The late 1970s were not great years for sports cars, hampered by challenging emissions standards and systems that strangled engines and squashed performance. There was a time that these conditions and the cars affected by them were some of the cheapest you could buy, and in many cases, sports and muscle cars from this era are still downright affordable. That hasn’t happened with the Porsche 911, however, as a rising tide lifts all boats and the value increases in air-cooled models has made it possible to list a car like this 1976 Porsche 911 here on eBay for $38,000. This is an interesting specimen, starting with the headlight washers on the bumper – is this a European-market car?

This 911 also bears all of the requisite signs of being enthusiast-owned, with Porsche Club of America stickers on the back glass (passenger side) and a variety of grill badges attached to the engine lid vents. The whale tail-style spoiler is not my favorite and this car would look loads better with it removed; the Fuchs wheels, of course, look good on almost any era of vintage 911. Black paint is typically one of the harder colors to keep looking good after years in storage and/or every day use, but it’s still presentable in this instance. Photos do show numerous flat spots, however, that may need refinishing if the next owner wants a perfect paint job.

The interior has most likely been redone at some point in the not-too-distant past, and it looks spectacular. The certificate of authenticity would tell us if the 911 left the factory with the red carpets, door panels, and back seat (I’m guessing it did), but a previous owner likely had the front buckets refinished with the tartan-style inserts. I can’t say for sure if the dash would have had the two-tone effect from new, but it still looks quite good regardless. It’s rare to see project cars that have absolutely spectacular interiors, but this 911 appears to be one of them. The backseat looks practically unused.

Incredibly, there’s a receipt among the photos that shows the engine was rebuilt in 1995, and it was done for a price of $4,000. A routine servicing at most speciality shops catering to Porsches can cost half of that number, so it’s stunning to see what those same dollars used to get you. The seller notes that the engine still needs some tuning as it struggles to fire off without the help of starting fluid. Now, if this car is indeed a Euro version, it will make a good deal more horsepower than the U.S.-spec models, 210 b.h.p. compared to 175 b.h.p., respectively. This 911 is an interesting specimen for a variety of reasons, and if the engine tune can be verified, it could be a bit of a bargain.