Early LHD Porsche advice - what to buy
Discussion
Hi I am looking for a replacement 2nd car to go with my Cerbera 4.5. I thought of maybe a late LHD 70's Porsche? I know little about the marque besides what i can / have read, but have no understanding in practice. I wonder whether any of you would be able to provide an opinion as to what to look for etc. I would want to use it day in day out during the week, but like the idea of having something classic under my feet.
many thanks
woolfie
many thanks
woolfie
Hmmm, many swear by the seventies ones for pure porscheness and driving pleasure, but they are not very practical everyday cars. They take a lot of maintenance, care, money and attention to get running right.
I'd suggest a LHD 1987 onwards G50 3.2, which has the classic looks but will be reliable, for about 8-10 grand.
Or a 911 Club Sport from that era - Iguana knows one for sale at 18k. Like a 3.2 RS in effect. Email his profile directly.
Or if your budget is higher, a 964RS for 25k is classic Porsche but with proper brakes and modern bits.
Rgds
Domster
I'd suggest a LHD 1987 onwards G50 3.2, which has the classic looks but will be reliable, for about 8-10 grand.
Or a 911 Club Sport from that era - Iguana knows one for sale at 18k. Like a 3.2 RS in effect. Email his profile directly.
Or if your budget is higher, a 964RS for 25k is classic Porsche but with proper brakes and modern bits.
Rgds
Domster
Unless you realy like going slowly the impact bumper (ie '74 on)2.7 (K jettronic)cars are best avoided unless you feel that 150bhp in a relitively heavy 911 is the key to a good time.. They are however very cheap- but there is a reason for that...
Im a real fan of the 1974 2.7 Carrera's tho same engine and running gear as the legendary 2.7RS of the year before but with the impact bumper style body & bumpers.
(impact bumper is '74 to '89 and all look prety much the same the differences were under the skin)
With RHD '73 RS lightweight prices now in the £100k area getting 'almost' that performance & handling and exactly the same engine for £10-20k the 2.7 Carrera is a bit of an undiscovered gem
But But But a 1970s Porsche will rust just like a 1970's VW so be carefull.
I agree with all Domster has said and it all depends on ya budget the most liked '70s porkers are '73 RS (obiously) '72 2.4S '70-'72 2.2S then probly the 3.0 Carrera of '77
They all reach top bucks in excellent cond even in lhd. go for E or T spec if you want a pre impact bumper car ie less power and they are cheaper but ther are a lot of hounds out there and even the best are 30yrs old so its only gonna be as reliable as a new TVR.... ohhhh
Then its the late '70s with the not particully interesting SC's then on to the better 3.2's in '83 and the G50 (better gearbox) cars are the ones to go for.
They all reach top bucks in excellent cond even in lhd. go for E or T spec if you want a pre impact bumper car ie less power and they are cheaper but ther are a lot of hounds out there and even the best are 30yrs old so its only gonna be as reliable as a new TVR.... ohhhh
My consultancy rates are very reasonable......
Im a real fan of the 1974 2.7 Carrera's tho same engine and running gear as the legendary 2.7RS of the year before but with the impact bumper style body & bumpers.
(impact bumper is '74 to '89 and all look prety much the same the differences were under the skin)
With RHD '73 RS lightweight prices now in the £100k area getting 'almost' that performance & handling and exactly the same engine for £10-20k the 2.7 Carrera is a bit of an undiscovered gem
But But But a 1970s Porsche will rust just like a 1970's VW so be carefull.
I agree with all Domster has said and it all depends on ya budget the most liked '70s porkers are '73 RS (obiously) '72 2.4S '70-'72 2.2S then probly the 3.0 Carrera of '77
They all reach top bucks in excellent cond even in lhd. go for E or T spec if you want a pre impact bumper car ie less power and they are cheaper but ther are a lot of hounds out there and even the best are 30yrs old so its only gonna be as reliable as a new TVR.... ohhhh
Then its the late '70s with the not particully interesting SC's then on to the better 3.2's in '83 and the G50 (better gearbox) cars are the ones to go for.
