How much should I ask for my 74?

[Jack Olsen]

Nostatic, I'm not sure I understand what you're saying. The fact that a 356 is a mediocre performer is irrelevant, now, since it's crossed over into that 'cute,' 'vintage' category of cars like Austin-Healeys or Karmann Ghias. You buy one because you think it would be a fun car to take on a weekend picnic. I think the pre-74 cars will slide into this category pretty soon. Why? They look pretty dated, honestly. And their curving metal, weird grill inlets and abundant chrome mark them as being from another era.

The 74-93 cars are going to suffer for what made them so appealing, initially. A well-cared-for 74 911 looks pretty modern, to the untrained eye. People on this board who own SCs often tell stories about people mistaking them for practically-new cars. Porsche kept the look of the 74-89 cars pretty timeless by not making many changes, but that's going to mean that the older ones won't be seen as being 'vintage' for a long time. Trouble is, a 74 911 (great as it is) isn't really a high performance car, by contemporary standards -- at least not by the standards that most ordinary people use to judge a car. A 993 is pretty impressive. Put it up against an S2000, an M3 or most Mustangs and Corvettes, and it outclasses them (the new Corvettes and M3s are an exception, unfortunately).

If the 74-89 cars looked goofy like a Karmann-Ghia, a Fiat or an old American muscle car, then they'd see their value rise because of casual buyers who are looking for a car that will express their unique personality. But a guy who wants to have a faster-than-snot weekend car isn't going to be as interested in the 74-89 models when the 993's (and 996's, eventually) start to become affordable.

Like I said, a lot of people will always love the 74-89 911's for their great design, nimble handling, and unique 'personality.' But as time marches on, that group is not going to get larger. Just the opposite.

That's my uneducated opinion, at least. And like I said, 30 years from now, when we're all driving plastic vehicles that use hydrogen for power, it might be that just about any sports car with an internal-combustion engine might seem like an adorably quaint way to go out for a picnic in the country. Everything up to the 996 will eventually fall into the 356's cute-but-not-quick category.

[nostatic]

I think what you say makes sense. What I was trying to get at was just as a 356 is considered a quaint low performance car by today's standards, I'm assuming that the pre-964 cars will soon fall into that designation. It seems that a fair number of "common" people (ie non-enthusiasts) own '73-89 911s. As time goes on that number will go down because as you say the more modern cars will drop to a price that people are willing to spend (ie a semi-cheap p-car). It is interesting to see what features are a baseline for a "modern" car, and what things are enthusiast/vintage.

[dtw]

BBP-
Well man you seem adept at stirring up the controversy. For what it's worth, I think the Boxster is going to be a sweet car to own- and I think it's a real Porsche. As usual I wonder if anyone who says otherwise has driven one. You have, and you know what I'm talking about.

Funny you're in MA- the market here (NC) was flat when I sold my 3.2, so I sent it to my parents in MA and it sold at the price I wanted, no sweat. I think you can command a bit of a premium up there- nice examples are hard to find. The only thing I would warn about is getting your extra $$$ invested out. That is usually sunk in the cost of the car. The project car I'm working on supposedly had 10k in the last year in it (don't ask me where!!) and the owner just about cried when it smoked and gasped out of his driveway for 2.5k.

On the flipside- 8 calls- sounds like a promising weekend. Good luck.

[bigchillcar]

bigbpainta,

i bought a '74 911 coupe with sunroof last fall. the previous owner was the original, had all receipts and had done the stud and tensioner mods, but no pop-off valve or ext. oil cooler like i might have liked (i'm in steamy arkansas). car had a $3,000 dollar paint job to restore the original 'gazelle metallic' (translation: gold). paint is a real beauty. interior was about the same as yours, maybe 75% with some cracks in the drivers seat. car has working a/c and everything else working except the rear defrost (i'll probably get it working in time for summer ).

anyway, the lady said she 'was thinking of asking for $6500'...i brought her a cashiers check in about an hour and a half. she hesitated slightly when i handed her the check, but i left with the car. i had looked at a gold '74 targa earlier in the week with an asking price of 11.5k. the owner didn't want to move, i didn't buy and that car is still for sale 6 or 7 months later. granted, not as nice as yours.

as one of the guys said, being an 'enthusiast', i know more about what to look for and the relative value of the various 911's and based upon that, probably wouldn't myself pay more than 9 or 10k for a '74...unless it was a concourse car or an original carrera. i'd expect to pay quite a bundle more for one of these.

13k will seem high to the guys on this board, but maybe not to the first time porsche buyer. it is very true that the car is worth what someone is willing to spend and condition is ultimately the deciding factor if the car isn't simply 'rare'. i would probably price it like olsen said, at 11k and hope for 10k. of course nothing says that maybe you won't get a bite at 13k. personally, i'd love to see another '74 fetch that price!
9114102267

[speeder]

Bigpaint, If you can sell a '74 for $13Gs, God bless you, you the man! A buddy of mine here in L.A. bought a nice one w/ rebuilt engine for $5,000. He doesn't even like Porsches, just couldn't pass up the deal! It is a matter of location though, springtime in Boston, I could see it.

We're going to miss you around here, look out Boxster-board! Take care.

[Jack Olsen]

One last note on the collectibility of certain models of the early cars, and their parts.

How about a gas tank?

[MikeB]

Jack
Your post on the gas tank says it all. 11 bids, $5000, reserve met. Maybe someone can explain it to me...
Oh, and isn't it about 4:30 am your time, Jack. Looks like being a moderator, enthusiasist, wordsmith, is very demanding of your time....

[joehahn]

Oh My God! my fricking gas tank is 6 years older than that. Excuse me I am running home to tear it out and list on EBAY. Mine is better too, it is metal not that flimsy plastic...

Joe 68 L