by John Glynn | Mar 30, 2014 | Classic Porsche Blog, Market & Prices
Another year, another Essen Techno Classica. The 2014 show weather was gorgeous all the way through, prompting a half day sitting by the Rhine, watching the world go by rather than slogging around seventeen halls of old cars.
In three days, we ate enough pork to fill a 911 and drank enough beer to sink one. We ended up driving in Jezza’s Saab diesel estate, which did all the European miles on one tank of fuel: impressive. Even more impressive was the amount of Merlot he crammed into it on the way out of France.
There are always Porsches at Essen, but definitely felt like a lesser presence than in previous years. Some very lovely 356s, a handful of pre-68 911s and not as many impact bumper (IB) cars as two years ago. I spotted one or two 928s, but 924s and 944s were thin on the ground.
The 964 population was reasonable. This yellow 964 Speedster below was tucked in one hall: seemed like a sensible Essen price circa €120k but I didn’t study it too hard after finding a few details lacking. The Lemon Yellow 3.2 Speedster up top was a favourite car this trip: one for the lottery wish list.
You’ll need a lottery win if rising IB Speedster prices keep at it. One of my travelling companions owns a 3.2 Speedster in black with less than 20k miles and full Porsche history. As a low-mileage narrow-body 3.2 Speedster recently sold for £250k at auction, he’s overdue an updated insurance valuation.
Life doesn’t get much better than a road trip into Germany with beer-loving friends. I highly advise you to follow my lead.
by John Glynn | Feb 23, 2014 | Classic Porsche Blog, Market & Prices
The market for used Porsche cars of all ages continues to exceed most expectations. I say ‘most’, as I assume someone out there expected this, but I certainly didn’t. Air-cooled classics are still flying along, and collectable water-cooled models are also doing well. Internet asking prices tell one story but less well known are the cars that sell behind the scenes, without ever being advertised.
Scarcely a week goes by without an email offering to buy my Orange 1976 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 Coupe, or asking for help finding a well priced project, be it 911 or 944 Cabriolet (just had one of those mails). When I’m offered a project, or asked for advice on where to sell project cars, I point people towards eBay, as I believe in the market and that is where the market decides, or where you get the offer that leads to an early sale.
Away from the exposure of eBay is a different market, fuelled by collectors leveraging networks to find the real gems. I’m not talking silly-money Carrera RS, but slightly closer to normal. The 993 RS and 996 GT3 seen here are good examples of sought-after Porsches, recently sold without being advertised. If I was building a collection for the future, both of these would have been on my list, as would the 964 Turbo which also sold to the 993RS buyer.
If you’re watching the classifieds looking for a bargain collectable, you might be wasting your time. Try emailing those with good connections to a wide range of trade and private contacts. Yes, you’ll give some margin away to a dealer to buy off-radar, beyond reach of the market, but if you pay 5% over the odds and the market jumps 20% between here and the end of 2015*, then so what?
These “private trade” sales are where independent dealerships score big-time over official Porsche centres. Don’t be afraid to discuss your intentions with respected independent specialists. Ask for personal recommendations and find the really good ones: don’t accept everything you read on forums. Do your own research and use common sense.
*note: this is not a market prediction!
by John Glynn | Feb 2, 2014 | Classic Porsche Blog, Market & Prices
Former BFG Porsche 962 motorsport PR chief Michael Hodges has returned to his desk following an inspirational trip to the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, and sends details of a classic 1968 911 coming up for sale at Brooklands Historic Auction next month (March 8th).
“Restored by the current vendor to a very high standard, this fine example should whet the appetite of any serious Porsche collector,” says the auction description. “This is, without doubt, one of the finest 911’s we have seen for some time.”
I note that Silverstone Auctions also has a 1976 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 Targa in their Race Retro sale, on 22nd-23rd February. Originally a Silver Sportomatic, it is now McQueen Slate Grey with a manual gearbox.
The early car is estimated 42-48k, but who knows what might happen on the day. The C3 Targa is no reserve, but I wouldn’t expect it to be cheap, as it looks good in grey on 15″ Fuchs. 90k miles too, which is roughly same as my engine with a few snapped head studs.
Targa paint is pretty recent so have a good look at the body. The interior looks original and is super rare. Please don’t change it if you buy the car: that is very cool. Consider going back to Silver and don’t be too worried about the Sporto. Our friends at Racing Restorations are very good with Porsche paint and body restoration.
![Porsche sales 2013: 162,000 cars delivered]()
by John Glynn | Jan 9, 2014 | Market & Prices, Porsche News
We have just seen the record figures for Porsche sales 2013. The unsurprising news came as the UK announced the best year for car sales since 2007, and BMW subsidiary, Rolls-Royce, also posted record sales for the fourth year in a row.
