Selling a 1969 911E project -- possibly

[techweenie]

As some of you know, I run a small, informal investment group that buys and builds early 911s.

A few months back, we made a big find: a former track car with built up numbers-matching engine in a state of complete disassembly. Everything was off the chassis, including paint. We charged ahead with chassis work (no rust, but a prior tap to the right rear needed squaring up. We found a couple patches in the left rear quarter and replaced it with a good part.

The car was Ossi Blue, and it's being repainted today, color matched to the original paint inside the C-pillar.

The plan was to reassemble, but it appears we have lost our work facility and may have to sell the entire car as a sort of "Revell kit." Because the car (other than drivetrain and suspension to make it roll) is 100 disassembled, it is a daunting task, if rewarding.

Done, this is potentially a $50K car or better. At today's values.

But the car could not be reassembled at shop rate. It would need to go to an enthusiast with the time to do the work himself.

I'm struggling with how to package this.

The 'heavy lifting' on the chassis is done. It's super clean and will have spectacular paint. But I will have to figure out how (and where) to do any reassembly I can, while looking for the one in a million buyer.

I believe this is the order of march:

1. Install lid latches and door mechanisms

2. Wiring harness back in

3. Reinstall steering linkage from rack to wheel

4. ???

Suggestions?

Oh, and if you know of a 2-car garage on the West side of Los Angeles where the landlord will allow a car to be worked on... please PM me!

[SilberUrS6]

Can you get some sort of storage unit to "store" the parts?

Oh, and every so often go to the facility to "check on" the status of the parts? Yes, a PITA, but won't it pay for itself?

[techweenie]

Eric, I have the parts stored at a friend's business, but that's just a short term solution. They haven't room for the rolling chassis.

The storage places are lightly controlled, so I could do some work, but typically I'd have to come in with tools and battery powered lights... floor jacks, etc. Do-able, but I suspect I'd have to pay someone off.

[Macroni]

Tech I would assemble the car prior to sale even if you have to pay shop rates.... You know all the local owner's use some of that charm on them......

[techweenie]

I would need a very powerful Charm Amplifier!

[Matt Monson]

Do you have an idea of what you would want for it as it sits? PM me if you prefer. I ask the question with a genuine interest even though my wife would kill me if it followed me home.

Obviously the more together it gets, the more valuable it becomes. I would focus on the mechanical aspects that make it portable in case you have to get out of it quickly. Interior and trim and rebuilding the engine can all wait. Brakes, suspension, steering are a must. Body panels come next since they become a royal pain to transport without compromising the paint if the car goes any distance to its new home.

[techweenie]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

Do you have an idea of what you would want for it as it sits? PM me if you prefer. I ask the question with a genuine interest even though my wife would kill me if it followed me home.

Obviously the more together it gets, the more valuable it becomes. I would focus on the mechanical aspects that make it portable in case you have to get out of it quickly. Interior and trim and rebuilding the engine can all wait. Brakes, suspension, steering are a must. Body panels come next since they become a royal pain to transport without compromising the paint if the car goes any distance to its new home.

Matt, it was a track car, so mechanicals are done. It has the original case but S internals. It's running PMOs but also comes with the complete MFI. First order of business for me is latches so the body parts are in place on the car. This is the most secure way to transport... I can put it in my (tiny, one car) garage for a bit, but I also have a Beige Gray hot rod that needs a home when TRE is done with it.

On top of this, I have a '71T in the paint shop and a '72 T at Esposito's...

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by techweenie

a former track car with built up numbers-matching engine in a state of complete disassembly.

Sorry, I misread this to mean that the engine was also in pieces. I come across a lot of racecars that had their engines pulled apart because they timed out the bearings and decided it was time for a refresh when there wasn't actually anything wrong with it, and then life happened and it never got put back together.

Definitely worth a lot more and a lot eaiser to prepare for transport if you can just bolt in a complete longblock and gearbox, even if they aren't fully hooked up and running.

[techweenie]

Yes. Harness first, then brake and fuel lines, then I could bolt in the drivetrain.

Pix here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32385708@N00/sets/72157632784565355/

[SilberUrS6]

Weenie,

I know a couple of guys in LA who are also Porsche guys, but who don't surf PP much. Let me ask if they mind talking to you about some sort of solution to at least the storage problem, and possibly the "work on it" problem.

Yeah, I know about the BS you have to go through to actually work on a storage unit-stored car. My unit had electricity, so I was able to plug lights in. But it was a serious PITA.

PM me your e-mail addy.

[wgwollet]

T

Here in the Midwest we have plenty of storage units with electricity, that's all you need. I rent a 20 by 30 unit, landlord does not care what I do. Next to me is a Sprint Car Team, who have a 30 by 60 unit. It's very trendy now for units to be made for what you need. My landlord is building more to cater to the Sprint Car and midget race teams locally.
There must be guys doing this out there, I leave all my cars and tools there, I might ad a potable lift. But maybe in LA is too expensive...landscapers and a boat repair shop rent too.
With car prices going crazy, I would think storing your cars, until ready to assembly would pay off...most people cannot vision a car done like you....or in pieces they want it cheap

[Matt Monson]

Here in Boulder County there is actually a "storage" facility that was built specifically for car guys. One can rent or buy a unit and like any storage facility there are numerous size options. If there weren't a specific rule/law in the contracts that said you can't use the place to run a business I would have my warehouse there. I could have bought 1000sq ft for half the price I paid for my 1500sq ft house.

[budge96]

Bill 'ya gotta have storage if your gonna restore and or sell ,flip ,etc cars of any shape ,size.
I recommend obtaining necessary space and get the cars sub assemblies together ,eng,trans
suspension .
Then go about trying to market it ,if you need short time outside covered I'm sure Dave at TRE or Curtis will provide that.
A few years ago I had a bunch of garages in Koreatown LA for just this purpose sorry long
gone....Bert

[techweenie]

Well, yeah, but this is a hobby, not a job. So space demands are basically satisfied with one additional garage bay I can occasionally work in. That's actually harder to arrange than a larger space. Especially if I want to keep it nearby (west side). I did get a dinky space on Sunday a block and a half away. And then sold the car that was destined for it 5 hours later.