1983SC on BaT just sold for...

[Funracer]

$81,000.

Stock original Guards Red coupe with 78,000 miles and some parts of the body repainted and repro Fuchs. Partial engine rebuild.

Damn. I better start respecting my 83!

[GothingNC]

Wow !!

Chiffon White SC just sold for a little over $70K on BAT.

[Glenfield]

Two buyers really slugged it out for that one. The winning bidder jumped it from 72k to 80k to deliver the knock out blow and the under bidder kept at him. Love to see it.

This was particularly interesting bc it wasn’t all original. Not far off it, but it had a sprinkle of suspension work (which ought to be a plus, but doesn’t appear to be for value) and Euromeister wheels. The other interesting comment was from the buyer who has seen similar SC coupes going for ~70k and used that as his floor of where the market is.

Chalking this up as an outlier, but it’s a value reference for BaT no-less.

[Glenfield]

Sorry, I got that wrong on buyer jumping it. Was more of a race to the summit.

Heard someone describe 911SCs as the next 356. I don’t know exactly what he meant by that but I can only presume its a combination of weight, power and restraint (still only what you need, and not much of what you don’t). Wonder if there’s an idiosyncrasy about them that separates them from the perceptible ocean of 3.2s.

I’m just ruminating of course. Thought it was interesting though and always find it interesting that first time owners seem to proudly chase after SCs.

[Macroni]

Know where I will sell my G bodied 3.2 915

[Kansas]

Heard someone describe 911SCs as the next 356. I don’t know exactly what he meant by that but I can only presume its a combination of weight, power and restraint (still only what you need, and not much of what you don’t). Wonder if there’s an idiosyncrasy about them that separates them from the perceptible ocean of 3.2s.

I’m just ruminating of course. Thought it was interesting though and always find it interesting that first time owners seem to proudly chase after SCs.[/QUOTE]

The SC may be beginning to come into its own, I’m not sure. I’ve always heard the 3.0 is a more robust and rev happier engine than the 3.2. That may be why they end up jumping the 915 3.2s. Unlike the first time owners of whom you speak, “proudly” chasing the SC, I’m a fourth time Porsche owner. I’ve previously owned a 964, 993, and 997, and my current SC is by far my favorite, hands down. So I’m really not qualified to speak about the 3.2s. I just know that those “modern” air cooled 911s and the 997 just didn’t do it for me. Hated the steering and insulated road feel. Yes, they were rockets compared to my SC, but who cares, so is a modern Honda Accord. To me, it’s all about road feel and maximizing the potential of a classic machine. And did I mention, that I much prefer the 915 over the G50. There, I said it.

[creaturecat]

me?
i've owned a nice '91 964.
owned a really nice '85 3.2 euro as well.
i now own an '83 SC. it hits the sweet spot for me.

[Transcon]

Originally Posted by Kansas

And did I mention, that I much prefer the 915 over the G50. There, I said it.

You and me both

[Glenfield]

Jerry Seinfeld would agree. He’s been good for a few laughs and more than a few extra dollaridoos for g50 owners in his time.

Nice little comp for yesterday’s 911SC going down right now: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1985-porsche-911-carrera-74/

[Matt Monson]

Leh Keen is only building his safari cars on 915s. That’s what the SC-RS used, after all.

[Kansas]

Originally Posted by creaturecat

me?
i've owned a nice '91 964.
owned a really nice '85 3.2 euro as well.
i now own an '83 SC. it hits the sweet spot for me.

I’ve always been under the impression that it was more or less splitting hairs when comparing SCs to early 3.2s. As someone who’s owned both, why would you say the SC hits the sweet spot for you? I know one thing for sure, it’s not a battery killer like all my other 911s were.🤣

[Kansas]

Originally Posted by pmax

But then you'll be shifting like sugar !

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/996366-915-shifting.html#post10034306

I really don’t understand the whole 915 thing. Yes, it’s a long, slow shifting tranny, but I like that you have to think about it a little more and work a little more to find the right gearing. The G50 practically does it for you. The 915 makes you put more of yourself into the driving experience. I’ll admit, my old corvette’s Muncie 4spd, my old ‘86 Mazda 626, my old ‘95 Toyota Camry, and my 964, 993 and 997, all had easier shifting. But I still would trade any of them for my 915.

[NYNick]

This puts my SC in 100K territory. I love it.

