Stick a fork in it..........

[Cal44]

I have noticed that more and more the Porsche thing is fading away. I just received my last issue of Excellence magazine. It's half in thickness than it was three years ago.

I tried three times to sell very nice interior door handles for '87 the '89 911 on ebay, starting at $50.00............not one bid on any of the three auctions.

I have a boat load of '80's Porsche Pano's and Christos with Factory covers. Wish me luck on trying to unload that stuff.

What happened? It's like someone pulled the plug.

Wish a Boss 302 would plummet like the Porsches, then I could afford one.

[grendiers]

Don't give up quite yet! I just bought an '85 Carrera coupe, and am just getting into the 911 mystique! I also have three 924 turbos in the shed, which were my intro into all things Porsche. So, the point is, as the '80s cars (911s) have come down in price, noobs like myself are finding it easier to step up to the 911. I'll keep my turbo cars though, variety is good!

[Macroni]

Originally Posted by Cal44

I have noticed that more and more the Porsche thing is fading away. I just received my last issue of Excellence magazine. It's half in thickness than it was three years ago.

I tried three times to sell very nice interior door handles for '87 the '89 911 on ebay, starting at $50.00............not one bid on any of the three auctions.

I have a boat load of '80's Porsche Pano's and Christos with Factory covers. Wish me luck on trying to unload that stuff.

What happened? It's like someone pulled the plug.

Wish a Boss 302 would plummet like the Porsches, then I could afford one.

Totally disagree saw two Ts sell for last week one $69K another $59K. Unrestored RS for $260k and up, high end restores and lightweights $400K and up.... If you have a highly personalized car it will not pull exceptional money unless it is truly unique... Nice Carreras and SC are bring in fair money but they are not considered yet to be a classic car. Try to buy a USA carrera for under $30,000 or a euro carrera for under $75,000......

The market is not dead. money is just not being thrown around.

[Todd Simpson]

You seem pretty convinced the Porsche thing is dead, but here goes...

I bought my 911 14 years ago and I have never had more choices for events. Our local PCA has 21 track days this year, and we are one of the small PCA regions. We also host a club race in August, and a club race as part of the Rolex Grand Am! (how cool is that-race your Porsche as part of the Grand-Am weekend)

There are cars and coffee type events, a few a month within driving distance of Philly, a very active Early 911S group nearby and driving tours for classic Porsches all summer, all up and down the east coast. The enthusiasm is there, just pick your fun (racing, concours, touring events) and jump in.

No one wants your old Pano's? I don't even want the NEW Pano's I get :-) Have you noticed this forum is approaching *2 million* posts?

Times are changing, but thank goodness people still enjoy filling a machine up with gas, taking it out and having some fun.

[Macroni]

Originally Posted by Todd Simpson

You seem pretty convinced the Porsche thing is dead, but here goes...

I bought my 911 14 years ago and I have never had more choices for events. Our local PCA has 21 track days this year, and we are one of the small PCA regions. We also host a club race in August, and a club race as part of the Rolex Grand Am! (how cool is that-race your Porsche as part of the Grand-Am weekend)

There are cars and coffee type events, a few a month within driving distance of Philly, a very active Early 911S group nearby and driving tours for classic Porsches all summer, all up and down the east coast. The enthusiasm is there, just pick your fun (racing, concours, touring events) and jump in.

No one wants your old Pano's? I don't even want the NEW Pano's I get :-) Have you noticed this forum is approaching *2 million* posts?

Times are changing, but thank goodness people still enjoy filling a machine up with gas, taking it out and having some fun.

Todd has eloquently stated a perspective that I rarely state; the perspective of an enthusiast. So far this year, I have rallied in CA, in New England, I will go to the Rennsport Reunion and another Rally in VA. A group this summer is going to the Tail of the Dragon, BBQs are being planned. Every event I did last year is bigger this year.

Last Friday, I went to drop a starter off at a shop in Allentown an hour & half from where I live. My Friend Lee drove me in his 1960 Roadster and another friend Lewis drove two hours to meet us. All because of the passion.

Stick a fork in it..... hardly.........

[GregB7S4]

Originally Posted by Cal44

I have noticed that more and more the Porsche thing is fading away. I just received my last issue of Excellence magazine. It's half in thickness than it was three years ago.

I tried three times to sell very nice interior door handles for '87 the '89 911 on ebay, starting at $50.00............not one bid on any of the three auctions.

I have a boat load of '80's Porsche Pano's and Christos with Factory covers. Wish me luck on trying to unload that stuff.

What happened? It's like someone pulled the plug.

Wish a Boss 302 would plummet like the Porsches, then I could afford one.

So if you sell the door handles next week the Porsche thing is back on?

[budge96]

Originally Posted by Cal44

I have noticed that more and more the Porsche thing is fading away. I just received my last issue of Excellence magazine. It's half in thickness than it was three years ago.

I tried three times to sell very nice interior door handles for '87 the '89 911 on ebay, starting at $50.00............not one bid on any of the three auctions.

I have a boat load of '80's Porsche Pano's and Christos with Factory covers. Wish me luck on trying to unload that stuff.

What happened? It's like someone pulled the plug.

Wish a Boss 302 would plummet like the Porsches, then I could afford one.