Rolls-Royce delivered 3,630 cars to customers in 2013. Fastest growing markets were the Middle East (up 17%) and China (up 11%). Rolls’ CEO intriguingly told reporters that the company was looking at new designs, including a potential 4×4 model.
In comparison, the volume-oriented Porsche brand saw stronger growth through 2013. Total Porsche deliveries for 2013 was 162,415: a 15% increase on the 2012 total. Sales in Asia and the Middle East rose over 20%, with China close behind.
The USA remains Porsche’s biggest single market, with 42,000 cars delivered in 2013: 20% up on last year. China’s 37,000 sales can be heard snapping at America’s heels. Sales to the Red Star must be set to overtake the US this year, assuming unrestricted supply.
Biggest Porsche seller is still the Cayenne, clocking up half of Porsche’s total production, with 82,000 cars sold. Zero surprise when you know how good this car is at everything.
The challenge for a 4wd Rolls Royce is delivering something capable off-road, which still delivers that heavyweight Rolls Royce experience without feeling like a military vehicle. The driving experience is unlikely to match a Cayenne, but it won’t have to do this to sell.
by John Glynn | Dec 26, 2013 | Classic Porsche Blog, Market & Prices
My next building project is knocking down our old lean-to garage to build a new extension, so I had a good Stephen’s Day clear out in the current garage today, dragging some stuff out for eBay, including some Carrera 3.0 bits and pieces which I don’t think I’m going to need on my car.
Flicking around eBay at various 911 bits and bobs to get an idea on selling prices, I found this: a 1976 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 Coupe for sale with just 93,000 miles, which may have been driven by Sir Elton John. The first Elton John Porsche I have ever heard about.
Owned by Sir Elton’s Limited company – William A Bong Ltd – from 1976 to 1981, the silver Carrera 3.0 went to its second owner at 57,000 miles. It’s had three more owners since, and is not exactly factory fresh, with a few wrong bits and various shades of silver suggesting some work has been done on the body over the years.
On eBay at £34k, it’s advertised elsewhere for under £30k and has been around for a few months, so might be bought cheaper. I doubt it owes the dealer anything like £30k, and for sure there is work to do to bring it back to A1 condition. Nevertheless, it may be worth a follow up.
Whilst not a diehard fan, I like a lot of Sir Elton’s music (Songs from the West Coast – brilliant) and find his wit, career and performance ethic quite inspiring. No doubt Sir Elton has been a key player in pop culture since the early 1970s. Perhaps more associated with British cars – Rolls Royce, Jaguar and Bentley – an Elton John Porsche is a rare beast. Given the amount of spare time Elton has to go driving around, I find it difficult to believe that he clocked up 57,000 miles in this 911, so maybe it was an MDs car or similar.
With investment in mind, it’s perhaps a better idea to look at this as a lowish-volume air-cooled 911 hardtop in need of some work and price accordingly. Finding a RHD C3 Coupe still with the right engine is rare enough, but those miles and the possibility of a celeb owner for the first five years of life do give it an extra spoon of Stuttgart sugar.
by John Glynn | Dec 21, 2013 | Classic Porsche Blog, Market & Prices
Just reading an (unpublished) draft post from a few years back on my Classic Porsche Blog, where I spotted a perfectly-preserved 1977 911S Targa in the corner of Tuthill’s yard and mused on how the 2.7 S Targa was once the runt of the 911 line – I mean the absolute worst car you could possibly aspire to – but now would be valued at £30k+ for insurance. Anyone who thinks a 2.5 Boxster Tip will never go up in value should remember the 911S. Porsche may have built thousands, but one day there won’t be so many.
Over breakfast, BBC 6 Music played a 1977 Peel session track from The Jam, introducing it with a BBC interview with the band from the same year. “Are you punks?” asked the interviewer. “This time last year, everyone under 20 who played music was a punk,” said Bruce Foxton with a very deft negative. “If you tell me what punk is, I’ll tell you if we fit,” said Weller with another. “We just want to play, to keep getting better, and not be shoved in a bracket. You can already hear music that’s going to last coming out of the movement.”
The trio’s music has certainly lasted. I’ve still got a 6-disc CD changer in my Cayenne (albeit about to go), and one of those discs is The Jam’s “In the City“. Still a visceral listening experience, it’s an electric ropeladder of escape from three guys who know their music has to reach out and be real. Reviewing the album for Record Mirror (who remembers that?!), Barry Cain wrote: “armed and extremely dangerous, The Jam stalk the decrepit grooves. If you don’t like them, hard luck: they’re going to be around for a long time. Seldom do albums actually reflect pre-20 delusions, but this one does.”
The best new music of 1977 continues to engage new listeners. I’m thinking The Jam, Donna Summer/Giorgio Moroder, Sex Pistols, or Billy Joel’s The Stranger (instantly wish I was in New York every time). In such lofty aural company, flat six sounds from a 911 Targa seem to sit just right. No wonder values are rising for cars this classic.
