Rusted 1970 European 911T, Worth More As Parts?

[competentone]

I've been watching the used parts market (on Pelican and Ebay) and have pretty much concluded that I'd get the most out of this severely rusted, European (at least it started life that way) 1970 911T if I part it out.

I've figured that the "easy" parts should bring around $3500.

I've been thinking about offering the whole thing for sale at that price and see if there are any takers. Do you think I'm just wasting my time trying to sell the whole thing at $3500? How's the market on some of the "odd" parts like the (mostly untested) German gauges?

The Webers are not in the pictures -- the right one had a lot of water leak though it (you can see the condition of the right intake -- there was water in the #4 cylinder when I got it!) so its rebuild-ability would be questionable.

The motor is a 2.2; it has a clear title (in my name) -- though it is listed on the title as a "1969" the VIN and motor number indicate it is a 1970.

The front fenders are solid (I suspect they were replaced at some time, considering the rest of the condition of the car). The rear fender flares are fiberglass.

(Horn grilles with the European through-the-grill fog lamps have been sold.)

It does not have original front seats (also not pictured).

I'd just be interested in initial opinions from what you fine folks can see in the pictures.

Mostly details of the rust:
http://home.earthlink.net/~jaegan23/Porsche911/

A sub-folder from the first link showing some of the parts:
http://home.earthlink.net/~jaegan23/Porsche911/EuropeanTarga/

Thanks in advance for any input.

[t6dpilot]

OMG! Wow is that rust cancerous - that's too bad. IMO, I would part it out. It would take work, but would probably net you more $. PM'd you.

[EarlyPorsche]

You should buy all the necessary patch panels from restoration design and fix it.

[matt13421342]

Wow, that is honestly one of THE rustiest 911 I have seen. Nobody is going to pay to rebuild that car, not this year. Put it on ice for 10 years and it might be a different story.

In all honesty, I don't think you'll get $3500 selling it whole OR parting it out. Keep in mind that the used parts market for early 911 is based on good condition parts that people can use for their restorations. If there is anything at all wrong with a part (like the rust you can see on your rear bumper) then the value plummets, and fast. You might be able to get X price for a complete engine, but sell it half taken apart, with water invasion in the cylinder and you, again, half really hurt the value. The front bumper is fiberglass and damaged, so it's worth like $50 at a swap meet. The interior is rough (foggy gauges, etc.) so there's not much money there. targa bars are a dime a dozen right now. The front fenders are sellable, but it's not like they are worth a lot of cash, either, even in good shape. Nobody's really looking for sugar-scoop headlights right now. Do you have this car already? If not, I would pass on it unless you are getting it for very cheap. If you part it out, bear inmind the condition of the parts before you put them up for sale, and do a lot of mental math before you give it the green light. I've learned the hard way that if you don't do enough research and math, just one or two disappointments in terms of sale price will destroy your chances of making any of your money back. I can't see getting close to $3500 for the parts if you break it, but I could be wrong.

But that's just one man's opinion. I hate to hear of another one off the road, but boy is that thing rusty. Best of luck.

[BK911]

Originally posted by matt13421342
Nobody is going to pay to rebuild that car, not this year. Put it on ice for 10 years and it might be a different story.

But that's just one man's opinion. I hate to hear of another one off the road, but boy is that thing rusty. Best of luck.

Exactly what I was thinking.

[competentone]

Originally posted by matt13421342
Wow, that is honestly one of THE rustiest 911 I have seen. Nobody is going to pay to rebuild that car, not this year. Put it on ice for 10 years and it might be a different story.

In all honesty, I don't think you'll get $3500 selling it whole OR parting it out. Keep in mind that the used parts market for early 911 is based on good condition parts that people can use for their restorations. If there is anything at all wrong with a part (like the rust you can see on your rear bumper) then the value plummets, and fast. You might be able to get X price for a complete engine, but sell it half taken apart, with water invasion in the cylinder and you, again, half really hurt the value. The front bumper is fiberglass and damaged, so it's worth like $50 at a swap meet. The interior is rough (foggy gauges, etc.) so there's not much money there. targa bars are a dime a dozen right now. The front fenders are sellable, but it's not like they are worth a lot of cash, either, even in good shape. Nobody's really looking for sugar-scoop headlights right now. Do you have this car already? If not, I would pass on it unless you are getting it for very cheap. If you part it out, bear inmind the condition of the parts before you put them up for sale, and do a lot of mental math before you give it the green light. I've learned the hard way that if you don't do enough research and math, just one or two disappointments in terms of sale price will destroy your chances of making any of your money back. I can't see getting close to $3500 for the parts if you break it, but I could be wrong.

But that's just one man's opinion. I hate to hear of another one off the road, but boy is that thing rusty. Best of luck.

Thanks (to all) for the input. Feel free to add additional "gasps" about the rust if so inclined -- it is quite shocking.

I own the car and have already "gotten back" what I paid for it by selling the deep six Fuchs and European horn-grille fog lights that came on it. Anything else would just be "gravy."

The car is "just for fun," but like my other hobbies, part of the fun can involve coming out ahead financially!

I hear what you're saying about the value of parts that are less-than-perfect, but I'm fairly confident that if I'm in no rush, the $3500 number I've figured for the "easy" parts is possible -- there seems to be reasonable demand for usable non-concourse parts. Some of the interior has been re-done (I tossed out some of the original "rough" interior parts that came with the car), so there is some value there.

I appreciate the consensus I'm hearing about trying to sell the whole thing -- it's what I was thinking, it wouldn't bring much being sold as a whole car.

Thanks again. Anyone else with opinions, feel free to chime in.

--Joe

[matt13421342]

Joe -- I'm interested in hearing the breakdown you're using to end up making an additional $3500 on the parts you have. Not trying to be a smart*ss I promise, but I'd really like to be proven wrong on my original estimation of it not being worth it.