What did I just buy? Real or not? Good or bad?

[TRE Cup]

The fenders COULD be without vents in the special wishes program BUT not on this car: Modified Mazda units with rectangular lamps= NOT oe or special wishes. When i visited factory Werkes 2 in Sept 83, i took pics of a whole rack of new slant fenders with no lamp or vent cut outs. The mods were done in the shop to client wishes.
The divider strakes on the rear quarter panel vents are too thin to be special wishes or factory. These appear to be made of metal- a common California conversion shop effort. ( i have a set with vents for sale btw ;-) )

Its a nice looking car and hope you have many years of enjoyment

[80-911SC]

much better post with the pics ...........

nice looker .....

[twin plugged targa]

My questions would be-

Was the car sold as a 930 Cabriolet?

Or is it a case of 'Buyer Beware?'

If the car 'was' correctly stiffened/strengthened then I guess the resale is the only thing affected

If it was not, then I would be a bit concerned all of that power in a flexible chassis?

All the same a nice looking car!
rgds Ben

[smshirk]

Originally Posted by Gumby81

Thanks for the info, but how do you know about the options (at least the ones not shown in the pictures) on this car? What am I missing?

I used the VIN decoder at Automobile Atlanta. Nice tool Porsche VIN Decoder, VIN Lookup, Decode VIN

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by smshirk

I used the VIN decoder at Automobile Atlanta. Nice tool Porsche VIN Decoder, VIN Lookup, Decode VIN

Interesting. I've never known about that before. I ran my car, and it was fairly accurate (not perfect--it had the code #s, but sometimes incorrectly identified them). The VIN for the OP's car shows 2 codes it couldn't figure out. The M330 code refers to the Blaupunkt Toronto radio it originally came with, but the code sheet I have doesn't have anything listed for M391.

[Gumby81]

Originally Posted by smshirk

I used the VIN decoder at Automobile Atlanta. Nice tool Porsche VIN Decoder, VIN Lookup, Decode VIN

Thanks a bunch. I notice all the listed known options have a "M" prefix. What do you think the significance is of the "I" prefix on the two option codes that were not available?

[smshirk]

I ran across this car on Ebay a while back. I thought I had seen it before and just saw it in my watched folder. It didn't meet reserve in November

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Porsche-911-Turbo-Slant-Nose-Cabriolet-31k-Orig-Miles-RARE-CAR-930-LOOK-/250718946673?pt=US_Cars_Trucks

[69 Soft Targa]

Originally Posted by smshirk

I ran across this car on Ebay a while back. I thought I had seen it before and just saw it in my watched folder. It didn't meet reserve in November

Looks like it was relisted and sold for $27,500

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230549198909#ht_46017wt_1138

[sobamaflyer]

You may not have wanted your new prize to be picked apart quite so much, there are VERY good detectives around here!

.....I watch each of the BJ auctions just to marvel at the $ that I don't have to spend. Compared w/ so many cars that I think "how in the world did someone pay that much for xxxx" I'd say you got a very nice cruiser there.

Most of us tend to be pessimists but it IS possible you got a high quality conversion in a well taken care of car. Like others have said, go drive it like you stole it, it was a HELL of a lot cheaper than so many Mustangs I've seen go across that block (no offense to your muscle car tendencies )

[Gumby81]

Originally Posted by sobamaflyer

You may not have wanted your new prize to be picked apart quite so much, there are VERY good detectives around here!

.....I watch each of the BJ auctions just to marvel at the $ that I don't have to spend. Compared w/ so many cars that I think "how in the world did someone pay that much for xxxx" I'd say you got a very nice cruiser there.

Most of us tend to be pessimists but it IS possible you got a high quality conversion in a well taken care of car. Like others have said, go drive it like you stole it, it was a HELL of a lot cheaper than so many Mustangs I've seen go across that block (no offense to your muscle car tendencies )

I don't mind the naysayers. The reality of auctions is this. The winning bidder always overpaid in the eyes of anyone with the financial wherewithall and interest in owning the item being auctioned - otherwise, they would have bought it themselves. I face this attitude every day in the world of M&A.

