Value of SC with shot engine

[SpenceRx]

Hi All,

I've been chasing an older 911 for a while. Finally got the car in for a PPI and it came back terrible. Broken studs and pathetic leakdown and compression numbers. The engine (top end) needs to be rebuilt without question. How does one value such a car? It's practically a parts car! The seller feels there is still a lot of life left in the engine but I see it as needing 5-10K of work, immediately. Obviously, we are way off on price!

The only good thing about buying such a car is that once rebuilt at least you know what you've got. The car is otherwise clean - interior and exterior.

Any advice?

I'm not hopeful I'll be able to strike a deal here but curious what others think given the mania in the market these days.

[NYNick]

No year, condition, pix or mileage? Hard to say.
Add $10k to the price, plus another $5k for might as wells.
There you have it.
You could buy a running car for that amount, I'm sure.

[COLB]

If you could get the car for $10-15k (depending on mileage, interior & exterior condition, color, state of transmission, etc), it might be worth considering.

Get the motor rebuilt, and you know exactly what you have.

If would have to be an otherwise outstanding, low mileage car for me to consider going that route.

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by NYNick

No year, condition, pix or mileage? Hard to say.
Add $10k to the price, plus another $5k for might as wells.
There you have it.
You could buy a running car for that amount, I'm sure.

That's about right. Hard to get a running SC in any kind of good shape for that kind of money, but still...

I'd say that broken studs and poor compression should be worth about $5000, if all you need done is the studs and head work. Why so low? Because you'll have a zero-miles-on-fresh-top-end car, which is worth more than a car with unknown history on that kind of work. Also, the car will have fresh, unbroken studs. Both of these things are points of concern in an SC. If you can't get him to move $5k from what a reasonable car would cost for a car in the condition of the car you're looking at (minus the top end/studs), then move on. Yes, the top end and studs are going to run you $6-8k, minimum. But you'll be a bump in value from the fresh headwork, so it'll be somewhat of a wash. Full rebuild, including bottom end? $10k has to come off the price.

[SpenceRx]

Good insight fellas.

The car is a 1980 SC. Cosmetically the exterior and interior are nice. Full repaint in the mid ninties after an accident. Interior new carpet set of okay quality and decent recovered seats in vinyl.

I was thinking it would need to be at least 5K off the price of one with a running engine.

Is it a bad idea to drive a car with low compression and broken studs. I suppose more damage will be done. Just wondering if this top end work would need to be done urgently.

Spencer

EDIT - one more thing, the transmission is working fine now but original 120K miles.

[Macroni]

I like to take it backwards.... I pay retail and I use top mechanics so fasten your seatbelt.....

First this is a model worth saving..... I also believe on most projects such as these the purchase price is often smallest expense in your overall total project cost.

Motor needs minimally a $15,000 rebuild.... I would venture it would be closer to $20,000 when done.

Given everything else is in at least good condition after rebuild you have a car worth $25,000 in today's market. I stress today's market as many feel the SCs are the next category to explode. A 1980 is a very good year.

IMO, $5,000 will not get this done as POS tubs sell for $8,000.

Reality, is I can see the buyer expecting $13,000 because it is running.

Math: $13,000 + $20,000 = You can buy a better car!

[NYNick]

Accident? Whoa doggies!
The resale marketplace SCREAMS against cars with accidents. Just hope it can't be CARFAX'd, or I'd subtract 10-20% from market prices.
You're describing, IMO, a $10k car.
Plus $15K, and the aggravation. Again, there you have it.
Now, what's out there for $25K?

[wannaporsche]

I bought my '80 SC back in August for 15k - (which had a non-accident related salvage title from '81). The PPI cleared the body, frame, transmission and 155k engine of any red flags. This past Feb during a valve adjustment, some broken head studs turned up in the valve cover. I just finished a rebuild with some upgrades that ran me 13k. After 500 miles driving the new engine, it's the sweetest and most beautiful car I've ever driven. I loved driving it before, but it feels younger and much more confident than I thought was possible. Had the motor not 'needed' rebuilding I would have put it off for years and as a result missed out on all the real spirit in this car has to offer.

BTW… no one wants to waste a ton of money, but for me there's been an acceptable cost to learning, experiencing and discovering over and above the cost of this particular car that out weights the logic of a balance sheet. That said, not sure I'd recommend my path as the most fiscally sound one!

[blau911]

Previous accident damage, and a rebuild needed. Walk away and find another car. Too many nice ones out there to have to take over a car that requires big money rebuild for a car with very limited collector value due to accident history.
If the car had some important historical value, or belonged to a deceased love one, that would be a different story.