Finding the right color

[Kewk]

Hi. I've been lurking for a while. Nice helpful site.

I've been looking for a 911 SC Coupe for over a year. I was hoping to find a local (in New England) car in Talbot Yellow, Continental Orange or one of the bright non-metallic greens (apple, fern or mint).

I've had no luck. This morning I cut and pasted the owners registry form Simon's 911 SC site and after some pivot table work, found that the colors I like were only sold on about 3% of the cars sold (about half of which are Targas)

Anyway, here's the question. What the best way to go about getting the right color car? I can either:
a) Expand my search nationally
b) Buy and repaint it.

Any opinions or other ideas?

Thanks,

[pete3799]

I think you've answered your own question
I choose A.......and B.....
If you can find a good one locally for the right price, a paint job is not out of the question.

[techweenie]

I can help you out with your search, but I am 3,000 miles away. You'd then have the option of flying to pick up the car and driving home or having it trucked to you.

In truth, the markets like So Cal where there were lots of 911SCs sold tend to have the more 'interesting' colors.

[DL Lawrence]

or,

c) make color a lower priority in your buying criteria

Some of the best advice I ever read when I went through the process was in Pete Z's book- which, if you don't already have it, is a must read- get it here:

Amazon.com: The Used 911 Story, 8th Edition (9780963172662): Peter Zimmermann: Books

"Buy the car, not the color". You'll get used to the color.

If you've been lurking a while and reading the 911 technical forum, you've seen that buying the wrong older 911 can become a very expensive mistake. I bought mine based on these criteria, in order:

Overall Condition/Driving qualities
Ownership history/service records
PPI results
Mileage
Location

Color was way down on my list. I ended up with a solid, well sorted, reliable 911 that has given me a great deal of enjoyment, with no problems at all- I knew what I was getting. Was red my first color choice? No- Has it grown on me? Sure has....I like it!

JMHO, YMMV, etc.

[racer]

iirc, Talbot Yellow was a very rare color for the SC.. i think I've only seen 4-5 in the last 30 years I've been around porsches and PCA events in the northeast.

iirc, Continental Orange was NOT available on the SC except as paint to match request. It was available on the midyear cars, as my friends '77 came in that color.

It seems to me that porsche tried to move away from the "safety colors" that were popular in the 70-77 era with the intro of the SC.

[Kewk]

Thanks for the feedback so far.
DL Lawrence- Sorry, but learning to love a color I don't want won't work. I tried it. I bought a gold 325i because it was a great deal. Every morning I saw it, I hated it more and more.
I did order the book.

Buying a 911 really makes no logical sense. It's strictly a right brain thing and it wants something bright and shiny.

A couple more questions:
Economically, what makes more sense; buying a distant car or repainting a local car? I think it's the former, but maybe I'm over looking something.

Do odd color cars cost more? How much more would Talbot yellow be then guards red.

Besides the lack of galvanization, what do think think of a mid year car with a 3.0 versus an SC?

[racer]

Economically what makes the most sense is buying the "right car"

imho, the issue with color change is how complete are you going to go? door jams? inside trunks? engine compartment? the more you do, the more the car becomes a "restoration" paint swap.. and that becomes expensive. plus, then you would be motivated to clean/polish up the trim pieces etc. So.. if that is the case, by a dumpy cheap "brown" SC and have at it!

Mid years are maligned for their 2.7 motors and emissions equipment. Many midyears have had 3.0 or 3.2 conversions done so that can be less an issue. My folks '74S was just as quick as an SC (lighter, better gearing etc). Later mid years are a bit heavier and have less power than the '74s.

[aircool]

I had a 1980 factory Continental Orange coupe I sold thru Pelican and regret it, even though it was a just a project. The fellow Pelican that bought it, bought it just for the color, I am willing to buy it back, just for the color. If you decide to do a color change, I would plan on keeping the car, forever. Its hard to sell a color change. Go with factory. Just my opinion. The other guys have a point, it is good to get the right car. I am with you though, I gotta be able to get up in the morning and look at it without regretting it. Good luck.

