1975 911 Project Value-reality check
 

Posted on cars for sale section in error....

I bought a guards red '75 911S from an ad on Samba about a month ago. Calif car, all together with very nice restorable fuchs, body panels-gaps good, absolutely no rust/patches, etc that I was able to find, no apparent accidents, cheap paint with overspray, good glass all around, black trim had been taken back to silver metal, ....an all around solid but tired car. Looks very presentable from 10'.

The motor is a 3.0 with an SC 915. The story....PO heard a "noise" while driving and parked for the prior few years until my seller, an "enthusiast"" acquired it and sold it to me not running. Did the basic checks...took a flyer on the chance the fix was not extensive and lost. Seller was asking $16.5...I paid a little less.

The engine had a tensioner fail and at least three valves were bent, one broken head stud, one cam needs to be replaced but all the cylinders/pistons appear to be fine. I am not a mechanic but looks like a typ top end rebuild.

I had another car that was having the engine/trans rebuilt ('74 3.0 ltr, wide body) and being that this car had the stronger 915, I had the '75 trans pulled and rebuilt for the '74.

So I have a '75 roller available, complete-intact, unmodified and in my opinion a great back date or hot rod project. The 3 ltr motor is complete with cis, exhaust, etc would be available with the car or separately. The freshly rebuilt early trans I am advised to sit on because it would not make financial sense to put a $3500 trans back in a non running car.

My problem is I love the early non smog early cars (here in Ca) which I dont see many of and I don't know the project market. My goal is to get the trans core out of the purchase and break even on the rest. That means selling the engine for $4K-$4.5K and the roller for $12K or so. I am retired so I have time and warehouse space but does this sound somewhere in the ballpark?? Thanks for your input

Running 3.0 's are $4-5k so i think you are going be a ways off with the damage it has. The car depends on condition and originality but from the sounds of it more like $8-10k esp as original engine is long gone. Like you said you gambled and lost so you may have to take your lumps on this one. I am unaware of the difference between an SC 915 and a midyear 915 so you will have to educate me on that one and why one would be worth $3500.

Miles, I think OP meant that the $3500 915 is rebuilt hence the $3500. Shame it doesn't have SC flares, otherwise I would be interested!

If you have the time and inclination to mess with it, you might consider trading/selling the busted 3.0 as a core ($2000-2500), and sourcing a running 2.7 ($5-6k), and then selling it as a running, driving car at ~$20k.

Since you are not in a big hurry or compelled to quickly cut your losses, you might do better financially. And it might be easier than selling a motor & roller at top dollar. Some examples:

Here is a running 76 motor that appears to still be available in So California, asking $2995:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-used-parts-sale-wanted/853155-porsche-2-7-complete-engine.html

Here is a 75 motor for sale in Illinois. He is asking $7k for the motor and a 901 gearbox. Since those two don't normally go together, and it is been more than a month, I expect they are still for sale, and he might be willing to separate:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-used-parts-sale-wanted/856779-fs-2-7l-motor-901-gearbox.html

Is the '75 a coupe or targa? Pictures?

agree with above, if you make a complete car you'll get more money, but i'd be interested as a project car...need pictures. PM'd you

Also forgot to add....its a non sunroof car. Trying to get my cell pics format to work on this site. If anyone PM's me with an email address I can do that easily later today. I'm somewhat new here but I can assure you...real person, real car. Vin is 91152014**

Thanks. I'm only interested in a targa. But a coupe will be easier to sell.

X2 very good advice here, sell the busted 3.0, find a 2.7 and 915 box in good condition and sell for 20k as a running driving non matching car.

If the timing was right for me, I would buy this roller and stick my 2.7 in it. Then sell my 75 targa as a roller. I love my targa but I want a coupe more. Good luck with your sale.

Thank you for all the advise and interest. I'll most likely post in "for sale" section next week since I dont want another project in waiting. Re the price of the early 915...yes, my value comment was based on its fresh rebuild with receipts. Gary

As a general note to those having issues hosting image files, I highly suggest using imgur.com. It is a drag and drop process, and there is usually a sidebar with the proper tags (they look like so sans the spaces I've added: [ img ] yourpicturefile . jpg [ / img ]) so posting pics should be less of a hassle. I use it all the time for detailed craigslist albums, and to sell parts on other forums.

Attempting to add pics...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1431316755.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1431316783.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1431316808.jpg