[creaturecat]

Originally Posted by Kansas

I’ve always been under the impression that it was more or less splitting hairs when comparing SCs to early 3.2s. As someone who’s owned both, why would you say the SC hits the sweet spot for you? I know one thing for sure, it’s not a battery killer like all my other 911s were.🤣

my Euro 3.2 was a bit high strung for my style of driving. ex - not gonna roll through a stop sign in 2nd gear. it definitely ripped on the high end of things.
i have learned to appreciate the relative simplicity of the SC as well. ex - the heating system.
i suppose the merit of the motec injection (post '83) is desirable - however i've been fortunate - my cis system has not caused any problems.
fwiw: my '83 was the end of the line - Carrera engine case - a sorta interesting "upgrade".
i know you didn't refer to the 964, however - i feel they are overrated and overpriced. far too complicated, with way too many issues. then there's the pork factor and the beyond ridiculous power steering.
YMMV ...... and probably does.

lotsa daggy SC cars out there - i can see why desirable cars are getting more expensive.

[Kansas]

Originally Posted by creaturecat

my Euro 3.2 was a bit high strung for my style of driving. ex - not gonna roll through a stop sign in 2nd gear. it definitely ripped on the high end of things.
i have learned to appreciate the relative simplicity of the SC as well. ex - the heating system.
i suppose the merit of the motec injection (post '83) is desirable - however i've been fortunate - my cis system has not caused any problems.
fwiw: my '83 was the end of the line - Carrera engine case - a sorta interesting "upgrade".
i know you didn't refer to the 964, however - i feel they are overrated and overpriced. far too complicated, with way too many issues. then there's the pork factor and the beyond ridiculous power steering.
YMMV ...... and probably does.

lotsa daggy SC cars out there - i can see why desirable cars are getting more expensive.

Couldn’t agree with you more about the 964. It was my first Porsche and actually cheap when I bought it back in 2011. However, never liked the looks, absolutely HATED the power steering, and all sorts of electrical gremlins to deal with. Way overrated and can’t believe the $$$ people are spending on 964s. A well known Porsche mechanic told me that the 964 and 993 have NOT aged well compared to SCs and 3.2s. I actually liked my 993, but just too modern and drove more like my old 997.

[Tipo R]

I’ll preach to the choir here. After fortunately owning every 911 series until 991, I’ve been going back to older 911s this last few years.

Longest 911 tenure for me was 9.5 years: an 83 SC in the 1990s for street use and POC time trials.

Currently use an 84 3.2 for street. 83-94 are my 911 sweet spot for street use. Vintage 911 driving experience (no ps, no ABS/traction control, 915, torsion bars, ergonomics, handling dynamics, air-cooled engine mechanical symphony) yet modern enough for current street use rain or shine (even snow) in PNW. As a nod to increase usability, I did add LEDs and have been planning AC upgrades.

[Matt Monson]

An SC has no DME relay to fail.

[Glenfield]

I don’t want to preach to the choir and readily acknowledge my own bias and my own ignorance.

Best I’ve got is that the 3.2 915 a bit of a ‘tweener. Stuck between the beginning and the end, it’s an admirable evolution in many ways but it is just an evolution. It doesn’t really distinguish itself in a way that’s emotional.
That doesn’t mean it’s not objectively better of course, and it’s certainly more easily modifiable in an un-intrusive and inexpensive way.

[Matt Monson]

There’s a Continental Orange SC that just started that’s worth a watch.

[Cobalt]

Originally Posted by creaturecat

my Euro 3.2 was a bit high strung for my style of driving. ex - not gonna roll through a stop sign in 2nd gear. it definitely ripped on the high end of things.
i have learned to appreciate the relative simplicity of the SC as well. ex - the heating system.
i suppose the merit of the motec injection (post '83) is desirable - however i've been fortunate - my cis system has not caused any problems.
fwiw: my '83 was the end of the line - Carrera engine case - a sorta interesting "upgrade".
i know you didn't refer to the 964, however - i feel they are overrated and overpriced. far too complicated, with way too many issues. then there's the pork factor and the beyond ridiculous power steering.
YMMV ...... and probably does.

lotsa daggy SC cars out there - i can see why desirable cars are getting more expensive.

Funny I am currently doing an engine rebuild on an 83 SC. I usually work on 964's and 993's or newer Porsche's. I hate to say it but while dropping the engine, I was scratching my head saying what was Porsche thinking. I was commenting to myself yesterday how I love the 964C2 as it seems to be the sweet spot of simplicity. Although the ventilation system is a bit complicated when it works it works unlike the earlier cars.

I owned several SC's but forgot what they were like since it has been a few decades since I rebuilt one. The SC in comparison is a PITA to work on compared to a 964. Same goes for the 993 they took a perfect design and overcomplicated a good portion of it. Nothing wrong with the SC's or 3.2's but I can't go back to owning one after knowing how much easier it is to work on a 964 and all the improvements that go with it.

As far as SC compared to 3.2 I prefer the throttle response of the SC over the 3.2. The barn door seems to be more of an issue on the 3.2's IMO than the 964's although it is just ancient technology.

Although the 964 is portly the added displacement makes up for that in torque and is a far better platform to build upon with a lot of potential upgrades. I also find after over 40 years of driving these I prefer the power steering and don't find it a bit intrusive.