Blind purchase of "Barn Find" - thoughts on resto. 76 911s

[Irish]

Evening all. I was at the Classic Le Mans a few weekends and came back determined to own a 70s 911. Fast forward 48 hours and I was bidding on this:



I had not seen it. Barely have a description for it. However when HPI'ing it realised it was first registered on the day after I was born - I am a sucker for the emotive hook.....

Oh the car was last on the road in the late 90's.....paid £8,700 for the "project".

Fast forward to last week and my guy goes to collect:





So.....update - car is back and it is a mixed bag. First, chasis is excellent. Original, only rust is on the bumper mounts and kidney bowls - and the all do that. So, straight original chasis is top bananas.

Car is a 77 MY but registered in Oct. 76.

Unfortunately no service book and the "history" consists of a lot of papers from the 80s & 90s - none for major engine or body work.

Issue is the previous owner had started to strip - but rather that methodically unbold and record stuff a lot was just prised out. The expensive reflector strip is off intact, but the fixings are still on the bumper - that kind of stuff. Also one of the plasic housings on the engine is cracked (trying to get access to the alterator) - the only way to get at it is to drop the engine. All of which is annyoying from a time standpoint.



Interestly the original colour is guards red - red on reddy orange was a brave choice.



SO, my orignal plan was to get it MOT'd as quickly as possible and look to restore in a few years. With the interior stripped and the engine having to be dropped now may be the time for a respray / colour change.



Thoughts from the collective on colours / work / nice exhaust etc. Looking at it now I overpaid - but with the date connection not bothered.....did I mention it is a Sportomatic.......

[Irish]

Too much with the red interior to do something like:

[Irish]

Wozy68 said:

Are those original seats?

Yep - very 70s

[Irish]

EricE said:

Quite the project! Looking at the pictures all I can think is how much cheaper it would have been to buy a complete car in decent condition but if you are looking for a project then I think it was a good purchase. My hat goes off to you!

With the prices rising the way they are I’d say go for a restoration back to 100% original specs/color or you may regret it in 10 years or so. (only half kidding )

Well - it is a lot worse that I thought..but adds to the story....

[Irish]

braddo said:

Good luck! Do you intend to stick with the sportomatic or source a manual gearbox?

I wonder how many sportomatic 911s are still on the road in the UK and Ireland? Could they be counted on one or two hands??

The intention is to keep the sporto - for rareness if nothing else.

[Irish]

Cheers LOH - my car was 0085 of the 77 model year. Seems a rare interior.

[Irish]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

There you go then, be a shame to get rid of it when it's so rare eh? Have you definitely confirmed what colour the car came in originally? Without seeing it it's hard to tell but as posted above it does look like it's simply had a roof swap to add a sunroof in the pictures you've posted.

Out of interest, disregarding interior colour, what would be your ideal colour?

Definitely guards. It is showing under the rear window seal. A resto to original an option.

[Irish]

Thank you so much for the above. Now on a proper keyboard so can type more than a few words without blowing up!

Getting the authenticity cert from Porsche which will clear up the colour issue.

[Irish]

Fantastic. In other breaking news my specialist had another poke around:

"Had another nose around your car yesterday, all the interior trim is there except the front carpet mats. I didn't find anymore rust, although there may be some small areas revealed when the car is stripped down.

What I did notice though is that the car has had a secondhand roof skin fitted at some point, probably to fix a rotten sunroof. This used roof skin was from a red car hence my thoughts that the car was originally red, it wasn't, but looks to have always been white."

Well at least white is better than red! Great news on chassis rust (or lack thereof).

[Irish]

Plan is to take it back to stock. Lobster is lovely in person apparently....

By stock I also mean cookie cutters and keeping the sporto box.

[Irish]

majordad said:

Well done, hope to see it on a PCI run. That looks like Jon Millar's towing vehicle and trailer ? Top man if it is.

Yep, Jon is taking it on. Once done car will be off to UK for a few years until! I finish building a house in Dublin.

[Irish]

Porsche have responded to my request for original spec:

> color R4=grandprixwhite
> interior 23=leatherette lobster,pinstripevelours
> dealer EG=GB
> invoice Sep.'76
> 288=headlampwashers
> 439=Porsche-lettering black on doors
> 650=sliding roof

Is the lettering relatively rare?

[Irish]

Update. Mechanic starting the strip down next week. Should be pictures appearing here through the build.

https://www.facebook.com/ClassicCarreras

Still very unsure what to do. I will never make the spend back - but is is a keeper - it turned 38 the day after me this month.

For now - original....but I have moments of viper green etc. etc.

Leaving the sporto - but unsure on that to. Add a manual and crate the sporto?

Going for a full rebuild on the engine. Get it right first time.

Edited by Irish on Friday 24th October 22:20

[Irish]

Koln-RS said:

The Sportomatic is actually very clever. OK, manual is better and faster, but a good Sporto shouldn't be underestimated.

If investment potential is important, then I would 100% agree that originality in all respects will be key. And, in the fullness of time, Porsche's first semi-automatic (long before Tip and PDK) will be valued for its rarity.

It is a classic - not meant to be fast - if I want to be on the limit I will get a GT3 RS for the commute!

Thanks for the input - will keep the sporto.

[Irish]

Past the point of no return:

[Irish]

Progress:



Shell could be worse....

[Irish]

So, here is where we are at. Engine rebuild under way.....

[Irish]

rubystone said:

The car isn't an investment piece though. It's colour changed, is a 2.7 and has no history. So better to maximise the driving pleasure. In Sporto guise the OP will never be able to overtake anything on a country road. A 915 box is the only way to go.

It was white - so colour is correct. Part history but doing this to keep and enjoy - would get a GT3 RS if I wanted a point to point car.

[Irish]

rubystone said:

According to his original post, it was Guards Red.

I've driven 2.4, 2.7 and 3.0 Sporto. I'm only giving my advice based on just how piss poor a spotomatic is in anything other than a 3 litre car.

By no stretch would the fitment of a 915 'box make any car a 'point to point' car. And besides, the OP himself has also stated that he is interested in maintaining the originality of the car.

Yes, that was the original post but through stipping and contacting porsche it was confirmed as Grand Prix White car registered by AFN day after I was born - that is the hook for me.

What can I say - I am contrarian - but in 20 years an original MY77 sporto will be a curiosity if nothing else. Enjoying the build process.

Edit: Also not understanding the backdating trend.

Edited by Irish on Sunday 29th March 22:35

[Irish]

Latest updates here:

http://www.classiccarreras.com/2.7Sporto.html

Getting a lobster carpet set was a struggle but sorted from the US.