Originality rules all when it comes to vintage vehicles. Yes, maintenance history, ownership provenance, and running condition are almost all equally important, but I’m amazed at how often originality can influence purchasing decisions. The 1973 Porsche 911E shown here was apparently a much prettier car before being left outside with a cheap cover on it, but the seller is quick to point out that paint condition notwithstanding, the floors are solid and the drivetrain is numbers matching. That will likely compel more than a few air-cooled enthusiasts to pick up the phone. If you’re one of them, check out the listing here on craigslist. Thanks to Barn Finds reader T.J. for the find.

A few years ago, if you wanted to buy a cheap Porsche 911, you might look for a brown car with a removable roof panel. And now, you can still look for such a car, but it won’t be cheap. The seller is asking $38,500 for this project-grade 911, and the fact that almost $40K seems like a reasonable price just goes to show you how bananas the air-cooled market still is. This particular 911 comes with a set a of desirable Fuchs wheels, and that even includes a 5th spare. The seller claims the “….floors, suspension mounting points, rockers and jack mounting points are solid,” which is reassuring considering some of the rust blossoming on the body.

The interior is tired, and it’s hard to tell whether this is a result of the outdoor storage arrangement or if it was already on its way to this disheveled state before being booted outside. The dash actually looks decent and like it would clean up well, and the floors certainly look as good as the seller claims. The front bucket seats are covered up by old sheepskins, or sheepskin-like covers, and the rear jump seats are also in a sorry state. Regardless, any car with a removable roof panel or convertible top is likely to have some interior damage if it hasn’t been overly-preserved, and it’s safe to say this 911E hasn’t enjoyed a loving touch in some time.  However, as a one-owner car, you can forgive the original caretaker for losing interest in it over the years.

The good news is an interior is far easier to refurb as opposed to patching panels or replacing floors. This 911E certainly has the trappings of being a solid platform to launch a project from, and given the targa top is no longer the scourge that it used to be, it’s doubtful your time and money will be ill spent. This “Sepia Brown” 911 may not be clad in the sexiest color available that year, but it’s entirely period-correct and reflects one of the more popular paint codes for a 70s-era European car. At under $40,000, this solid air-cooled Porsche seems like a smart buy for anyone with the ability to do some of the work themselves.