Need help valuing a '74 911

[mbintx]

Hello,
Could use some help determining the value of a 911 I'm looking at. The car in question is a 1974 911 Coupe in very good condition inside and out. I'd give it a B+ overall. Mileage is around 90k. Car has been meticulously maintained by a top Porsche shop for the last 20 years.
The big question mark is that the engine was replaced about 20 years ago with a mid-80s 3.2 Carrera motor that had roughly 20-25k miles on it. Current total mileage on the motor is roughly 50k miles. The motor has been converted to Weber carbs, sounds good and runs strong.
In terms of needs, the car needs new tires all around, the AC lines and hoses need to be replaced soon, and there are some small interior things that could be upgraded. Black paint is original and in very nice condition but shows nicks and chips commensurate with the age of the car.

Based on what I have described, thoughts on value? Obviously, the non-original engine upgrade is the biggest variable here. Thanks for any input!

[techweenie]

I'd have some concern over the maintenance-overdue items. Could imply some other deferred maintenance.

Having said that, the 3.2 is as close to bulletproof as any engine Porsche has made.

Without more info/pics, I'd toss out $45K as a minimum, but could go significantly higher.

[shaunmbenson]

This car sat for a long time and sold for $44k not 6 months ago
A pelican member saw the car and said it was fantastically well done.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-cars-sale/890409-fs-1974-911-hotrod-coupe-3-0-a.html

I might start, based on how long that car sat and what it sold for, at closer to 30. Worst the seller can do is say no - - but non-original with some out of the gate maintenance required makes me go to that number.

[Rick Brooklyn]

Sounds like a very nice car. A 74 sleeper would be my ideal second air-cooled car. $45k sounds like strong money though. There was that yellow 74 with the 930 engine being offered at that price here a few weeks ago.

[mbintx]

A few comments:
Maintenance wise, I'm assuming everything is up to date. The shop he frequents is quite meticulous.
As nice as the car is, I don't think it compares favorably to the '74 shown in shaunmbenson's link above, at least from an aesthetic and cosmetic point of view.

[mbintx]

So does the non-original but better motor hurt or help the overall value here?

[Rick Brooklyn]

I'd say it hurts if it's an otherwise very high-end quality car, it helps if it's a driver-level car with some other mods already done to it.

[76_rookie]

"mid-80s 3.2 Carrera motor that had roughly 20-25k miles....50K now" Why convert to weber a low mileage 3.2 motor? Now I question the true condition of the engine. 40K would be high value.

[mbintx]

Resurrecting this thread since I actually bought the car a few months back. Now am again curious about market value for insurance purposes.
Odometer reads 86k original miles on the 1974 body. I would rate the interior an A- on my amateur scale. Everything is original and works perfectly except the trip odometer, which I can't get to reset.
Exterior is a B+. Paint is special order black and in great shape for original paint. It does have a few small paint chips on the hood and one small door ding. Zero rust anywhere.
Engine is a 3.2 from an '85. Has Webers, as the previous only wanted a mild "hot rod" motor. Car runs strong with no issues. No leaks. 915 tranny shifts crisply.

I think I paid close to top of market since I wanted a no-excuses car with a solid service history. I'm wondering what's it's worth in the real world.

[LUFTKUL]

There seems to be a definitive separation in value between 74/75 and 76/77 because of the CA emissions thing. $5K premium for 74/75 over 76/77? The much touted galvanized body of 76/77 is overblown in importance.

I'd say $30 - $35K value depending on paperwork on the car and engine mileage. Since you said "roughly 20-25K miles" on the 3.2 you probably don't really know for sure. Odometer reading means nothing with these cars without a paper trail.

[matt930s]

Beautiful car.
Agree...$30-35 today. It would be nice if you could track down the orig motor.

MattR

[Macroni]

sweet ride! you should switch out the mirrors for the 1974 chrome mirrors.......

[Rick Brooklyn]

Originally Posted by Macroni

sweet ride! you should switch out the mirrors for the 1974 chrome mirrors.......

Yes! I usually don't care much for black cars, but chrome on black looks very nice.

[Matt Monson]

You sure it's not a 75? Side mirror should be chrome not black.

Trip odometer is an easy fix. Details in the Brodie if you search.

[JackMan]

Here's my take on your car. What a sweet ride and a sweet car. Especially more so since the car was taken to a respected Porsche tech for its maintenance. You didn't tell us the following:

Does she blow blue smoke when you lift the throttle after hard acceleration?
When was the clutch done?
Has the gearbox been rebuilt?

Value on this car, for insurance replacement purposes ie total loss, is closer to 70k. (you'll pay mightly for the premiums but you'll find someone to write the policy if you drive the car less than 3,000 miles a year.)

Think about it: find the chassis, find the engine/webers and gearbox, find the other misc pieces and interior, then find someone to put it together for you -- the right way.

If you are looking for market value, I agree with TechWeenie, the price is between 40k and 50k.

I"m sure the 3.2 engine in your car needs a good going through, especially the heads. Anytime I see a car like yours I ask myself what are the items that require attention? If the seller can't document things like, engine rebuilds, gearbox rebuilds, clutch, etc. I start reducing the price I'm willing to pay for the car. (I agree with TW that this car reeks of potentially very expensive deferred maintenance.)

Remember that the asking and the sale price is a covenant between the buyer and seller. What most of us "amateur experts" are willing to pay for a car is way different than what an "amateur first time Porsche" buyer will pay for a car.

If you are looking for a starting price to sell the car, start high and work lower. If you are looking for total loss insurance replacement on the car, buy the most insurance that you can afford. I have a 75 911 that I'm doing a complete professionally done backdate/repaint and rebuild to 72s look with a 3.0 PMO'd engine with all new interior, rebuilt gauges, etc. blah blah. I'll insure for total loss around 100k.

[JackMan]

I agree, the chrome mirror would look awesome on that car. Pop me a pm and I"ll send you mine for free. Merry Christmas.

[matt930s]

Great call Jackman!

MattR

[mbintx]

Jackman,
Thanks for your kind comments and insight.

To answer your questions: no blue smoke. No white smoke. No black smoke. She runs like top. I'm not kidding when I say the car was meticulously maintained by the same top shop for the previous two owners. I feel very confident that all mechanicals are about as sound as they could be. I DO need to drop by the shop to see if I can get copies off all of their records ( I have some but not all.)

The day I bought the car the previous opener was reluctant to meet me because it would have been the first time in 29 years that the car had seen rain.

The 3.2 runs strong. The 915 shifts well. Even the a/c blows cold air. The paint is original, though a little thin in a few spots. People can't believe it's original.

[73.5TinPA]

You just bought it recently. Why not insure it (collector insurance/agreed value) for the amount that you just paid?
That's what I always do, anyway. It is an easy value to prove, just show your Bill of Sale.

If it appreciates in value, you can adjust your coverage.
It does look real nice.

[speedster911]

Very nice car - congratulations. No way you could replace it @ $30 -35K as others have suggested. I think closer to $60K+ for a super clean 74.

I insure my cars for slightly more than what I could buy them for today - If by chance I have an accident, I don't want the heartache of losing my car and not being able to replace it for what the insurance company pays me. Agreed upon value in todays market is the way to go IMHO.