Hey all,
I am in the market for an entry-level 911 SC. I have been looking around and it seems you can do pretty well for about $10k which is roughly what I am looking to spend. I just test-drove a 1981 911SC with 160,XXX on the clock and am wondering what kind of ballpark price the experts think would be appropriate.
Here are a couple pics:
First, cosmetically it is fairly rough. Original white paint, lots of peeling (especially at the rain gutters, the edge of the decklid, and the front bumper), a couple touches of rust here and there. Original Fuchs, but with lots of pitting at the rim. One headlight ring is dented in, the headliner is shot, and the package tray has some damage. The dash is torn and the wheel is starting to tear as well. However, the carpets are nice, the seats are nice, and all the gauges/lights are operational. Has a cheap aftermarket Alpine stereo with speakers added to the doors. The nice thing is that it is very original, and while it has quite a bit of patina, it hasn't been re-painted, etc.
Mechanically it feels pretty good. New shocks, pulls hard, doesn't leak much. Clutch feels solid and the gearbox feels quite good for a 915. A PPI would tell me leakdown/compression numbers and about the head studs, which are all valuable. The only worrisome thing is that the engine hasn't had any major work done, even top end. At this mileage, I would imagine that some work is probably due soon. Floored at high RPM's there is a slight ticking noise (timing chain, or valves???) that concerns me, but it may just be gas or slightly low on oil.
The asking price is admittedly high at $13k, but what would you guys think a realistic selling price would be? I was thinking a really good price (for me) might be in the $8k range, but $9k might be reasonable as well. Or, with all the cosmetic issues and lack of receipts, should I wait for a slightly nicer example more around the seller's asking price? This would be my first 911 so while I am not ready to spend a lot on a concours-ready car, I also want to spend enough to get a solid driver. Thanks for any and all advice!