Would you buy this car?

[tdskip]

OK guys - here is the scope. I've found a '74 in NorCal that has led a somewhat unloved life. Had the front pan replaced but otherwise hasn't had any rot. Needs new paint and some minor dent fixing etc... Interior is serviceable for now but eventually will need to be re-trimmed. Current paint and interior are low driver quality but will clean up some - she could be driven around as-is cosmetically.

She has Fuchs in good shape. Has a later rear bumper on her and a whale tail.

Engine has been updated to a 3.2 motronic unit, supposedly in good health.

She is tagged and registered.

I know there are a ton of missing details here, but wanted to quickly get your thoughts on desirability once done and viability of the project. I know a good respray where I do the prep work is still significant $$. Ditto for the interior retrim even if I install everything. But pre-SMOG and assuming the engine is healthy can I go too far wrong here?

Thanks in advance.

(working on the details and a full PPI if your responses are encouraging)

[widgeon13]

All depends on how much you pay for it.

[r_towle]

could be fun, how much is the asking price?
You are out of collectible due to the motor.

Rich

[dienstuhr]

$5-8K if everything checks out mechanically?

What you have there is a bit of a mongrel, to be kind. It's not ever going to command "original car" money with the engine transplant and incongruous tail. So all of the $$ you put into restoration will need to be for your own enjoyment and not with an eye to resale.

Desirability once "done" will be limited to those people who want a narrow-body middie hot-rod. I think those people may be rather few and far between.

However, if it needs bodywork and paint anyway you could make a nice Carrera or RSR tribute out of it, which might increase desirability for resale without too much extra work over and above a restoration. It's got a 3.2 already so that's a start.

What colour is it?

Cheers,

d.

[Winter]

People here hate middies, but it all comes down to the price. If you can pick it up for what you can get for it parted out, that's a good place to be.

Nice used interior bits can be picked up on the classifieds here (and can really clean up a car if you are patient when looking for the right bits) and the rest you can fix over time as you find the right pieces (used, of course) for the right price.

Obviously, you're buying this one as a driver, for your own satisfaction, because you'll probably never see huge appreciation in the vehicle. That's why wrenching on it yourself and the used part market will be an important part of bringing this one back to life without killing your bank account. . .

At least that's how I'd approach it.

Good luck and post photos, everyone loves pictures!

[tdskip]

Great coaching guys - much appreciated. I'd be looking at $7,500.

So while the later engine would improve "drivability" it is that big of a negative eh?

How hard/expensive to swap out the tail?

[widgeon13]

You will probably decide to put SC flares on it because you will realize you need more rubber on the road.

Why not just find a nice SC?

[tdskip]

One draw of this car is that she's pre-1975 so she qualifies for the "vintage" rally events I like to do and is also CA SMOG exempt (hence the engine swap).

Widgeon - that may in fact make more sense. I'm a newbie to going through a learning process here.

[GaryR]

Originally Posted by tdskip

Great coaching guys - much appreciated. I'd be looking at $7,500.

So while the later engine would improve "drivability" it is that big of a negative eh?

How hard/expensive to swap out the tail?

If the PPI gives the engine a clean bill of health and the transmission shifts well you can't get hurt at $7500 as the drive train alone is worth that. I would just drive it, keep it a narrow body, later on go longhood backdate, new GTS racing vintage seats and rugs, and go!

[widgeon13]

Originally Posted by tdskip

One draw of this car is that she's pre-1975 so she qualifies for the "vintage" rally events I like to do and is also CA SMOG exempt (hence the engine swap).

Widgeon - that may in fact make more sense. I'm a newbie to going through a learning process here.

I lived through the experience. I had a 74, nice car but always wanted the SC and ended up selling the 74 after putting a lot of work and $$ into it. One of life's lessons.

[feelyx]

If you don't buy it, send the info my way please.
Thanks
Tim

[Revvin 911S]

Originally Posted by tdskip

One draw of this car is that she's pre-1975 so she qualifies for the "vintage" rally events I like to do and is also CA SMOG exempt (hence the engine swap).

