by John Glynn | Jan 22, 2013 | Market & Prices, Project Cars
Here’s one to watch for if you’re looking at Porsche 996s for sale: rust around the door latch mounting points.
This is a common problem on earlier cars, but I didn’t think was that bad on later cars with arch liners. But while older cars rust from the back of the latch to the front, starting inside the wheel well, these cars are rusting from front to the rear. It’s pretty common on the 996 and does tend to come from the front. Early 996s get it worst: on models pre-2000, prob 30% of them have this and some pretty badly.”
You could rub this particular case down and paint it, but if Porsche rust repairs are not done properly, they will always come back. The big question is where else is rusting? If it’s happening here, the rest is at risk, too. Put it on your checklist.
The second pic shows ongoing body repairs on a Porsche 964 bought by a customer as accident damaged, with new front wings replacing rusty ones and good quality second hand parts used in a few other places. Looks a bit patchwork at present, but is heading off to paint later on.
by John Glynn | Jan 20, 2013 | Classic Porsche Blog, Market & Prices
Just had an interesting comment from Greg on our recent record-price Porsche 912 story. Greg is apparently a former owner of the car and says:
I used to own this car when it was blue! Originally green and it had done over 300,000 miles when I owned it. Yes, it was probably the best car I owned ( and still would love to! ). But at that price I’d hope there had been a lot of work done. If anyone buys it I still have a few bits for it that would increase its value as they are from that car.
If this is true, it’s quite a turn up for the books: makes the proposition even more discussion worthy. No history for its early life, but a seemingly full restoration later on, albeit not in original colour. Assuming the value is lower than the asking price, does the mileage the chassis has done make a difference at this end of the market?
I have no early history for my Carrera 3.0 (above) and the engine is not the original. Donated by a write off, it’s said to have 90k miles on the clock, but I don’t know that for sure. It made no difference to me when buying it as I intended to rebuilt it anyway. The car has some very nice parts fited and work done, and I know what it would cost to replace, so that would be the basis for an asking price if it ever came up for sale.
On that same cost-to-construct basis with an eye on prices elsewhere, this 1965 Porsche 912 is priced in the ball park. Question is the same as with all of these cars: is there a buyer at that sort of money?
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by John Glynn | Jan 12, 2013 | Classic Porsche Blog, Market & Prices
Having a quick flick through the DDK classifieds this morning and spotted a link to this beautiful 1965 Porsche 912 for sale. Couldn’t believe the price – is it a record? For overseas users, £38k is $61k US or €46k EU.
From the ad: “The car has had a full, cost no object, restoration and has been stripped to bare metal and sprayed by Brookfield Classics to their usual incredible high standards. The restoration is 3 years old and the car has only covered around 1500 miles to shows etc and has lived in a protective bubble since. I firmly believe this to be the finest restored early 912 available.
“The interior is all new and the engine bay is equally concours condition. The car was a US import in the 90’s and has a massive history file with bills way back into the 70’s and even the original US plate. The engine is not a matching number to the car but is strong and runs faultlessly. All in all this is a beautiful car of the highest standards and a real investment with this being a short wheel base, 3 dial early car and 912 prices rising.”
The price gap from best 911s to best 912s is always a bone of contention. If I was doing a classic Porsche insurance valuation for this car, I’m guessing I might be in the £30k-band, but as an asking price in private sale that number seems a bit of a challenge. I’m interested in hearing your thoughts.
Not saying it won’t get it or that 912s are a problem. Stay cool, 912ers.
by John Glynn | Nov 22, 2012 | Classic Porsche Blog, Porsche People
We had a nice little session on Ferdinand’s Facebook page last night, where I opened the wall for a couple of hours to let Porsche friends post their answers to the question: “what shape does The Cult of Porsche take through your eyes?”
Holly Ragan Krueger shared this pic of her 912, before telling me the story of the car and making it a must-write blog post.
“My dad bought this 1968 912 in Florida in 1977,” said Holly. “I still have the two-line notarised bill of sale for $3,990. He drove it across the US and up the ALCAN highway with my brother, my mom and I following in a Ford pick up. My dad was a great old-school mechanic and he restored the car in Fairbanks, Arkansas next to his 356. He moved the cars to Georgia in 1987, then replaced the Solex with rebuilt Solex in ’89: he was such a purist.
“I drove her up to Minnesota in 1997. This ’68 912 is the only Porsche I’ve owned. I’ve paid mechanics a fortune to work on her, and spent many frustrating hours trying to work on her myself. 912 projects take me forever because I don’t know what I’m doing, but it’s worth it because I learn so much and then I’m that much closer to really understanding the car. I like to think what I lack in skill I make up for in determination.
“I replaced the fuel tank this past summer, which turned out to be a lot more than just sliding in a new tank. I had a shop replace the Solex with Webers this October, but I still need to balance the carbs and I think adjust the linkage too. I’m not sure how to do that, but I bribed my brother to send me some tools, so if I feel reasonably confident I’ll try to do the work myself. If I can’t I’ll have a shop do it.
“This coming spring I’d like to get some touch-up work done on the paint and replace my muffler. If everything goes well, I’d also like to clean up the engine, paint the fan cover, get new stickers, etc. I’m looking forward to this spring because I’ve met some local enthusiasts and found a few car events I can attend.
“All Porsches are special, but learning how to work on this old car is what makes this Porsche special to me.”
What a great story, perfect for Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving to Holly, her family and all our American Porsche friends and family around the world. Enjoy the holidays and share the love!
by John Glynn | Oct 5, 2012 | Classic Porsche Blog, Porsche News
Amelia Island Concours is the latest event to announce it will ‘honour’ the Porsche 911 in 2013, on the model’s 50th birthday.
The 2013 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, scheduled for March 9-10 in Amelia Island, Florida will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 911. These announcements always smack of “let’s haul in the Porsche dollars” but I guess there’s some sense in it, and for sure the show has its fans.
Amelia was at the centre of heavy Porsche action earlier this year with the Drendel Collection sale, and Florida is home to some hardcore Porsche enthusiasts, so there’s a strong local market. I live tweeted the Drendel sale on my Classic Porsche Blog if you don’t know what happened there.
“The profile of Porsche’s 911 is instantly recognizable,” said Bill Warner, Chairman of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. “The 911’s shape has remained fresh, contemporary and essentially unchanged since the day the first 911 was built a half century ago. That must be the best and purist (sic) definition of a truly great design.”
The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance Foundation has donated nearly $1.8 million to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, Inc. and other charities on Florida’s First Coast since its inception in 1996. Concours/show & shines are really not my thing, but kudos for the charity work. As a small percentage of takings, it shows just what these big events can earn over time.
About the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance
The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance is held each year during the second weekend in March in Amelia Island, Florida. A New York Times article about celebrity car ownership listed the event alongside America’s other top concours d’elegance: Pebble Beach in California, Meadow Brook in Michigan and the Louis Vuitton Classic in Manhattan.
In a Concours d’Elegance (competition of elegance) each entry is rated for authenticity, function, history, style and quality of restoration by a team of judges including specialists for each car type. A perfect score is 100, but any imperfection requires a fractional point deduction. Classes are arranged by type, marque, coachbuilder, country of origin, or time period. Judges select prizewinners for each class, and also award “Best of Show” to one car from the group of first-place winners.
