Q – I am interested in finding an early 70’s 911. I love the simplicity of the early cars. Where is the best place to shop for a car, which version is the most reliable, and are there any pitfalls for a carbureted 911? Once I find that car, how much should I budget for repairs? Thank You. Tom
A – First, if you picked up this copy of the P4 at a shop and aren’t a member of the Porsche Club, quit mooching, fill out the form, and join! You can join for six months if you do not own a Porsche and that should give you enough time to find a really nice one. Rarely do you find a great car on Craigslist; but look anyway. The reverse to your question might be: “where do I sell my Porsche”? My friend John found a great car on Craigslist at a very low price because the seller was uninformed about where to sell it and how to price it. You just never know! For price comparison and the nicest cars, check the Panorama, regional newsletters and Excellence magazine. The best cars usually stay within the club. You should also leave you name and number at some of the local shops. Occasionally a client will say “If you know anyone interested in buying this car, let them know about it”.
I prefer southern or western cars but I would consider a non-winter driven Midwestern car. ( That is how my Dad found his.) For obvious reasons, you absolutely must have it inspected by a specialist or a qualified shop you are comfortable with, BEFORE you buy it. Expect to spend some money if you want to get a thorough inspection, you should find their advice priceless. Then get a rough estimate for the cost of repairs.
I am tired of carburetors. I am a fan of the Bosch fuel injection systems. Although they may not be as fast as a 911 with Weber Carbs, I would not recommend a carbureted car unless you plan to regularly drive it and are comfortable using a fire extinguisher. Carbureted cars can be a pain in the butt! If you don’t drive them frequently, seals and gaskets tend to dry out in storage and if a component fails, they can leak fuel! For an occasionally driven car, fuel injection is far easier to live with and much easier to maintain.
Regarding the price, spend half to two thirds of your total budget for the car and save the rest for repairs and updates. My cliché is: “Good cars are not cheap and cheap cars are usually not good”. If you have a major expense, like an engine overhaul, you could easily spend up to twenty thousand repairing the damage and restoring the car to like new driving condition. That might be all well and good to you, but if you have to sell that expense to your better half, you might be wise to prepare them for the possibility up front.
A great guy with a very nice car went through this very process and although he started with an excellent car, he did not expect to replace the engine, clutch, axle joints, etc. When his wife found out what he spent, she hit the roof and demanded that he sell the car! That car can now be purchased for a fraction of his repair bill. So don’t let that happen to you. MC