Porsche 911 3.0/3.2 models (pre 964)-any good?
Discussion
I'm no expert on these, but ASFAIK, Porsche have galvanised their bodies since the 70s, so rust should not be an issue (unless it's been parked up next to the sea for most of its life).
The drive is a little 'agricultural' compared to a more modern car (I think you should aim for the G50 gearbox to make life easier), and they are not going to be 'fast', when you consider that it's now possible to buy a hot hatch with 300 bhp.
I'd say the 80s whaletales would be a good buy, as they are cheaper and that decade is very much 'in vogue' right now. Just need it in guards red, with some matching braces for yourself and a 'brick' cellphone
The drive is a little 'agricultural' compared to a more modern car (I think you should aim for the G50 gearbox to make life easier), and they are not going to be 'fast', when you consider that it's now possible to buy a hot hatch with 300 bhp.
I'd say the 80s whaletales would be a good buy, as they are cheaper and that decade is very much 'in vogue' right now. Just need it in guards red, with some matching braces for yourself and a 'brick' cellphone
I looked into this a good few years ago and then made sure i got a later one with a G50 box in it, Can't for the life of me remember the exact reason buit something to do with the fly wheel/clutch replacement costs ? i'm sure someone will be able to give better advise but at the time i made sure i didn't get the older model.
TTwiggy said:
I'm no expert on these, but ASFAIK, Porsche have galvanised their bodies since the 70s, so rust should not be an issue (unless it's been parked up next to the sea for most of its life).
The drive is a little 'agricultural' compared to a more modern car (I think you should aim for the G50 gearbox to make life easier), and they are not going to be 'fast', when you consider that it's now possible to buy a hot hatch with 300 bhp.
I'd say the 80s whaletales would be a good buy, as they are cheaper and that decade is very much 'in vogue' right now. Just need it in guards red, with some matching braces for yourself and a 'brick' cellphone
Cheers.The drive is a little 'agricultural' compared to a more modern car (I think you should aim for the G50 gearbox to make life easier), and they are not going to be 'fast', when you consider that it's now possible to buy a hot hatch with 300 bhp.
I'd say the 80s whaletales would be a good buy, as they are cheaper and that decade is very much 'in vogue' right now. Just need it in guards red, with some matching braces for yourself and a 'brick' cellphone
Going fast isn't much of a concern; it's more the enjoyment of an air cooled 6 at a reasonable price that gets the blood pumping. And then there's the character; they also look supoib!
daveco said:
Cheers.
Going fast isn't much of a concern; it's more the enjoyment of an air cooled 6 at a reasonable price that gets the blood pumping. And then there's the character; they also look supoib!
Indeed, lovely things. There's a wonderful guards red 3.2 parked near to my office, and I often detour just to look at it.Going fast isn't much of a concern; it's more the enjoyment of an air cooled 6 at a reasonable price that gets the blood pumping. And then there's the character; they also look supoib!
You'll probably get more technical info in the Porsche section, but I believe that the early(ish) air-cooled units generally require an engine rebuild at some point, so if you're looking at examples north of 100k miles, I'd want to see evidence that it had been done recently(ish).
TTwiggy said:
Indeed, lovely things. There's a wonderful guards red 3.2 parked near to my office, and I often detour just to look at it.
You'll probably get more technical info in the Porsche section, but I believe that the early(ish) air-cooled units generally require an engine rebuild at some point, so if you're looking at examples north of 100k miles, I'd want to see evidence that it had been done recently(ish).
Cheers for the advice TTwiggy You'll probably get more technical info in the Porsche section, but I believe that the early(ish) air-cooled units generally require an engine rebuild at some point, so if you're looking at examples north of 100k miles, I'd want to see evidence that it had been done recently(ish).
They are pretty bombproof old things, one I bring in for service has done 232,000 miles from new without an engine rebuild, the chap still thrashes it around Silverstone from time to time.
The G50 / 915 gearbox is an argument that comes up frequently, the 915 is a much older fashioned gearbox, it takes time to change gear, you can't just slam them through like a modern gearbox. The G50 is a lot more modern, you can just snick it through. A 915 with a short shift kit can feel 80% as nice as a G50 IMO.
Rust wise, not much, the front and rear scuttle panels under the screens, the wheelarches, under the headlights (water collects in the bowl under there), nothing too serious.
Buy the best one you can afford, a cheap one can rapidly become a dear one when you start bringing it up to scratch. Cabs and Targas tend to be cheaper than coupes, check the seals on a Targa and the plastic rear screen of a cab.
I commuted for a while in a 3.2 cabriolet, 60 miles a day, great fun. 3.2s are 231 BHP and pretty lively, 0-60 in 5.6, 152mph top. The beauty with them is learning how to drive them and get the best out of them, RWD and rear engine is so different to most cars that they take some learning. One day, a few weeks into ownership you will slingshot through your favourite set of twisties and it will come together and you'll realise what all the fuss is about with 911s.