They all reach top bucks in excellent cond even in lhd. go for E or T spec if you want a pre impact bumper car ie less power and they are cheaper but ther are a lot of hounds out there and even the best are 30yrs old so its only gonna be as reliable as a new TVR.... ohhhh
My consultancy rates are very reasonable......
I like the idea of learning about the Porsche by buying an early model and working through their evolution, so getting to know what it means to own a Porsche. Otherwise if I get hold of a later model I am not sure what I am owning..if that makes sense.
On the 944..I am not sure what it stands for, but if its a good car to own and drive, or can it only be described in the negative, in that its not a 911. But I can see no reason not owning one at sometime, if it is an enjoyable car to use.
I have some happy research ahead of me.
woolfie
On the 944..I am not sure what it stands for, but if its a good car to own and drive, or can it only be described in the negative, in that its not a 911. But I can see no reason not owning one at sometime, if it is an enjoyable car to use.
I have some happy research ahead of me.
woolfie
LHD 911s - 964 best buy. Early 911s rust like dogs, even those that from 1972 on that had galvanised floors. Best pre impact 911 for reasonable money? 2.4E.
Avoid 2.7s like the plague, except for the RS 2.7 impact bumper. Iguana, if I could get you selection of a pre impact bumper RS (lightweight & touring) for a lot less than £100,000 would you be interested then?
.....and above all,remember that you'll have a lot of trouble flogging on an lhd car unless it's something like a 964 RS.
My advice? Find a nice low mileage rhd SC for around £10k or even an rhd 964 for £15k (they do exist - I know a man who regularly turns round high mileage rhd 3.2s for £7k, for example). Top tip, join PCGB, laugh at the prices people want for their cars, leave it 3 months, call them and offer them sensible money for their baby and they'll sell it to you. Best time to do this is around December or March when it's cold and no-one wants to buy a car.
Avoid 2.7s like the plague, except for the RS 2.7 impact bumper. Iguana, if I could get you selection of a pre impact bumper RS (lightweight & touring) for a lot less than £100,000 would you be interested then?
.....and above all,remember that you'll have a lot of trouble flogging on an lhd car unless it's something like a 964 RS.
My advice? Find a nice low mileage rhd SC for around £10k or even an rhd 964 for £15k (they do exist - I know a man who regularly turns round high mileage rhd 3.2s for £7k, for example). Top tip, join PCGB, laugh at the prices people want for their cars, leave it 3 months, call them and offer them sensible money for their baby and they'll sell it to you. Best time to do this is around December or March when it's cold and no-one wants to buy a car.
rubystone if you can get me sweet a rhd lightweight (only 17 made remember and only 15 or 16 left now) for less than £80k although i may not be able to afford it i know some who would consider it. A few years ago yes no problem but now the prices have shot up. lhd tourings you can get lucky and get for £30k ish.
ref prices lhd 964 can be purchaced in the fatherland for under £10k and even full history sweet ones can be got for £12k and even in the UK sweet rhd for £15k is not unusual (Not RS's obviously)I agree with ya 3.2 prices tho.
Also there was never an impact bumper RS, it was a 2.7 Carrera it was a very similar car but certainly not an RS.
ref prices lhd 964 can be purchaced in the fatherland for under £10k and even full history sweet ones can be got for £12k and even in the UK sweet rhd for £15k is not unusual (Not RS's obviously)I agree with ya 3.2 prices tho.
Also there was never an impact bumper RS, it was a 2.7 Carrera it was a very similar car but certainly not an RS.
Rubystone, I'm not saying they should be sold at high prices - just that there is a good market with fairly tight prices for the right car.
3.2 - £8,500 to £11,000 (depending on age etc)
964 - £12,000 to £14,500 (as above)
993 - £20,000 to £23,000 (again)
996 - £29,000 to £40,000 (you guessed it)
Anything out of these ranges I wouldn't touch as you DO have a far more limited resale market, but the market is there.
Maybe your mate's car wasn't as good as he thought or wasn't advertising to the correct people. I don't know anything about it so can't comment. I've sold about 3 LHD Porsches privately with no problems if they're at the right price.
Buy 'em cheap and sell 'em cheap - As long as you don't expect to get top dollar for a LHD car you'll be ok, but you shouldn't have paid much either.
