The story of a SC value increase over 3 years....

[christiandk]

So the guy I bought my last SC from bought it from a PCA member in the summer of 2010 for about 9k USD. Much too cheap.

Well I bought it from him in the fall of 2010 for a little more than that. The ad is somewhere here on Pelican.

I imported the car and while it was a very nice driver I wanted it to be perfect. I spend a buckload of money and time getting it pristine.

2 years and many bleeding knuckles later I came to the conclusipn that I could not afford the SC with a wife studying, a kid, a sailboat and 2 other cars. So the SC had to go.

Sold it to a very nice gentleman from Germany for 32k Euros barely keeping the skin on my nose.

So I got some pictures of it today. Guess what....sellers remorse. Bigtime!

I bet that advertised correctly the car would fetch 45k Euros easily today.

Apart from the money I threw in it I find that increase in value rather impressive for a SC. But I guess that the color has a lot to do with it.

[christiandk]

The car.....

[ian c2]

It does indeed look a very nice car .

Sellers remorse is much easier to live with than buyers remorse

[christiandk]

Well said, Ian.

[COLB]

I imported the car and while it was a very nice driver I wanted it to be perfect. I spend a buckload of money and time getting it pristine.

If you bought it "a little more" than $9k, and sold it at 32k Euro "barely keeping the skin on (your) nose" (which I presume means you roughly broke even?) -- what did you do to the car that cost you ~$30k?

Full, windows out repaint?
Full engine rebuild?
Thorough transmission rebuild?
All new interior?

It is unusual to see 74-89 cars "restored" -- but $30k is definitely quality restoration-level money on a car whose parts are readily available, and frankly not that expensive (at least in the world of car restoration!)

Not doubting, just curious.

I have a very rough appreciation that the cost to take a 95% car to 100% exceeds the cost to take a 70% car to 95%.

I would guess that 100 pt SCs or 3.2s are rare birds, because at that price point most folks would choose a different 911 to put their money into. That dynamic may be changing.

[christiandk]

Fair question COLB.

I think I paid 15 with newly refurbished Fuchs.

I did a lot of work and probably bought parts for more than 5k. But at some point I stopped counting.

I made a couple of K's....probably an hourly wage of close to 5 Bucks. But I learned a lot by working on the car. Cant buy that.

30k wont get you a nice SC or 3.2 here in EU in todays market.

Check out mobile.de

P.s. Also remember shipping expenses, vat and import duties. Probably a total of 40% on top of the value of the car

[COLB]

Originally Posted by christiandk

Fair question COLB.

I think I paid 15 with newly refurbished Fuchs.

I did a lot of work and probably bought parts for more than 5k. But at some point I stopped counting.

I made a couple of K's....probably an hourly wage of close to 5 Bucks. But I learned a lot by working on the car. Cant buy that.

30k wont get you a nice SC or 3.2 here in EU in todays market.

Check out mobile.de

P.s. Also remember shipping expenses, vat and customs. Probably a total of 40% on top of the value of the car

Thanks. Makes sense.

VAT is an insidious tax. I hope we never get sold that bill of goods.

[speeder]

That looks like a very nice car but am I reading correctly that you paid $5-6k for some Fuchs?

Bought for $9k and it was actually $15k with refurbished Fuchs? I'm confused there.

Anyone who has sold an air-cooled 911 in the last 20 years has sellers remorse by your standard. Your story is of a very minor "could have/should have" situation. There is a guy on the main board who sold his '70 911S targa in mint condition for $38k a couple years ago, (IIRC), he regrets it and wishes he still had it. It would cost him over $150k now, if he could find one.

Another long time poster sold his concours, low miles '72 911S to a friend for $65k about 4 or 5 years ago. It is now about a $250k car, but it's hard to say with the way that the market keeps moving upwards. And on and on...

So count your blessings. Unless you were drunk when you sold it, you got whatever it was worth at the time. Sounds like you did alright, actually.

[christiandk]

I agree Denis. It just stings a bit when you see pictures of a car you really liked and put a lot of effort in. Especially when the current P is not running

The PO paid around 9k. I paid around 15k total. Not counting import costs.

[speeder]

I sold my last 911SC under circumstances that were truly heartbreaking and it was not even during a price run-up on the cars. I had just completely rebuilt the engine myself, sparing no expense as well as the suspension, refinished 7s/8s, SSIs, etc., etc., etc...

I had about $20k cash and hours I would not count in it. It was one of the nicest 911SCs on Pelican or in Los Angeles, according to most people who saw it or drove it. A pretty major Porsche collector nearly bought it who was known only for acquiring early cars at the time. It was sweet.