[Kewk]

Hmm, I hadn't put a lot of thought into the mid years cars, but after doing a little research they are getting more appealing, especially one with a 3.0.

Anyone know where I could find out the mid year factory colors and their relative popularity?

[hcariss]

Good luck on the hunt, I looked for a sorted MY coupe for 2 years, and like you wanted specific color(s). I made the mistake of not buying DougandJulies car that was on this board and having it re painted back to it original Gulf Blue. I haven't seen anything since then either in the colors I wanted or in my price range.
Ashevan had a completely sorted 74 coupe in choc brown for sale on the board a while ago, I don't know if it sold.

[jwasbury]

I know the common logic is "buy the car not the color" but as you have already pointed out, buying/owning/driving an old air-cooled Porsche is not a logical choice to begin with.

When I set out to acquire a 930, I was ready for any color except black or guards red. I had bias for something blue. I found this one for sale in North Carolina:


I fell in love immediately and after a brief courtship it was mine. I broke several rules of buying these cars. Bought the color, bought the first one I saw or drove, but I HAD to have it.

Could I have paid less, or found a 'better' car - probably. Was there a guards red 930 for sale around the corner from my house that just had a rebuilt engine by a pro for only a few k more than I spent - probably. Have I had to spend a lot of money on this car after buying it - absolutely. Do I have any regrets about buying this one - NO!

[Ferrariguyma]

Kermit 76 912E in Speedway Green

[nixtfy]

Some of us can't fool our selves into being color blind. LOL I have on two occasions replaced the same make and model of car because of color and not necessarily condition. Seven years ago I bought a different bmw m3 color and recently bought a euro platinum/silver 911sc. My Grand Prix White 911sc at the time was well sorted, but I just wanted a different colored 911. FYI the jelly belly cars you are referring to are very rare and when found are very hard to find with your option wish list. I would suggest buying a local sorted car and expect to spend another $5,000.00 changing the color if you cannot live with the color

[hcariss]

1980 PORSHE 911SC
No affiliation just passing it along. The price is way to high but its a color you don't see that much.

[Kewk]

Thanks. I do like to oak Green, but it's over my budget.

[G450X]

I'll expand on Jacob's point of view (gent with the incredible Minerva 930).

It will be near impossible to find a "signal" color if you don't have deep pockets and alot of time to look. I searched for a year and only a few interesting colors popped up and they were cars with issues - and most were Targa topped versions. I did find an SC coupe within a few hours drive in a light green metallic, but it was too nice (I wanted a car I could drive) and was almost $30k. Do you want a driver, show car, outlaw?

My advice is to pick 2 or 3 colors that you absolutely would not own. Guards red was a color I could not wake up and look at every day. I also wanted to avoid the other common colors like black (very hard to keep up as well), white, and silver (I like silver, but already own two other silver cars).

I ended up with somewhat of a compromise. I picked a very nice pewter/zinc (dark silver) that showed very well. Keep in mind that a nice re-paint is expensive these days, and I'd vote for originality as well due to resell potential.

I almost pulled the trigger on a 912E in Arrow blue, but I would have been miserable. I like the SC/Carrera flares, so early cars were out (I'm one of the odd few who would prefer the flares over the beautiful details of the long hood front/rear), and I wanted a "real 911," plus I could not afford a nice "E or S" anyway. The intoxicating sound of the flat six (and the thrust) was a must, and the power/torque of SC & Carrera's offered very good performance at a reasonable price. The good thing about 911's is that they made a bunch, and even though a small number were produced in incredible colors, they're still out there.

I'm saving up for an '83 - '89 cabriolet and would like an uncommon color - now that's a challenge!!

Good luck in the search, it will be satisfying when you finally find that right one.

[hcariss]

✖1977 Porsche 911 S V-6

[Kewk]

V-6? Seller seems a bit sketchy, plus I don't like the color.