Maybe just maybe you're the one not into it ENOUGH! Stop reading and start
doing as others have posted prior if you just get off the 'puter and get out in
your garage or out to one of the events ..your sure to find plenty enthusiasm.
As well as projects to do, I've had to sell down a few early S projects just to
be able to find time to get to a few events and commit time to projects I just
have to see to fruition!!!
Bert

[sm70911]

Awesome news, its over. I'm going to swing by early S registry and let them know cos there are a couple of cars over there I want to pick up for peanuts.

[techweenie]

I guess I'm a little unclear on this: some plastic door handles didn't sell so the entire Porsche market has gone to hell?

This would be news to the 4 people who have asked me to find 911s for them in the last couple weeks.

[Matt Monson]

As someone who manufactures parts of racing these cars, I will tell you that May was our best month ever. And I would say that I sold parts for mid 70's and 80's 915 gearbox about 2-1 over modern GT3 watercooler variants. And when we showed up to sponsor the PCA's 48 Hours of Sebring race in Feb. we were told that they had the largest number of entrants ever in more than 15 years of holding the event.

There's nothing dead or fading about it...

[Six Gun]

What's a Boss 302??

[renntrade]

I quick look at ebay completed listings for parts and cars will show the original poster is on to something. With exception to a few anomalies here and there, the market is dead. Very dead. and it is not just Porsches. Cars finally caught up with houses. The difference only being those selling these cars and parts haven't realized it yet, and are continuing to expect 2007 pricing.
The audience is obviously dwindling and has by in large left the building.

Core enthusiast and big buck collectors will keep the rare cars appreciating, but from the shade tree mechanic hobbyists vantage, what was worth having is had, and pretty much out of reach now....thus the total drop in demand on parts. If you don't have a car to fix up, the parts aren't really needed either.

[techweenie]

All very amusing anecdotes.

Here's another: I was at an international shipper's yard last month. There were between 25 and 30 cars overall awaiting packing into a container destined for Europe. 5 were Porsches. The market is as strong as it ever was, if the asking prices are in line with reality. And reality is that prices are up from a year ago on most 911s. Ebay is the 'court of last resort' for Porsches. It is dominated by open cars. The coupes sell more easily and often with little or no advertising.

[renntrade]

Originally Posted by techweenie

All very amusing anecdotes.

Here's another: I was at an international shipper's yard last month. There were between 25 and 30 cars overall awaiting packing into a container destined for Europe. 5 were Porsches. The market is as strong as it ever was, if the asking prices are in line with reality. And reality is that prices are up from a year ago on most 911s. Ebay is the 'court of last resort' for Porsches. It is dominated by open cars. The coupes sell more easily and often with little or no advertising.

Too funny. I have passed on a dozen or more cars lately that I would have not hesitated on in years past based on current market, including a no reserve Silver, numbers matching 75 Carrera 'COUPE' that sold for under $12K a few months back...on ebay.

Reality is this market is in a major transformation, as is many others. Not a challenge, just a simple observation of a very real reality.

[renntrade]

PS, your anecdote about porsches leaving the country is a large contributor to the shrinking fan base that brings about these changes. Supply shrinks to levels unsustainable for a larger viewing audience.

It happens to all collectible markets as they age and new generations emerge.

[techweenie]

I'm in the market every day. I have people with cash at the ready now, and having trouble finding 911s for sale without "stories."

[renntrade]

Originally Posted by techweenie

I'm in the market every day. I have people with cash at the ready now, and having trouble finding 911s for sale without "stories."

Exactly. Several factors are converging to dilute the 'the Porsche thing'. Economy, attrition, age etc...at least as I understand what is meant by 'the Porsche thing'.

Like you, I am also a dealer and have enjoyed these cars and profit from them for 2 decades. I find that when one area of collecting dries up, another is usually not far behind. You just have to be open and take advantage of the serendipities.

It is no coincidence you have 4 people that want Porsches and not 4 Porsches your looking to sell.

In a lot of ways, I think we are on the same page here, saying it in different ways.

Best of luck to you my friend.

[Cal44]

I suspect I should have further explained myself........sorry.......didn't mean to be so general. I had, two wonderful examples, an '84 and '86 911. Both coupes. And a 356 driver. Finally they were all gone by the end of the year.

I cannot believe how long it took to sell them (at a loss). I'm not bragging when I state my cars are top notch as I am a fanatic on keeping them up to snuff.

So, after seeing prices of rebuilt engines continue to go up I thought that's it.

10K for a rebuilt 356 four banger.......nonsense
10-who knowsK for a 911 engine........more nonsense

They were great cars.................but not that great.

Guess I'll go change the oil in the Sunbeam Alpine. Will it go 140mph, nope. But they are cute and fun to drive.

By the by. One of my buds is a Porsche racing parts provider. Business is way off.

[renntrade]

Cal,
What you have witnessed on this thread is responses from really the core group of 911 enthusiasts. They are in most part, so deep inside the circle of their passion, they can't see out past the first few rings. I know Harley guys who still hold onto how popular their sport is too :-)

[schumicat]

No one wants to read magazines anymore because they are becoming obsolete. Why would anyone want to keep (let alone pay for) shelves and stacks of musty magazines when you can instantly look up anything you want to know about cars on the internet and just print what you need? I guess some people do, but they risk ending up on Hoarders: Buried Alive. Just like newspapers and print magazines, many people see them as obsolete. As for being unable to sell a couple of door handles... I wouldn't consider that a barometer of a global market.