Also, I look at collectible/classic cars a little different than a true investment. I like to drive them and enjoy them. So what if I paid $5k more than it was worth to the average collector? There'll be plenty of potential buyers out there willing to pay in the mid-20's or more after I've had my fun. That's a lot cheaper than buying a new or recently used car just to see it depreciate 60% in value in the next 3-5 years.

Regardless, as I originally stated, I bought this vehicle on a bit of a whim. I wasn't really expecting a true collectible like everything else (other than my daily drivers) I own. I just wanted something a little different to goof around in on the weekends. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Thanks for all the replys and help with my research.

[Kevin Stewart]

Nice looking car, there are bunch of us on here with modified/not stock etc, the puriest will kill ya, the rest of us say have fun great looking car, Kevin

[Gumby81]

Originally Posted by Kevin Stewart

Nice looking car, there are bunch of us on here with modified/not stock etc, the puriest will kill ya, the rest of us say have fun great looking car, Kevin

I'm sure the Porsche world is no different than the corvette or camaro worlds (my normal stomping grounds) in that regard.

[trader220]

A car is simply worth what someone will pay for it. I am sure some of the nay sayers have the financial resources to buy a car like the one you purchased. I would not draw the reference to M&A, but that’s me.

My beef is more with the format of the BJ auctions. My personal opinion is that I don’t want to troll around with those guys in bowling shirts and sunglasses that’s just not my thing. I also believe that buying a car at BJ insures you are paying a premium and then the buyer’s commission on top of that for a vehicle you can’t actually inspect it the way it needs to be.

I am particular in the way I buy my cars and I have owned over 2 dozen 911’s so for me the BJ way would not work. There has been a lot of controversy over the years there with them kicking out journalists and rumors of management taking kickbacks for allowing shills and allowing more podium time etc etc. I have been to the event in Palm Beach but it does not appeal to me to be a buyer under those circumstances.

FWIW if that’s the car you wanted and you are comfortable with it then just use it and enjoy it in good health!

[Gumby81]

Actually the M&A comment couldn't be more true or on point. Having participated in 100's of auctions totalling tens if not hundreds of billions of dollars, I can assure you the losing bidders in the vast majority of instances felt like the winning bidder overpaid. It's just the nature of the animal.

FWIW, I've bought vehicles in the past from BJ with great success.

[rnln]

I don't think it's the real slantnose, but it look very nice.

[trader220]

Originally Posted by Gumby81

Actually the M&A comment couldn't be more true or on point. Having participated in 100's of auctions totalling tens if not hundreds of billions of dollars, I can assure you the losing bidders in the vast majority of instances felt like the winning bidder overpaid. It's just the nature of the animal.

FWIW, I've bought vehicles in the past from BJ with great success.

I guess it depends on what your definition of "success" is.

You should know that there is a ton of back room dealing which goes on in M&A thats the nature of the business.

[Gumby81]

Originally Posted by trader220

I guess it depends on what your definition of "success" is.

You should know that there is a ton of back room dealing which goes on in M&A thats the nature of the business.

Sure, but the transactions a very transparent when you're dealing with publicly traded entities. At the time, I'm sure yould find a bundle of experts that thought I overpaid for each of around 50 deals and $5 billion. Nobody says that now though.

[trader220]

I’ve done plenty of risk/arb and plenty of M&A all in publically traded entities and there is plenty of back room dealing which goes on, that’s the nature of the business.

[CCM911]

Originally Posted by trader220

My beef is more with the format of the BJ auctions. My personal opinion is that I don’t want to troll around with those guys in bowling shirts and sunglasses that’s just not my thing.

Best BJ related quote ever. I was just watching on Speed with my buddy, and I actually asked why that one loser on the auction block always wears sunglasses. Apparently, he is a level of "cool" that we mere mortals will never understand.

[don gilbert]

Gumby, i got 30k in a 75 targa, so dont feel bad. Its a cool car, enjoy that turbo.