It’s always risky to make predictions about which car or truck is going to rise or drop in value. But there seems to be a very real “settling” of the older air-cooled Porsche market. A few years ago, prices were going nuts and it wasn’t just due to pandemic pricing. Enthusiasts were buying into the Porsche story in a big way, certainly helped by celebrities and high-profile buyers singing the praises of old-school P cars. Now, seeing this nicely updated 1974 911 Targa listed for $56,000 here on craigslist seems like a sign of the times.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Curvette for the find. Now, don’t get me wrong: $56,000 is still a chunk of change for a car. The air-cooled 911 will never be a “cheap” car, but the mystique around them has carried values quite high. Jerry Seinfeld is one of the most prominent collectors of the best 911s in existence, and the prices paid have been significant. But average quality driver examples were typically more-or-less affordable, but all that changed once popularity and interest surged as more prominent collectors gobbled them up.
The thing is, these are old cars. There’s no getting around the shortcomings, from weak A/C systems to oil leaks to impossible-to-find parts. The seller notes some significant work done to this 911 to address some of the pitfalls that come with old car ownership, including an extensive mechanical rebuild that included new pistons, cylinders, clutch, fuel injectors, and transaxle synchros. The interior is quite tidy as well, with beautiful seats, carpets, and dash. Apparently, even the heated rear window still works.
The underside is quite clean as well, and it looks like someone dry-iced the bottom at some point. If the 67,000 miles is original, it’s not hard to believe that this 911 is as honest as it appears. But a few years ago, I feel that a 911 in this sort of condition would have cost $75,000 or so. In stock form, the 2.7L flat-six produced 150 b.h.p. and 175 lb.-ft. of torque, and while that number is low by modern standards, it will still be a hoot to drive with vigor and hear that classic air-cooled song. The question is, will the visceral qualities alone be enough to keep values strong?
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