Reasonable offer for a 911 roller?

[Matt7127]

What's a resonable offer to make someone on a 1979 911 roller, The body is in good shape, no interior, no engine, trans. The windsheild is out of the car but available. The front bumper is missing and fender dented pretty good. Dash is in the car, speedo gauge is missing. Fuel lines and brake lines are in tack, but probably need replacing. No headlights. Any ideas?

[BRLuecke]

I don't understand the economics of these type of cars.

Transmission and engine = $6000 at the very least
Interior = $1500, again at the low end.
Misc parts = $2000+
Body work and spot paint = $1500
That is already more than the car is worth.

The only way this makes sense is as parts or as a mental health project.

Brad
1988 911 Carrera

[Macroni]

$3000 max as described and you will one day own a $20,000 SC.

[schumicat]

Just as a point of reference, I looked at a running, driving '77 that the guy couldn't sell for $7k asking price. It'd had a lot of work done on it (upgraded head studs, new brake lines, rust repaired properly, rebuilt calipers, MSD, etc.) and really just needed new tires to be a decent driver. He ended up putting the drivetrain in a roller with flares. An SC roller in the condition you describe, I agree with the $3k tops. You would be much better off in a decent SC for $10k.

[brads911sc]

Run Away. Unless you have an SC that is wrecked or rusted out and you need a donor car. you are looking at a 30k SC.

[ghost1001]

Hi Matt,

Depends what you want to do...if you are doing a full blown custom build a cheap solid stripped roller is way cheaper than a running car as you end up ditching most parts anyway....if you just want a decent driver you should buy a good intact driver as said by other posters.

I think what you are describing I would call a rolling tub as opposed to a "roller" it sound like you will be short many parts. The cost of parts can be a killer…..some are strikingly expensive, it is better to start with what you need and work from there. I personally think of a roller as missing ONLY the drivetrain.

If you give a better list of the parts on the car, or better yet, pictures and let us know what your plans for the car are we will steer you in the right direction.

I will say it sounds like about a $2k rolling tub to me……good start to a project but be prepared to spend some serious money getting it in running condition.

Kevin

[crashmy911]

Hate to say this but if it needs paint and body work it isn't worth anything. Unless you are a pro at it. I would say 700 to 1000 at most. If paint and body is perfect or close maybe 3000.

[Matt7127]

My plan for the car is to make it look like a 964,So I'll be tossing the bumpers and getting 964bumpers and skirts. Interior will be stripped 2 Race seats, Roll bar, new carpet, etc. I know it will be alot of work but it will be a fun project car. My background has mainly been working on VW's and Audi's. I've done a number of engine swaps, turbo's, superchargers installs, complete rewiring, interior swaps, suspension, etc, so I feel comfortable around cars. I figured an early style porsche would be the next step and great project. I felt $2000 would be a fairly reasonable offer but figured I'd ask. It amazes me how much $ some people ask for rollers and tubs that are 30+ yrs old. What is so expensive about these early style 911's to keep them running? I've had more people say run away or take a garbage bag of money and dump it off a bridge than people talking positive.

[silver911rdb]

I'd be more inclined to buy a complete and straight high mileage car at a great price and part out/sell off what wasn't needed. Some good deals can be found out there.

[Macroni]

Being all it can be.......... Capable of triple digits for hours....... Barrels of money to build...... Do not underestimate the slippery slope!

[djporsche]

I was going to check this out, but can't find a good motor and trans for it. Might be worth looking at. I wanna say it was on craigslst for 3K.
TheSamba.com :: VW Classifieds - 1984 Porsche 911 Targa Roller

[Rich76_911s]

Do you know how to check for accident damage on these cars? It could be a fun project, but you have to know upfront it is going to cost you more to repair and get it running than it will be worth. That said, it would suck to do all that work and find out the chassis has been bent.

[Winter]

if you can get it for $200 it might make sense. . . .and then pick up used parts (from the classifieds here) to finish it off. Probably best just to find one you can drive today. Unless you have more time than you know what to do with and need a project to fill that time.

[911Gedward]

If this is the roller up in Boston - I was gonna take a look until I viewed the pictures. I'm guessing based on the front end damage that the windshield was broken in the collision. So I would be VERY careful and inspect the damage in detail. While there is no way of knowing - there had to be some reason why the PO decided to part the car. I figured that the current owner decided he made a mistake - and was looking to pass it along to another - IMO only.

[brads911sc]

Its not keeping them running that is the problem. You will spend 4k for an engine that will be tired and in need of work if you want it to be reliable (100k + miles on it). Add another 10-15k for a rebuild. As a reference point, Im at 12k and I did everything but the machine work myself. That doesnt include the 5k or so on fuel and 3k or so on exhaust that I spent in the past two years that will just be bolted back on. Could have easily spent 2-4k more with additional goodies. Youll be in 18-20k just on the engine if you do it right given you are starting with nothing. Much cheaper in the long term to buy a complete car, upgrade while you drive, etc since you can buy a running driving SC in good condition for 10k. We havent even talked Transmission (same process), suspension, brakes, electrical, body work. Many of these projects are easily 50k+ when its all said and done... then you can keep it or sell at a 20-25k loss. Do the math...

Most of us do this because we love our cars. love wrenching. love driving. and because its what we love to do... Not because it would make ANY financial sense to anyone on the outside. That said... you will save $$$$ by just buying a complete car in this market...

Originally Posted by Matt7127

What is so expensive about these early style 911's to keep them running? I've had more people say run away or take a garbage bag of money and dump it off a bridge than people talking positive.

[mcaterino]

Matt,

Hopefully you're not too put off by the slightly harsh responses here. I think the explanation is that your question taps directly into a sense of exasperation that a lot of folks here have felt after going into a project as optimistic and excited as you are, and finding just how expensive and difficult it really all is. Of course like many of us you're doing it as a fun challenge, and at first the economics aren't the major consideration. But they will become an issue.

As another data point, I bought my 'roller' for about $2500 2.5 years ago. But that came with a nearly complete, although disassembled, engine, and transmission. I thought at the time most of what I needed was there, but found a lot of minor but expensive parts missing. (People who part these out know how much some little parts are worth, and they disappear fast.) Brad's numbers are slightly higher than mine (as I near the end of my project), but not by much.

I would join those encouraging you or anyone to find a complete, running car that needs work for a few thousand more. It'll easily be worth it for the parts you won't then have to buy.

Good luck,
Mike

[rfn026]

Free might be too much.

Richard

[Matt7127]

Thanks for all the great responses. Not sure what I'm going to do? Finding a good roller or even a fair 1979-84 911 is tough, atleast for something that's in my price range. My plan is mainly for a project, pick away at it here and there. The overall plan for the car is to keep it simple. I'm not going for the orignal OEM look with everything fit and function like original. I wanted to give it the look of a 964 (bumpers/skirts), real clean look put some coilovers in it. As for the interior I have 2 nice Sparco's I planned on installing, I'd strip everything else out install a rollbar, new carpet. The biggest thing is the engine. I could go either way (roller or driveable with engine and trans) just have to be patient I'm sure I'll find one. Some forsale on ebay, craigslist are real junk and they're asking a fortune, it's pretty shocking actually.

[irl]

Post some photos here, this group is good at helping you check it out.