Is it just me or are late 70's early 80's 911's a great buy right now?

EarlyPorsche · 03-11-2008, 08:16 AM

I see late 70's and early 80's 911's priced at under $15,000 all the time. They are the 3.0 or the 3.2 right? Usually all have about 110,000 to 150,000 miles on them.

These are good buys right? I mean as long as they pass a compression and leakdown with OK numbers they would live many years at 3,000-4,000 miles a year right?

I know the 3.0 is a tough one that can go 300,000 with good maintenance, what about the 3.2?

EarlyPorsche · 03-11-2008, 08:20 AM

Oh and from what I understand these engines don't have the head stud problems that can surprise a 2.7 buyer? Also just to note I have been seeing these cars as both coupes and targas at around that price. Most were at around $13,000 asking price.

Rich76_911s · Rich76_911s's Garage

The 3.0L and 3.2L engines do have headstud problems. So be aware of that. And 3.2L's also have pre-mature valve guide issues.

There are good deals to be had out there, just be certain to get a PPI done on any car you are considering. They know exactly what to look for and where to look. Rust and accident damage are 2 things I would want to avoid like the plague.

Rich

jwernquist · 03-11-2008, 08:31 AM

I think an SC is one of the best buys right now. You get alot of car for very little money. I bought mine this fall for a good deal.

Original Owner -
PPI - Only thing on it was a minor oil leak good compression, good leakdown
Book of Records dating back to 1983
Very well maintained by a well known shop in Virginia all it's life.
Original tool kit, original paint,
Tasteful modifications

I bought it for less than market value, It is really hard to believe that the car is 25 years old, it is very near showroom condition.

I had an 73 that I told myself I would never get rid of it, sold it and bought the SC and couldn't be happier.

Great buys right now.
Now all i can do is hope in the next 10 years an SC goes up in value like the early cars are doing. You never know!

74-77s are fun cars too, they get a bad rap which is bad for the seller but good for the buyer, they can be good cars too. Best part you can get them reasonably cheap. Past few weeks I have been looking around and have seen a couple in the mid-high 944 Price range that were decent runners.

JW

carolinatrophy · 03-11-2008, 08:34 AM

They have been great buys for a while now, and will probably continue to be so for a while. The SC built from 1978-1983 is an incredibly stout car, and a delight to drive. The 3.2 Carrera built from 1984-1989 is also a great car and extremely reliable.

Although I know it's a fool's errand, I always try to predict which cars will start appreciating in value in the short and middle term and will become the next "collectibles." As you can guess, I'm as terrible at it as everyone else (and super pleased I didn't start investing in Cosworth Vegas or SVO Mustangs - although there is still hope), but I can't shake the feeling that the 1974-1975 Carreras are an incredible bargain right now, particularly in 210bhp european trim.

But getting back to your original comment, I bought my 1985 European Carrera Cabriolet from the original owner for $9500 last year, even with only 47k original miles. It needed brakes and a clutch and a lot of electrical sorting, but even now that I have about $15k in the car I still think it's a heck of a buy. One of the seats is still torn, and the dash is kinda warped and beat up, but for a total investment equal to a Hyundai Accent, I have a super running and driving Carrera cab.

Kinda hard to argue against that!

wolf · 03-11-2008, 08:40 AM

They are incredibly cheap in USA now. A good 3.2 fetches 25-30K € in Germany at the moment and the momentum is up...

EarlyPorsche · 03-11-2008, 08:45 AM

Well a good 3.2 is expensive here too! What I mention are 3.0's and 3.2's that might need some work cosmetically but not mechanically if they pass a PPI on the engine.

Rot 911 · 03-11-2008, 08:47 AM

The price range between the SC's and Carreras is fairly narrow which means you can find either at a great price. I just don't see these cars going up much in price. Will probably just stay where they are for a few years.

rothaus · 03-11-2008, 09:47 AM

Here is what I found in a german Porsche magazine

Model Style............Year................Cond. 1......2............3...........4...........5
911 SC Coupe........1977 - 1983......41,000.....26,800....18,500...12,300...5 ,000
911 SC Targa.........1977 - 1983......44,500.....28,600....19,800...13,200...5 ,300
911 SC Cabriolet ...1983 - 1983......42,000.....29,300.....22,300...15,200... 8,400
911 Carrera Coupe1983 - 1985.......N/A..........30,400....19,500....10,900.... N/A
911 Carrera Targa 1983 - 1985.......N/A..........33,700....21,600....12,300..... N/A
911 Carrera Cabrio 1983 - 1985 .... N/A..........39,500....29,000....20,100.....N/A

The numbers are in Euro which is in $ * 1.5

The condition means
1= better that new you would not drivw the car almost impossible to find.
2= Very goo condition - the car doesn't need anything
3= good condition may need some minor TLC
4= Fair - need some repair or reconditioning
5= parts car or project car

Cheers
Engelbert

3.2 CAB · 03-11-2008, 10:08 AM

I would like to take a boat load like mine there to sell!!

berettafan · 03-11-2008, 10:23 AM

Haven't seen many great cars for sale here. Some reasonable prices but not great cars.

