Value of 1984 911 Targa

[Crawl Away]

I have an opportunity to make an offer to an estate for a 1984 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa here in North Texas. The owner is dead and had no family, so information is a little scarce and I haven't seen the car in person yet. I've never owned a Porsche and would love input from the knowledgeable here. Any thoughts on a fair offer? The final offer will obviously depend on an inspection or better pictures.

Besides the rear spoiler, rear wiper and defrost, I am not sure what options it has. The car has a "ZZZ" code in the VIN indicating that it was a European car (or non-American/Canadian). Any comments, tips, or thoughts? Thanks.

[SalParadise]

The above should be a lesson to all of us - time is running.

I'd say $14K - not more. I like Targas, and being a first year Carrera is cool. It needs complete assembly, engine is out for a reason. Immediately assume it's going to need at minimum of $6K in work - and that's with you doing it all - and that's if the engine isn't smoked completely.

I'd be comfortable at $12K. RoW car doesn't make it more desirable, and as time has gone on it does not make it less desirable either (when in the old days a converted Euro grey market car always took a hit and were harder to insure - it doesn't matter now.)

Best of luck as it needs a lot of work, but if it's rust free you have that going for you which is nice.

[Crawl Away]

Originally Posted by SalParadise

The above should be a lesson to all of us - time is running.

I'd say $14K - not more. I like Targas, and being a first year Carrera is cool. It needs complete assembly, engine is out for a reason. Immediately assume it's going to need at minimum of $6K in work - and that's with you doing it all - and that's if the engine isn't smoked completely.

I'd be comfortable at $12K. RoW car doesn't make it more desirable, and as time has gone on it does not make it less desirable either (when in the old days a converted Euro grey market car always took a hit and were harder to insure - it doesn't matter now.)

Best of luck as it needs a lot of work, but if it's rust free you have that going for you which is nice.

Thanks for the response. My math is less hopeful than yours. Based upon a fair condition retail value of $25,000 and a replacement engine cost of $13k-$18k depending on the quality of the core, I would feel great at around $5k-$6k. It likely needs fluids, battery, tires, detailing, maybe a rear bumper, not to mention any brake work, transmission or clutch work, etc. Am I too conservative?

[350 SIX]

Originally Posted by Crawl Away

Thanks for the response. My math is less hopeful than yours. Based upon a fair condition retail value of $25,000 and a replacement engine cost of $13k-$18k depending on the quality of the core, I would feel great at around $5k-$6k. It likely needs fluids, battery, tires, detailing, maybe a rear bumper, not to mention any brake work, transmission or clutch work, etc. Am I too conservative?

Yes, if you want it, your offer needs to be in the $10k-12k range.

[NYNick]

Originally Posted by Crawl Away

Thanks for the response. My math is less hopeful than yours. Based upon a fair condition retail value of $25,000 and a replacement engine cost of $13k-$18k depending on the quality of the core, I would feel great at around $5k-$6k. It likely needs fluids, battery, tires, detailing, maybe a rear bumper, not to mention any brake work, transmission or clutch work, etc. Am I too conservative?

$5 or $6K? You must be joking.

You might feel great at that price, but if the word gets out, they'll see at least double to triple that number.

A $6k Carrera? I don't think so.

[SalParadise]

I paid $4900 for my car in 2012 - and that was a bargain, and the paint, engine and everything else needed (needs) attending to and it is much worse condition than your potential purchase. For your offer price of $5-$6K they were never going for that low even in that condition pre-mid 2012.

Logical math never, ever adds up on these cars. Ever.

You cannot say that the engine will take $10K (which it very well might), the transmission $3K (maybe) and $5K for the rest (probably), and interior $2k (optimistic), tires, etc and then minus all of this from one that runs to get a magical low-ball number. If this were true, most cars would be in the negative territory and they would be worth nothing.

That seems like the logical thing to do but it doesn't work like that in the 911 aircooled world. There are a hundred more optimists who would die for any 1984 911 Carrera in the line ahead of you that would immediately pay the $12 to $14K (or more) to get that car.

[Matt Monson]

I want to see a fair condition 3.2 targa at $25k. Those are 5 year old prices. Add $10k. And that adds $10k to your offer price. $15-16k.

[ficke]

Originally Posted by SalParadise

Logical math never, ever adds up on these cars. Ever.

No truer words spoken.

What is your end game? is it having a air cooled 911 to drive? or is it the process of rebuilding a air cooled 911 and then having it to drive?

