DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

Hello DDKers,

Well, this is something I never thought I’d do… I’m strongly considering selling my old 911, and I’d like your help to find the best way to do it. Please consider this post part counselling session; if you want to cut to the chase head to the last paragraph…

I’ve always had an old car since they weren’t even that old, and my dream 1972 2.4 TE LHD California car came my way in Nov 2002 via Fuchs Porsche Brokers. It was in decent shape bodily, but mechanically had a few bugs caused to some degree by lack of use & maintenance. I fixed it, drove it, loved it! The highlight was a trip to Munich and back accompanying a mate in his 2l SWB who was moving to work at BMW. 1600 miles in 4 days, and a lot of unleaded.

As time has passed, the car has become surrounded by old motorbikes - my first love - and it has become an hour’s work to get the car out of the garage for a drive. Crucially, I’ll only do that on decent days, which are also decent biking days, and I can get a bike out in minutes.

Life has changed considerably for me in the last few years. From an occasional commute to work which at least stretched the 911’s legs, I went to a job 2 miles away and now to working from home. I rarely drive anywhere, old car or modern - I walk, bike or get the train where practical for longer trips.

I’ve come to the realisation that bikes>cars, for me anyway. I feel bad about the car not being used, and could really use the space it occupies. I hatched a plan to store it in a classic car storage place, thinking that I may use it more that way, but I do wonder if I’m just delaying the inevitable, and I should rip the plaster off and sell the old girl.

So to the meat of my post. What’s the best way to sell an old 911 these days? What is a 1972 911 2.4 TE, LHD coupe in useable nick likely to be worth? Is the market in a massive trough at the moment, and I should hang on for a bit if I can? I don’t need to sell it, so if I do I guess I’d like a fair price for it, and a fairly straightforward deal. I haven’t kept up with prices in recent years, but when I last had an insurance valuation from Bootsy values were on their way up. I wouldn’t be surprised if that situation hasn’t continued…

Thanks for any input. I’ll always love an old 911, even if I sell mine, and this group has been a source of help and inspiration, so thank you!

Cheers, Jon.

Hi Jon

I would try a ad on DDK.

This has been for sale forever (maybe a year now) so probably a tad overpriced. Same model as yours?
Unless you have a ‘special’ (unique colour, low mileage, original paint and interior etc) I would say work your way down from here.
This dealer will not negotiate, I asked months ago but his price seems fixed.


https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1782158

Regards
Mike

Hi Jon, Sorry to hear you are thinking of selling. What’s it like structurally? For me that can define the price point, alongside paint/box/engine/interior of course.

I don’t know about the car Mike posted as other than ‘shiny’ it has no details of the underneath so it’s difficult to judge if that’s priced correctly or not. If it’s still for sale after a year it would suggest that it’s overpriced, but at first glance it looks about right.

If your car is proper solid and would stand close inspection then all good, if it’s on the edge of needing a full makeover then that’s going to impact the price heavily as most don’t want a project these days (unless super cheap).

At the end of the day of you aren’t in need of the money urgently it’s what is it worth to you.

https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/197 ... 11-t-2-4-4

It’s got a chequered history but worth watching to see what it fetches…

You talk about classic storage for your 911. Why not classic storage for your bikes? I know what you mean about the hassle of getting it out with other stuff in the way - I need to move two other vehicles off our driveway and shift a few mountainbikes before I can get the 964 out. And it's a pain in the arse. Now, if you keep your bikes away from home, wake up one morning to a gorgeous biking day, then what you do is fling your leathers and helmet in the 911 and take that to your bike storage. I bet you'd take the long way round.

It sounds like you've already made you mind up that it does need to go, but looking for something very persuasive to keep it, or validate its the right thing to do to sell. Unless you need the money, if it were me and you've waited this long, I would wait until next summer. The market is dead, i've been watching stuff on collecting cars and other classic auctions, and unless its something rare, its going cheap or not meeting the reserve. I

70sThrowback wrote: ↑Wed Oct 09, 2024 8:47 am It sounds like you've already made you mind up that it does need to go, but looking for something very persuasive to keep it, or validate its the right thing to do to sell. Unless you need the money, if it were me and you've waited this long, I would wait until next summer. The market is dead, i've been watching stuff on collecting cars and other classic auctions, and unless its something rare, its going cheap or not meeting the reserve. I

Wise words

Thanks for the interest chaps. I’ve decided to win myself a bit of time by putting the car with a local storage place for a few months. I’ve spoken to the guy and get a good feel for the place, and it gives me a bit of breathing room to see if I’ll use the car while it’s kept there. I can also keep an eye on those similar cars, and maybe sell at a more favourable time of year, if that’s what I decide to do.

As for the car - I’d probably say it fits into the survivor category most neatly. I think it came to the UK in about 1998, and since then it hasn’t had very much use. In the 22 years I’ve had the car it hasn’t got wet much, and I’ve never used it once there’s salt about. I was conscious of how little underbody protection there was, but also how little corrosion. Hard to believe on a 50+ year old car, but I don’t think there’s any rust on it. The Bahia Red paint is an older respray, at least in part - it’s not brilliant up close but a reasonable 5 yard car.

Mechanically, it’s not bad either - I put a stainless SSI exhaust manifold on (DDK group purchase), along with a stainless silencer from Turbo Thomas. I put a set of reconditioned calipers on, and a Wevo light flywheel / AP Racing billet clutch combo. It’s on 6” Fuchs, flat sixes at the front, deep sixes at the rear. The power train is a bit leaky, but as I understand it that’s not uncommon. Oh, and it has dealer fit Porsche Air aircon, which has worked in the time that I had it but by now needs regassing I guess.

It runs a bit raggedly at the moment, at least in part due to the probably couple of years old fuel that’s in it. It always struck me as a car to keep as is - if I refurbished the wheels, for example, the paint would look shabby. It has a really nice patina at present, where nothing stands out as being too scruffy or too shiny.

If I can figure out how to post a picture I’ll give it a go

Cheers, Jon