Is this 72 911t a fair price?

72viper911t · 01-24-2010, 06:47 PM

I am new to this board. Thanks to all in advance for your opinions.

I have located a 1972 Porsche 911t no sunroof coupe locally and have already had it inspected. It is originally viper green and has been repainted silver. The paint is a good 10-15 footer. The interior is nice, black, nice Fuchs/tires, glass, rubber. It has a good 3.0 sc conversion with a good compression check. Car runs and drives well. There is no evidence of accidents. The front (half) pan will eventually need replacement as there is a crack around the right torsion bar mount. I think the old motor caught on fire because there is a little rust under the right side of the panel under the back window. A couple of small patches will be needed there. It needs a few little things like a main seal, cv joints repacked, cam chain cover gasket. It seems like a good driver as long as I don't spend to much $$$ on it. I would eventually like to do the pan job myself.
Price is now 11,000 after inspection. Thoughts?

NineOhOne · 01-24-2010, 07:17 PM

Eh...$11k sounds a little high for that condition/combination. $9k would be my guess without seeing the car. Do you have pics?

72viper911t · 07:33 PM

trying...

72viper911t · 01-24-2010, 07:40 PM

72viper911t · 01-24-2010, 07:57 PM

more..

Picasa Web Albums - vestor - Drop Box

NineOhOne · 01-24-2010, 09:01 PM

Well...maybe more than $9k. Problem is, if you don't buy it @ $11k, someone else will. Doesn't mean it's worth that. Tough call.

geshaghi · geshaghi's Garage

If you want a longhood that you can beat around in and drive, seems to me the car is fine for that purpose at around $9k-$10k. If you want to fix the car up and sell it, I don't think it makes sense at that price. Non-matching engine limits long-term value, so repairs will leave you even more upside-down than usual. BTW, car has been advertised for at least a month, if not longer.

epbrown · 01-24-2010, 11:13 PM

I'd buy it. Here's why: there's a saying that every Porsche 911 is at least $20k, either upfront or down the road. The truth is more daunting - finding a pre-74 911 for $20k takes a lot of luck, a lot of patience, and a lot of elbow grease these days; you can spend $15k on some cars and learn it will take another $20k to wind up with something worth towing to the nearest landfill.

This car's got its issues, but buying it for ten or eleven grand and spending another nine sorting it will actually leave you with something presentable. Not collectable, no concourse-winner, true, but a nice, drivable vintage Porsche that should last you a while, and if you wanted to spend some more money on it in a few years, tidying it up a bit more, it wouldn't be wasted money.

And I'd be at least partially motivated to buy it simply to prevent another solid-roofed 72 being turned into a misguided RS clone.

Macroni · Macroni's Garage

IMO; This is a good buy. Rust appears to be minimal. 3.0l is a great motor.

Matt Monson · 01-25-2010, 04:57 AM

I disagree with the guys saying the non-matching engine is an issue. In the end game every single 1972 911 ever made will be collectible. Sure, numbers matching will always garner more, but '72 is one of those years that's got it's own unique attributes and limited numbers and that will impart value regardless of an engine replacement or not.

I say buy the car. $11,000 is totally fair for that car.

72viper911t · 01-25-2010, 01:00 PM

Thanks for the replies. Any links to front pan replacement would be greatly appreciated. I'll let you know what happens.

epbrown · 01-25-2010, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

I disagree with the guys saying the non-matching engine is an issue. In the end game every single 1972 911 ever made will be collectible.

I'd agree that such cars will always be worth something, like most of the longhoods, but they won't appreciate at the rate a "correct" car will. Personally, I'd run the 3.0 for a bit as it's a good engine, but I'd definitely be working on find a replacement 2.4 MFI down the road.

72viper911t · 01-25-2010, 04:05 PM

Any idea what a front half suspension pan replacement would cost? Auto Atlanta quoted nearly $4500. Above, I stated torsion bars, should have said right front mount of A-arm has crack in pan.

epbrown · 01-25-2010, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 72viper911t

Any idea what a front half suspension pan replacement would cost? Auto Atlanta quoted nearly $4500.

Prices vary by location, but I'd have figured about half that amount or less, even here in Chicago.

Matt Monson · 01-26-2010, 02:19 PM

Yeah. That quote seems high to me. Have they actually seen the car and is it itemized? It almost sounds like a "we don't want the job so we'll bid it too high" sort of quote to make you go away.

Rot 911 · 01-26-2010, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 72viper911t

Any idea what a front half suspension pan replacement would cost? Auto Atlanta quoted nearly $4500. Above, I stated torsion bars, should have said right front mount of A-arm has crack in pan.

They are on drugs. This is actually not an impossible DIY. Many people on this board, including yours truly, did it themselves. Parts will run you $250 or so. Rest is labor.

72viper911t · 01-26-2010, 06:03 PM

I am really interested in doing the pan myself, if the deal goes through. It looks like once it's clamped in place, there isn't alot of welding. Can anyone post pics or direct me to a link or thread with more on that?

NineOhOne · 01-26-2010, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 72viper911t

I am really interested in doing the pan myself, if the deal goes through. It looks like once it's clamped in place, there isn't alot of welding. Can anyone post pics or direct me to a link or thread with more on that?

Do a search over in the "911 Forum" elsewhere on this board for "pan replacement". You will find many days worth of reading.

evergreen · 01-26-2010, 08:50 PM

cost discussion > http://forums.pelicanparts.com/paint-bodywork-discussion-forum/508706-suspension-pan-replacement-cost.html

add'l good bits here, some esoteric things to consider (for instance, check out post #5) http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/359853-front-suspension-pan-replacement-question-donor-front-cut-metal.html

many DIY pics here > Battery-area surprise! - Rennlist Discussion Forums

btw, I'd say $11K is a reasonable price for the car.

If it were me (assuming you've vetted the car + seller appropriately), I would phone the seller during a lunch hour or on Saturday morning & offer to meet him at your bank in ONE HOUR if he'll accept $10K for the car without further delay...

Funds can be wired from your bank rep's desk to seller's bank in 10 minutes for about a ten dollar fee, (or often no-fee)--- then do the title signatures/notarization if necessary-- right there on the spot.

Of course make sure all ancillary stuff is agreed upon in advance on phone or email-- such as inclusion of any tool kit, tool kit pouch, jack, spare, owner's manual, receipts' files, spare parts, etc.

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

Easily worth $11K as described. You'll have $16 in it when the front pan is done and the mechanical annoyances are fixed. The color change is unfortunate, but we can't always luck out with previous owners' tastes.

Someday you might want to throw another $7K at it and restore it to Viper Green. I'm willing to bet you won't lose any of your investment.