78 Targa - Thanks & Survivor Premium?

[DGriz]

Thanks to all who weighed in on the '78 SC Targa value. I bought it last night and am happy to have done so. Filled her with a tank of fresh high test, and she purred for a summer evening drive!

She is a two owner car (I'm #3), the last guy having owned it since 1984. He's taken nice car of her, putting a total of only 30k on the odometer - 10k in the past 10 years. Never wrecked, and as far as I know 100% original except for stereo.

But he's not a "car guy" so the paint is oxidized, Fuchs & Targa bar need paint, some interior trim needs attention etc.

The paint will buff out nicely with just a little cleaner wax, and nothing is beyond repair. The negative "PORSCHE" decal is applied to high on the car (so I'm told).

I assume I'm not devaluing a "survivor" car by making these improvements, right? How about if I relocated the decal? Add an air box pop valve?

THANKS ALL. I'm off to drive her into work...

[Matt Monson]

You'll get nothing out of me until you post pictures. You can't come tell us about your awesome new acquisition and not post pictures!!!

[wgerow]

I assume he means this:

[DGriz]

Sorry - It was too dark last night when I took delivery & too rainy this morning for photos...

Pictures to follow!

[DGriz]

Got my emissions inspection tonight, and passed with flying colors. The inspector said with a smile: "1978, clean as a whistle!" I guess that's a nice indication of engine internal health!

Here are the promised pictures!










Paint code 274 - Olive Green...as disputed! As you can see from the last picture, the original paint will polish out well.


Thanks for any insights, mates.

[DGriz]

Q: Should I bother to lower that PORSCHE stripe to the "proper" level? It's growing on me....

[wgerow]

Cool color
If it was mine I would remove the Porsche script completely, but that's just me
Congrats

[Gendaito]

Nice car, and a good price too if I remember correctly from the other thread. Good to see it being driven.

Re: the Porsche decal, I would remove completely. Heat gun, go slow, should come right off.

[X JBM X]

I'd move the decal lower. If you like it, keep it, it have it moved to the right spot.

Congrats on the purchase. Love the cork interior!

[CountD]

Yes, I would move the sticker down, but then again it looks like a Matchbox car with it the way it is, and is a little interesting where it is.

Be careful on the paint. Don't go too crazy, maybe clay it out with a light clay bar (not in the sun!) and see where it goes. I think it will really come out.

[SilberUrS6]

I am not fond of the decal - I think the car would look great without it. Anything that takes your eyes away from that great color should be discarded, LOL.

If that is the original paint, then take it easy with it, and you'll be rewarded with shiny paint AND increased value.

The interior looks pretty darn good. You got yourself a keeper.

[Diamond911]

nice buy. Be sure to post before and after pictures once you have reinvigorated the paint.

[msort81]

DGriz
Buy a lotto ticket because it's your lucky week finding that car and getting it for the price you paid : )
Great color and a78 (big port motor ) to boot !

[Macroni]

what a great car... how did you find it?

[G450X]

Great color combo olive on cork, this is what is so great about many SC's - as opposed to 80's Carrera colors which seem to be red, black, white or silver...

I would remove the decals and be careful with the original paint, they're only original once and with that interior you really have a nice original 35 year old car, nice find...

[a320]

Is the Porsche decal orginal?

[DGriz]

Thanks all for the encouraging compliments!

I took on the mild restoration of a 1977 Carrera 3.0 as a project. I was dropping it off at Eisenbud's in Denver, and this car was parked out front. A tech was giving it a PPI, and I expressed interest. When the initial interested party passed (he has 2x 356 projects currently underway) I was giving the owner's contact info.

One owner doctor since the mid-1980s. He drove it daily for the first few years, but overall put about 1000+ miles on it annually over 30 years. While he professes not to be a "car guy" he maintained & never abused the car. Now I have the fun of bringing it back to what it can and should be...

Best,

Dickson

[DGriz]

a320: I strongly suspect that the decal is original. I doubt that first owner (lease) would have customized, and #2 did not add it.

While some don't prefer it, vintage cars have but one chance for these cars to be original. I'm going to keep it.

Matter of fact, I'm thinking that I won't repair small rock chips, etc in the paint - just polish & protect it. "Survivors" are rare.

[Matt Monson]

Remove the stripe. Gorgeous period colour. That's a score.

I got my '68 911 in a similar fashion up here in Boulder. It was parked outside of Boulder Autowerks and Randy told me it was in with clogged carbs from being parked for 5 years. Owner didn't want to sink a grand into an "old" car and sold it to me barely running. Rebuilt the carbs, tuned them, and wala. Had me a driver.

[COLB]

very nice. The oxidation in sunlight makes it look lighter than it really is.

No need to make a snap decision on the decal. Once it is off, it is gone.

Presumably it is a dealer addition -- not factory. So even if it came "new" from the dealer with it, that doesn't make it "original".