1989 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe

I get a little irrationally giddy when a ’89 Carrera pops up on auction with no reserve. Granted, the seller in the example here set the starting bid high enough to functionally serve as a de facto reserve, but still it is always nice to have a chance to see how the values for these cars play out without wondering whether a sky high reserve will impede a sale. The value of a G50-equipped Carrera has risen substantially over the past year and while we’ve seen those numbers plateau slightly over the past couple months, we are still at a point where everyone wants to capitalize upon a good market. That tends to leave driver-quality cars in a precarious position where it is difficult to determine the proper value. These are either undervalued due to a lower investment status or overvalued as prices for the whole range shoot up. But if a well-maintained example can be found, as this Guards Red 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe appears to be, then a wider range of buyer should be satisfied.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe on eBay

Year: 1989
Model: 911 Carrera
Engine: 3.2 liter flat-6
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 118,345 mi
Price: No Reserve Auction

I’m selling my 1989 Porsche 911 Coupe. I’ve had a few of air-cooled 911s and this vintage with the G50 transmission and updated HVAC is the best balance of the early 911 feel plus just enough modern touches to still make it very relevant and usable today.

To reference Hagerty Price Guide, the values of these cars have been increasing and the current values are as such:

Condition
# 1
#2
#3
#4
Price
$65,700
$47,600
$31,300
$19,500

I would describe this particular car as between #2 and #3. With only some minor work, detail, and OEM parts, this car can be brought to a solid #2. Speaking of OEM, I have an original steering wheel, shift knob and Blaupunkt Reno radio that are correct for this year and model and will bring the interior to 100% in-period. Personally, I prefer the ergonomic feel of the Momo wheel and shift knob. Also, during an occasional desire to listen to the stereo, the newer radio is a sound improvement from the 80s correct unit. Nonetheless, I have the OEM bits for the Porsche Carrera purists. While I am offering them separately, I’m willing to discuss offering them as a package for the right bid.

Also, rare and desirable are the 8” and 9” OEM Fuchs with the proper offset to fit on a narrow body 911 Carrera. In my opinion, the new tires and these OEM Fuchs really set off the car’s unmistakable 911 stance.

The exterior body is in beautiful condition. The body panels have the correct orange peel finish under the fenders and the option stickers on the front hood. A previous owner had a 993 Turbo tail on the car, which I have since been taken out; as part of this restoration, the rear engine lid has been painted to return to its original no-rear spoiler configuration. .

The interior and carpeting are in original and beautiful condition, which is a testament of the car’s previous ownership care. As mentioned the steering wheel, shift knob and radio can be brought back to OEM with the separate parts available. One flaw is a couple of crease cracks on the bottom center driver seat leather. As a preventative repair (to keep it from getting worse), the previous owner had the cracks sewn up. Since I have meant to keep the car as a very, very nice driver but not too nice to feel bad about driving it whenever I feel like it, I decided to leave it as-is.

Mechanically, the car is ready to go anywhere – even coast-to-coast. The AC blows cool air but not very cold; if you are familiar with this 911 vintage, this will not be news to you. Everything else has been working as it should and as far as I know – heater is nice and toasty quickly, the sunroof and windows opens swiftly, power door locks goes up/down without hesitation, no creaks from the suspension, tight steering, etc. In fact, the one thing I like the most about this car compared to several other 80s 911s is its mechanical performance. The engine is strong, the transmission shifts very nicely especially even among other G50s I’ve driven. There are no oil leaks other than minor weeping from the oil pressure sensor; again those familiar with these air-cooled engines can appreciate such absence of oil leaks. I’ve just had the service done on the car including valve adjustment. This car is ready for thousands of miles before even an oil change.

The car comes with its original owner’s manual, maintenance booklet (showing to be a California car originally), tool kit, spare tire, and air compressor. I have repair service records on the car including an engine valve/head/cylinder rebuild at 78k miles, installation of a Wong chip and exhaust, and service work including my recent service.

I reserve the right to end this auction early as I’m offering the car elsewhere.

If you are looking for a very nice, well-preserved 87-89 G50 911 that can be driven anywhere without worries, this is the car for you. Pre-purchase inspections are welcome, but please do so before end of auction. Happy bidding!

For a 25-year-old 911 with nearly 120K miles, this car looks in excellent shape. The driver’s seat shows a little bit of wear, but the rest of the interior looks well maintained and consistent with the look of cars with far fewer miles. It’s difficult to get a sure sense of the exterior, but the Guards Red paint still looks good and the few detail shots we have show little that would be of concern. Prospective buyers should also note that the seller has an original steering wheel, radio, and shift knob available for anyone who might hope to return this car to its original condition, even if these cars look just about perfect with a nice Momo wheel. With current bidding at $30,011 this isn’t an exceptional value, but given the overall condition and the appreciation 1989 Carreras have already shown, and likely will continue to show, this could actually make for a nice investment, but one with enough current miles that its new owner can enjoy it quite a bit without too much concern for its long-term value.

-Rob