Is a running 911 worth more parted out than sold complete

[christiandk]

Originally Posted by billh1963

Here's my dilemma...

I have an '86 Carrera targa that has been a California car its whole life until two years ago.

The car has no rust and, as far as I can tell, has never been hit.

I just had the topend of the original 3.2 done (heads redone, case was split, resealed, new clutch/PP, new heat exchanger, etc.) AND had the 915 rebuilt. I have receipts for everything. Car runs and drives great.

Installed PMB rebuilt calibers, pad wear sensors and new brake lines all around last year.

Replaced the boxster wheels the car had on it when purchased with Fuchs.

The car is tired cosmetically. It needs new paint (garnet metallic) and the interior is tired. Seats look pretty good but dash is cracked and carpet is worn. Driver's side mirror is cracked (glass..not the housing).

Gas gauge doesn't work but everything else does.

I have a little over $30K in the car as it sits.

So, based on current trends I imagine the car would struggle to sell for what I have in it. However, I think if I parted out I would get more for the car. I would hate to do that to a numbers matching car. But, money is money.

Thoughts?

How much is your time worth? You only live twice!

[SalParadise]

Parting a car s*cks bigtime. You'll have a ton of glass, bumpers, seals, and unknown lines leftover - and it will turn a garage into a s**tstorm that will make the move Twister look tame. Sell it whole unless you value your time, dignity, and car to take the boxes of greasy crap to FedEX and Greyhound all day. There are certain people that can do this. I did it with several motorcycles, made money, but in the end it was one thing I regretted in life.

[SalParadise]

Originally Posted by ficke

I had a 400I 5-speed Ferrari that I would have most defiantly almost doubled my money if I parted it out instead of selling it as a running car. I let emotion get in the way on what was best for my family on selling that car.

Yeah, this isn't the greatest example, because parting a 400i is something in this world that very few ever gets to part. The engine alone was probably worth the entire car (I know from experience that the front glass is worth $$$ too), but that's Ferrari.

I have driven many 400s and 412s - and let me tell you you did the world and Ferrari a service by not parting it because if it still exists as a whole, then it's awesome and I commend you - you can sleep well at night. You did what was right for the entire Ferrari hobby. They are awesome and fun GT cars, and a whole lotta Ferrari V12 for little money. Since your car had a standard trans, its UBER rare - and I'm doubly happy you didn't part it. A 400i 5-speed makes a 928 standard look common. I have driven silver, white, black and red 400s/412s - and I am very happy you never parted it. Great car. Very, very underrated- and now that I'm a family man, I wish I had one. I even drove a convertible conversion 400 and that was freaking awesome...

[ficke]

On the OP's 911 I would not part it out, margins are to close. Sell as is.

Salparadise, I agree with you 400/412's are great cars. On my 400I, I put lot of miles on it, it was really fun to drive and I drove it every where. It had 72,000 miles on it when I sold it. Almost unsellable with that many miles. If it was a Porsche 911 we would talk about how low the miles were at 72,000.
So I sold the 400I for $25,000, good AC, all the services up to date and it ran very strong, but the miles freaked out buyers. Now I could sell a 5-speed trans with the rear end for a easy $10,000 if not more. The engine for $10,000 and the car with out the engine and trans would have sold for $15,000. I left $10,000 on the table.

Great car but the parts and maintence was consuming me. Here is a picture on a road trip in the winter to New Mexico and me doing an engine out service.

[Unobtanium-inc]

Originally Posted by SalParadise

Parting a car s*cks bigtime. You'll have a ton of glass, bumpers, seals, and unknown lines leftover - and it will turn a garage into a s**tstorm that will make the move Twister look tame. Sell it whole unless you value your time, dignity, and car to take the boxes of greasy crap to FedEX and Greyhound all day. There are certain people that can do this. I did it with several motorcycles, made money, but in the end it was one thing I regretted in life.

