Impact of color change on value of 78 930?
 

Hello fellow pelicans, I have been sitting on the fence for a while on buying this car. It's a 78 930 with 45,000 original kilometers (27,000 miles), one owner car. Non-sunroof single mirror 930 that is totally stock except for the H4's (original lamps with bezels in box), the owner even has the original Fuchs with the original rubber on them, (currently has BBS wheels).

The car is in wonderful condition as one might expect on a car with low mileage. A very well known Porsche factory trained technician has serviced the car and tells me it is a very worthy car.

Here is my dilemma, the car originally began life Oak Green metallic (22L) over cork and is now (and has been for many many years) Guards Red. I will tell you the re-spray was completed properly (window out) painted by one of the best painters in Ontario and is as close to perfect with no visual clues as to the color change. The owner says he just didn't like the green, tried to but decided on the change.

Having said that, how much (if at all) does this color change affect the value of this car?

Also, what would be your opinion on the current value given this information?

Always impressed by the level of knowledge and wisdom provided on the site, so please chime in on this, I want to get off the proverbial fence and buy it or move on. The owner has the car in storage and has never advertised the car for sale, I found out through the tech who happens to be a friend of mine.

Thank you,
Mike

Thats a tough one. I would say it depends on the level of work done on the color change, and even then the car will take a hit. I don't think color changes on say, a 944, are as big of deal but the 930 in my mind is a collector car and as values rise, people will want originality as with most collector cars. I would think a long ways down the road, a 22L car would be more sought after than a guards red car simply based on numbers.

I wonder why the owner didn't just sell this 930 and buy the one he wanted...how hard could it be to find a 930 in Guards Red?

biosurfer1, thank you for your reply. I often wondered about buying the car and taking it back to its original color. This creates the issue of cost and another re-spray.

Thanks again,
Mike

Unless you get a significant discount, I would be hesitant...the cost in my area for a quality respray back to original is between 8-11 k. I think the po repainting in another color is a big mistake when it comes time to sell. I have a black 86 3.2, I really wanted white...I bought because rebuilt motor. Now to repaint white at such a huge cost and then diminishing value if I decide to sell. Easier and probably smarter for me to sell and buy white one...Go for it if it is discounted appropriately...Tim

I will bet that an oak green 930 brings about $5-8k more then a red 930. That said every cars paint will wear with use so if it is a good deal as is it will bring a nice return once brought back to green. I usually would run from a respray but here you went from a rare color to red not the other way around.

There can be 20 perfect 930's in a row and the one green one will stand out especially in that combo. Easy sale.

I completely agree on the Oak Green color being an easy sale at a reasonable price of course. Given this situation I'm trying to decide which of the options makes the most sense?

If A) I had to pay $35K for this car, should I keep it red and if so what could I sell it for... or B) if I paid $35K and spent $8K on a return to the original color what could I sell it for?

Or is $35 too much?

Thanks for your input fellows,
Mike

The car is worth anywhere from $45,000 to $50,000. A proper paint job is $15,000 to $20,000. This would IMO place the value from $30,000 to $35,000.

Great car gaining in value..... you might be able to add $5000 to my values.


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Thanks Macroni, I realize the difficulty in being accurate given the color change, if it were an original color car the value could be in the $50 to $60,000 range +-?

What would you guess is the value the way it sits in red?

If it were me, and I could get this car for $30-35k, I would buy it. Then I would drive it for 5-10 years and then repaint it to the original color.

If you are looking at the car as a short term investment that you want to try to turn a buck on, then you've got to get into it for $25k or less to make some money reselling it in the next year or so. But if you are buying it because you want a 930 to love and cherish, then paying a bit more for it isn't what I would consider risky. 930s are climbing and will continue to do so.

Hi Matt, thank you, I am looking at this as a flip. I must say I like the idea of driving it for 5 years, put some mileage on it and then re-paint to original color.

As you have already determined this is a tough question.

The car has inevitably been devalued by the re-spray (only original once). If you are of the school that these cars will follow the path of long hoods you have quite a bit of upside in the equation. Easily a $40,000 to $45,000 car with the low miles. Given the quality of the paint the next owner might chose not to change it. This would increase the value in that transaction. Personally, I would change it back. Again no longer is it original and Green of that era was a very cool color.

Macroni, do you feel the market will support $40k for the car the way it is within the next 12 months? If not what would be a realistic price today?

Yes. If as described you should be able to sell for $40,000. It might take patience but the right person will know what he is buying. Candidly, I would be very tempted at $40K.

It definitely is not worth as much in guards red as it would be in oak green. There is however some value in the fact that it originally was oak green. As the car continues to age this will become more important. I notice this a lot on early 911s and 356s which often have had color changes. When people are looking for a car to restore, the current color may not matter as much as what the factory color was. While this car may not need paint now it will some day and then you have the option of going back to oak green and regaining the value of the unusual color.

Macroni, how much more tempted would you be at $37k, if you would like to discuss send me a PM, I will provide you with my phone number? Philly isn't that far away :)

I have learned not to always given in to temptation! I still have a car to sell before I return to the buy side.....

If you are going to flip it quickly don't paint it. If you are going to hold it for 3-5 years paint it now. With the original colour restored you might get unsolicited offers prior to your planned selling window.

What are you selling, if it's a Porsche I may be very interested?

Thanks Matt, makes sense. It sounds by all accounts that these cars are increasing in value and should make a reasonable buy for resale, even if I hold on till next year.

Got out of the Hot Rod business a few years ago but $20k to redo a 930 is some big money. I have had cars in every magazine and show out there and to disassemble, strip and refinish a 930 $15k is at the upper range for a finish that would be considered way over restored. $1000 to have media blasted, $2500 in materials, 60 hrs in labor at $100hr and maybe another $500 in mldngs. This is a paint job not a restoration.

This of course assumes the car was not taken down to bare shell to spray red. The again it has been about 5 years and maybe I need a new hobby. These are super small cars that do not have complex assemblies to remove.

In any event green is a hot color among collectors and I bet you have several PM'S asking for info. If I didn't jut sell one last year I would be there also.