'76 912E Barn Find, What's It Worth?

[Bristol]

A bit of back story - I have five Porsches already, including a '72 914 and a '75 911S that I am restoring.

So I know a guy who wants to part with his Porsches. He's a hoarder with over 50 cars stashed in various places, including a '76 912E and a 912. He is insisting on a package deal for the two cars. The 912 is junk, but I could really use some of the parts (carbs) for the cars that I already own. I'm not really interested in the 912E mostly because I just don't have time to give it the attention that it would need. So.... if I were to buy both cars I would want to just flip the 912E in the condition it's in. What do you think I could reasonably expect to get for the car?

The details: it needs paint bad, but there does not appear to be any significant rust. It ran when parked and the owner swears it can run easily again. It has the original fuel injection. Interior is not bad (it's been in dry storage in Texas), although the headliner is stained around the sunroof. He has a legit title for the car, but it's not in his name. It looks like it was signed over to someone else. I think that as long as I could get a bill of sale it would be okay.









Again, thoughts on what a reasonable market price would be in the current condition?

Alternatively, thoughts on what the market value would be in somewhat restored condition: dyed headliner, shampooed carpet, stripped and re-painted, running engine, updated title, etc.? I'm not talking about a pristine restoration, but more of a quick clean up to get it looking decent with a $1,500 paint job.

Kirk

'03 Carrera 4S - Techart
'00 Boxster S - Gemballa
'86 Carrera Targa – Reich Rodz Rat
'75 911S Targa - project, beater car
'72 914 - Chalon slant nose wide body

[pete3799]

I'll let the experts handle this......but that's not a 76 912E

[Bristol]

I have a 2.0L Type IV engine in my '72 914 (yes it has been upgraded) and I can guarantee you that the engine in this car is a VW/Porsche Type IV unit, like the one in the 914. The VIN and title also indicate that it's a 912E. What would make you think that it's not? Remember, the "E" was only made in '76, had the 914 2.0L engine, and impact bumpers.

Kirk

[sm70911]

Looks like a type 923 to me. Notice the temp gauge and I think 5500k or 6k maybe redline on the tach. Sun roof makes it 'rare', and the FI being intact is good. I think it is probably more deisrable to the 912e crowd as is once given a clean. Does he have the OEM bischoff muffler anywhere ? In decent shape thats worth some $$. From these pics tho I wouldn't expect more than 4k.

[Bristol]

The stock muffler is long gone. Good eye, I hadn't noticed the aftermarket unit until looking at the picture more closely. That's part of why photos like this are good. I wonder if the air conditioning is stock. With the sunroof and air con, this car may be relatively well optioned from the factory.

Kirk

[csapp05]

Maybe $1-5k?
To many unknowns, what shape is the engine tranny in? Brakes? Structural rust?
You would need to get it out and blast it off, check for structural rust and accident repairs, then try and get it running. All fuel lines would need changed, probaly fuel pump as well.
I would offer low $$, then offer it for sale for $$$!
Good luck!

[Matt Monson]

Almost every 912e I have seen advertised in the last 4 years has had a sunroof. Every one has claimed it is a rare option. I'm not buying it.

[csapp05]

Almost 2100 912e's built, approx 500 had sunroofs.

[CountD]

There will be a problem with the title if it was 'signed over to someone else' and if that 'someone else' did not bother to register it, or cannot be found (and their name is in fact on the title) - it is still owned by the original person on that title and this can be a serious problem if the title is not just signed but marked with someones name. You'd have to track down the original owner and get a new title for them to sign. Seems like a lot of work before you even get to the car - but if you want to flip it you still have to deal with title issues.

[cajun]

Bristol,

Without a valid title it pretty much becomes a parts car or a racecar donor.

If you want some advice on the title, give me a PM. I've handled title issues for myself and friends here in Louisiana.

[McLovin]

You have to value that as a parts car.
Wheels are $600. Etc.
Or as a bare chassis to make a race car out of.
Because its value as a 912E is a negative number. I.e., it would cost way, way more to restore that car to its original condition than it would ever be worth.

[szyzygy]

Here in Vermont you don't need a title for a car over 15 years old!

[Jrboulder]

I'd say about 3.5k tops.

IF it was a decent driver when parked it shouldn't be too hard for someone to get it back in action. Clean the fuel tank, get the injectors rebuilt, blow out the fuel lines, replace the vacuum lines, replace the brake lines, give it a tune up, new battery and you're running. Call it $1000

I was quoted $600 to soda blast my E. Use the right primer, use good paint, have a good painter spray it, buff it out and $2500 later you've got a 5 and 5 paint job.

So best case it's 3.5k for an enthusiast to put the work in and make it a decent driver. Now the suspension will still be old, the brakes will probably need a bit more love, the interior will be how it is now. Call it a 9k car. That would mean the absolute most the end user would logically pay is about 4500 with a clean title. You'd probably sell it at or south of 4.

