912 worth more than 911s??

[Ccporsche]

Im actively looking for a Porsche. I came across a really nice 1977 911s. I also came across a 1976 912. I check out the values on Haggerty and and they have the 912 being worth more than the 911s.

How can this be? Are the 911s models really that undesirable?

[IROC]

NADA shows the 912E at about half the value of the 911.

Having said that, I'm sure there are really nice 912Es out there that would sell for more than a beater 911 of the same era.

[Dave Colangelo]

Some of the 912 price increase you are seeing is with the early long hood 912's. These are heating up much like the long hood 911's as people want that clean look. Unfortunately some are being converted to 911 power plants or RS looking replicas etc even though they are great cars in their own right. The 912E is by far the lesser sought after 912 and seems to be the one you are looking at here. Some seem to be listed for a high price these days but are either not selling or not selling at nearly that price. As has been said (and I dont know where Haggerty gets their data so I say this generally) lots of Porsches have been going up recently for big money, some have been selling but many change hands privately and its hard to know what they actually change hands for (auctions aside). A nice example of a lesser powered car will always go for more than a beat up faster car.

Regards
Dave

[tcar]

A 76 is not a 912 like the older ones, which are very valuable. It's a 912E, not a 912.

It has a totally different engine (VW) than the earlier 912's, etc.

A one-year-only car.


That said, the 76-77 911S had issues, and depending on condition, it may not be worth that much more than a 912E.

[Matt Monson]

The higher value of the 912e has to do with limited production, and not much more.

Having owned one I will say it tends to get underrated by 911 purists. Light and agile like an early car. 7:31 ring and pinion when contemporary 911 models were 8:31.

The '77 911 on the other hand was the dog of the Midyears. Bunch of smog equipment that made it run really hot and eat heads. I would love to own a '74 911. I would never buy a '77 unless it was a bargain.

[mrdieseldude]

2nd that. As cool as mid year 911's can be... '77 had the worst of all traits. '74 was the best.... '77 not... '78 a whole different era. Still, a '77 911 is still a super of a car; especially if the bugs have been worked out of the engine (i.e. at engine rebuild and thermal reactors tossed).

Still... a 912E looks as cool as it gets!

Michael

[Ccporsche]

Ya, it's sad that the 77 911S is supposedly such a dog. Otherwise I'd get this one in a heartbeat.

[Reifle]

My '77 911 is in great shape and I love driving it! The engine is rebuilt as well as the tranny! New suspension and in the middle of re-doing the interior. The body is amazing - absolutely no rust! It is out and about as often as possible!

Some nice changes - Ronal wheels with Dunlop tires, Aero mirrors, changed out the aluminum trim with black trim (had to paint it one of the P/O scratched the anodized black off). Interior has Recaro seats and a new carpet kit is about to be installed.

[Charles Freeborn]

It completely depends on what state you live in, and what the emission standards are. A '77 with factory smog is not a good set up, but if it's legal where you live, it can be back dated to '74 specs and you'll have a fun car.
Mine is a hoot.
-C

[Nate2046]

Originally Posted by Ccporsche

Ya, it's sad that the 77 911S is supposedly such a dog. Otherwise I'd get this one in a heartbeat.

Wow. I didn't believe you, I had to go to Hagerty myself to confirm what you were saying about the 912E being valued higher than the 77 911S. $20,xxx vs $17,xxx. There's nothing inherently wrong with a 77 that can't be corrected. If those fixes have been made and you still think its worth less then a 912E, well, that's your prerogative. People get so wrapped up with this year versus that year. Buy the very best condition car you can afford, you'll love it

[mrdieseldude]

Originally Posted by Nate2046

Wow. I didn't believe you, I had to go to Hagerty myself to confirm what you were saying about the 912E being valued higher than the 77 911S. $20,xxx vs $17,xxx. There's nothing inherently wrong with a 77 that can't be corrected. If those fixes have been made and you still think its worth less then a 912E, well, that's your prerogative. People get so wrapped up with this year versus that year. Buy the very best condition car you can afford, you'll love it

+1 on this. A sorted '77 is a fantastic car. Only problem I see..., is that from '76 on, in California, they need to be smogged. PITA. If you don't live in California (or some other place that requires this), who cares? as LONG as those issues have been sorted. The '74 just started life with much fewer of those problems. I would not hesitate to buy the "right" '77..., especially if I didn't live in California. That said, they actually have a few improvements of the '74 -'76 models.

Michael

[Reifle]

This pic. is for Michael - my '77 from the side.

The first shot is short after new wheels and tires - also new Bilstein shocks and bushings.




This second one has the original Fuchs wheels - 15 X 6 with 185/70 Toyos

[Milesaway]

77's are unique and in a good way, only year with power brakes in a narrow body, sorted 2.7's are glorious too so a fantastic car all round

[jellonailer]

Or, drop a Euro spec 3.0 in in it like I did. Sweet...

[47silver]

If the 2.7 was updated the 77 is fully galvanized and I would have no problem getting one. My 75 is not fully galvanized but the 2.7 is one of the best sounding engines in my opinion

[Scott S]

I kinda like my 77.

[petevb]

I wouldn't be surprised if 912Es eventually do end up being particularly prized, especially by the hot-rod crowd, and worth more. I'm not so sure that they have actually achieved that status already, but I suspect they are close...

Back in 1972-1977 a heavy flat 6 was required to reliably make around 200 hp. Today the same power to weight ratios can be achieved with a far lighter flat 4. It makes for a hugely entertaining car, with perfect slip angles far more accessible to mere mortals. Meanwhile good bits can be raided from the 911 parts bin, making for one of the greatest rear engined driving experiences at any price IMHO, but minus the flat 6 serenade. This trick is probably easiest to pull off with the '77 VW engine as a starting point, and enough people have already caught on that the prices have seen movement.

The early 912s are even lighter and thus arguably a better starting point if you don't care about originality, but there seems little chance that they'll catch the other early long hood prices any time soon. Which one could argue is all the better...

[47silver]

best of the mid years if the engine has been rebuilt properly if not then the price should be discounted.
Excellence magazine has been lambasting the mid years for the life of the magazine but the diatribes against the mid year engines are almost 40 years old, how many cars have not been rebuilt? once rebuilt with the updates that are recommended and with a fender mounted oil cooler the engines are superb. easy reving, good torque, cis is efficient and modern.

the 1977 is the best of the mid years and in my opinion the best air cooled car that porsche made. Light (compared to the sc and the over weight cows that followed, reliable when the motor has been rebuilt properly, does not fall apart from rust like the 75 and under cars, great brakes, solid transmission., parts are readily available what is there not to like?
If i were looking i would get a 77 and it would be a 911s.

[Bobboloo]

Rubbish! I work on and drive these cars every day and I can't think of a more undesirable Porsche on the planet than the 912E. Sorry 912E owners I don't mean to offend you. If you love your 912E then more power too you. (I like the much maligned Targa and don't care what people say.) but the 912E is painfully slow. The car was just a stop gap until the equally embarrassing 924 came out.

[Reifle]

Originally Posted by Scott S

I kinda like my 77.

Just love your '77 - though you do have a great updated motor...