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Parked 18 Years: 1977 Porsche 911 SC

This 1977 Porsche 911SC is one of the last examples of an air-cooled 911 that can be bought for reasonable money while still offering a driving experience that will yield plenty of smiles when behind the wheel. Of course, like all 911s that aren’t water-cooled, bidding is still quite strong for a car that sounds as if it hasn’t run in quite some time despite being garage stored for the last 18 years. The seller notes that there’s very little rust present on this SC, and that there are some parts missing that may indicate a failed attempt at beginning restoration. Regardless, that hasn’t cooled bidder interest, as the 911 is listed here on eBay with bids approaching $18K and the reserve unmet.

The 911 is equipped with a period-correct whaletail spoiler, but no word on whether it left the factory this way or it was added at a later date. It seems like many of them were, as owners who wished they had been able to step up to the brutal turbocharged models attempted to inject their naturally-aspirated example with some of the bombastic flavor associated with the 930. Today, I think most enthusiasts would agree the non-turbo models look better without the wing. The paint on this SC is tired, but it’s hard to say for sure whether it wouldn’t come back to life after some time spent with an orbital buffer and compound paste. Wheels are attractive color-matched Fuchs alloys. The seller notes the driver side door panel, spare tire, and passenger side window trim are all missing.

The interior looks tired, but at least comes with a tasty three-spoke steering wheel that looks fairly recent. The seats are fine to use as-is, but will need upholstery work if you need perfect buckets in your air-cooled 911. The dashboard is cracked, which is somewhat surprising for a car that’s been stored inside for over a decade, especially one that isn’t from the southwest or other sun intensive state. Despite being located in Brooklyn, New York, the 911 is quite solid underneath, with not even much to show for surface rust that usually passes for “acceptable” on snow-belt cars. The additional photos of the interior reveal that some work is definitely needed inside, as it looks dingy overall, and even the headliner appears to be stained.

The seller later amended his ad to reflect that he installed a battery and the 911 attempted to turn over. The SC is often talked about as hailing from one of the more overbuilt periods in the 911’s history, as it offers a surprisingly level of reliability when showered with the appropriate levels of maintenance. Obviously, this example has been somewhat ignored for years, as photos of the top levels of the body (roof, hood, engine cover) all show damaged paint that looks like it was parked outside or at least under a partially porous roof for some time. Regardless, the photos of the undersides of the 911 are encouraging, and if the interior isn’t wet, most of the flaws seen here can be remedied pretty easily. Still, $20K for a project is the new normal – is this tired SC worth the price of admission?

Comments

  1. Avatar Mark Mitchell Member
  2. Avatar DayDreamBeliever

    Dash is cracked…. No surprise, this car has for sure been in the sun a lot. Paint doesn’t generally get that look without being exposed and uncared for.

    But that isn’t to me the real worry. I suspect that this car has been dunked. Looking at the carpets, and other cues, I think it is a post-underwater dryout example. Perhaps a Sandy leftover, perhaps from another occasion. But anyone who buys this car without anticipating a 100% teardown and rebuild is just fooling themselves, or planning a “make it go and sell it” flip.

    IMO, based on the photos, this car has been wet.

    Like 8
  3. Avatar JohnfromSC

    I agree. Hate to say it, but I stay away from anything in the NY/NJ metro area. Too many cars that are either plain out abused or seller misrepresented. While still living up north about five years ago, I bought a fairly new Jag with clean carfax and 35K miles on the digital display to replace one that had 160K miles on it. After owning it for a couple of years the age began to show in failures that shouldn’t have happened on that model and hadn’t on my previous one.and select finish failures where repaint was then apparent. I sold it for scrap at 70K miles on what I now believe was a tampered odometer.

    Never again. Just too many unscrupulous sellers up there.

    Like 4
    • Avatar Jimbosidecar

      I wouldn’t trust Carfax as far as I could throw them. I bought a 2001 Mercedes Benz C class that came with a Carfax. The Carfax report said it had just gone to the Mercedes dealership for a complete maintenance. I barely made it home. When I opened the radiator overfill tank, it looked like a Wendy’s Frostie inside. The brake pads were down to their backing plate, all kinds of electrical failures and non working a/c. So, I called the delaership listed on the Carfax report to find out what was the story with the car, and after giving them the VIN they said the car had never been in their shop. No ever. I called Carfax and they were absolutely useless. Liars too.

      Like 5
    • Avatar Matt in NY

      Probably not fair to isolate the NE for unscrupulous sellers. One of my worst experiences was in NC, and I bought a hideously misrepresented Ferrari from Denver. It’s about using your instinct, and trusting the seller. That’s not to say there was anything you could have done differently with the rolled back mileage issue, but I think there are good sellers and bad sellers, good cars and bad, anywhere you look.

      Like 2
  4. Avatar Gaspumpchas

    I agree with daydream and John- this ol gal has been under wasser. look around the headliner, and there’s mud under the front bonnet. the guy did himself no favors by leaving a number on the windshield and by not spending another 15 minutes vacuuming the silt that’s under the hood. The guy also did himself no favors by turning the engine over unless he flushed out the crankcase and put in fresh erl. Still at 18 large.Bet you one hamburger its a copart car. Good luck. If you know its a flood car going in and you think you cant live without it, go for it. The car will have to be completely dissembled.Resto as you go!!!!
    Stay safe.
    Cheers

    Like 6
  5. Avatar Coastr

    There is 20k in parts here but tip in 20k and you are nowhere near a nicely kept survivor you can buy all day long for $40. Only suitable as a total resto base for backdate or hotrod or Motorsport build.

    Like 3
  6. Avatar Ken Jennings

    As much as I would love a fully restored car like this, I don’t think it is a good idea these days. (And I recently came into some money, so I could afford it) For an explanation, read my comment about the Chevy C10.

    Like 0
  7. Avatar Tom c

    Looks like a rattle can paint job.

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Spit Grtzr

    If I remember correctly, the SC did not come along until ’78- so if this is a ’77 its a S or ‘911’.
    The whaletail would not have been a factory option and teh SC would also have had a zinc’d body (first on the ’78 SC’s).
    The ’78 SC also had fender flares- new for that year
    what a mess-

    Like 1
  9. Avatar DayDreamBeliever

    Ended RNM @ $17,950

    The market has spoken, seller….
    Your German sometime U-boat isn’t worth more than that. Sorry.

    (Dang, crabby again today….)

    Like 0

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