1977 930 - Purchase Input - Miles

[Rainking]

Saw a nice 77 930 yesterday. Needs cosmetic work but lots of great maintenance history. It has around 80k miles. With how few of these there are I find myself asking the question...Is it better to have a low mileage example that needs mechanical work because it has not been used much or a higher mileage example that is mechanically strong but needs a little tlc. I think 80k miles is not much but so many prefer low miles...

Thanks!

[pkabush]

Personally I'd way rather have a car with more miles that's been properly maintained and regularly driven than one with half the miles that sits for long periods between drives.
Just be sure to get a P.P.I. from a reputable shop.
Seems like the first gen. 930s are really skyrocketing in price and probably will continue to do so.
I'm still kicking myself for passing on a all original silver 76 with sunroof delete, no a.c, manual windows, black interior with sport seats that had green plaid inserts. It was $15 grand. Hate to think what its worth now

[Les Paul]

In the scheme of things a 76 is a 37 year old car. 80,000 miles is slightly over 2,000 miles per year. 2,000 miles per year is getting it out and stretching its legs just enough to keep bushings and gaskets from getting hard and cracked, leaking oil all that good stuff that happens.

How many owners and what maintenance has been done? Basics like upgrades on the cam tower oiling, what exhaust system, the american cars came with something that should have long ago been replaced. Do you have that kind of info?

And every picture tells a thousand stories. Any pics?

[zacks76930]

I have 320,000 on my 76 and mechanically it is good. I have completly restored it because original paint was worn through to the body. It is mostly stock.

[cellison]

to me it depends on what each car is selling for. if the "cosmetics work" includes needing some panels repainted and if the other low mile car car has the original paint i would prefer the original paint car and deal / the mechanical issues...but again i boils down to $$$.

if you can't decide, buy them both.

[Richard930]

Originally Posted by zacks76930

I have 320,000 on my 76 and mechanically it is good. I have completly restored it because original paint was worn through to the body. It is mostly stock.

Awesome - love to hear about cars like yours instead of how little a car has been driven (and therefore how little it's been maintained)

[cellison]

is the car you looked at on e-bay now from Beverly hills motor club? It looks pretty good in the picts. i sent a e-mail asking if it was repainted.

[RRico]

depending on the price, I would buy it now,
as these early turbos are starting to appreciate
in value, no matter condition.

[Unobtanium-inc]

All of the experts we speak to regularly speak the woes of the low-mileage 911 (and 930 in this case) that are traded for high prices. Left undriven for long periods, these cars start to consume themselves from the inside out. If you have to keep an eye on money at all, a higher mieage, but maintained, example is the way to go. If money is no object, buy the super low mileage car at a premiu, spend 5-10k on maintenance, then you'll have the benefit of a low-miles example when you go to sell it.

[914efi]

I see that xxx miles per year quoted so often, but it is the wrong way to think about it. Most likely it was 20K miles for the first 3 years and then no miles for a long period-that is the risky part.