To modify (or not) my new and original 3.2 Carrera (1984)

[GRT2015]

Hi Guys,

I have recently collected my new and beautiful Grand Prix White 3.2, its a brilliant car and I love it. There is NO rust on her, she is in fantastic condition, been garaged and not on a wet road for 23 years (last owner!)

I do have a number of changes I'd like to make to her but worry about originality. My questions are;

-How many RHD 3.2's in white exist - (how many are not modified!)
-Will changing my brown/burgundy interior de-value her?
-I like the idea of adding the Carrera vinyls down the sides - Surely this is reversible so no problem.
-Changing the colour of the wheels to match the Vinyl lettering
-Maybe a ducktail but keep my original in a barn

One of the high end backdate firms said the 3.2's are two a penny and have no real value "originality doesn't matter" , what are your thoughts?

Thanks for any guidance..

[RacerMDR]

I'm not the expert but I have several friends that are more so than I.......

Don't change anything that can't be reversed if you don't want to devalue.

That being said - if it's already high mileage etc not as important

or if you're going to keep it forever or plan to, then do what you want.............

[RacerMDR]

PS - to your last point...........not sure who the company were that said ten a penny........but they aren't - just look at the classifieds for a good clean low mileage car.....

[GRT2015]

[GRT2015]

[GRT2015]

She has 99,000 miles and full history, my apologies for multiple messages. I will learn how to link them all up soon!

[RacerMDR]

I absolutely love these cars. Well done - really pleased for you! Enjoy it.

Interior picture please!!

[GRT2015]

Beautiful!!

[Koln-RS]

GRT2015 said:

Hi Guys,

I have recently collected my new and beautiful Grand Prix White 3.2, its a brilliant car and I love it. There is NO rust on her, she is in fantastic condition, been garaged and not on a wet road for 23 years (last owner!)

I do have a number of changes I'd like to make to her but worry about originality. My questions are;

-How many RHD 3.2's in white exist - (how many are not modified!)
-Will changing my brown/burgundy interior de-value her?
-I like the idea of adding the Carrera vinyls down the sides - Surely this is reversible so no problem.
-Changing the colour of the wheels to match the Vinyl lettering
-Maybe a ducktail but keep my original in a barn

One of the high end backdate firms said the 3.2's are two a penny and have no real value "originality doesn't matter" , what are your thoughts?

Thanks for any guidance..

- I think GP White was the most popular colour
- Your interior isn't brown it's burgundy and looks superb
- Personally I hate tacky after-market decals and stripes
- Most people prefer originality
- Again personal, but the 3.2s look nicest with no rear spoiler
- Really good 3.2s are getting rarer and sought after. Many may have suffered the 'backdate' fate. Early 3.2s, with the 915 gearbox are less desirable than the later G50s, and 100k mls puts it in the 'usable' rather than 'collectable' category.

But, looks really nice. Get it fettled and enjoy it. Spring is only 4 months away

[KEVS500]

Given the time it took me to find a good original 3.2 I wouldn't change anything! If the photos and your description are an accurate representation of its condition, just look after it and enjoy it. Regardless of whether you plan to keep it long term or move it on, you have an obligation to the Porsche community not to mess about with a fine example with the correct colour coded Fuchs, pin stripe upholstery etc etc.
But of course it's yours now so it's up to you.
And yes, there are certainly few good coupes around these days.

[Paynewright]

First 911 encounter circa late 70's early 80's. It was our plumbers car!

[pete.g]

It's only original once.

I'd probably replace the whale tail, but keep it safe.

The interior is great - leave it as it is.

[SRT Hellcat]

Congratulations. The only thing I would do is paint the wheel centres satin black

[Warmfuzzies]

Make it what you want it to be for you. But make it reversible for resale.

That’s how mine sits.

[EJH]

I actually think that nice, unmolested, 3.2s are a fairly rare thing (although it's financially worth restoring them now at least) as many have been modified to owners' tastes or backdated (backdating leaves me a little cold, on the whole).

I'm in the "do whatever you want to it camp," but have to agree that reversible for sale (if you think you might) might make sense. That said, it's your car, to do with what you wish!

I have had my 3.2 for 11 1/2 years now and whilst they're not very, well, good (by any rational yardstick) they are lovely and involving cars.

Suggestions for you (if you're in the mood to tinker):

Rear badge
Total OCD but yours is a little too low (details here: http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technic...

Alignment
Really can transform how these cars drive and really helps if it's someone that knows 911s and what you want as opposed to can just set up to OE spec.

Fuse board
Best mod I have made to my car. The OE bullet boads aren't great (always end up having to wiggle fuses) and CR's upgraded board is a very worthwhile upgrade. Also has inbuilt relays for the headlights which changes their performance from, "crap," to "I can't be arsed looking a spending more on them."

Tyres
If the car has been sparingly used for years (as its MOT history suggests it has), the tyres may be rather old. They're much nicer on fresh rubber. I have run mine on both ContisportContacts and Bridgestone S02s and think I prefer the latter...but I'm not sure there's a hard or fast answer. You look to be on 15" wheels, however, and I'm not sure what choices there are for 15s.

I'm also a member on impactbumpers.com and they're a very helpful bunch.

Edited by EJH on Wednesday 29th November 22:59

[Moikey Fortune]

Nice one. looks good to me

It's your car so do what you want with it

My coupe is GPW, guards red fuchs, red Carrera script, whale tail and 915 box

GPW looks great when it's clean
I'm used to the red centres now - was unsure at first and was going to repaint
Also used to the colour coded script now too
Was going to ditch the whale tail but now I think it looks right, it's an 80's 911 so should have one!
Nothing wrong having a 915 gearbox ..you do have to fully depress the clutch and be more precise with gear change but that is just good practice anyway right?..it;s lighter than a G50, it's made by Porsche and if it's good enough for the Holy Grail 73RS then why not a two -a-penny 3,2

They are great to look at and the more you drive it the more you will want to drive it, mine is used all year round

Keep on top of the maintenance

and as mentioned above get over to impactbumpers.com

[Longman66]

If you want to modify it just do it , its only a car ....keep the bits you take off though , as far as the wheels , take em off and get a set of non gen fakoFuchs in 7" and 8" (or9") from Matt at type911 ..other parts sellers are available ...
mine used to look like yours ..

Doesn't any more

[rubystone]

SRT Hellcat said:

Congratulations. The only thing I would do is paint the wheel centres satin black

This.

By wheel centres we mean the elements that are currently (incorrectly) colour coded white.

[RSVP911]

GRT2015 said:

Beautiful!!

I love the interior - the whole car is ace - I’d do nothing

[CarreraLightweightRacing]

No disrespect to any opinion given in this thread. It is your car OP, if you feel dropping a V8 into it floats your boat and brings you the most joy, then go for it. The idea of not modifying/improving the car for fear of what the next owner would want is crazy. We are not sheep and how boring would this world be without the likes of Magnus Walker, Rob Dickinson and the rest. To see these wonderful cars as purely financial assets; to the point of the most enjoyment being; 'how much of a return you get come sale time', for me, means you are losing out so much from the ownership experience.

Kind of reminds me of the old 'not banging your supermodel girlfriend for fear of ruining her for the next bloke'.