I recently read the annual Knight-Frank Wealth Report and found a few nuggets of intrigue, the biggest takeaway being that the world’s financial elite are increasingly prioritizing experiences and things not easily repeated. The inclination to wanting to spend a lot of money on something is largely driven by knowing not everyone can afford to do what you’re doing, so if a specific item – say, a bottle of expensive wine – is suddenly accessible to mere mortals, the elite will drop it like a hot potato. The same can be said of cars, as the more people who own a certain model (see every pace car) will inevitably begin to soften values. This is why the long-hood Porsche 911 remains a sound investment, and this half-year model 1973.5 Porsche 911 listed here on craigslist is one of the smartest models to buy.
The asking price is $120,000 and thanks goes to Barn Finds reader Curvette for the tip. First of all, long-hood Porsches are going to remain popular for some time to come. It’s the purest expression of the classic 911 shape, which is why its 4-cylinder sibling, the 912, is enjoying a nice upwards trajectory simply riding on its coattails. The driving experience is undoubtedly special, particularly if you like that air-cooled sound, and the range of ways to experience the car – from OEM-correct restorations to rat-rods to six-figure restomods – make it a “something for everyone” vehicle. The car shown here is a purist’s delight owing to its unique combination of old and new features that came in the 73.5 model year.
For this short run, Porsche offered Bosch K-Jetronic CIS fuel injection and the upgraded 915 manual gearbox. Just a few months earlier, if you purchased a 911, you’d find carburetors under the hood and the ancient 901 transmission. And while these mechanical improvements would be used for years to come, Porsche also slapped on ugly U.S. safety bumpers and large overrides in the years after the 73.5, which is why this example is so special: it retains the classic long-hood appearance with mechanical improvements that make it a treat to drive even today. The seller notes a few other tasteful upgrades to this 911, including the slick GTS Classic Sport seats.
The selling dealer has a detailed history on this 911, including mechanical repairs made at a shop with an excellent reputation for air-cooled service, John Walker’s Workshop. My ’90 911 Carrera 4 was serviced by the same facility but sadly, I could never track down any records from him with the exception of a few isolated receipts that came with the car. This 911 benefits from engine work that includes new bronze valve guides, seals, clutch, and upgraded Carrera chain tensioners. There’s a long list of other work done, and the body was resprayed in the original (and stunning) Leaf Green. Overall, this seems like a wonderful representation of a vintage 911 with the right mix of options and rarity that will preserve its value for some time to come.
Good write up Jeff. Light weight, good sturdy 2.7 engines, and fun to drive. Just hope the head studs were upgraded along with all the engine work. Hefty prices on the cars today so I’m glad to have had the opportunity to play with them while they were affordable.
Way, way out of my price range. But I still love early 911s.
If this car drives as nicely as it looks, it’s worth going broke for. Great color combo.
GLWTS. Wish I could afford it. I would be greatly interested in seeing a compression test. If the cylinders are all within a couple pounds of each other this cat is a good buy.
Would if I could, big lotto tonight. Absolutely love the color and houndstooth seats. Wonder if you could fit euro bumpers or at least take off the overriders,
This is an outstanding color combo. All it needs is my butt in the drivers seat.
Wow, that’s a fantastic car!
In the words of some anonymous commenter lost to time –
“WANT”
Even though the T was less powerful than the E and S, this is an outstanding car. The subtle color is very rarely seen, and the seats are a real plus. The bulbous bumper guards are easily removeable. You couldn’t properly rebuild another, similar 911 for at least $150,000 (and probably much more). This one can be enjoyed immediately and will definitely appreciate. A good deal.
Gorgeous ride, love the color combo and the combination of components….
This line is wrong: “Just a few months earlier, if you purchased a 911, you’d find carburetors under the hood and the ancient 901 transmission.”
Just a few months earlier, you would find the same engine and transmission, but Bosch mechanical fuel injection.
That’s why this is listed as a 1973-1/2. Early 1973 cars have mechanical injection and late cars have CIS.
I don’t know why everyone slams the bumper overrides. I suspect it has less to do with the looks than resentment of the “gubmint.” Deal with it. I personally don’t think they look all that bad.
You meet the nicest people on a Suzuki.
That was HONDA’s slogan.
“Let’s see…….I have a Porsche that I’m asking $120,000 for –
where should I list it?” “I know,I’ll post it on craigslist”.
My comment is not here. I agreed with the writers opinion on buyers of expensive goods. Did I misunderstand him?