You don't know how many times I've gone to a guy's house to buy his "parts stash" and he has a mountain of this stuff, he parted out 4-5 cars and sold all the good stuff. I'm a nice guy but I want to ask, "If you can't sell all this stuff, how the F*&K am I supposed to?" But I don't ask. I politely say that the part you have three of, I have thirty of.
It's like buying out an old parts seller, he has all the stuff you can't sell in large quantities, so it looks like a lot of parts, but it really isn't. I looked at a guy's stash one time and the thing that stuck in my mind was he had 275 B/C steering columns, stacked like cord wood. He said he gets $100 each for those. I agreed, but added I would probably sell 5 in my lifetime, so that leaves me 270 to make an Effiel Tower in my front yard. I surmised that he had probably parted out about 280 B/C's over the years, and had sold about 5 columns.

---Adam

[billh1963]

You guys are right....I've listed the car on ebay. I'll take my lumps and move on

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by billh1963

You guys are right....I've listed the car on ebay. I'll take my lumps and move on

It's a good color. I think it might surprise you. GLWS.

[sugarwood]

With 3.2 and 915 rebuild, this is going to be a nice find for someone!

Bill, since you're interested in money, I think vacuuming the interior and taking a new photo would pay for itself.
Also, photographing a wet car right right after your hosed it off detracts from the presentation, and makes it look hurried.
You may considering taking a few new pictures now that the car is dry.

[Munky King]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

With 3.2 and 915 rebuild, this is going to be a nice find for someone!

Bill, since you're interested in money, I think vacuuming the interior and taking a new photo would pay for itself.
Also, photographing a wet car right right after your hosed it off detracts from the presentation, and makes it look hurried.
You may considering taking a few new pictures now that the car is dry.

I've been watching here and eBay, looking for a new aircooled 911 for the last 2+ months and I have to say, there are some cars on there that seem to sell better because of the photos than the actual car being sold. I have to agree with sugarwood, I think you are doing the car an injustice with the pics you have with the car being wet.

Check out these photos:
1984 Porsche 911 Base Coupe 2-Door | eBay

Find somewhere open and inspirational, like the beach, park, manor house, modern villa etc and take some glamor shots of the car. Remember that with a 911, not only are you selling a mechanical classic, but also a life style and dream!

I have to say, your commentary about the car does leave the reader happy in the knowledge that you know the car, and that it's been well looked after.

[billh1963]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

With 3.2 and 915 rebuild, this is going to be a nice find for someone!

Bill, since you're interested in money, I think vacuuming the interior and taking a new photo would pay for itself.
Also, photographing a wet car right right after your hosed it off detracts from the presentation, and makes it look hurried.
You may considering taking a few new pictures now that the car is dry.

I think you are right. It's been raining off and on all weekend. I'll update the pictures tomorrow. Thank you for the advice.

[billh1963]

Changes made...hopefully for the better!

[sugarwood]

I think it looks better. Nice job.

[billh1963]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

I think it looks better. Nice job.

I put a coat of P21S on it...really brought out some of the shine. I'm starting to like this car again...

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by Munky King

Check out these photos:
1984 Porsche 911 Base Coupe 2-Door | eBay

The replated engine fan is a nice touch.
But the wide angle lens of the interior is a killer photo.

[Matt Monson]

It's a great color and best year of the 915 Carreras. If I had already sold my 86 Coupe I could be tempted to bid.

[sugarwood]

Wow, not even a bid at $25k?

[Matt Monson]

Is there a link to the listing?

[billh1963]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

Wow, not even a bid at $25k?

I probably talked the car down too much. I think I'll clean it up some more, fix the gas gauge and other smaller issues and try again later. Of course, at a higher price!

[Ralph3.]

Try this
1986 Porsche 911

[sugarwood]

As the reality of owning too many cars continues to weigh on my mind, I have decided to sell two of my six air cooled 911's. (Look for another one for sale in a couple months).

There in an unintended consequence of this statement. The reader infers that you are selling the worst of your collection.

When I bought the car, it ran good with excellent oil pressure but smoked on startup. The clutch was weak as was the second gear synchronizer on the transmission.

This statement is moot considering you have addressed these issues with Bruce.
(What was the issue with the smoking on startup?)

When I bought the car it had Boxster wheels on it. I located a set of real Fuchs with good tires and installed them. That was another $1500.

Same thing.

The paint has had it's share of abuse and while some work by someone with a buffer could probably do wonders, that "someone" isn't going to be me.

I would get an estimate for a paint correction.

Have you listed this car on Pelican?