I had to sell it because of a major injury that caused lost wages and medical bills for quite a bit of time. I got $14k for it in 2004, a strong price at the time. It was awful. I still want that car back and it has nothing to do with $$. Where am I going to find an SC today with an engine built by me, heads by competition engineering, SSIs, Web cams, new everything, fresh rebuilt ltd. slip 915, Carrera axles and sway bars, euro 21-row cooler, Bilstein sports, corner balanced and aligned on 7/8s, etc.?

You can see why I knock the POS cars being offered for sale these days for big $$, though your car looks like it was very nice.

[christiandk]

Jeez, what a story. Hope that you are all better now.

It looks beautiful. What is it Preussian Blue? Think I saw that picture before.

Glad I am not alone

[whiterabbit]

Christian that car look really nice in that color.

Is there anyone who doesn't regret selling an air cooled car

My worse one was my 1971 coupe in 2002 for 6k!

[christiandk]

Originally Posted by whiterabbit

Christian that car look really nice in that color.

Is there anyone who doesn't regret selling an air cooled car

My worse one was my 1971 coupe in 2002 for 6k!

6k.....ouch.

[speeder]

$6k was the going price for an early 911T in '02, if it was just driver quality. They were that price for ages.

My car was Pacific Blue, 1981/82 color only and much better than Prussian Blue.

[coldstart]

Originally Posted by speeder

I sold my last 911SC under circumstances that were truly heartbreaking and it was not even during a price run-up on the cars. I had just completely rebuilt the engine myself, sparing no expense as well as the suspension, refinished 7s/8s, SSIs, etc., etc., etc...

I had about $20k cash and hours I would not count in it. It was one of the nicest 911SCs on Pelican or in Los Angeles, according to most people who saw it or drove it. A pretty major Porsche collector nearly bought it who was known only for acquiring early cars at the time. It was sweet.

I had to sell it because of a major injury that caused lost wages and medical bills for quite a bit of time. I got $14k for it in 2004, a strong price at the time. It was awful. I still want that car back and it has nothing to do with $$. Where am I going to find an SC today with an engine built by me, heads by competition engineering, SSIs, Web cams, new everything, fresh rebuilt ltd. slip 915, Carrera axles and sway bars, euro 21-row cooler, Bilstein sports, corner balanced and aligned on 7/8s, etc.?

You can see why I knock the POS cars being offered for sale these days for big $$, though your car looks like it was very nice.

That is a sweet SC. I am considering selling my 1972 911T targa to get a track car but like your SC, I have put blood, sweat, tears and money into the targa and I would regret it in the future. I am not willing to track the targa even though she is really solid (doors close with a loud 'ping'!)

[Matt Monson]

It's funny how we treat our cars like ex-girlfriends. Then you see her, and she looks great and you get turned on and bummed out at the same time. I'm not going to start in on my old deals or ones I foolishly let get away. I just try to enjoy the ones I've got today.

[christiandk]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

It's funny how we treat our cars like ex-girlfriends. Then you see her, and she looks great and you get turned on and bummed out at the same time. I'm not going to start in on my old deals or ones I foolishly let get away. I just try to enjoy the ones I've got today.

Thats funny Matt, ironic actually.......and true. Well said!

[speeder]

Ones that got away, (did not buy), is a whole 'nother category. Anyone who is old enough and into cars has stories that would make a grown man cry.

How about a silver/black '71 2.2 911E, rust-free and matching #s, sunroof coupe with documented engine/ trans rebuild from Andial for $2500? Just missed it in 2001. Can anyone top that?

It was an insane steal at the time but it was a buddy deal I could have gotten. Car had a dent in engine lid and was cosmetically tired but not total crap.

[914agogo]

Originally Posted by christiandk

The car.....

wow what a beautiful color...what year and color code is it?

[msort81]

That's Caramel #524 and very nice looking car with a great stance.
I don't find it surprising that looked after SC's seem to have had a sudden price spike. Whilst they may not have the grunt of the 3.2 at this point there are a lot of well looked after examples that have had some gentle performance mods : Heat Backdate, Cams, sport muffler, suspension work but still retain their stock appearance. These are now cars with Improved performance, solid handling and a light raw feel. All tied together in a great looking period classic Porsche body.
So for somewhere between 25 -35k you get a good mix of the raw feel of the early cars and some of the sophistication of the 'drive' you get in the 84 - 89. I fully expect the prices to keep rising. Especially for those in period Porsche colors like the one above, and even in the more desirable metallic colors like the (Baltic ?) blue car pictured. The SC had been the sleeper in the run up in prices but looking at the market that's over.