New to me '77 Targa w/3.2

[cheekybird]

Wow - I found this beat up '77 narrow body Targa for a song, my barn find. Yes there is some rust but all-in-all a great Targa. It is Burgundy with a cork interior. The original motor was replaced with a 3.2 Euro. As you can see paint is not original. But what is surprising to me is how fast it is and how well it pulls. I plan to delete the York air-conditioning and all of it's vents which will subtract some weight. How much do the middie narrow bodies weight? It is really thrilling to drive. I am guessing my old '86 Targa weighted more? Anyway here are some pics of my barn find .

[77Targa0912]

If the door tag reads paint code 436 it is Sienna Metallic which is a special order color available for 1977. Beautiful Targa. The car probably weights 200 lbs less than the later '86 model.

[zedsn]

Very nice targa!

[cheekybird]

No, don't tell me it's not a fine bottle of wine (Burgundy with Cork interior).... The paint code is 436 9-3. I thought I saw somewhere the paint code 436 = Burgundy. Does anybody have a link to the list of colors used '77 ?

[rwest]

Red Book shows it being the Sienna:

[cheekybird]

Thanks 77Targa & RWest! Sienna Metallic it is.....

[75 911s]

Knowing how fun the 2.7 is in my midyear I bet the 3.2 euro is a blast. Definitely delete the AC.

[LakeCleElum]

Great find......I always thought the later air-cooled steered "heavy" compared to anything '77 and earlier....U have many years of happiness ahead........

[kc911s]

Come on- tell us the story of how you happened upon this bargin. That's part of the fun- hearing of others succes stories!

[75 911s]

At least you're ahead of the game already. You've got Fuchs and H4's. That's a solid $2k head start from where I began!

[cheekybird]

OK KC911s - I was in my 996 C4S Cab and I met an older gentlemen who was working the counter at a local retail joint. He was obviously retired and just trying to keep busy. He was a talker and when I was about to leave he said "You know I have an old 911 Targa myself" . I said nice I used to have an '86 Targa and I miss it dearly. He said his was a tired '77 that needed some work. He acquired it from his son who needed the money at time. His son was the second owner in the 90's and he was the one who replaced the 2.7 motor with a 3.2 Euro. The 3.2 Euro had 110k on the clock at the time and the Chassis currently has 180k. His dad bought it back in 2009 to help his son. He planned on fixing it up but time caught with him. I left him my card and said call me if you ever want to sell it and he called 2 months later.

When I saw the fuchs I was all in. He said come look at it and make me an offer. When I saw it I knew it needed a lot of interior and body work. I saw three good rust spots but all-in-all not bad. I had no idea where his number was so I asked, was he at 35k, 20k, 15k...I had no idea. He had kept up with engine maintenance and suspension but not body and interior. My buddies said before I went if I get the car teens ($) I should buy asap. He said his mechanic in several years ago said ask 12k and if you get 10k be happy. I said good cause I was around 9k. He said yeah 8 or 9k. Slept on it and my one friend said run for the hills it's got rust. I said what if I can get it for 8k, he said let's offer 6k and part it out.

I offered 5k and he split the difference at 6.5k..... The reality is, it's a non-matching middie with rust. The very most it is worth is 25k most likely 20k. The paint and body work is 15-20k. Cracked dash, needs two new front seats and bam your at 25k. The parts are worth more than it's sum. My plan is to go thru suspension (maybe rear shocks), motor (pulls great) and get two new front seats. Then I am going to carve the hell out these Ohio country roads in a sub 10k '77 911s Targa .

[wrxnofx]

Wow, you literally stole that thing.

[75 911s]

Nice work! They are still out there boys.

[hillskier]

Originally Posted by cheekybird

OK KC911s - I The reality is, it's a non-matching middie with rust. The very most it is worth is 25k most likely 20k. The paint and body work is 15-20k. Cracked dash, needs two new front seats and bam your at 25k. The parts are worth more than it's sum. .

I like your practical approach to its actual worth and not some fantasy number. The last couple of sales on Pelican for higher quality midyears have been sub 30K and there are numerous offerings on other sites for quality midyears in the mid to low 20's. If you really went after it you would definitely be upside down.

Sounds like you bought it great and can go through it to make a safe driver for a lot of fun times.

Enjoy!

[hillskier]

Midyear CURB WEIGHT 2,535 lbs. manual/2,568 lbs. Sportomatic

http://www.excellence-mag.com/resources/specs/39#.V623Z_krJhE

[cheekybird]

^^^^Thanks for the link. I am keeping her, couldn't her go! Feel better today.

[Irhmsd]

I just did a massive redo on my 74 targa including a new 3.2 and the number was around 80k. Worth every nickel. It is a blast.

[Frosticles]

Looks very nice does that

[sugarwood]

The car looks beautiful from the photos. Can you post some close up photos of the flaws? It may be a good lesson for others who buy a 10-footer online and get a shock when they see the reality up close