If you want a Porsche to drive the smart thing (less money spent) is to buy one done or closer to done. Even if you were giving this car it still might be cheaper to buy one running.

Like wise the parts alone in this car or worth north of 15K so a smart seller should not let it go for less than that, beside dreamers make up a large portion of the buying public and would bid this car to 15K if it was on ebay.

[dwells]

Hi I am also in North Texas, if you need help with anything or a valuation let me know. Lots of things vary in this case. rust, completeness ETC, I sent you a message, check your inbox.

Thanks

[Crawl Away]

Thanks for all of the input. My price may be low, but the car has to be sold and the person selling doesn't have time to wait for appraisals or the highest offer. The $25,000 market value is based off of Hagerty. It may be low, but I would rather be conservative than speculative.

I am supposed to look at the car on Monday or Tuesday. I am going to look for rust and to ensure all of the components/parts are there and at the option codes. Is there anything else I should be looking for in particular?

Does this part look like it goes with this car?



I don't know yet if I want to flip it as is, fix it and flip it, or keep it. I've always wanted a 911 since riding in my uncle's Carrera in 1985.

[JMS935]

That’s a fairly major project for your entry into Porsche. This doesn’t look like a quick flip unless you flip it as is. It’s definitely not how I’d advise getting into the hobby, unless it’s not about that. Maybe it’s more about making a quick buck and less for the love of Porsche. Either way, good luck with it.

[Crawl Away]

Originally Posted by JMS935

That’s a fairly major project for your entry into Porsche. This doesn’t look like a quick flip unless you flip it as is. It’s definitely not how I’d advise getting into the hobby, unless it’s not about that. Maybe it’s more about making a quick buck and less for the love of Porsche. Either way, good luck with it.

Thanks. I’m newb as far Porsche and German stuff is concerned, but I’ve been messing with cars forever. I currently have a 1968 Camaro and a Jeep rock crawler. The only thing that concerns me is paint and body stuff.

[Matt Monson]

You can spend $20k on paint and body in the blink of an eye.

[SalParadise]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

You can spend $20k on paint and body in the blink of an eye.

They used to say that every Porsche is a $20K car. Matt is right, every Porsche is a $40K car, or a $60K car, or an $80K car.

Back in the days of 10 years ago when these cars were relatively inexpensive and hobby cars par excellence, people would debate for days and weeks on what the cost of ownership is. The cost of ownership is money and more importantly - time.

There is no getting away from the basic costs of an old 911. These basic costs are what they are. This is this, so to speak. Engines can cost a lot of money even if you go in and do it yourself. Painting a car? Forget it, it's huge money now (if you can even find a place that will do it properly).

People get into these cars because that's what they want and that's what they will dedicate themselves to. An old 911 is something that they have wanted for a long, long time and will do anything to get their foot in the door (that's why your potential car is great for someone who doesn't have $30K or $40K or more laying around).

[Coastr]

Before you class it as an row car check the other vins. All chassis stamping next to smugglers box has the ZZZ number.

If you get it for less than $10k you stole it, and be happy. A rebuildable 3.2 and gearbox is worth nearly that, let alone a rolling shell. I've seen rusty non runners sell in the high teens.

[MBAtarga]

If you buy it, be sure and take the yellow painted jacking plate adapter. That is specifically made to jack 911 engines and support the engine while doing so. It won't be useful to anyone not owning a 911.

[Crawl Away]

I went and looked at the car today. It was better, in some ways, and worse in some ways than I expected. The car is in a padlocked garage and the door is pretty rotted so we didn't want to open it at present. The garage had only one incandescent bulb installed, but pretty much EVERYTHING else in the world all piled in heaps and mounds. So it was a challenge to get a real inventory of the car.

The interior of the house was no different, but I found the bumper and valence/skirt in an upstairs bathroom.

The Good:
The dash and gauges looked good.
The body looks pretty straight.
The tires and wheels looked good, although the tires may need to be replaced based upon age.
I didn't see any rust.
I found the/a bumper and a valence/skirt.


The Bad:
No carpet and seats were shot.
One deep scratch (that I could see).
The flat black paint on the roof and pillar needed to be repainted.
Transmission was missing.
Parts are missing, including a/c parts.


Here are some pictures. Let me know if you see something missing or something that doesn't belong to the car:

[Crawl Away]

[JMS935]

The skirt was in the upstairs bathroom! LMAO

[Crawl Away]

I found this a/c compressor with a bracket nearby. Does this look like one for the car?


Is this part of the car?