Backdate / Update Market questions
 

With the recent rise in values and scarcity of longhoods, I see what appears as a growing collection of "backdated" cars coming to market. '78-'89 911s being made to look like longhoods.

In the late '70s and '80s I recall the trend to "update" longhood cars to look more like shorthoods. This was likely popular due to the rising prices of the newer cars compared to the "dirt cheap" longhoods lying around. To me, those cars just look plain silly now and I imagine as time continues, more folks will take an "updated" LH and restore back to original condition

My question is, what do folks feel the fate will be of the "backdated" cars. Will they hold a perceived value? What is the value based on, its "modern" starting point or the comparative value vs a genuine long hood?

I'm not an investor or speculator. I just figue if, for example, a G50 3.2 911 is the pinnacle of the pre 964s, will the folks come to prize a more original example, or will we see a trend of reconverting backdated cars to their original condition? Heck, there are even some 964 based "longhood" cars out there!

Predicting the future is tough. Judging by my stock portfolio, you should just ignore my opinions on future value.

But...

IMO, the early cars were turned into short hoods in the late '70s, 80s and 90s primarily to look newer and make their owners appear wealthier. These owners were often not "Porsche guys." If you've seen 'updated' cars up close, most are a symphony of cut corners.

The backdates being done now are largely by "Porsche guys" to capture the spirit of the 'golden age' of 911s. As a result, the other modifications on these cars tend to be desirable and consistent with that spirit. You rarely see cut corners.

I suspect the backdate cars will slowly lose the large premium they seem to be bringing now, but will remain somewhat more valuable than non-backdated similar models.

IMO, backdate value depends upon the quality of the build. I also think a high quality build is a pricey proposition. Selling a $50,000 dollar build for $50250 is not much of an ROI. To me the ability to command premium money is in the motor; more power, more desirable, more dollars! I think the recent sales show that backdates with power sell!

As far as the short hoods or impact bumper cars commanding a premium in the future this is a tougher call. There are some limited edition models that currently are selling at a high value such as 89 speedsters, 88 club sport models, 74 euro carrera, 3.0 euro carrera and recently the 74 USA carrera. In Europe, 76-77 Series 1 turbos have also become a desirable model. I suspect these values will carry into the future.

Concerning stock cars; although I do not have the exact numbers I believe the 1983 through 1989 model years represented the highest production output for a Porsche aircooled model line. Given the sturdy nature of the car this should assure many very nice survivors into the future.

Depends on the car.

20 years from now, an all original, 50-60K mile G50 Carrera will be worth more than an equal condition backdated one, for example. (IMO). Because with very rare exceptions, when a car gets to be 35+ years old, originality brings the highest value.

I think the backdated cars are cool, they look neat but still have modern driveability - I'd like to have one! But IMO they are overpriced in the market right now.

Very well put.

True but one has to consider what's been done to the 'backdated' car. Some have well-executed performance modifications that are very costly to install. This has real value but to a limited audience, and usually for quite a bit less $ than build cost.

Same principle as goes for (non-factory) production-based racers.

In the short run, economy may bring dollar-value of all these toys down. Or not, if dollar tanks.

In the long run, very hard to guess 'value' of any collector car now IMO. Once we are off fossil fuels, they may all be 'junk' -- excepting museum quality stuff. That may be 100 yrs hence, or much sooner. Collector interest in horse-drawn carriages pretty limited now. Cars will follow someday, but we may be long dead.