Just getting Started…
 

Hi everyone,

I'm brand new to the forum and not even in the community yet. I'm just in the very first stages of buying my first (only?) Porsche and have only scratched the surface of figuring out what I am doing.

I have spoken to a couple of people and gotten some advice. Jack Olsen, in particular, has been very helpful (Thanks Jack!). Just like anything, the more I find out, the more questions I have.

Right now I am leaning in several directions:

• Find a '68-73 911/912 carcass and make an RSR clone or some other kind of personalized rest-mod
• Find a '64-73 worth restoring (HA!) and lose every extra dime I have into that money pit.
• Find a '77 (my birth year) Carrera or turbo in serviceable condition and make it nice. I found a flood damaged one of these that could go for pocket change.
• Find a '93 (the year I started driving) in great condition and enjoy the hell out of it (or one in less good shape and make a back-dated Singer knock-off).

However, my uncle has told me about 50 times to get a late '80s SC and call it done. He's a driver, I like to think I'm a tinkerer, but I'm definitely no skilled mechanic, so maybe he's right. I restored a '65 Corvair that was once a chicken coup so I am not afraid of rebuilding a carcass provided I don't have to weld on new metal (that should be an option, not a requirement). I am afraid of spending $$$ on a car that will never recoup any of it. I'm giving myself a year to save and find something so there's time to ponder.

~

That's where I am at right now. Now that I've introduced myself, here's my question: other than online resources, can anyone recommend some good 911-specific books applicable to what I've outlined above.

I've been eyeballing these:

Porsche 911: 50 Years

Porsche 911 SC: Coupe, Targa, Cabriolet & RS Model years 1978-1983 (The Essential Buyer's Guide)

Porsche 930 Turbo & 911 (930 ) Turbo: Coupe, Targa, Cabriolet, Classic & Slant-Nose Models (The Essential Buyer's Guide)

Original Porsche 911: The Guide to All Production Models, 1963-98 (Original Series)

Porsche 911 Story: The Entire Development History - Revised and Expanded Ninth Edition

The Used 911 Story, 8th Edition

Thanks in advance for the help.

What kind of budget do you have? That will dictate the direction you can go

Well, that's a lot of choices, and a lot of different directions. I already took your uncle's advice. It's sound. Maybe after you buy your first one, you can decide from there if you want to swim in the deep end of restoration, hotod, etc. Something to think about.

I bought the Peter Zimmerman book, and Production Model Guide, and a book on used Porsches by Randy Leffingwell. As it turns out, I actually have two of these books somehow. PM me, and we'll see if my extra copy can't be your copy for the low, low price of free.

I had some interesting notions when I first started looking, but I eventually decided to turn it down a notch or twelve. :)

Ruby911, The budget has not been determined. Finding out what each option *really* costs is part of my next year's homework.

In order, highest to lowest:

Restoration/modification of a longhood of just about any stripe. Getting a decent 912 driver might fall down this list a little, but once you start tearing into it to build it...
Cheap Porsche to fix up (usually the most expensive Porsche you'll ever throw away money on, because you'll never get it back, and everything costs a ton more than you thought it would.)
Early 930
Good condition 3.2
Good condition 964
Good condition SC
Good condition mid-year (74-77).

(964 and 3.2 might swap places, depending on the car and the seller and, and, and. In general, the 964s don't do as well as the G50 3.2 cars. But exceptions can be found).

Others might rearrange this list some, or add to it, but *in general*, pricing is about as much as you want to spend ($100k+) all the way down to sub-$10k for a decent driver mid-year. A little more for a good example.

Yeah, that's about what I expected.

The restoration/resto-mod of a salvage is mostly appealing because it's expensive in stages rather than all at once. I just need to get some real knowledge in my brain before I make any moves.

I have no illusions that I will make money on this, so I am approaching it as something I have no intentions of selling until I'm on two canes or a wheel chair, which is how it should be, right?

The FIRST thing to do is read these 3 books. Then ask for advice from people here and elsewhere. The problem with coming to a place like this first is that opinions vary widely and they will therefore only serve to confuse you. Get the facts first from the books, then you'll be able to sort through and understand the advice much better.

For the 1st item I'd break it up into the SWB cars w/901/911 trans '64-68 and lwb cars '69-73 w/ 915 trans. While RSR clones have been built on SWB cars it's a lot more involved and the longer wheel base makes for a better handling car(unless you want an A/Xer)

for item 3 A '77 Row Carrera 3.0 is a wonderful car, if you can find one in decent shape that you can afford buy it.

The '78-83 SCs are nice reliable cars, essentially heavier and a little less power than a C3 but cheaper and generally reliable

To me the sweet spot now is the '84-89 Carrera 3.2 Motronic cars, they are slightly improved on the SCs at least as reliable maybe more so, g50 cars from '87-89 are generally valued more highly.

'93 964 is a great car but in a very different category from the others, it has a more modern chassis w/ abs and air bags, to some that is important. It will likely be more expensive and somewhat more refined, also more expensive to modify

Feel free to PM me... I just started down the road of a refresh/hotrodding of an 1982 911 SC Targa.

Been messing around with it now for a few months and I can give you some better ideas of what I have been experiencing as I go through this.

I dont think you can go wrong with any good example from 1978 all the way up to 89. with that in mind, Early 78's were actually built in 1977 which technically fits the game plan ;)

oh...and welcome to the board.

Since you are just a town away from me (Summit), maybe you can frequent regular Cars and Coffee at Chatham and talk to pcar guys who frequent the meet. C&C in Chatham always has a big representation of different genres of aircooled and watercooled pcars. They would be happy to provide you with inputs. That was where I gathered info and got to see one or the other in person and of course based on budget limits. Now I'm caught in the slippery slope of doing mods, upgrades and of course preventive maintenance. It's so addicting....

PS - Last Sunday (Father's Day) the town of Summit hosted the C&C and I met Pelican Chrisdmm with his beautiful Grand Prix White 88.

I was at the C&C event on Sunday! Did you drive something (I wonder if I talked to you)?

Thanks for the tip on the Cars & Coffee thing. Can you post the info for the next one (or a link to where I can find it)?

Yes, I met Chrisdmm with his grand prix white 88. I was with my cousin and we both brought our Guards Red 86 and his is 87.