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Tag: 1978

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1978 Porsche 911SC Coupe

Yesterday we took a look at a 1989 MY 3.2 Carrera, the last of the classic 911s, and today we will turn the clock back a little bit further to take a look at the first year of the 911SC. As discussed in yesterday’s post, 1978 and 1989 bookend an important period for the 911 and Porsche in general and, just as importantly for our purposes here, all of the cars from this period remain in high demand though also can be found for decent value. That value becomes especially noticeable when looking at the 911SC. The SC came along following a slightly rough patch for the 911 as the mid-year cars, which had followed upon the very well regarded 2.4 liter long-hood models (as well as the legendary Carrera RS), appeared to be a significant step backward for the marque. Hampered by restrictive emissions equipment dulling engine power and fitted with impact bumpers that took some time to adapt to, the mid-year 911 has struggled to capture the hearts of Porsche fans for quite a while now. There are always exceptions, of course, and the cars did get better as we moved toward 1978 and the release of the 911SC, but that release still marked a turning point and escape from the wilderness. Fitted with a near bullet proof 3.0 liter flat-six the SC now brought the 911’s performance and reliability back to where enthusiasts expected it and the gradual evolution of the design had begun to win over more and more fans. Here we have a nice first-year example: a Black 1978 Porsche 911SC Coupe, located in California, with 103,900 miles on it.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1978 Porsche 911SC Coupe on eBay

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1978 Mercedes-Benz 450SLC Euro-spec

By 1978, the C107 was fairly long in the tooth. It wasn’t so much that it was an antiquated design; sure, it was 7 years old but let’s not forget that the R107 convertible version would soldier on for another amazing 10 years, meaning it was one of the longest lived Mercedes-Benz chassis ever. But the personal coupe had two issues – one was from within, with a new big coupe launching in the early 1980s in the W126 chassis. The much more modern C126 effectively negated the purpose of the C107. But the real issue was the competition from BMW, and more importantly Porsche – both of which managed to thoroughly out-class the sports coupe. The E24 was a much more modern and sporty car; though it had a smaller inline-6 motor and no V8 was available, the E24 was several hundred pounds lighter than the C107 and much more of a sporty coupe. But the real revolution was Porsche’s new front-engined Grand Tourer, the 928. Porsche managed to get both more power and more sport out of its interpretation of the GT car, making the C107 seem decidedly dated in comparison. Now a few generations on, finding clean 6s from the 1970s is near impossible in the U.S., and while there are 928s out there, rightly or wrongly they have a certain reputation as complicated cars that are hard to keep running correctly (or, at very least, quite expensive to). The result? The C107 may be the best 1970s personal sports coupe value these days:

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1978 Mercedes-Benz 450SLC on eBay

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1978 Porsche 928

In the realm of Porsche 928s, there are two models to keep an eye on these days. The ultimate version of this GT car, the 928GTS and very early versions, such as this mint 1978 928 with only 34,709 miles and equipped with the desirable 5-speed manual gearbox. This example comes to us from our reader Joe, who is friends with the folks over at 928 Classics. This 928 is listed concurrently in our Self Service Classifieds and is a very early model, serial number 0241. There are a few issues on this one to iron out, but nothing major. In silver with Pinstripe cloth, it’s a livery that still looks fresh to this day.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1978 Porsche 928 on GCFSB Self Service Classifieds

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Coupe Week Double Take: 1977 and 1978 Volkswagen Sciroccos

Just because you want to partake in Coupe Week doesn’t mean that you have to have the deepest pockets. For a modest investment, you can get top-notch designer styling mated to a reliable and economical engine that’s still fun to drive. That’s certainly what Volkswagen sought to achieve with the introduction of its Giugiaro-styled Scirocco. While based upon the pedestrian mechanicals of the sibling Golf/Rabbit, the Scirocco capitalized on a sportier look but was backed up by a substantial racing program undertaken by Volkswagen to promote the car. Despite good looks and a devoted following though, the Scirocco unfortunately has fallen a victim to time, the tin worm and low residual value, meaning few remain in pristine shape unlike the more expensive coupes from Stuttgart and Munich. So it was a special treat when two of our readers sent in dueling 1978 and 1977 Sciroccos this week; one original and one rebuilt. Which is the winner?

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1978 Volkswagen Scirocco on The Samba

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Motorsports Monday: Ex-Joest 1978 Porsche 935

Even though they don’t generally get the big headlines, arguably the Porsche 934 and 935 were the most important car in developing the racing history and reputation of Porsche. While the 356 and early 911s were certainly notable, it was in the mid-1970s with the introduction of turbocharged 911 in 935 form that Porsche developed a sizable following of independents who raced the all-conquering Turbos. In turn, it was these race successes that convinced enthusiasts that the Porsche 930 was THE car to have. The 935 was, in many ways, a development of the earlier 934. Wide flares coupled with wheels and brakes from the prototype category 917 and 936 gave a purposeful and classic look. While the roofline and doors remained effectively the same as the production cars, few other details matched what you could buy at the dealer. One of the biggest developments was the aerodynamic “Slantnose” developed with help from Kremer; it would become the signature look for not only the 935s but also the most expensive versions of the 930 in the 1980s. The 935 also helped breach the gap in between the 917 program and the start of the 956/962; while the 936s were the direct transference between the two, it would be the 935 that would carry the Porsche flag around the world. Amongst the notable wins for the 935 were around 150 international victories including all-out victory at Le Mans in 1979 and multiple wins at both Sebring and Daytona. All of the top-tier racers of the day drove them, and top teams that still race today cut their teeth on the 935, such as todays example run by Reinhold Joest:

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1978 Porsche 935 Kremer K1 on racecarsdirect

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