Picked Up a Keeper, Marine Blue 964

[Marine Blue]

About 4 years ago I was fortunate to pick up a very nice 90 964 Targa and over the past years I restored her, enjoyed her and really fell in love with the platform. During that span I was also fortunate enough to drive a few of my friends cars in the canyons including a dialed 993 and 84, both of which were incredible experiences. Having said that I always came back to the 964 and felt it was the perfect blend of old and new. The only downside for me with the Targa is that I already have another open top car with the Boxster Spyder and I wanted an example that was the opposite end of the spectrum.

Two years into Targa ownership I started looking for a coupe but my search was very specific, it had to be a C2, excellent condition and it couldn’t be black, red, white or silver. I realized very quickly that what I wanted likely wasn’t going to be within reach, impossible to find and unlikely.

After two years of casual searching I had given up on the search and was content to continue enjoying and perfecting the Targa.


Ironically soon after I had given up on the coupe a friend sent me a picture of a blue coupe and said it’s available and you should reach out to the dealer. My initial thought was that it would be out of reach but at the same time I was also approached by someone wanting my Targa and willing to pay what I thought was a fair price. So I inquired and learned the 964 had 73k miles, a Marine Blue exterior and a Silk Grey/Marine Blue interior which was probably one of my favorite color combinations. I also realized it is a fairly rare combo as I didn’t recall seeing another Marine Blue 964. As pictures started trickling in I also realized the interior was full leather with the center console, doors and trim all covered in leather and in incredible shape. I spent the next week evaluating the car, records and carfax to confirm its condition. The dealer was forthcoming with a hood respray and I believe the rear bumper was painted, everything else is original and in incredible shape. So I made and offer which was accepted and here we are!

[Marine Blue]

My handle on Pelican and a few other Porsche forums is Marine Blue and it stems from my very first Porsche which was an 87 928 S4 MT. Ironically my second Porsche was also a Marine Blue 928 90 GT so these cars were seeking me out.. Since I had the name for such a long time I never bothered to change it when i sold the 928 GT. I guess things come full circle and perhaps it was always meant to be.

[TorqueHead]

Awesome! Great story Afshin. Congrats. She looks in great shape.

[Cobalt]

Afshin, Marine blue seams to search you out like Cobalt does to me. My last coupe I purchased started life as cobalt blue and will be again one day.

Too bad rennlist has gone into the toilet. Ever since the purge it has been quiet and only newbies posting. I guess they will figure it out after it is too late.

Any how all the best with the new toy. Let me know your thoughts regarding driving a coupe vs a targa one day.

She's a beauty!!

[bazar01]

Nice color!

[Marine Blue]

Originally Posted by TorqueHead

Awesome! Great story Afshin. Congrats. She looks in great shape.

Thanks! Very fortunate to have found one that is in great shape!

Originally Posted by Cobalt

Afshin, Marine blue seams to search you out like Cobalt does to me. My last coupe I purchased started life as cobalt blue and will be again one day.

Too bad rennlist has gone into the toilet. Ever since the purge it has been quiet and only newbies posting. I guess they will figure it out after it is too late.

Any how all the best with the new toy. Let me know your thoughts regarding driving a coupe vs a targa one day.

She's a beauty!!

I didn’t realize the recent acquisition was also Cobalt, why would anyone cover that up!

I need to get the RUF wheels installed before I can offer any real assessment on the car. The current tires are from 2004 and hard as rocks. . Turns out the car was barely driven in the past 17 years, literally about 5000 miles based on records and carfax. I have a feeling I’m going to have some catch up maintenance ahead of me unfortunately.

Unfortunate what’s going on at Rennlist, but honestly I don’t really mind. I have much more time to actually do projects now . Sadly it will only hurt the newbies as they are losing lots of experienced members.

Originally Posted by bazar01

Nice color!

Thanks, I’m partial to the color

[il Pirata]

Great car Afshin!

[Wphelps]

I seen that car before, nice car, but to me paying an up charge for color is kinda stupid, sorry

[Marine Blue]

Originally Posted by Wphelps

I seen that car before, nice car, but to me paying an up charge for color is kinda stupid, sorry

What makes you think I paid up, and what is paid up in your opinion?

As I said, it took nearly 2 years to find what I thought was a nice example at a fair price, IE not marked up due to color.

[Cobalt]

Originally Posted by Marine Blue

What makes you think I paid up, and what is paid up in your opinion?

As I said, it took nearly 2 years to find what I thought was a nice example at a fair price, IE not marked up due to color.

If anything the value of your car has gone up since you bought it. I would always pay a premium for color. I am sad I missed out on that cobalt America Roadster it ended up being the PCNA press release car in 1992 and is worth double what I tried to pay for it in less than a year.

[Wphelps]

Ture Logic

I am saying the Coupes in C2 are getting impossible to buy
Watch the 90 C2 on BaT with 146k, paint is toast go foe a stupid amount

But hey I love 964 and picking up a 1991 C2 Targa Red/tan. Ok, ok nothing special but only 326 were made in 1991

[Wphelps]

Color is King when 80% were Black, Red, White, Silver
10% Blues thru Silvers
10% Yellows thru orange green PTS

[Cobalt]

Originally Posted by Wphelps

Ture Logic

I am saying the Coupes in C2 are getting impossible to buy
Watch the 90 C2 on BaT with 146k, paint is toast go foe a stupid amount

But hey I love 964 and picking up a 1991 C2 Targa Red/tan. Ok, ok nothing special but only 326 were made in 1991

Where are you getting these numbers from? I don't have a breakdown between C2 and C4 1991 US spec targas but there were 686 imported in total. Do you have a definitive source that breaks down the number of C2's vs C4's? It is vey hard to get Porsche to open up about actual break down for colors or how many C2's vs C4's were imported.

[Marine Blue]

I’m not overly concerned about value other than when I’m sinking a bunch of money into the car to improve it.

As noted, finding a nice example is difficult enough. It seems majority of them have lots of catch up maintenance and or were cosmetically neglected for long periods of time requiring near full restoration if you’re particular.

I’ve started the detailing on my coupe, some interior work done and currently going through the polishing steps. I’ll post some details soon.

[bazar01]

I found my 93 way back in 2000 when the 964 was still getting snobbed due to the big front bumper. I'm also not overly concerned about the current value. It's not perfect cosmetically but I keep it mechanically and electrically in good running condition. I don't even think about a repaint or interior restoration and will just enjoy driving it for a long time. If it's perfect, I'd be scared to drive park it outside.

[heliolps2]

Originally Posted by Marine Blue

I’m not overly concerned about value other than when I’m sinking a bunch of money into the car to improve it.

As noted, finding a nice example is difficult enough. It seems majority of them have lots of catch up maintenance and or were cosmetically neglected for long periods of time requiring near full restoration if you’re particular.

I’ve started the detailing on my coupe, some interior work done and currently going through the polishing steps. I’ll post some details soon.

Congrats, I loved your Targa, In a perfect world I would have one of every model and year of aircooled 911's. Welcome to the coupe family my friend.

Helio

[Marine Blue]

Originally Posted by heliolps2

Congrats, I loved your Targa, In a perfect world I would have one of every model and year of aircooled 911's. Welcome to the coupe family my friend.

Helio

Thanks Helio. I loved the Targa as well and it was not easy letting her go. Fortunately she went to a very good home and is getting the same level of love from the new caretaker.


As for me, I’ve been busy detailing…. Here are some before and after shots of what’s been done.

[Marine Blue]

Disassembled….

[Marine Blue]

More cleaning…..

[Marine Blue]

The places you can’t see….