Air-Cooled Mystery: 1971 Porsche 911

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It’s amazing how little you can say about a car these days if it’s the right vehicle. When it comes to air-cooled Porsches, even within a cooling market, you can still know (or pretend to know) relatively little and still generate worthwhile bids for your project. That’s certainly the case with this 1971 Porsche 911 listed here on eBay and already commanding bids to almost $22,000 with unknown engine health.

I’m not at all suggesting the seller isn’t trying to sell the car as transparently as possible; quite the opposite. He’s just responding to what the market will bear. He has no idea if the car will run or what it will require to make it run, just that it currently doesn’t. The listing also acknowledges it will need new floors. That’s it – and boom, bids to $22,000. It’s pretty amazing. Now, here’s hoping someone who is bidding has gone to look at the car in person, but I wouldn’t be surprised if no one has laid a hand on it.

At the end of the day, it looks pretty clean. The dash doesn’t even appear to be cracked. The aftermarket radio is a bummer but also to be expected by this juncture. Any 911 that hasn’t been kept in a wrapper or otherwise preserved for long-term care is going to have an aftermarket radio in it. While it may need floors, they don’t appear to be showing any daylight here, and other interior photos reveal bucket seats in serviceable condition and a decent headliner.

The engine may run with a weekends’ worth of work, as these old air-cooled motors aren’t terribly complex. And frankly, for a 911 that’s clearly been in driver status for some time, the odds are good the engine has previously been replaced. If you can get into this 911 for under $30,000 (unlikely), you have a car that will easily be worth more than that once it’s in running condition and the floor condition is at least better documented. It’s a shame this seller doesn’t realize that, as he’s likely leaving over $10,000 on the table presenting it as he currently has.

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Comments

  1. bobhess bobhessMember

    The front end wreck damage is going to be the biggest challenge here. That and the engine don’t warrant the present bid price. Going to be an expensive rebuild.

    Like 10
    • James

      What do you see Bob?

      Like 0
      • bobhess bobhessMember

        Hit the eBay link and there is a good underside shot of the front end that shows the damage.

        Like 4
  2. GIJOOOE

    Very few cars are more expensive to restore, or even get running, than a Porsche of any era. Yes, air cooled 911 prices have gone down recently but they’re still unreasonable for the relative performance you’re paying a premium for. I remember reading an article in Car & Driver a while back that claimed that the flat 6 in a Porsche is THE MOST EXPENSIVE engine to rebuild, repair or build for more power out of any European car of any era. I don’t know if that’s true, I’ve never owned a Porsche but I do aspire to have one someday.

    Having said that, this era 911 is highly coveted among Porsche enthusiasts and will probably sell for a lot more than what most people would consider affordable

    Like 4
  3. Steveo

    No comment about the bondo letting loose on the left qtr panel?

    Like 1
    • KurtMember

      Yikes. No bueno.

      Like 2
  4. Jake Loring

    Apparent front end collision visible from below and other items that ensure this is a vehicle that who ever pays up will be paying someone dearly for a restoration and engine rebuild….walk no run as this is selling for stupid money

    Like 4
  5. Mountainwoodie

    Having had two early longhoods, a ’67 911 S Targa and a ’70 911T, both very straight and original at least as far as the drivetrain.I would stay clear of anything that needs frame and pan replacement and possible engine rebuild. Of coure an in-person exam by a P car shop would be the predicate before buying this one. That and a willingness to drop tens of thousands of dollars before you even get a running and driving worthy P car. But boy do I love the 901 P cars. Should never have sold my ’70.

    Like 4
  6. Jeff Quintrall

    “Caveat Emptor “. Is that the cave is empty, or buyer, beware?

    Like 2
  7. Jimbosidecar

    There is daylight in the floor pan just behind the gas pedal. But it looks like it could be patched. That’s the least of the problems it looks like.

    Like 1

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