Should I restore it or cut it up? 1970 911E

Jim Dunham · Jim Dunham's Garage

I am in a dilemma. I bought a 1970 911E Body shell with the floor removed from a guy who decided he did not want to tackle it. The rust in the rockers is isolated but I think the sills will need to be removed. The front susp pan stuff has been done (albeit lower quality) Is this worth the effort to save it or should I cut it up?

afterburn 549 · 02-22-2013, 06:47 AM

Looks very doable
It comes dwn to $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
If you have to buy each and every part that goes back in you will have a Million dollar Porsche.If you have the stuff from the car........Get to it !

KNS · 02-22-2013, 07:12 AM

Perhaps sell to someone who would like to get it back on the road. The price would have to be attractive enough to want to tackle the project. Hate to see it cut up.

javadog · 02-22-2013, 07:12 AM

I wouldn't cut it up. I'd sell it as-is to someone that needs that specific tub and buy something else to tinker with.

JR

afterburn 549 · 02-22-2013, 07:42 AM

WOW
This is a HOW TO place
A place of great advice
a place of DOERS
To cut it up sees silly.....its usable from the pix.......Needs some fixes.
But doable

jpnovak · 02-22-2013, 07:47 AM

Fixable. Save it. Or let someone else save it.

Yes, it is a long road to travel before its drivable. Has to be a labor of love for someone. Not economically smart to fix for resale.

Peter Zimmermann · 02-22-2013, 08:30 AM

Hagerty, of Hagerty Insurance, had a '68 S restored a few years ago. As I recall the car was in similar condition, and he started with a complete car. His restoration cost more than $100K. If you don't have the rest of the car, well...

afterburn 549 · 02-22-2013, 09:32 AM

IF you have the parts there from it.
and if you do all the work (I did , Nice learning experience.)
You must not be scared to work, learn, ask questions
You will have 3000 to 5000 or so in paint materials.
(The actual paint spray part is the EZ part)

What I did.....went to my local paint shop..I bought all things through them. Told them what i was up to......
(I know i could get it cheaper else where.)
Bought then beer once in awhile on Fri .
Basically I bought a crash course in paint prep and body work.
The head dude even stopped by my house a couple of times and gave me some pointers.
SO.If you have the determination - a RAGING ONE . You can get er done .
You will need to appropriate a wire feed for some of the task.

scarceller · scarceller's Garage

These early cars are going up in $$$ - I would not cut it up.

copbait73 · copbait73's Garage

Keep it or move it to someone who will. I'm down in IN. Never owned a Porsche newer than 1973 -- just don't like the looks or feel of the NEWer models.
PM me if you decide to move it along.

tharbert · tharbert's Garage

That rust below the torsion bar is troubling...

Jim Dunham · Jim Dunham's Garage

You guys are great. Just the input I am looking for. OK - I won't cut it up. I have restored several cars and can certainly handle the project but it's sort of a "been-there-done-that" and have so many other projects on the burners. Wish I could pay someone to do the floor/long work and then hand it back to me but there isn't anybody out here in the midwest that does this sort of thing at a reasonable price.

weseeeee · weseeeee's Garage

I agree with the others, fix it or pass it on to someone who will. It looks like it would be a fun project.

kodioneill · kodioneill's Garage

I'll take it if you don't want it.

daleflesburg · 02-22-2013, 12:22 PM

My 2 cents is I would have the unit body chemically stripped. Get rid of all of the undercoating and see what is hiding there etc. Get the stripped shell coated with an acid based primer. Replace all of the bad steel, and do it right. It is too good to cut up, but will need a lot of work which at a body shop, unless you own the body shop would be prohibitive. If you are after a nice car and the $$s are going to get you in a black hole, sell this shell to one of us, and go buy yourself a nice 86 to 89 Carrera, for something like $25. Because before you are done with this project you will have a lot more than that in it. Ask me how I know.

wayner · 02-22-2013, 01:00 PM

If you enjoy that sort of work and aren't in it for the money, do it up right, show us your progress, and then sell it as a "body in white" to someone who has a ratty donor.

Per Schroeder · 02-22-2013, 01:23 PM

Or build it up as a vintage track car....

javadog · 02-22-2013, 01:30 PM

If you have so many projects already, why not cut this tub loose to someone else and get your other things finished? At that time, you can decide whether you want to tackle another one. It's not like you can't find a 911 needing work, every day of the year, and in the meantime maybe someone else will get this one back on the road.

My .02,
JR