Rough! That’s one way to describe this 1971 Porsche 911T. Believe me, I like pre-big bumper 911s as much as the next guy, they have a certain raw sports car vibe that’s a palpable draw. But this Elyria, Ohio example? Yikes, it has its challenges! Still, it’s worth a look-see so let’s do that and see if there appears to be a viable future for this Stuttgart stormer. It’s available, here on eBay for a current bid of $20,000 with the reserve not yet met.

Being a 1971 911T, considered an entry model, should place this Porsche in the “D series” category and I was able to corroborate the seller’s claim of only 583 units produced. As he states, “According to Porsche statistics this is one of only 583 cars from this production batch, and of those only a handful had the electric factory sunroof as this does.”  Beyond that, the seller’s biggest claim to this car is its matching numbers and electrically equipped sunroof. The deleterious condition of the body, the roof in particular, looks as if a second, unplanned sunroof is manifesting itself. Beyond that, serious surface rust covers the body, rot-through has infected the body pan and interior floors, as well as the frunk pan. And while we’re at it, we can throw in a few dents for good measure. I’d like to be purely objective, so look at the listing’s extensive images and draw your own conclusions regarding this Porsche’s overall condition. The seller claims that what’s left of the green finish was a special order hue – I imagine this car was quite the looker in its day.

The inoperative and stuck engine is a 2.2-liter flat-six that was good for either 125 or 140 HP depending upon the research source employed. Performance would have been spirited but not much more than that. The transaxle is a manual affair, likely the four-speed variety. The seller adds, “The car has been sitting undriven for a long time. Mechanically it does not run, and the original motor does not turn over due to sitting… Rolls and steers fine for transportation purposes.”

The interior is about how one would expect. While the dash pad is surprisingly holding its own, the leatherette upholstery isn’t. The floor pan is at its worst in the driver’s footwell and behind the seats. The driver’s door panel is missing and the top of the inner door frame is hugely rusted. Fortunately, all of the instrument panel gauges are in place and are probably restorable.

It’s sad to see a car of this stature, even if it is just a “T” model, in such a dilapidated condition. Still, that hasn’t deterred bidders as seventeen bids have been put forth by eight bidders. I think if I were interested in pursuing a Porsche resto project, I’d keep looking, this example just has too much working against it. But that’s me, how about you?