Your Advice on a '73.5 T, Ladies & Gentlemen

[Saffs]

I'm thinking of getting an extra Porsche. My '75 S is in the UK and this is in the US. Not quite sure what I'd do with it, take it back to the UK, use it here, I'll find something.
So, it's a Tangerine '73.5 T Targa. That's a US spec. 2.4, the one with CIS. It seems largely original. Rust around the usual rear wing tops where it meets the rear window - expensive, I know. Nothing much else cosmetically and nothing structurally at all - no welding done either. Paint is touched up/orginal, looks passable but will need a repaint sometime in the future. Mileage is 100,000. Engine appears good and strong. No smoke, it drives fine - and a damn lot slower than my (ROW spec., recent top-end job) 2.7S.
Interior is a mess. Carpets worn, Targa headlining gone. Seats OK, cracked dash. AC, and it worked. Lot's of elec. items don't work as the car has been standing all summer. I got it going with a jump start, and it was fine to drive. Not much history. Has items -newish - like a Porsche battery, OEM oil filter. The owner is away so not got factual info.
So what's it worth?? I know it's not the cream of the crop (a '73 T) and I'm well up on the Porsche scene, and can do a lot of the work myself. I think I can get it for a good price. It's a 2.4 pre '74 and I fancy it but have not decided. The value I'm guessing, thinking favorably, is $5 - 6 k.
It's passed it's MA inspection recently too.
What do you all think? And anyone else got a '73.5 T?

[Early_S_Man]

Saffs,

Sounds like one to pass on ... unless you are prepared to spend a bunch of money on it!

With the interior in that shape, I doubt if much attention has been paid to the engine, which is probably overdue (by 20-30K miles) for a top-end job to replace those copper valve guides. It is probably ready to drop a valve head by now!
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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa
1992 Dodge Dakota 5.2 4X4 parts hauler

[This message has been edited by Early_S_Man (edited 11-03-2001).]

[Saffs]

Thanks Warren.
I thought about those valves. I need to verify what has/has not been done to the engine by speaking to the actual owner.
I get the money pit scenario too....
I can tolerate a little, and wait on the rear wings/paintwork, but I don't want it to be a total money pit, that's not the point, and as we all know, old 911s certainly can be deep pits....
What value would people put on it is what I'd like to get a feel of. Am I right, or not?

[cegerer]

I had a 73.5 CIS T at one time. Great car. No problems. But it was only 10 years old when I bought it! $5K or so is probably in the ballpark from what you describe for this one, but it would be very easy to drop another $10K+ into it. Now you're at $15K and you'd never be able to sell it for that much. On the other hand, I've got a friend who bought a similar 73 T for $7K (except it has a 2.2L motor in it!!) and he has no plans to restore it cosmetically - he actually likes the 'beater' look!!!! To each his own. -- Curt

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1971 911T - 2.5L Big Bore

The Gray Wolf!
My Porsche Owners-Gallery Page!

[Superman]

Walk, don't run, away. I'd say. A host of electrical problems suggests either neglect or tampering. And you're not impressed with the power.

[Jack Olsen]

I have one. They're great cars to get at a divorce-sale, though, rather than buying a ragged one and building it from the ground up (do as I say, not as I do... ).

It sounds like it would cost more to bring this one up to snuff than it would ever be worth. Great color, though.

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Jack Olsen
My Rennlist page • My Pelican Gallery page • My Porsche Owners Gallery page

[This message has been edited by JackOlsen (edited 11-03-2001).]

[speeder]

I'd take a Pasedena on that car.(Don't buy it). With rust and a shot interior, it sounds like a turd. I am from Minnesota, the rust capitol of the world, and I will NEVER own another car with rust. Cars are nothing but metal boxes w/wheels, what's a rusty metal box worth? Unless you can get it for $2500, then paint a shark's mouth on the front and have a ball.