Advice on buying '85 Carrera

[akshay-rawat]

Hello Pelicans,

I'm pursuing a 1985 3.2 Carrera and wanted to get your thoughts on pricing and if there's anything else I should consider beyond what I've already discussed with the seller.

Here's everything I know about the car so far:

Overview:

• Dark Blue with Grey interior
• 124k miles
• Mostly original i.e no mods or upgrades.
• Has spent time in OK, FL, and the last 4 years in Portland, OR.
• Car has been in an accident. CarFax says "disabling damage reported" and "estimated damage less than $500". The front left fender was replaced when the car was repainted.
• Car has been maintained by father / son duo over the last 4 years

Mechanical
• Some seepage in the engine. Nothing significant enough to require oil changes more often than the suggested amount (ever 3k miles)
• Valve job, replaced the fan, fan belt, alternator shims, battery, and oil filter in the last 1k miles.
• Clutch done in 2006 @ 94k miles
• Brakes are good (~40% wear)
• Suspension is supposedly in good condition and were replaced by prior owner (before 2016)
• No leaking or grinding in transmission
• There was slight squeaking from the belt on acceleration but it went away when the fan belt was replaced.


Cosmetic
• There's a tear in headliner. Will probably need to be replaced (is ~2k a good estimate?)
• Seats will also need some reupholstering. (any idea how much this might cost based on the pictures below?)
• Dash has a crack.
• Fog lights don't work.

The car is decently documented with ~40 odd receipts or so. Since a lot of maintenance work was done in house over the last 4 years there aren't very many receipts from that period.

A few questions for you all:
1. Is there anything else I should consider or discuss with the seller prior to getting a PPI done?
2. Does anything particularly stick out to you all from the pictures attached below?
3. How much would you value such a car at? I know it can depend on a variety of factors but I'd appreciate a ballpark.

Thanks for your help!

[Driven97]

Not a lot to go on there. Engine looks pretty clean. Aftermarket brake pedal is weird, and AC compressor is disconnected. Doing a headliner doesn't sound like fun.

[sugarwood]

Blue Unmodified Coupe
Seems like a decent find
124k miles is average.

Can you live with the dash crack, torn seat and headliner?
Those may cost more to fix than its worth.

What is your perception of the sellers integrity?
What's the asking price ?

[creaturecat]

40500 asking .......
not unreasonable, given an acceptable ppi.
i would inspect the paintwork carefully, get out the paint meter.
the seat looks repairable. headliner? a negotiation point - try to deduct 2K.

[NYNick]

This one looks nice
https://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-cars-sale/1063536-1988-porsche-911-coupe-cdn-car.html

[juanbenae]

have you, or can you see the car in person? the photos are nice, but as sweet stump always says, "if you can see it in person" that only adds "priceless" to the ask....

if you are looking for people to throw numbers that match your cost it might not happen when you could have shared it with us like the pictures.

[Nick Triesch]

I also have an 85 911. My seats and dash are in great shape but my car is very much like yours. The valve job is a big deal! Costs a ton. My car is valued at $45,000 With Fresh valve job and clutch and flywheel by Hagerty. I would say your car at least $40g.

[Rawknees'Turbo]

^^^

I wonder what the OP means by, "valve job" (sort of reads like a lash measurement/adjustment rather than a cylinder heads overhaul)?

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by Rawknees'Turbo

^^^

I wonder what the OP means by, "valve job" (sort of reads like a lash measurement/adjustment rather than a cylinder heads overhaul)?

3.2s are known to have valve guide issues. I hope he means an actual valve job/top end service.

[Nick Triesch]

I should have said top end. If this car had a top end then that would be a huge plus.

[Nick Triesch]

If it did not have a top end then it would be worth less. Maybe $30,000-35k

[zundfolge]

$39k without the accident. Deduct accordingly on the quality of the repair.