What is this car worth? 1982 SC Targa

racerboyrt · 07-10-2006, 08:40 PM

With 85K orig miles, carfax verified with many receipts. Silver with black, the interior is almost perfect except the seats have light wear on the drivers bolster but the dash is perfect. The exterior from 10 feet looks really nice, when you get closer it has little chips and things over a good portion of the car, but the paint is excellent and shines like new, minus that chips and some scratches and door dings. Great service history, new tires and brakes, runs very well. Targa top could use recovering. What is it worth? SF Bay area if it makes a diff. Thanks

aigel · aigel's Garage

I would say 16 tops. Probably not more, as the mileage is not super low and it is a targa. On the plus side is the color and the overall condition. The "survivor" cars are hard to price, harder than the average SC.

George

hytem · 07-15-2006, 11:09 AM

I saw an '81 targa on msn.com with 48K miles for $15.5K.
not sure what it sold for...

Halm · 07-16-2006, 03:06 AM

There is not a quick, easy answer to this question. You might want to read through this thread from a month or so ago to get some feel for the answer.

Targas are great cars. I loved mine. In a lot of ways they are the best of a coupe and a cab. Unfortunately there are some serious drawbacks unless you live someplace where the top is off 90% of the year: leaks, wind noise and always the question of where to store the top.

IMO, unless this car is exceptional -and I don't get that from your description- it is at best a $13k car. Targas simply bring less money than coupes. You might get one of the SC's that will go for 200k miles but without documented history, don't count on it. So be ready for between $5 -$12k in motor work within the first year.

Look for a car with either a complete history or one that goes back as far as major engine work and pay the extra for it. It will be cheaper in the long run and you will be a much happier owner.

chuckw951 · 12:54 PM

"You might get one of the SC's that will go for 200k miles but without documented history, don't count on it. So be ready for between $5 -$12k in motor work within the first year."

You have a good point....

Many owners probably do get 200K miles with no problems...but that wasn't the case for me. The SCs are getting old...the youngest SC (1983) is now 23 years old. If the head studs have not been addressed at some point it seems like it's not a matter about if any studs have snapped....but when. After owning and rebuilding two SC motors I don't think I would buy another 911SC unless I had documentation that at least a top end rebuild was done. YMMV. Don't get me wrong, I didn't really mind the work I needed to do on the car...it was part of the "ownership experience" and I learned alot. Just wouldn't want to do it again...and would rather spend the time driving the car rather than dropping motors. I think in this case I'd prefer a higher mileage example where the work has been done.