Enthusiasts Blogging Our Favorite Classifieds
The low mileage Estoril Blue BMW M Coupe we featured last month is back up for sale, on offer at $1,250 less than when we first came across it. Looking to drive a modern icon? I think everyone will agree the Clown Shoe, as it is sometimes called, could be the BMW equivalent of the air-cooled 911 in terms of collectability.
I can’t really speak to how the younger generation fills their mind with automotive images today, but when I was a kid those images came through the exceedingly rare sightings on the street and the posters that I had on my wall. So as we continue our artwork theme for the holiday season, today we’ll take a look at some art reflecting Porsche’s racing history, with specific attention to Le Mans but with a few other interesting pieces added in. Racing has served as a centerpiece of Porsche’s branding almost since the beginning and its success in road racing has been integral to the success of the marque itself. And there is no stronger testament to a car’s combination of reliability and performance than a Le Mans victory.
The 1989 Porsche 930 Slantnose Coupe we featured in early October is back up for sale with a $10K reduction in its price, now listed at $189,999.99. The Slantnose 911s do not appeal to everyone, but as a symbol of ’80s flair and excess they are rarely topped. Even with significant collector appeal it will be interesting to see if the market for one of these has reached these heights.
I imagine at some point people will wake up to the enormous performance value of the 996TT, but it seems we are not there yet. From its inception, the 911 Turbo always has been a diabolical car, difficult in its dynamics and threatening to send inattentive drivers into snap oversteer. As time wore on and the power produced from the 911’s turbocharged flat-six increased Porsche introduced twin-turbochargers, which helped reduce lag, and fitted the Turbo with an all-wheel drive system to help deliver power in a more controlled manner. Still, there remained sufficient power to overwhelm some and excite many. With more than 400 hp the 996 Turbo continued along the trajectory established by its predecessors, but now, because of its water-cooled engine and redesigned body, the love from many enthusiasts has been held at bay, leaving us with a performance bargain. The example seen here is a Black 2005 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet, located in Georgia, with only 15,345 miles on it. The Turbo S was available only in 2005 as basically a 996 Turbo fitted with the X50 Power Package and ceramic brakes. For a performance value these are near impossible to beat.
Lost amidst the rising costs of the entire air-cooled 911 lineup are the cars that still represent an interesting value. Granted, how we conceive of that value certainly has shifted. There simply are very few, if any, $15K 911s out there that are ready to hop in and drive. But an important factor within the 911’s history has been the stoutness of its engines meaning higher mileage examples like the one we see here are still viable for ownership even as they haven’t shown quite the jump in value relative to their lower-mileage brethren. When the 911 comes in an interesting color then all the better, though our value discussion again shifts as rare colors always command a premium. The car featured here is a Granite Green Metallic 1987 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe, located in Alabama, with a complementary Grey Green leather interior and 142,441 miles on it. As it was only available from 1987-1988, this is a color I can’t ever recall coming across and it provides a nice alternative for those interested in one of the darker shades available for the 911, but who also want something that will stand apart and remain a talking point in any parking lot.