Cost to Restore 911sc?

Contact Brian Doherty, 760 723 8900, at California Porsche Restoration. Although he specializes in the classic Porsches (pre-1974), he would have an idea as to cost/effort to do a proper job.

If you want a quickie paint job and seat covers, don't call Brian. But for a "full-on restoration", he is as good as, or better than, Porsche's factory classic program.

I'm guessing he will try to talk you out of it, because you will end up far underwater financially on one of the least collectible 911s made. So, you have to want THIS car.

$20K sounds very low to me. I'm sure the electricals are corroded, and you're probably looking at $10K just to redo the interior (carpets, seats, headliner, etc.)

 

I agree and I think you're light on the $10K for the interior. If it's a leather dash, door panels, seats, headliner and on on....

 

You can get the interior done for less than 10k. Most definitely... even with a leather wrapped dash. I know you can get it done for 6-7k.

 

Hmm. Outside in Portland for a couple of years would mean everything between the carpet and the headliner would need to be replaced.

Dash with install $2000
Seats pair $2000
Door panels
arm rests pair $1000
steering wheel 500
headliner,carpet,
back seats, parcel shelf $2000

Then I apply my factor of things always costing 50% more than I think.
I still think it's >$10K if you bring it up to factory finish. I had an SC, did the dash and I think it was $1500 eons ago. Shift boots, gauges, switches. I think the bill would get huge in a hurry.

 

Bring the seats to an upholster and you will save about a grand on the front seats, and about another 1000 on the back seats parcel shelf... also the armrest/doorpanels... to do a dash is still about 1500 bucks, sometimes I can get them done for 1000

 

"Many years outside in Portland" probably means more than fabric and leather. How's the switchgear? Power seats (if it had them)? Gauges? Seat padding? If there's mold, those seats have to be stripped to the frames and rebuilt.

It probably depends on how wet things got, but the description doesn't sound promising.

 

Nevertheless, splitting bristles on a wild boar. Best to find another in similar livery and good repair.

 

The biggest expense is the "might as well" stuff that will come up. I have done a couple of 911's and I have spent over 20K on the just the motor. Go RSR and you will not believe what the cost is.


These guys seem to have pretty good pricing.

http://www.motormeister.com/suz/911_engines/911_engines_5.htm

 

If you are paying more than 1500 bucks for a pair of bucket seats to be completely rebuilt you had better be using some FINE corinithian leather! LOL

Seriously, I upholster probably 50 cars a year...who knows maybe i get a discount!

 

ohh for sure... I was quoted 22k dollars for rebuilding my 912 engine!!!! The most reasonable I could find was 8k. This person understood that I just wanted a standard rebuild, i didn't need all the fancy race stuff (its a freaking 912)...

 

I don't know, probably the California effect, but a complete interior on an early 911 runs five figures for a top notch job.

I'd be interested in your breakdown of materials and labor. Sounds like you work fast and at a very competitive hourly rate.

 

$8K sounds reasonable. $22K for a pushrod four is ridiculous.

 

Search on pelicanparts.com. There are well documented horror stories on Motormeister's rebuilts.

 

$50K +/- at a "minimum" to do it bone stock and right, not counting exterior paint............$20K gets you a motor and "maybe" a transmission.

And when you are done.........the car is worth 1/2 of what you paid.

 

I'm sure you would do better finding a nice "donor" car with the same color interior and swapping everything.

 

DO NOT USE MOTORMIESTER

search PELICAN, RENNLIST, OR JUST TRY GOOGLE. THEY ARE NOT A GOOD CHOICE FOR 911'S!!!!!!!

sorry for yelling....

 

Unless you find pleasure in restoration and have time, I would recommend parting it out for $5k minimum and importing a "78" SC. This particular year has no emission control and has the better flowing fuel pump for performance for $10k US, and ship it $2500 to europe for total of $12.5k versus $20K to restore the 82.

Best luck

 

You will be financially upside down, if you need any significant restoration on a 911SC.

Just buy a superb example that is ready to go.

You will lose a lot of money - tens of thousands.

 

i think he wants to do this on this specific car for sentimental reasons for his father, so the financial aspect doesnt seem to be importtant...but i couldn't see restoring an SC for any other reason.

a while back in excellence, there was an article on rebuilding an SC 3.0 engine. if i recall the tab was around $22k replacing all parts in the rebuild.

 

Having "restored" my '71 911 targa and built a few 911 track cars subsequently I find that the cost, if you want to restore to "factory specs", is prohibitive. If I understand correctly you wish to refurbish this car and give it to your father in law to enjoy. So whats to keep you from scouring web sites and "Recycle" yards for the best deals in parts. Do you think your recipient will care that he has an '84 dash with 81 seats and a wiring harness from a who knows what year car, will he notice the shocks and/or torsion bars came from a different year donor or that the carpet is cut from some type of indoor/outdoor carpeting, (you may wish to consult with your wife on this one, I'm sure she has much better taste than either of us and am also 100% certain she will help you lay out the original 911 carpet onto the bought carpet to help outline the pattern and cut out the new set), and the edges sown by the local seamstress? I really don't think so. If this guy is anything like my father he will appreciate to no end you going out of our way to do this, drive the car on special occasions and tell tall tales of what a super son in law he has.

Another way to keep costs down is to do the work yourself. '82 911's are pretty straight forward, not all that difficult to figure out, I assume you read and Haynes makes a easily understood and easy to follow manual. If you run into problems consult with an expert, (either locally or, as I read someone's motto here somewhere, .......... "you too can be an expert, all you need is a PC and the internet"), and before you know it your 911 will come back to life bestowing joy on its owner and a sense of pride in you for accomplishing a noble feat.

If I remember correctly there is an outfit run by Ron Redden called Porsche Plus DBA Rennwerke, (or the other way around), in Hudson, CO., who has plenty of parts and is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to air cooled porsches, loves to talk Porsche and will not "bend you over" if you do decide to purchase parts from him.

Happy restoration and happy motoring