A mismatch between the competence of the car and the verbiage advertising it for sale is not uncommon, and here’s another example: what could be a superb 1981 Porsche 911 SC coupe, used for weekend driving, is described in only the briefest of listings here on eBay. All the same, bidding has reached $56,109, and there is no longer a reserve in play. This car is located in Los Angeles, California. It was owned by the seller’s father who used it on weekends; he passed in 2023 and the car is now for sale. The SC name was last used for the 356 SC produced starting in 1964; the initials stood for Super Carrera. The SC shared its wider body shell with the earlier 911 Carrera, with minor details including painted mirrors and later, fender-mounted side markers differentiating the two cars.
The seller – who is brand new to eBay – gives assurances of regular maintenance and a warning that the car is sold “as is”, but no other descriptive details are offered. The odometer is quoted at 85,000 miles but an entry on the AutoCheck report records the mileage under the fourth and last registered owner in 1999 at 270,000, consistent with the two prior owners’ entries, when mileage was noted at about 269,000 each time. Four owners are shown in a history that goes back to 1989. In late 2024, the car failed an emissions inspection in California.
No engine bay photo is included; in fact, we’re working with just six photos in all, three of them slight variations on this interior. Pedal wear stands out and the steering wheel finish is scuffed, but the seats appear to have held up well. Curiously, someone twisted the tachometer so the redline is roughly at noon. Hm.
The factory engine would be a rear-mounted, air-cooled 3.0 liter flat-six; this engine was configured to conform to rules at the delivery destination but generally benefitted from higher output through the years. The five-speed manual 915 gearbox can be balky when cold; the later G50 gearbox is considered an improvement but each has its fans. I think the point of this close-up of the car’s nose is to display what could be peeling clear coat. Prices for 911 SCs can range far higher than the current bid, but plenty of questions hang over this car. I have to think the high bidder has contacted the seller to gather more details; I certainly would. What do you think?
Good point, Michelle-LOTS of questions before casting a bid. And another good question-why the tach display change? Some of the open wheel people my brother and I raced against did that-especially the Formula Vee folks.
If your steering wheel might obscure the tach while you saw away on the track, good to turn the redline to noon, I also put a line of bright tape at the mark or just before it.
Thank you, Michelle. Now that you brought that to point it makes sense especially in light of where the driver sat in them.
Honestly speaking. The the redline should be at noon. Who cares about where zero is… you don’t drive at zero rpm. Who cares where the arbitrary maximum number is located, you just don’t or cannot get to that number. I don’t think that a rotated tach is a reflection on how the car was driven. It is a reflection of the knowledge of the owner. Apparently he qualified as an enthusiast at a minimum. Other arguments could be made for turning the tach to put the highest desired shift point at noon. Opinions abound….
Many of us who participated in Porsche Club of America Autocross and Driver Education events did that with our tachs to make the redline marker more easily visible at all times. I simple little “racers trick” that was common. I raced Formula Vee too and yes, we did it there for SCCA events.
ALL the boy-racers turn the tach that way. Easy to do on a 911, even for the posers
Excuse me for asking, but why does the third photo appear to be a different color? Does anyone have an answer besides “lighting”?
That’s a light metallic color with the pictures taken in and out of sun light. Weird, but true that it will change color.
love this era of 911 with the tri spoke steering wheel. but it just goes to show why I won’t have one, way too much for a weekend toy for my poor wallet, lol
Zero feedback seller and a single sentence that describes nothing? No thanks! Current bid is strong money for an SC already.