For most of us, the reason we read these pages – or write for them – comes from a certain passion for driving. Some may be in search of interesting cars for a collection, but even collectors began their hobby from that basic foundation of a love of cars. The desire for vintage cars then stems from a nostalgic longing for an idol from our youth, or a driving experience that is more analog, connected, and human. Or just a mixture of all of these things. No matter what the cause we always return to driving itself and vintage cars can raise an impediment: price. There is a price for nostalgia. Limited remaining supply mean that few vintage cars are cheap and all will need, or will have had, extensive work either to keep them in good condition or return them to good condition. For those of us who are fans of the 911, the iconic stature of the car itself raises those costs in every regard and for most the cost becomes prohibitive. But if you must have all the beauty of that original design married to the lightness and simplicity found in most any vintage automobile, then you’ve got to find a way around these problems of cost. The 911 we see here I think offers some nice possibilities, though given that it appears to be in turn-key condition the bidding has come up to a point where we’d hardly consider it inexpensive. Still, it has promise. Here we have a Light Yellow over Black 1971 Porsche 911T Sunroof Coupe, located in Philadelphia, with 80,959 miles on it.
Tag: Porsche
Do you like apples? No, this isn’t a Good Will Hunting joke. The color combination on this 1979 Porsche 930 reminds me very much of a green apple. It’s a bit more jolly rancher green than actual green apple green, but still that’s what comes to mind. Is that a good thing? Well, that takes us back to the question at the beginning. It’s definitely unique and I do think I prefer the tan over a black interior, which is probably more common with this sort of exterior color, but I think I’d need to see it in person to really get a good sense of how everything works together. For the 1978 model year Porsche increased the displacement of the 930’s engine from 3.0 liters to 3.3 liters and added an air-to-air intercooler, easily identifiable by the change in profile of the rear spoiler, which gave the 930 a nice bump in power – up 20 hp to 265 hp on US models. Perhaps of most significance here, 1979 was the last year the 930 would be available in the US until it was reintroduced in 1986. That tends to make them in higher demand than some of the later models, though not nearly as much so as the early 3.0 liter models.
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1979 Porsche 930 on eBay
3 CommentsThe Mercedes-Benz 500E needs no introduction here at GCFSB. But consider this was a luxury sedan that was edging 330 horsepower in an era when many mid-sized sedans could barely muster 150 horsepower. Rather impressive for a four-door in its day, then. This Porsche-built four-door express is getting its fair shake in the market after years of sitting in relative obscurity. Currently, excellent examples can edge $40,000 or more. This 1993 500E for sale in Northern Virginia has just passed the 50,000 mark and has little to fault with it. Will this pull the big money? Let’s take a look…
Click for details: 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500E on eBay
4 CommentsIt isn’t hard at all to see the appeal of the 993 and why values barely seem to have ever waned. That these were the last of the air-cooled 911s is well known and carries with it ton of cachet. But it is its aesthetic qualities that carry the day even more as they represent an easily identifiable evolution of the design from the 911’s debut in the mid-60s. That the design of the 996, which followed upon the 993, has been so derided has only served to further enhance the already stellar reputation of the 993 itself. It is almost as if there is a sense that the 911’s evolution ceased with the 993; the 996 is viewed as a separate species that has branched off from the original and its genetic traits, while enabling the model to survive in renewed form, are actually deemed less desirable. All of this comes together to build an icon. While all examples of the 993 are in high demand it is the wide-body designs that really force buyers to submit to temptation. Of all the air-cooled 911s the 993 wears the wider rear better than any other. Most of the others look good, but the 993 looks completed. The wider rear fills out its curves better than on previous models and it all comes together in a package that is both aggressive and beautiful. There really is a lot to love. The example we see here is a Zenith Blue Metallic 1997 Porsche 911 Carrera S, located in Connecticut, with Blue leather interior and 50,500 miles on it.
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1997 Porsche 911 Carrera S on eBay
1 CommentThey may look their age, but the 3.2 Carrera still manages to catch my eye. Some of that allure is nostalgic, but I think there’s more to it than that. They appear much lighter and with less wasted space than any of the modern 911s. I’ll admit in some colors, or just when they haven’t been well cared for, they can look boring or just plain old. But in good condition or in particular colors I’m drawn in and love to look these over. I don’t know exactly why I encounter that variance, but maybe others find the same. Either way, the one we see here is one of those that caught my eye: a dark blue over black 1986 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe, located in Alabama, with 152,788 miles on it.