1981 ROW 911sc... rough daily driver. What's it worth?

[notfarnow]

I bought this car 3 years ago:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/729987-project-purple-people-eater-1981-sc.html

The PO had bought it as a car that hadn't been driven in ~ 10 years. It had a bad respray (Prussian Blue, or reasonable facsimile) and had been monkeyed with and fixed a bit farmer-style.

The PO tore the engine down to address some broken head studs, replaced the main bearings and resealed it. He then put it back in the garage with the intention of finishing the car at a later date.

I bought it from him in that state, and just fixed any issues that were needed to get it rollling again:
- Rebuilt all 4 calipers. New rotors in the front, cleaned up the rear rotors and new pads all around
- replaced the alternator, sorted out the electrics

With the car back on the road, I drove the piss out of it for the summer of 2013 to shake out any other issues. The biggest one was the transmission. 1st and 2nd were shot.

This past winter, I rebuilt the transmission with new synchros for 1, 2, 3. New dog teeth on 1+ 2, new 1-2 and 3-4 sliders. The transmission works GREAT now

I put the car back on the road this summer, and have put about 10k kms on it (odometer is broken, reads 246k kms) .

It is dead nuts reliable, but still has the following issues:
- oil leaks on the oil pressure sender, and a leak on the driver's side chain cover.
- Oil tubes and lines to the front cooler were a leaky, bodged mess with no external thermostat. I bypassed them in September. Cold climate, so I've never seen over 1/3 on the temp gauge... but it will need new (or good used) lines
- it has a couple broken exhaust studs
- passenger window has pulled out of its track
- autoheat is not installed, but did work. I just have a switch for the fan and use the manual lever
- seats are worn, especially the driver's, which is torn
- tires are crap
- windshield leaks

Body... it's been in Canada for decades so it has some issues:
- It has rust bubbles in the corners of the windshield
- Driver's side inner fenders front & rear were "repaired" at some point with patch panels that are pretty dodgy

Strangely, the battery area, front pan, floors and parcel tray are very solid other than some surface rust.

The engine is a 930/10 and runs great. This is a fantastic engine... I can't get over what a different animal this is compared to US spec SCs or even 3.2s. As mentioned, it has some common *external* oil leaks, but does not burn oil. Before the leaks started, I went through a quart of oil ever 2000 miles or so.

I'm undecided as to what to do with this car. My plan was to keep driving it for a couple more summers, tweaking and improving it. Then in a couple years I'd take it apart for a respray and fix the rusty spots.

However, I have an opprtunity to buy a cottage, and this car may be the quickest way to get some cash to make that happen.

What are your thoughts on pricing?

[notfarnow]

putting the engine & tranny back in after the transmission rebuilt

[gestalt1]

I like the living room/transmission rebuild room photo! I would say the best way to value it is to look at what it would be worth if all of the mechanical issues and paint work was done. I would estimate that to be $35-40k usd. The paint might cost $8k, engine rebuild about $10k and misc bushings, hoses etc might be around $2k. So you are at $15-20k as it sits. These are very rough numbers but you are being very honest about the history and condition. To make it really top notch there could be $10k more in parts easy.

It's really a tough decision because the cottage is sort of an investment, but this car sort of is also. I don't think you can make much on either but both do offer future enjoyment that will cost something to keep going.

[notfarnow]

Thanks! Yeah, I really don't want to sell the car, it's a great driver and fun to use as-is. However, the cottage would be a significant lifestyle change for my family. Ive got my house for sale, and if that goes first I'll keep the car. Funny thing is the cottage is the real-estate equivalent of the car... useable and fun as-is but rough around the edges and a bit leaky.

To be clear, the engine doesn't warrant a rebuild, an engine drop to address the oil leaks and exhast studs is all it needs. If I don't sell it, that's what I'll do.

Your valuation is pretty much in the ballpark I was thinking.

[anng]

I think you should work on your house on selling and you should work on the engine of this car instead of selling it. It's a fine car and I'm pretty sure your children will love to drive them when they will be an adult. So, you better keep the car. Perhaps you can get some loan to afford the cottage.

[Cornerlot]

Originally Posted by notfarnow

Any prior experience rebuilding 915 transmissions? I'd love to try it; never did any manual trans rebuild. My 915 has a crunchy 3rd gear. I'm all for cost savings as long as the result is better than what I started with!

BTW... locally there is a really nice SC coupe for sale. Great body and older paint, clean interior, fresh mechanicals. Asking is $35k US, owner will take $30k. Hard to beat that starting with a car needing work.

Steve

[NYNick]

$20K for the car.

Buy the cottage. You and your family/kids will enjoy it way more than you owning a 911.
My wife and kids spent 10 weeks each summer at the cottage for 10 years. None of us would trade that experience for anything.

I also think it's a better long term investment.

[notfarnow]

Agreed... I can get another 911, but this cottage is next door to my dad's. That kinda trumps a lot.

I'll post more pucs of the car's deficits later today... specifically the body issues and the tatty interior. If I decide to sell it, I'll want to put a fair price on it based on full disclosure

[matt930s]

$15-18k...IMO....

Get the cottage...

MattR

[NYNick]

You didn't mention the cottage being next door to your Dad's. That absolutely trumps the 911.
Buy it, fix it, enjoy it.
You may regret selling the car, but you won't regret buying the cottage.
(we just got back; fall at the cottage is the best time of year!)

[christiandk]

Originally Posted by NYNick

$20K for the car.

Buy the cottage. You and your family/kids will enjoy it way more than you owning a 911.
My wife and kids spent 10 weeks each summer at the cottage for 10 years. None of us would trade that experience for anything.

I also think it's a better long term investment.

What my bud Nick said! I have never been so relaxed finally having no Porsche projects in the garage. But........