Thinking of buying this...

[porsche911girl]

One other thing I neglected to notice before--there's no state registration decal on the windshield...must not be registered then..who knows if it's even titled or insured, at that rate? hmmm

Here's a bit more info a friend found out about it:

He did give me the name of the shop that did the motor, The 911 Shop in Charlotte. Talked with Terry today, what a great guy. He, ummm, has a lot to say about the car. I can give you some details if you like, but his net/net is that “the car has been to hell and back” and has been very poorly cared for. He’s seen/worked on the car for 20 years or so. He confirmed that the rear flares are just SC flares and that it’s a “bondo pig.” The only good news is that the S bumper is a real steal bumper.

How much does he think it’s worth (Lenny at The 911 Shop)?
I asked him and he hemmed and hawed for some time without be able to give an answer. I didn’t press him, mostly because he hasn’t seen the car in a while. I imagine it’s in worse condition than the last time he saw it.

Confused about what he (owner) has:
He thinks it’s an S, he thinks the flares are not flares but factory quarters. I of course didn’t correct him or anything.

Some details I can remember:
Wastegate is broken but last owner kept driving it anyway
Turbo was installed some 20 years ago and is a BAE kit.
Car was left outside and not driven for many years by one owner
SC flares were put on by Coachworks (paint too), unfortunately they are not in business anymore
Had early brakes...very dangerous for such a fast car with the turbo

[Superman]

Dear, this is a good question with which to illustrate the importance of the advice you've received. This problem will absolutely, positively require that the windshield and trim be removed. When you are ready to place the glass back in, it won't make sense to re-use the old glass and certainly not the old seal. But first........

When the glass and seal are removed, you will find out the extent of the rust damage. The body of this car is sheet metal. You know that. Sheet metal is fairly thin. You know that. The metal windshield frame into which the glass is set is sheet metal. The sheet metal is formed into a sort of 'saddle' that the glass and seal slip into. The bottom of that opening, at the cowling.......where water has been accumulating periodically over the past thirty-four years......will not be "pretty." It most likely will need to be rewelded. Into the shape it was when it was new. The easiest way to do this would be to find a donor car and cut the windshield "saddle" out of that, and cut the rusted one out of this car, and weld the donor piece in. The entire dash will need to be removed for this operation.

This is just one of the surprises you would encounter if you bought this car. It would be cheaper and easier to buy a bare tub and build a 911 out of spare parts (using purple paint when the time comes of course) than to restore this car.

[porsche930dude]

Originally posted by porsche911girl

Wastegate is broken but last owner kept driving it anyway

And you say it still runs
Now i beleive it. 911s are bulletproof

[porsche911girl]

Originally posted by porsche930dude
And you say it still runs
Now i beleive it. 911s are bulletproof

Yes, it does still run. And IMO, it runs well.

[Superman]

Originally posted by porsche911girl

How much does he think it’s worth (Lenny at The 911 Shop)?
I asked him and he hemmed and hawed for some time without be able to give an answer. I didn’t press him, mostly because he hasn’t seen the car in a while. I imagine it’s in worse condition than the last time he saw it.

I'm sorry to be such a consistent poop-head and I regret having to be so negative but I think you need as much straightforward advice as you can hear right now. The reason this fellow hemmed and hawed and did not give you and answer is because, as I and at least one other poster has stated, this car would probably not be a bargain if it were free.

Write the last chapter about this in your diary, and then go fall in love with another purple 911.

[Superman]

Terminally ill 911's still run much better and stronger than other cars.

[Superman]

I'm going to be relentless.

[porsche911girl]

You're not being a poop-head Superman.

But I'm not trying to be intentionally thick, but I still fail to see how building a 911 from a tub would cost less than $12k when I'd have to pay someone to do it all for me? I don't know off hand how much that would run, but I'm betting it would cost a *lot* more than $12k.

[Rot 911]

Originally posted by porsche911girl
You're not being a poop-head Superman.
But I'm not trying to be intentionally thick, but I still fail to see how building a 911 from a tub would cost less than $12k when I'd have to pay someone to do it all for me? I don't know off hand how much that would run, but I'm betting it would cost a *lot* more than $12k.

Enough of this car talk. Let me lather you up with mayonaise!

[Superman]

You're right. It would cost much more than $12K.

This windshield repair might cost $2000. The turbo engine in that car is probably most useful as a boat anchor. Rebuilding it would cost around $10,000. There are other body rust issues. They would run a few more thou. At least. Proper body repair, altogether, would be several thou. Paint alone would be a few more thou. And so on.

I'm suggesting that the cost of operating this car, repairing things as they broke down, and slowly restoring her (him, I guess), even without the body and paint work, would cost you many thousands of dollars in addition to the tow bills you would have from the times you were stranded.

Are you familiar with the term "polishing a turd?" All you end up with is a shiny turd.

[Superman]

Mayonaise? I never thought of that. I was thinking grape jelly.

[lisa_spyder]

Katie,

Good luck with your exams etc...sounds like you got a full schedule there.

I'm outta here (yippee some say!) - the more pics you show me the more I stand by my opinion. That's even without the latest info you posted about the car....but good detective work Columbo ...(***** you'd be too young to know who he was/is!)

[nostatic]

go rent the money pit with tom hanks. imagine this car in place of the house.

i wouldn't take the car if they gave it to me for free. just looking at the pictures i can feel my wallet getting lighter...

[porsche911girl]

Oh come on guys! Surely some of you have restored a car in this (or a worse) condition! What about all the field finds and barn finds I hear about? Surely some of them have been sitting outside unprotected from the elements far longer than this car.

Everyone can't be against this, can they?

And throughout history, haven't there been people who wanted to do something, and everyone thought they were crazy and then the person astounded everyone?

I'm not saying I'm going to buy it, but I can still gather info about it and ride in it on occasion...it's not like it's going anywhere anytime soon...

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally posted by porsche911girl


And throughout history, haven't there been people who wanted to do something, and everyone thought they were crazy and then the person astounded everyone?

You've been watching a lot of John Hughes movies, haven't you? There are 12-step programs for this sort of thing you know.

Pretty in Pink was nice though.

[Jim Richards]

Originally posted by nostatic
go rent the money pit with tom hanks.

two weeks

[Shuie]

Originally posted by porsche911girl

And throughout history, haven't there been people who wanted to do something, and everyone thought they were crazy and then the person astounded everyone?

I'm not saying I'm going to buy it, but I can still gather info about it and ride in it on occasion...it's not like it's going anywhere anytime soon...

Yeah, but those people were usually venturing into uncharted territory or doing something revolutionary. Buying a rusty tired 911 is neither of those things.

Many of us have been down this road before. The nice clean versions of these cars eat money. A rusty tired car could ruin the whole Porsche ownership experience thing for someone. Let someone else learn from this one. Unless, of course, you can weld like Darryl or swing a hammer and dolly like Milt. Then you should buy it and post pictures here as you progress. Good luck.

[the]

On second thought, you'd look great in that car. You should buy it.

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by Shaun 84 Targa
You've been watching a lot of John Hughes movies, haven't you? There are 12-step programs for this sort of thing you know.

Pretty in Pink was nice though.

You're a lot like Ducky aren't you Shaun?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally posted by lendaddy
You're a lot like Ducky aren't you Shaun?

Which one is Ducky Joel? You mean you actually know who the characters are?