has to come apart to do it. Unfortunately, the cost of stripping and painting the car will run around $4K-$5K, so I'll be looking at $5K-$6K to finish it properly.

Based on this, and the money I've already invested (yes, I'm getting really close to 993 territory), I don't know what to do at this point. As I see it, my options are:

1. Leave the car as it is and drive it (impossible for a P-Car owner)!!

2. Move forward with the "restoration".
3. Buy a rust/damage free roller and have it repainted. Then I'll have my new engine and other "new" parts to put in it, at which point I'll sell my current car as a roller.
4. Sell the car and buy a "new" 911.

On #2, my total investment in the car will be around $25K when it's completed, $8K more than Excellence considers a "mint" SC to be worth.

In considering #3, I'd end up with a lower mileage chassis, hopefully free of damage/rust, and I could simply proceed with the repaint. What should I expect to pay for a "mint" roller, and what would mine be worth in its current condition? I think mine would be attractive for a track car, as it's a Euro version car w/o a sunroof. My thought process is such that I'm thinking a "mint" roller with a $4K repaint would cost less than the $6K I'd have to put into mine plus its current value. Am I nuts?

#4 makes me the most nervous, as I hate to give up a newly rebuilt engine. Buying a "new" car opens up a whole new can of worms.

Well, if you've made it this far, any advice would be most appreciated. Also, if you have any other ideas/options, I'm all ears!!

Thanks!!

rvanderpyl · rvanderpyl's Garage

My feeling is, that at this point you already know everything that is wrong with the car and that once it is fixed you are set. If you buy another roller you are going to have to do an awful lot of work to move everything off your car and on to it and then you still have no experience with the new chassis as to whether it has some hidden damage or rust that is going to pop out in a year or two.

If you want to go to a newer car then hey, go for it. But I don't see the point of basically strarting your rebuild over with a different chassis.

rob911 · rob911's Garage

#3 sounds good to me.

Even if the roller is not perfect as long it is sound and rust free go for it. It is much simpler to prep the roller for painting yourself without taking your car off the road.

What state are the mechanical components on your SC, suspension, brakes etc.

Maybe you could get a restored/painted shell and add all your components, cleaning and/or restoring them as you go?

SeaDweller · 12-18-2001, 07:11 AM

Is a restored/painted shell really an option? I don't believe I've ever seen one available for sale.

Is there such a thing as a "mint" roller? I mean a garage queen type of car that maybe had an unexpected, catastrophic engine failure?

rob911 · rob911's Garage

Are you still looking ?

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/classifieds.cgi?search_and_display_db_button=on&db_id=748&query=retrieval

Quote:

Originally posted by SeaDweller
Is a restored/painted shell really an option? I don't believe I've ever seen one available for sale.

Is there such a thing as a "mint" roller? I mean a garage queen type of car that maybe had an unexpected, catastrophic engine failure?

epbrown · 01-09-2002, 05:08 AM

In my opinion, the times a restoration project is called for is when the car has significant value (real or sentimental) to you, or when you plan to keep the car for an extended period. Since you don't seem attached and the car isn't some rare, valuable model, I would have recommended selling it and getting another. Since you're already "upside down" on the car (you've spent more than it's worth), I'd say finish it and keep it until you've got some value for you money by enjoying it. Once it's no longer pristine, decide whether you want to keep it or go with a Porsche you like better.

dickster · 01-09-2002, 05:39 AM

i agree

restorations done on that basis rarely make a profit

you've put all that work and money into it already (you'll get the satisfaction of having restored it)

you know that you've got a good car when you've finished which is what you wanted, wasn't it?

what do people spend on their 911's on this board? loads!!

go on keep it!!

richard