The Bahama Yellow 1966 Porsche 912 we featured back in April is back up for sale. The asking price remains unchanged at $75,000 as this top-of-the-market 912 looks for a new owner.
Category: Porsche
For the second of my value-911 posts I will move on to the model that followed upon the success of the 911SC. There is little that separates the 3.2 Carrera aesthetically from its predecessor, so for those in love with the design of the G-Series 911 in general either model makes for an excellent option. As the model name implies, the fundamental distinguishing characteristic of these 911s is their 3.2 liter flat-six as an upgrade over the 3.0 liter engine of the SC. Both engines are fantastically reliable when maintained properly and though their overall character may show small differences these two models stand shoulder to shoulder on nearly every 911 enthusiast’s list of cars to own. With the 3.2 Carrera available from 1984-1989, I have purposely chosen an example from the years prior to 1987 as the change to the G50 5-speed transmission for that model year has garnered the later models quite a bit more attention and as such prices can rise dramatically relative to their earlier peers. The particular example we see here, a Guards Red 1985 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa located in California with 42K miles on it, will come at a premium due to its low mileage, but it seemed too nice to pass up and ultimately, even with the higher initial cost, it should stand an excellent chance of maintaining, or even gaining, in value over the course of its ownership.
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1985 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa on eBay
1 Comment
Like most enthusiasts, I tend to prefer the smaller, air-cooled Porsche 911s of yesteryear. However, one recent 911 keeps vying for my attention, the 997 series 911 GT3RS. Specifically, when it is painted in Porsche Green, such as this early build car for sale in Rhode Island. With a series of lighter weight components, the GT3RS weighs in 44 pounds less than a standard 997 GT3. The RS would serve as a base for homologation that packed 300 bhp per ton. Just under 2,000 examples were produced, with 413 finding their way stateside.
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2007 Porsche 911 GT3RS on eBay
2 Comments
It feels like it’s been a while since I featured a 911 residing closer to the value end of the spectrum so I hope to remedy that with a couple posts for the end of this week. There do still exist wonderful, beautiful, and exciting alternatives that can bring joy to any motoring enthusiast. Sure, prices have risen across the board and, if we’re all honest, you’re not going to get a 911 Turbo for this sort of money – though we shouldn’t forget that the 996TT can be had for very reasonable cost – so performance by modern standards will be good but not the sort of thing to blow you away. Ultimate performance is somewhat beside the point though. Performance almost always will reside in the most modern machines enhanced by constant technological improvements. But the joy of driving, outside of a track, has never been purely about performance. It is into that arena that classic cars begin to make sense and our understanding of value begins to shift. You could find any number of new cars for a similar price as where I’d expect this 911 to sell. Some of them may even out perform this 911, most will surely provide higher levels of refinement and luxury, and many will be more reliable. But few, if any, will provide the kind of feel that connects driver to machine, the sound of the air-cooled engine clattering away behind your head, or the more ephemeral qualities that come with driving a machine with significant automotive history. An air-cooled 911 is rarely cheap, but it has value that most modern cars fail to approach.
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1979 Porsche 911SC Coupe on eBay
2 Comments
So long as I am contributing to GCFSB I will never pass up the chance to do a post on a 964 911, especially a black on with the mono block wheels. This is due partially in part to the fact that as I’ve learned more about classic 911’s I’ve become increasingly fond of the 964 as it is largely the first modern 911. Additionally black 964 911’s remind me of the bad guy’s car in the original Beethoven movie and that was the first time I ever saw a Porsche on the big screen. The movie producers were probably trying to make some kind of statement by having a dog killing scumbag drive a black Porsche but that was lost on me, all I saw was a car that I liked. I’ve gone through phases of swearing that 3.2 Carreras and SCs are the “one’s I’d go for” but at this point it has become clear that given my current living situation and driving habits, the 964 would make the most sense. Unfortunately for me, many other Porsche enthusiasts feel the same way and the popularity of these cars is higher than ever. Still, the occasional deal pops up and I think it’s fair to say that despite not ideal mileage, this example is one of those deals.