1986 944 with only 4,856 miles, Price??

[swalker]

I'm trying to find the value of a very low mile 1986 944 N/A. It's in great condition and only has 4,856 miles from the original owner. Was always garaged. Still has original tires but of course they need replacing. The car hasn't been run in 3 years and therefore I don't want to run it without putting a new timing belt and changing the fluids, etc. But I don't want to do anything to it because I'm thinking the buyer might want to have their own shop perform the work.

It's very hard to find a comparable car to value this one.

Couple questions:
How much do you think it's worth?
Should I go ahead and perform the maintenance to get it running or hold off for the buyer?

Car is guards red with black interior. It has all documentation and even has a 2,000 service record.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

[brisboats]

Is it a 86.5? Or the earlier car. Either way a 944 with those miles would indeed be a rare find. Pictures would speak volumes here as most 944's were purchased and driven ...hard .
I remember seeing a 30k example pre 86.5 with documentation and believe asking was high 20's - low 30's.
Would love to see some pictures. Even with the miles a timing belt service would be a must.
B
B

[thamlin000]

Normallly we need pics to determine value but if this car is 4.8k mi, I assume it is showroom perfect. No dents, no scratches, no wear. Original radio. All documents. Garage kept / climate controlled. All exterior rubber is perfect. Still, pics would be good.

If you want a show car / collector car / concours car, this car sounds perfect. I'd have the seller replace the t-belt, fluids, fuel lines....etc. If you want a driver, don't buy this car. Too many issues to sort out from lack of use. Won't be cost effective after paying the premium for ultra low miles. You're better off finding a 50k+ mileage car that is well maintained an still driven consistently.

This could be the world's lowest mileage / more original 944. Its difficult to place a price on it because it could be one-of-a-kind. If I need to guess, I's say that this car is worth around $30k. But then again, there could be people out there who might pay nearly double that if this car is absolutely perfect / as delivered from the factory.

My folks saw a 944 (I think 30k mi) sell at Barrett Jackson for about $12k about 10 years ago. I've seen three 944 Turbos with 50k-70k miles sell for $30k+ in the past two months.

[NYNick]

There was just an article about a very low mileage 928 in Panorama. I'd use that as a reference to develop a baseline.

[nota]

it is still a 944n
the 944s 944s2 and 944t are all better cars

and 944 odo's break if looked at hard so who knows

to be a collector car it needs to be sought after and rare
a 944n is common and unloved

early 911 prices do NOT lift every other p-car values

[maninblack]

I just sold a 3k-mile 924S out of my collection for $27,500. I'd guess your car is worth considerably more than that to the right buyer.

[swalker]

Thanks for all the responses. I'm selling the car for a "family friend". Was kept in a garage for all of its life with a car cover mostly too. The body is perfect and the interior is too. I'll try to load some photos. It has rock chip guards that have cracked over the years but could easily be removed.

The window sticker says 86 944 so I'm not sure if it's a 86.5 or not. But title has sale date of 12/01/86. I don't think the odometer broke. The wife said he very rarely drove it. Would pull it out to wash a couple times a year and many times just pulled it back into the garage after finished washing it. The owner was very meticulous and has all paper work. Even has a 2,000 service record. So I have no reason to doubt the mileage of the vehicle. Plus the condition of the car.

Sorry for the lighting in the pictures, my shop lighting isn't the best.

I think I'll try to sell as is for a little while and then if no good offers "as is" I'll get it running. But just hate to do anything too it incase I find a buyer that wants it as is since its a super low mileage survivor.


Steven

[brisboats]

It's an 86.5. The rear skirt valence would have been an add on.
Nice car , 4000 miles? I would need to see it up close and personal.
Every new Porsche got the two thousand Mile service. Would be curious to know the delivery date and the date of that first service. Car looks like the tag has been current so guessing it was in 2001? Just splitting miles and years not hairs.
If this car can be documented as mileage correct. You would be doing your friend a huge service (+$$$$$) by having it towed to a Porsche repair center and having the car gone through. Any prospective buyer is going to want to hear it run and I would not recommend even cranking the engine until the timing belt was done. Early cars odometers broke if you hit the trip while under way. They also are 5 digit. The later cars post 86.5 are much better yet odometers still commonly failed. You will need more than a 2000 mile service to prove those miles so be prepared for some very strict scrutiny> folks are going to want better resolution in your photos. Pics of everything underneath and engine bay. The two tool kits is weird, do you have the compressor? All delivery documents? some dealers threw PPI documents under the spare that would be a good find.
The reward is of course much much more $$$$$. N/A 944's are great unappreciated cars.
B