3.2 - £8,500 to £11,000 (depending on age etc)
964 - £12,000 to £14,500 (as above)
993 - £20,000 to £23,000 (again)
996 - £29,000 to £40,000 (you guessed it)
Anything out of these ranges I wouldn't touch as you DO have a far more limited resale market, but the market is there.
Maybe your mate's car wasn't as good as he thought or wasn't advertising to the correct people. I don't know anything about it so can't comment. I've sold about 3 LHD Porsches privately with no problems if they're at the right price.
Buy 'em cheap and sell 'em cheap - As long as you don't expect to get top dollar for a LHD car you'll be ok, but you shouldn't have paid much either.
Iguana, I'll have to consult the bible ref. your lightweight figures, will do tonight and get back to you. Your figures sound a bit low to me....
As regards 2.7 RS impact bumper - I beg to differ. The impact bumper model still had the ducktail (but some had the optional early turbo spoiler) and was known as the RS - check out the scrpt on them. This and the 3.2 Clubsport are, IMHO, the best impact bumper 911s to buy, for future value, handling, performance and for being a bit different to the run of the mill 3.2 or SC.
Scottster, sound advice on lhds. Wouln't touch them myself unless full provenance was known, but as you say, buy it cheap and sell it cheap and you "shouldn't" go wrong.
As regards 2.7 RS impact bumper - I beg to differ. The impact bumper model still had the ducktail (but some had the optional early turbo spoiler) and was known as the RS - check out the scrpt on them. This and the 3.2 Clubsport are, IMHO, the best impact bumper 911s to buy, for future value, handling, performance and for being a bit different to the run of the mill 3.2 or SC.
Scottster, sound advice on lhds. Wouln't touch them myself unless full provenance was known, but as you say, buy it cheap and sell it cheap and you "shouldn't" go wrong.
rubystone you may decide to differ with me but the fact is the 1974 2.7 Carrera wasnt called an RS ever in the UK or europe thats why its called the 2.7 Carrera not an RS!!. The yanks who couldnt buy the 73RS may have badged the 2.7 Carrera as such.
yes they can have ducktails on them, I stuck an M3 badge on a 325 BMW diddnt make it an M3 tho!!!
yes they can have ducktails on them, I stuck an M3 badge on a 325 BMW diddnt make it an M3 tho!!!
LOL, this is like Godzilla vs Mechanoid. In one corner, Rubystone who is very knowledgable on RSs after having had a 964RS... and in the other, the ever-wise Iguana who used to work for Porsche specialists etc.
Handbags at thirty paces gents, and let battle commence
I may chip in with spurious info I made up, just to make things interesting. i.e. did you know that you could get a C2RS with a 944 Turbo engine in the glove box, driving the front wheels only 
Handbags at thirty paces gents, and let battle commence
I may chip in with spurious info I made up, just to make things interesting. i.e. did you know that you could get a C2RS with a 944 Turbo engine in the glove box, driving the front wheels only 
Who did Iguana work for? Obviously didn't get many impact bumper RS Carrera (to give them their correct name) in did he... ;-)
...as regards ducktails, I just used that as an example - after all, the only place on either the 2.7 RS or the RS Carrera where the "RS" nomenclature is on display.
Glad to see you got your M471 and M472 the right way round too :-)
...as regards ducktails, I just used that as an example - after all, the only place on either the 2.7 RS or the RS Carrera where the "RS" nomenclature is on display.
Glad to see you got your M471 and M472 the right way round too :-)
Nothing more from Iguana eh? Not revealing who he worked for.... I must stop "Joshing" around and "Jack" it all in then.
Early Turbos? half leather with red check trim, GP White with those wild Turbo decals on the rear wings, not forgetting chrome brightwork and Durant mirror, can't beat 'em...if you can find one in nice condition and are prepared to wait weeks for the Turbo to spool up.
Early Turbos? half leather with red check trim, GP White with those wild Turbo decals on the rear wings, not forgetting chrome brightwork and Durant mirror, can't beat 'em...if you can find one in nice condition and are prepared to wait weeks for the Turbo to spool up.
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