If you live in CA, having a '75 or earlier is nice because you don't have to worry about smog. When I got my '74 I was specifically looking for a '74-75 that had a 3.2 in it for just this reason. That can be a great combination. If the car has been neglected too much, it may take more to make it serviceable than you want to do. Make sure you have a shop look at it, but if it mechanically sound it could be the foundation for a great car.

[Neel]

Originally Posted by widgeon13

why not just find a nice sc?

+1...

[Winter]

To answer one of your questions, the tail is an easy swap. And you can find used decklids for about $100 if you keep your eyes open. You'll be able to sell the whale tail for more than that, depending upon condition and/or manufacturer, obviously.

I don't think the engine is that big of a deal. At least that's my personal opinion. A lot of posts here dis the middies (on the forum, not this thread), and middies at least right now aren't seen as truly collectible like the 73 and earlier cars (though as time goes by, they probably will become more desired, do a search for the thread on the "sleeper" cars and there's some discussion in that thread on this).

The original 2.7 probably got cooked. My 75 doesn't have the original engine, it's powered by a carb'd 2.2. No history on the car, so no idea how or why it's there. It's still been a blast to own and drive. Price was right for me, based upon the advice in my previous post. I could have sold the factory targa hardtop for about half of what I paid for the car!

Look at this one in an investment in fun, not a financial investment. As you can already see, despite the nay sayers, there are some here who would be interested in picking up that car. . . .

No smogging issues with cars registered here in the mountains (CO front range is different), but with a 75 and earlier, I can get the special "collector" plates for the car here.

Good luck with it. Maybe hammer the seller on the price. I'd say for around $6k you'd be stealing it if the drivetrain is solid and the body is as you state.

[tdskip]

Sounds like the tail is the least of my problems.

So figure;

$7500 car
$2000 misc mechanical
$3d00 paint for driver quality if I do nearly all prep myself
$2000 to smarten up the interior

=

$15000 into the car.

So clearly not a financially driven thing - but am I off my rocker to think that I'd get $10k of that back if I had to sell?

And of course I could pick at her rather than just go after everything all at once.

If I'm willing to give on the pre-1975 thing that same $15k would buy what sort of SC?

Thanks!

[JeremyD]

I have a 1974 that I bought for more money than that.

The 1974's are a great year.

I'm sticking a 3.6 in it because I can

[Scott Douglas]

At $7500 going in for the car I'd say you're high, if it's as described.
Having a car that you don't have to worry about smogging is priceless here in good ol' California. Especially if you can build it as a hot rod to your liking. The big part of that has already been done with the motor swap.
I think it'd be a great car to learn on if you could get it for less and attack it slowly while still enjoying it for what it is right now. I think eventually the middies will become harder to find as more people don't want to deal with smog issues and long hoods become even more over the top price wise. I have a friend with a '75 Carrera w/3.0 w/carbs in it. What a hot rod and no smog.
I'd say go for it if the engine/mechanicals check out OK, but get it as cheaply as you can.

[paulgtr]

I have a 75 with a 3.2 in it. great fun car that you can mod any way you like because it's not as desirable as a pre 74 car. No smog testing is a plus.
I'll never make back what I put into it, but that's not why I bought it.

[sobamaflyer]

$7500 isn't far away from reasonable for a running 911 with a hotter engine in it. There are as many potential very appealing pieces of this car as there are possible gaping pitfalls. It seems like the economy has us in a really low spot where everything in low driver quality or franken-porsche classification is selling for 6-9k. Price on this one is for you to work out but I'd personally consider it in the "fair" category from what you describe.

Middies have a bad rap but it's largely undeserved, they are lighter and even simpler to wrench on. That one could possibly be a screamer with the hotter engine in it (you will start wanting suspension upgrades)

Your numbers for future expenditure are probably reasonable, but you could probably apply them to ANY 911 you buy for less than $15k. I'm in the camp of appreciating adding those things in as I have $ instead of the up-front cost (that's for you to decide) yes, you could get a lot nicer SC or Carrera these days for $15k if you have that to spend right now.

Good luck, keep us posted

[tdskip]

Great info guys - thanks.

Would it even make sense to try and keep her as a nice driver? If the market won't value making her nice then why not have the money and spend on go-fast bits and just run her ugly? But then I'd want larger fenders for more tire etc, right?