[swalker]

I'm beginning to question the mileage some based on everyone's responses and the many issues these cars have with odometers. So here is the latest info I found:

-Car was actually purchased 3/28/86 had 37 miles on it when bought
-First service record 5/16/86 and the mileage was 1,478
-I found an inspection receipt dated 4/21/87 and it was at 3,942
-I have another inspection receipt that has no date but says mileage was at 4,551
-Tag on the car has inspection sticker from 1990
-Last inspection sticker in glove box was from 1994

I can tell you though if you see it in person all the rubber is in perfect condition. The seats look brand new. Still has factory radio. Also things like the door sills have NO scratches and ignition shows no wear.

Does anyone know what tires this car came with from the factory? Because I think they are original.

Also is there any way to tell if the odometer is broke without the car running?

[maninblack]

Nothing posted would make me question the mileage in any way.

[brisboats]

Good finds there radio . fuchs , and seats match the window sticker. Porsche used a few tire suppliers so hard to say on the tires. The compressor looks brand new. You just may have a holy grail 944.
B
Should have the radio book with matching code and 1986 Porsche dealer directory somewhere too.

[76_rookie]

Damn it!!! They paid close to 30K in 86'. It would be just break-even if you can get 30K today. That's not how it should work but its not a 911. Regardless cool find.

[Rick Brooklyn]

Tires may have a production date on them?

[swalker]

It has the radio manual that matches and a cassette tape for instruction too!

I'll check on the production dates of the tires.

You guys are talking me into wanting to buy it. But I have too many other toys right now and would want to drive it. Really needs to go to someone's collection. Hate to put miles on it once it gets running.

I used to have a 84 928s 5 speed. Loved the car. Wish I still had it.

[thamlin000]

This car is looking good. Here's what you need to do to get top dollar.
1. Carfax and verify the mileage
2. Get it running; t-belt/rollers/waterpump/fuel lines/gas tank clean/brakes. Keep all original parts in a bin, don't trash.
3. Keep the original tires. Dunlaps were OEM on my 944. These look period correct but need to be verified. If you want, buy another set of wheels/tire to drive on.
4. Remove the window tint
5. Remove the lower rear valence. Sell it off.
6. Rock guards should be replaced. These were garbage and all discolored and cracked on every 944. A heat gun and a little patience will solve this.
7. Get a top notch detail job from top to interior to undercarriage.
8. Get a pro photographer to take pictures. Emphasize the details that prove this car's mileage.

If the odometer is indeed broken, still perform all these steps. There is still value since the car is original and in good shape. If it ends up as 'miles unknown', I'd guess it's still and upper $1x,xxx car.

Prove it's 4.8k miles and it will bring the big bucks.

Good luck and show us how it turns out.

[Ngrich99]

Check the tire date codes, will help determine original miles.

[McLovin]

Looks pretty legit.

BTW, there's not really a "86.5" 944. All 86's are the same.

There was an "85.5" 944. That's when they did the midyear update (new dash, etc), but that was in 1985, not 1986.

[christiandk]

Nice piece of history. Price depends on finding the right buyer. 25-35K USD imo.

[christiandk]

Originally Posted by maninblack

I just sold a 3k-mile 924S out of my collection for $27,500. I'd guess your car is worth considerably more than that to the right buyer.

Why?

[brisboats]

Originally Posted by thamlin000

This car is looking good. Here's what you need to do to get top dollar.
1. Carfax and verify the mileage
2. Get it running; t-belt/rollers/waterpump/fuel lines/gas tank clean/brakes. Keep all original parts in a bin, don't trash.
3. Keep the original tires. Dunlaps were OEM on my 944. These look period correct but need to be verified. If you want, buy another set of wheels/tire to drive on.
4. Remove the window tint
5. Remove the lower rear valence. Sell it off.
6. Rock guards should be replaced. These were garbage and all discolored and cracked on every 944. A heat gun and a little patience will solve this.
7. Get a top notch detail job from top to interior to undercarriage.
8. Get a pro photographer to take pictures. Emphasize the details that prove this car's mileage.

If the odometer is indeed broken, still perform all these steps. There is still value since the car is original and in good shape. If it ends up as 'miles unknown', I'd guess it's still and upper $1x,xxx car.

Prove it's 4.8k miles and it will bring the big bucks.

Good luck and show us how it turns out.

+1 you have some work to do but if all checks out an ample award awaits GLWS
B