The G50 / 915 gearbox is an argument that comes up frequently, the 915 is a much older fashioned gearbox, it takes time to change gear, you can't just slam them through like a modern gearbox. The G50 is a lot more modern, you can just snick it through. A 915 with a short shift kit can feel 80% as nice as a G50 IMO.
Rust wise, not much, the front and rear scuttle panels under the screens, the wheelarches, under the headlights (water collects in the bowl under there), nothing too serious.
Buy the best one you can afford, a cheap one can rapidly become a dear one when you start bringing it up to scratch. Cabs and Targas tend to be cheaper than coupes, check the seals on a Targa and the plastic rear screen of a cab.
I commuted for a while in a 3.2 cabriolet, 60 miles a day, great fun. 3.2s are 231 BHP and pretty lively, 0-60 in 5.6, 152mph top. The beauty with them is learning how to drive them and get the best out of them, RWD and rear engine is so different to most cars that they take some learning. One day, a few weeks into ownership you will slingshot through your favourite set of twisties and it will come together and you'll realise what all the fuss is about with 911s.
markmullen said:
They are pretty bombproof old things, one I bring in for service has done 232,000 miles from new without an engine rebuild, the chap still thrashes it around Silverstone from time to time.
The G50 / 915 gearbox is an argument that comes up frequently, the 915 is a much older fashioned gearbox, it takes time to change gear, you can't just slam them through like a modern gearbox. The G50 is a lot more modern, you can just snick it through. A 915 with a short shift kit can feel 80% as nice as a G50 IMO.
Rust wise, not much, the front and rear scuttle panels under the screens, the wheelarches, under the headlights (water collects in the bowl under there), nothing too serious.
Buy the best one you can afford, a cheap one can rapidly become a dear one when you start bringing it up to scratch. Cabs and Targas tend to be cheaper than coupes, check the seals on a Targa and the plastic rear screen of a cab.
I commuted for a while in a 3.2 cabriolet, 60 miles a day, great fun. 3.2s are 231 BHP and pretty lively, 0-60 in 5.6, 152mph top. The beauty with them is learning how to drive them and get the best out of them, RWD and rear engine is so different to most cars that they take some learning. One day, a few weeks into ownership you will slingshot through your favourite set of twisties and it will come together and you'll realise what all the fuss is about with 911s.
Excellent advice, cheers Mark!The G50 / 915 gearbox is an argument that comes up frequently, the 915 is a much older fashioned gearbox, it takes time to change gear, you can't just slam them through like a modern gearbox. The G50 is a lot more modern, you can just snick it through. A 915 with a short shift kit can feel 80% as nice as a G50 IMO.
Rust wise, not much, the front and rear scuttle panels under the screens, the wheelarches, under the headlights (water collects in the bowl under there), nothing too serious.
Buy the best one you can afford, a cheap one can rapidly become a dear one when you start bringing it up to scratch. Cabs and Targas tend to be cheaper than coupes, check the seals on a Targa and the plastic rear screen of a cab.
I commuted for a while in a 3.2 cabriolet, 60 miles a day, great fun. 3.2s are 231 BHP and pretty lively, 0-60 in 5.6, 152mph top. The beauty with them is learning how to drive them and get the best out of them, RWD and rear engine is so different to most cars that they take some learning. One day, a few weeks into ownership you will slingshot through your favourite set of twisties and it will come together and you'll realise what all the fuss is about with 911s.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
Saw this the other week for under £10k and it looked a real beauty, and not far from us.
My missus wouldn't let me get a loan for it though, even when I convinced her that with both of us stopping smoking we could afford it.
Saw this the other week for under £10k and it looked a real beauty, and not far from us.
My missus wouldn't let me get a loan for it though, even when I convinced her that with both of us stopping smoking we could afford it.
What do you mean by 'Good'?
Its a development of an early 60's model and it shows. So don't expect refinement, effective ventillation, massive performance, foolproof handling, 20k mile menu servicing or ABS/ASC and other TLA's.
However, its small, has a real nuggety feel, a compliant ride, needs to be *really* driven, has plenty of performance, looks great, gets a welcome reception on the roads, and (if looked after) won't suffer from depreciation.
You need to try one, then look at plenty. There are lots of stories out there, a cheap one doesn't really exist.
SS7
Its a development of an early 60's model and it shows. So don't expect refinement, effective ventillation, massive performance, foolproof handling, 20k mile menu servicing or ABS/ASC and other TLA's.
However, its small, has a real nuggety feel, a compliant ride, needs to be *really* driven, has plenty of performance, looks great, gets a welcome reception on the roads, and (if looked after) won't suffer from depreciation.
You need to try one, then look at plenty. There are lots of stories out there, a cheap one doesn't really exist.
SS7
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff