Unique Non Factory Color 85 Targa Low Miles Pricing Opinions?

[SteelCity]

Hi All - Wondered if you could give me your thoughts on price for my Targa that the previous owner did a glass out paint job with very unique Dupont Berry Prism Metallic. I didn't plan on selling but we are purchasing a lake cottage 3 hours from our home and we want to buy a newer 911 for us to take up there otherwise it will be a very boring Honda Pilot with this guy at my garage at home. I have owned since March of 2012 and as you can see by what i have done in maintenance i planned on keeping it. I have driven the car on numerous trips (i put 10,000 miles on car in 15 months!) including pittsburgh to nashville and back and wouldnt hesitate to drive it anywhere. Those trips were done primarily alone though and the lady (and dog) would be more enthusiastic to drive in something newer. I have, what i think, reasonable expectations for the price of the car but below that i will just keep it and save some more bucks for the newer purchase.

Here is picassa album with 84 pics:
https://plus.google.com/photos/107704244938815049384/albums/5947332957330747377?authkey=CLi01cjTttmv9AE


1985 Targa (originally iris blau) with Full Leather Blue Sport Seats
Sport package with 16" fuchs and extra front oil coolers
Approx 84,000 miles with documentation
Have most records for the car and ownership chain
I had PPI Done at Auto Assets in Columbus
Clean Car Fax
No smoke - no unusual leak - NO RUST
Cruise control (functioning great), Auto Heat, Wong Chip, B&B Exhaust with Cat Delete

Recent Service Includes (have all records to address items from PPI):
All new Bilstein Sports
Wevo Mounts
Oil and Cam Supply Lines
Distributor
Rebuilt Front Bearings and freshened front end
Turbo Tie Rods
Valve Adjustment
Fresh Air Blower
Wevo Full Sport Shifter
Ed's rebuilt Shift Coupler
Refreshed Footwell Blowers (now operational)
New Tires and alignment
2005 Cars Inc Targa Top Rebuild
Pioneer Bluetooth Headunit
North Hollywood Gauges with fellow pelican "visibility and voltage meter" update (thanks for the idea that i stole : ) )
Hella H4 Headlights

Current Identified Needs (some of which will be addressed as my time allows):
3rd Gear Synchro Worn (only item not addressed from PPI) - it is very usable you just will notice it in spirited driving. I was going to get done this winter before - but my porsche specialist takes his time on these during winter.
Crack in Dash
Right Door Pocket Needs Fiberglassed (plan on addressing this)
Paint chip on Hood (plan on addressing this)
Rear Defrost, windscreen washer & interior lights not working
Heater Fan motor needs replaced
Fine scratch on passenger side window

Exterior Condition:
Excellent besides a couple chips and not new rubber. The paint job was high quality and there was clear film put on rockers and hood. Targa seals are newer except for rear seal.

Interior Condition:
Leather is in decent shape but seems like it could have used more conditioning in the past decade because it dried out a little. Some seams starting to pull. Previous owner had new carpet done in 2005 but the carpet choice isn't my favorite.

[SteelCity]

ttt

[christiandk]

Reminds me of the color changing Hotwheels I had as a kid.

You have to like the color/colors to buy this car. To the average buyer I think it would be around 10K.

[COLB]

That paint is probably a dealbreaker with 90% of the market.

The positive is that it is eminently more reversible than the slantnose/vented/flared body kits that often accompany unusual paint choices like that.

I am assuming it has had no engine work. How much oil does it burn?

This is probably a 17-19k car if it were in the original (or any) factory color. $12k as is. Maybe $14 if the "right" buyer comes along, but that may be a wait.

You would probably be well served by paying $3-5k to get it back to the original color.

Any factory color that isn't red, black, or white is a little bump in value -- even repainted, if it is a quality job.

[SteelCity]

Yeah its tough because the paint looks much better in person actually....

No engine work and engine is strong and tight after replacing all the oil supply lines. Im usually at a quart every 2000 miles.

[COLB]

The chameleon paint was a pretty short fad. In the late 90s Ford made some cars with paints that varied in the light.

2000 per quart is a solid number for a 3.2 with the original valve guides. Authenticating oil use is difficult, but if you have a log that is worthwhile.

Mine gets between 500-600 per quart, but some of that is from minor leaks. It will need a top end at some point, but no time soon.

Here is your car's original color. Very nice, IMO, and worth fixing.

[nineball]

don't sell it!! i can't go back to being the only targa running at mid-ohio!

[SteelCity]

Kris -

Come over to Allegheny! We got more targas here!

[CountD]

Originally Posted by COLB

That paint is probably a dealbreaker with 90% of the market.

The positive is that it is eminently more reversible than the slantnose/vented/flared body kits that often accompany unusual paint choices like that.

Yes, yes, yes.

[WANNA930]

I would paint the targa and and the wheels factory black to calm it down a bit. Not for everyone and it is probably a regional color also. Might sell well in Florida or NY?

[Patrick3000]

Originally Posted by SteelCity

Yeah its tough because the paint looks much better in person.

It's difficult to hear but 90 percent of the market (i.e. buyers) will not agree with this statement.

You asked so I'll give it a go 10-12k as it sits. A 5k repaint may net another 5k - 6k on the sale but will definitely help you sell much faster!

[pingpong]

Originally Posted by COLB

That paint is probably a dealbreaker with 90% of the market.

The positive is that it is eminently more reversible than the slantnose/vented/flared body kits that often accompany unusual paint choices like that.

I am assuming it has had no engine work. How much oil does it burn?

This is probably a 17-19k car if it were in the original (or any) factory color. $12k as is. Maybe $14 if the "right" buyer comes along, but that may be a wait.

You would probably be well served by paying $3-5k to get it back to the original color.

Any factory color that isn't red, black, or white is a little bump in value -- even repainted, if it is a quality job.

assuming your 1988 3.2 is not white, black or red?

[nineball]

for a couple hundred you could coat the entire car in plasti-dip. the results can be quite pleasing. worst case bring it to cleveland and i'll give ya dinner and 5 grand for it, along with a month or two rental in findley

[COLB]

Originally Posted by pingpong

assuming your 1988 3.2 is not white, black or red?

It is silver with burgundy interior.

I would say that silver is probably a premium over red, black, or white.

Probably not as much as the blue above, though.

[CountD]

Regardless of the paint (which I think does look good because it was done well), this is a clean car that is a deal to the right person - if you see the pics in the For Sale section this is a really clean car for a great price. Even if the paint is not your thing, this car seems pretty darn clean and if you bought it and you could get past it (the paint) it might even grow on you.

[Arne2]

I'm sorry, but that paint may be the exception to my personal rule that condition trumps color. I bought my Chiffon white car because it was clean and solid and well priced, despite the fact that I really didn't want a white 911. (Or a silver one, or black, or Guards red.) Condition trumps color.

But I don't think I could get past that paint. I'd have to buy it so cheap that I could afford to repaint it immediately.

[dnovick911]

Seems like some awfully low figures. I'd guess she'd sell pretty quick for $19K - in a standard color. And I bet $16.5k would move her "as-is". These are selling prices, not listing prices. Good luck. D

[COLB]

So,

buyer has had it for sale on the site for $15.5K, and thinks he has a buyer.

Will be interested to see what it sold for -- hopefully steel city will share it with us, to help judge the different opinions!

[SteelCity]

Hi All!

So in this final round of the price is right....

Whoever was closest to.......14,000......wins!

It was completely dead at first - when i posted the service history spreadsheet/ownership chain i got a couple low ball hits at 10 grand and started conversations with some other folks. When i posted the videos - i got 5 responses every day. I got 5 offers at 13-13500. Honestly when they started coming in i was standing firm at 14700 because i was reconciling letting her go. Very straight shooter david game me a call sunday at 2pm and had a local agent to see the car today with an offer of 14. By 1pm the next day (today) i had the money in my account and i was watching her drive away.

My first classic car purchase - definately could have picked worse but also could have picked better. I kinda read all the great advice on here and then promptly freaked out when i got behind the wheel of the "gayshe" as i lovingly called her and bought the first one i test drove after a solid PPI. I sold the car for more than i purchased 18 months ago but lets not talk about the deferred maintenance that i invested.

I will return to add a sc/3.2 coupe to the stable in the future but for now i am in the market for a 997s cabrio in a unique color combo (NO not THAT unique..think dark blue/cocoa) because it fits the bill for us right now.

[vracer]

Thanks for letting us know how it turned out. Hopefully more people will give us the final chapter of the story in the future.