[Bristol]

Thanks for the feedback guys, it is greatly appreciated! I'm hearing about $4-5K for the car as it sits now. That's a lot less than what I had anticipated. I thought that 912's were on the rise in value as the early 911's have been taking off. But I don't think their time has quite come yet. I'm not going to buy this car on speculation.

The seller/hoarder was offering me the 912E plus a parts car 912 for $8,250. The '68 912 is in dry storage. Everything is there, but the car was parked due to bad engine problems (crunched valve or thrown rod or something along those lines). So the engine needs a rebuild. Paint and interior look okay. Driver's side floorboard is rusted out, you can see the ground.

I need to post pictures of the '68 later. He says he has a title for it. I already have a 911 Middie, a Carrera, and a 996. I sure wouldn't mind having an early 911/912. I think that even at $8K it's still not worth it for these cars, especially when one of them is complete junk. But what I'm thinking about doing is just offering him $2K for the '68 912 and hope for the best regarding rust. I know this is blasphemy, but if I wanted to just get it running, can I drop in a VW Bug engine? I can get pretty nice ones locally for $500 or so.

Kirk

[techweenie]

912Es are on the rise, but they don't often break $15K in excellent original condition.

[Jferr006]

Just chiming in on the title issue. In VA we have an abandoned vehichle process you can go through. With a bill of sale and the title you might not even have to go that far. All I had was a bill of sale and thus I did go through that process. They essentially send a letter out to the last registered owner, if there is even record of one, you wait 21 days and you can title it... and they can't just come claim if you have the old title and it was never re-registered.

[Matt Monson]

Kirk,

I think you are undervaluing the 912 rollers. Even that '67 is worth more than "lawn art". I'm still kicking myself for giving away a '66 912 roller that is now in Magnus' collection because I now have a '67 912 (10/66 production) and there's a lot of this and that you never think of that I wish I had.

Plus there is the driving restoration part of it. If I had that '66 roller, I would be able send the brakes off to Eric Shea for remanufacture, re-do the struts, rebush and paint the A-arms, all while I keep driving my '67. Then one weekend when everything is restored and refurbished, I could throw it all onto the car with a minimum of downtime.

If I was offered that deal, I would do it. You'll get at least half your money back out pretty damn quickly, and could get it all out with some work on your part.

And just an FYI, but a SWB 912 is an awesome and underrated vehicle. If you do this deal and want to sell the 912E, keep me in mind if you sort out the title issues. I might be interested in getting back into one. I don't care if it is a project.

[Bristol]

Originally Posted by Jferr006

Just chiming in on the title issue..... They essentially send a letter out to the last registered owner, if there is even record of one, you wait 21 days and you can title it... and they can't just come claim if you have the old title and it was never re-registered.

Yup, I have been through this before in the Communist State of California. Bought a field-find '75 911S cheap. I had an old title and a bill of sale. All I had to do was send a certified letter to the owner of last record and a certified letter to the last bank that had a lean on it. The bank was nice enough to respond back. The last owner from 1989 just happened to use his middle name all of the time. Thus, using Google I was able to hunt him down easily. He was a plastic surgeon in SF Bay that moved to Hollywood. I cold called him, but was able to get through to him and once I explained myself he opened up and was very kind to share some history of the car with me. He filled out the DMV paperwork and sent it to me. So I got the car titled. The only problem was that in Cali I had to pay the last three years of registration, plus some other BS fees. It cost me about $750 to title the damn thing!

Kirk

[Jferr006]

Originally Posted by Bristol

Yup, I have been through this before in the Communist State of California. Bought a field-find '75 911S cheap. I had an old title and a bill of sale. All I had to do was send a certified letter to the owner of last record and a certified letter to the last bank that had a lean on it. The bank was nice enough to respond back. The last owner from 1989 just happened to use his middle name all of the time. Thus, using Google I was able to hunt him down easily. He was a plastic surgeon in SF Bay that moved to Hollywood. I cold called him, but was able to get through to him and once I explained myself he opened up and was very kind to share some history of the car with me. He filled out the DMV paperwork and sent it to me. So I got the car titled. The only problem was that in Cali I had to pay the last three years of registration, plus some other BS fees. It cost me about $750 to title the damn thing!

Kirk

Totally worth it right?

VA AVP is $25 for the record search then just the title fees

[Bristol]

Here's the other car that is being offered up. It's either a '67 or '68 912. Again, non-op engine and he was honest and said the engine was damaged and needed repair, not just "parked" for some mysterious reason. Driver's side floorboard is rotted out. Otherwise the car "seems" okay. I'm thinking of just offering him $2K for this one car. Several reasons why - I have two impact bumper 911's already and I'd like a long hood, plus at that level I can just pay cash. Thoughts?

Kirk