This 1983 Porsche 911 SC has been stored for 17 years, parked on a hardwood floor in a climate-controlled warehouse. There’s no engine but the seller feels the clean condition of the body and interior should more than make up for the annoyance of finding a motor. The SC is riding on later Porsche alloys and has a love-it-or-hate-it spoiler on the engine cover, and is currently bid to just over $11K here on eBay with the reserve unmet.
It’s been said for years the 911SC is the last “affordable” Porsche. That characteristic depends on your definition of affordable, but the SC has long been the most attainable air-cooled 911 for anyone reeling at the prices for early long-hoods and 930 Turbos. Call it a case of being just a little too common, but the collector crowd has no interest in a 911 that is famously reliable but also hamstrung by the emissions requirements of the era. This 911 has been fully detailed and set up with new hood/trunk shocks, battery, and carpet, among other improvements.
It might seem strange to perform maintenance on a car with no engine, but the seller claims to be trying to make it as easy as possible for the next owner to drop in a suitable replacement engine. The interior also presents quite well, with no obvious signs of tears or stains, and more importantly, no evidence of long-term exposure to rodents. The stock steering wheel has been swapped out for a Momo unit and the radio upgraded to a modern head unit. Headlights work and the tires are said to be nearly-new Dunlops.
The wheels are too big/modern for the SC; black or silver Fuchs with black centers are the way to go. While a missing engine will absolutely hurt values long-term, this makes it easier to enjoy a car like this SC, as fears about preserving originality tend to melt away when there’s a non-matching engine under the hood. Although I’d stick with an OEM 3.0 motor, there are plenty of options for going bigger and better if that’s your thing. A blank canvas that isn’t rusty – what a concept!
If I ever came across a find like this,it’d be an early
Taurus – 4 cylinder/automatic.
@angliagt – …green, with no A/C!
If the site does not mind, check out the link below for a 78 930 turbo engine and transaxle. I don’t know if it will fit given the intercooler, etc., maybe one of our Porsche experts can let us know. It might make a good combination.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1978-porsche-930-turbo-engine-transmission/
The 930 Turbo Engine seller on BaT said he pulled his engine from a 1978 911SC. So, chances are good it will fit in the above 1983 911SC.
I thought he said he pulled the transmission out of the 911SC and mated it to the engine.
I might be interested in this. How easy (hard) is it to find an OEM engine?
A couple things puzzle me….
1 – add says “complete car minus the engine”???
2 – where’s the mileage?
3 – some of the pics are taken in the first class neighborhood, others in lower class area??
All of the pictures look to be taken in the same location to me. There seem to be McMansions right next door to basic ranch houses.
Sheesh Dennis you kiss your mother with that mouth?
I guess you could get a 2.0 liter 914 engine, build it up, and turn it into a 912.
Do not place a rear whale tail on the car unless you intend to install the front chin spoiler as well. They will get light in the front at high speeds. Spoilers are not simply aesthetics. 30 year Porsche owner.
Must have front spoiler with rear spoiler. That tail will generate downforce at high speeds and make the front end light and squirrely.
A Porsche-phile AND a Bro Dozering Coal Roller? THAT is an interesting dichotomy. Haha
Its odometer reading was !50K in 1993.
No matter. At $11,000 I had my wife’s reluctant blessing to finally make an offer. I was ecstatic. Its now at $14,500 on Ebay. There are 5 days left in the auction. My wife’s approval does not include that level of ecstasy. And I had a motor all lined up for it (hadn’t mentioned the no motor part to the wife). It was not to be.
This is sort of interesting but by the time you buy, rebuild and install an engine, and recondition the rest of the car,you are above the price of a nice one today WITH engine. The correct engine will cost $20k+ and a rebuild will be another $9k+. And the car’s value will always suffer because of the non-original engine. SO…let’s say the auction goes to at least $20k. It is still 5 days out and the price is already high. Then add engine, rebuild, mechanics fees for installing it, general reconditioning and you are at $60k. Looking at other 911SC cars for sale today, I don’t see any in that price range. My money would be on a 36k mile 911SC I see for sale for $49k. But as always somebody will think they can get an engine and install it for $5k so they will offer $25k for the car. The seller will be happy and the car will languish for a few more years until it shows up for sale again. Now…there is always a chance that a mechanic who already has an engine will buy this and actually put it on the road. I’m not betting on that, though.
Mechanics fee for installing a Porsche engine? its actually easier than you might think
Never get bored of 911 and good luck on biding on it. I’m presently looking to purchase a school bus company here in NYC. Checking out a Setra S217 at ABC bus sales at this time. It’s no 911 but I love the German engineering.
Big wing, no front spoiler…must have both or high speed handling will be squirmy. Always install both. Well, after the engine….
Would the Porsche die-hards hang me from the tallest tree for suggesting that this would make a good EV conversion?
Wait. Let me go get a noose.
That might get you in a little trouble with the purists!!