Thoughts on Clone Value
 

Folks,

I realize this is a rather subjective question, but wanted to put it out for thoughts, anyway. Recently took a look at what I think is a very nice’73 RS clone and I am trying to get an idea of what is a fair offer in the current market. I have debated building a similar car, but recognize the danger of getting financially “upside-down” (ask me how I know), so I have been looking at other people’s projects.

Brief description of car (sorry no photos - broke my digital camera):

- built on a 911T tub, with ducktail, bumpers, and flares from GT Racing (all nicely fit)
- SC brakes, torsion bars, control arms
- 3.2 with fender cooler; mass air flow/sensor/chip (motor has about 50K on it and never opened)
- B&B sport exhaust
- 915
- recaros with 5-ponit harness
- roll bar
- Original Fit interior

Have not PPI’ed, as yet, but have personally examined and driven the car. Appears to be well-built, has lots of torque and handled very well. No rust on the body that I could find. Well-maintained by enthusiast, with lots of documentation.

Any thoughts?? Thanks for any input.

It is a tough call on these type of cars. What do you intend to do with the car? PCA racing would probably classify the car where it would be uncompetitive. You would want to move the cooler to front and get Carrera brakes as the motor makes you a Carrera in class already. I would offer something in the mid teens. How much of a hurry is the owner to sell? HTH

These price range for these cars is all over the map. I've seen one car sell for $14k. Another at $18.5k. And I've also seen cars listed in the $20-35k range. I'm looking for the look and some punch to match it. I don't need the twin-plugged 3.2 with EFI and trick suspension. So that said, I am looking to pay in the $15k range. Sadly, there are few out there for this price.

I bet that car has $30k+ invested, but the owner will be pressed to find someone who will pay that much. All it takes is one buyer, though. I remember another person's comment that once these modified cars get over $20-25k, the market gets very slim.

Here is one way you can price the car. How much does a decent 911T runner cost? Now, add up the cost to build it as an RS clone. Then, take 50% of that cost and add that to the price of the 911T runner. There is a good figure of worth. This is just a wild guess, and you probably won't lose with that number. The car is worth what someone is willing to pay. You just have to determine what the car is worth to you.

Just my novice opinion.

jurgen

Bill - intended use would be largely street, with occasional DE.

Jurgen - like you, i have seen these cars all over the map. Judging from receipts and the "eyeball test," though, there is probably more like $40K in this particular car.

No free lunch
 

Remember guys there is no free lunch in this world, want something nice, you have to open your wallet, want something very nice and it gets opened even more.

There are very few of these (I hate the word clone) hot rod early 911's around. Not many folks are as crazy as some of us are so that means a small market. If you buy a car that is in progress or done you will get it for less than the owner has in it, that is a given, unless you are really getting taken!

The problem is finding a car that the guy who built it had "Your "ideas in mind. Hot rods are a personal thing to me, but if you can find a car that that fits into what you want or can be fixed easy then you might find a deal.

If you buy a car you have to take in to consideration "WHO" did the work, a pro, a good home mechanic or a wanabe that has everything screwed up and lied to you about what super special suff was done to the motor and tanny.

I know of a car, a 1972 911T that will sell for $30,000 or maybe alittle more. He has twice that in the car! One of the favorites from the last two years of Tour de Cambria sold for 2/3 of what the owner had in the car and it sold for $70,000 plus.

I just saw a very low mile 1973.5 "T" that the new owner paid $11,000 for. Great deal of last year, this car needs nothing, add a 3.0 or 3.2 motor and trick out the suspension and add the usual hot rod stuff and dump another $15,000 to do the job correctly. Flares, bumpers, tail, different wheels, tires, bars, LSD, gears, MSD, all of this stuff is expensive.

Randy Jones
1971 911

VERY, very well put Randy. Couldn't have said it any better.

If one is crazy about the "early" 911's it is a very subjective playing field.

If it was built right, looks right...then it probably is right. I f he's got it and you want it.......

You're gonna pay for it. Like Randy sez...."there's no free lunch"

Randy covered just about all of it.

As with any Porsche it is true to with the RS bodied cars, buy as much car as you can afford.
Yes the easiest, quickest and cheapest way to have your RS bodied car is to buy one completed.

A nice 25k hot rod RS bodied car is a bargain after you add up the hourly shop rate and parts it might cost you to duplicate it. It may cost you double the money and years to build the car you could have now for half price.

Guys, thanks for all the input so far and please keep it coming.

Randy, no offense intended with the use of the word "clone," as I very much admire these cars as early hotrods. Heck, I consider my 550, even though it is a reproduction, to be among the earliest of Porsche hotrods (maybe I can start the "R-chaic" Gruppe).

While I did ask for thoughts on value, I am ultimately less concerned with opening my wallet than I am with the quality of the work performed. Frankly, i guess I am still on the fence as to whether to build a car myself (and ensure that it meets my needs/desires from the get-go) or buy someone else's project. At least with someone else's project I wouldn't get ridiculed for "chopping up" an original car...

I am not looking for a steal on this particular car, but maybe what I need is to get some thoughts (or preferably real-world observations) on what a similarly-equipped hotrod might cost to build.

Thanks again for the input.