What to do with this '72 T?

[reddogmotrsprts]

So I bought the following deal:

Link to the eBay listing

For posterity, the purchase is comprised of a '72 T with 2.4L MFI and 915, as well as a freshly built mag 915 and 3.6L VarioRam motor. Many other upgrades are included, such as aluminum front crossmember and trailing arms, spindles, front and rear torsion bars, shocks, 930 tie rods, fuel tank, fuel pump, and 951 calipers. There are also new seals, carpets, decorative trim pieces, and other miscellany of that nature. Also included are a hood, duck tail, and front and rear RSR bumpers -- all in carbon fiber. Not included are the original front seats, door pockets, bumpers, fenders, or hood.

The car hasn't been driven in 10-15 years, and has probably sat in one garage or another for the better part of 35 years; the registration sticker dates to '86. I don't think the ~15 year old repaint has seen rain. The only significant (surface) rust on the car is from where the front suspension pan was replaced and the welds were left unprimed.

What do you believe the best market play is for the '72? It's safe to assume that I can use any upgrades in other projects, while stock parts that get replaced must be valued quite poorly.

For the purposes of answering my query, let's assume that the 2.4L would need a refurbishment of some sort, despite the fact that the cylinders are wet and the pump and throttle stacks were rebuilt just before the car was taken apart.

Remember, I'm looking for the most profitable play here, but I'm not going to sacrifice quality to achieve profitability -- it all has to be done correctly, regardless of which route I choose. I also don't need the car to meet any particular need, except perhaps to consume parts I already own and have no better use for.

First a couple shots of what the car looked like before it was taken apart, then a couple shots of the car as I bought it.

[racerboyrt]

I'll give you 3k more than you paid. Quickest path to profitability!

[reddogmotrsprts]

One more thing... The car has 28,500 miles on it.

[brianvb]

I'll happily buy the 2.4

[2.7RS]

Is this some kind of new "soft advertisement " for a car that is hitting the market soon?

Are you trying to build expectations for your future ridiculous asking price?

Pictures are from the summer. I'm guessing the car has been done for a while.

Just list it in the market and stop the BS.

[reddogmotrsprts]

Originally Posted by 2.7RS

Is this some kind of new "soft advertisement " for a car that is hitting the market soon?
Are you trying to build expectations for your future ridiculous asking price?
Pictures are from the summer. I'm guessing the car has been done for a while.
Just list it in the market and stop the BS.

I really hope this is humor.

You don't need to "guess" at anything; take a look at the date on the eBay listing and read my post to completion. I don't know how I could be any more transparent.

If I was attempting to sell some or all of this purchase, I'd have made the post in the Classifieds section. I'm just looking for the market hawks to chime in with some expert advice on which direction to take here.

I really don't think I should need to take a proof of life photo, but I will if necessary. In the meantime, I accept apologies at 855-4-RED-DOG between the hours of 2p and 4p EST.

[CountD]

Put it all back together and make it stock then sell it. A '72 has quite a high value. Then take the rest of the so-called 'upgrades' and sell them off or keep them to fund the other correct parts. It's no too far gone to put back to stock pretty quickly. Find some original interior parts, clean up the front pan, put the 2.4 back in and sell it.

[CountD]

...you'd lose money making it a hot rod in this market. Another hot rod? Again, start looking for the correct parts.

[Matt Monson]

Don't remember ever seeing a how to a maximize the profit on my flip thread before.

You sell the 3.6 and 915 and put the money towards finishing the car. Then sell the finished product.

[reddogmotrsprts]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

Don't remember ever seeing a how to a maximize the profit on my flip thread before.

You sell the 3.6 and 915 and put the money towards finishing the car. Then sell the finished product.

I had come to a similar conclusion (though I have other plans for the spare drivetrain) but I thought it best to take the pulse of folks here to answer questions such as "Is new steel more desirable than carbon fiber?" I'm still not really clear on why the heavier reproduction is preferred.

It's also not obvious to me that a car such as this should be rebuilt without, say, 930 tie rods. The votes seem pretty definitive, however.

I don't see a "How do I maximize profit?" thread as being any different than any other "What's it worth?" thread. It just posits the same question with a few different whatsits.

I'm sure you agree that the guy who needs to rely upon obscuring the history of a car in order to turn a profit on it isn't the type of person you want to do business with. I'm not that guy.

I also don't mind owning the car for a long, long time. The short-term flip really isn't my goal -- I just want to add maximal value with minimal labor.

[Matt Monson]

I'm just giving you a hard time. With the amount of work you have in front of you I would really call you a value added reseller.

Unless you are going for a top of the line concours caliber resto I don't see something like turbo tie rods having any impact on value.

The carbon is more a question of return. High quality carbon is more expensive than steel and will not increase resale at all. It's not a wise investment if looking at the bottom line once it is done.

[christiandk]

Did you pay extra for having the front struts painted?


Wow, just saw the ebay listing. 45k.....impressive! Not trying to be a downer but I thnk that you will have to work overtime to make much on that car. And with time being money and all.........!?

Best of luck though.

[mattC2993]

Sell the parts and get it presentable, running and driving for the least amount of $$$ with the 2.4. You will be lucky to get any return on the dollar after that IMHO.

[geshaghi]

Originality sells best in this market. You have a good narrow body 72 coupe, that appears to be relatively unmolested. Don't waste time or money trying to turn it into an RS clone or hotrod. Return it to stock with the original motor and trans, and save the other parts for the next project.

[reddogmotrsprts]

The Singer isn't a '72, but I'm curious if you're suggesting that their shared mid-body external-fill oil tank is going to provoke stronger prices realized years from now. I expect that Singer filched that feature because, "It's cool, so hey, why not?" but it's amusing to think that the Singer might give back to the '72 later on down the road.

I already have a narrow hotrod and will build a wide car with the newer drivetrain; the question is whether the '72 becomes that car.

Recent comments suggest that I'm just throwing good money after bad to put the upgraded suspension parts into the '72. My appreciation for these cars stems from driving them, not investing in them, so this is counterintuitive to me.

Interestingly, the least attractive option -- per the poll -- is the lightweight. In my mind, that's the best bang for the buck, again assuming you care more about your time behind the wheel than in front of it.

But that's why I posed the question here. Thanks for all the feedback, everyone.

[SilberUrS6]

Yeah, the maximize value thing has me thinking "flipper", too. Since I'm not getting paid for my expertise, I won't offer any. If you were an enthusiast, it would be a lot easier to be excited about the possibilities. Good luck with your future sale.

[reddogmotrsprts]

Tough crowd.

Am I the first guy in the history of Porsche ownership to buy a car I didn't need simply because it was priced at a number I couldn't refuse? I doubt it. If I had any skill as an investor, do you really think I'd be asking for advice and tipping my hands so blatantly?

I have a couple 914s, a few 911s, a tweaked 997tt, and a hotrod Boxster I built from a similar "too good to pass up" deal. I wrench on my cars and those of friends in my spare time, though I'm not really interested in working on anything not made by Porsche. But I'm still waiting for the day when den mother Eric here will grant me my "enthusiast" badge.

This is the kind of behavior that I'm used to seeing in other forums. If you have nothing positive to contribute, I think we'd all prefer that you keep your attitude to yourself.

[christiandk]

Umm,..Dont cry, dry your eye!

[reddogmotrsprts]

Forgive me; I'm unaccustomed to trolls here.

[christiandk]

We dont like riff raff......