Paul that sounds like you found a heckuva buy! Less than the cost of 2 Carolina Trophy events!

ulrichd · 03-11-2008, 10:45 AM

Also many of the higher mileage cars around 150K are looking at 8K engine rebuilds.
Ulrich

EarlyPorsche · 03-11-2008, 12:31 PM

Ulrich - that was my question. Why do I hear so much about these 3.0-3.2 engines being indestructible but then also what you are saying. Does it mean that maintenance can make the difference or just that they aren't tough like that.

I know the 2.0 - like the one I have, if maintained and an aluminum block will outlast its owner as a weekend car like I have it.

I am looking for weekend car with this 3.0-3.2 so I don't think I will be beating it up on the track but would be driving it around town and such.

ulrichd · 03-11-2008, 01:06 PM

These engines are tough-there are stories of SCs with 300K miles on them that have never been pulled apart, but they are just machines and machines will wear out. If I were in the market now I would look for a car that already has a rebuild done. In case of a decent SC that will mean high teens to 20K. Definitely get a PPI and make sure the head studs are intact.

Ulrich

jbrinkley · 03-11-2008, 02:40 PM

I'm selling mine, but it sure seems like the wrong time.

MOMO3.2 · 03-11-2008, 04:06 PM

To piggy back on ulrichd's post noting 300K SC's with the original motors, the current Excellence features a Carrera 3.2 that had over 400,000 miles on the original motor. The car was still running fine when the 915 transmission broke. The owner sold the motor which was examined by a shop for a rebuild. They found it to be in incredible shape with the exception of carbon build up on the pistons and rings. These were apparently cleaned and the motor was put back into service!

So, both the 3.0 abd 3.2 motors tend to be very reliable. I would look at both SC's and Carrera's and let condition and price be the determining factor.

FWIW, my 1987 G50 Carrera has 170,xxx miles on the original motor and transmission. I anticipate it going for another 100,000 before needing a rebuild.

Mike

carolinatrophy · 03-11-2008, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOMO3.2

FWIW, my 1987 G50 Carrera has 170,xxx miles on the original motor and transmission. I anticipate it going for another 100,000 before needing a rebuild.

My first 911 was a 1980 SC that had 220k miles on it when I bought it, and the engine had been maintained but never opened. It burned a little oil, and on start up when it was cold you could hear the pistons slapping around just a little bit. The guy that did the PPI told me to budget for an engine rebuild. But it felt fast as hell and ran great, so I figured I would drive it hard until it blew up and then rebuild it.

It was my ONLY car, and I drove the hell out of it. I did about five track events a year in it, and just hammered the ever-loving bejeezus out of it everywhere I went, but it never broke. It never even CHANGED. It never burned any more oil then when I bought it, the pistons never made any more noise than when I bought it... It just kept running great. If anything, it kept feeling faster and faster. It was truly amazing.

I ended up selling it to a buddy when it had almost 300k miles. He knew the car the whole time I had it, and he kept driving it too. As long as I kept in touch with him, the car was still running fine.

I had a similar experience with my 944 Turbo. Higher mileage Porsches DO NOT worry me a bit.

carolinatrophy · 03-11-2008, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by berettafan

Paul that sounds like you found a heckuva buy! Less than the cost of 2 Carolina Trophy events!

Hahahahaha! Touche! Thanks, and yes, I'm happy with the car. But then again, if you factor in the seats that need recovering, and the A/C that needs overhaul, and the intermittent wipers that don't work and blah, blah, blah, then the price starts to look... fair. If I wanted to make it almost perfect I'd probably have a tick more than $20k in it, which is about what a really nice low-mileage one costs.

But thanks again, and I kinda enjoy buying cars with a few needs and putting them right, so I'm really happy with it.

berettafan · 03-11-2008, 06:05 PM

Even on the better cars i'd expect small items like wiper issues and such. Good mechanicals and metal and the rest is just conversation!

berettafan · 03-11-2008, 06:08 PM

A coworker was asking me about my 911 and i mentioned that nice 911's (ie air cooled) are relatively cheap to get into. His comment was 'so how much would a 50k mile Carrera run?'. I said i dunno but i wouldn't pay a dime more than for a 100k mile Carrera!

Funny how people are pre-conditioned to look for low mileage cars but when the 'find' 911's they forget all about that aspect. I suspect it's because 911's are works of art and worthy of whatever they ask of their owners. You just don't mind putting money into a car like that.