Thoughts on a possible 1965 project

[conda71]

This very early 911 project has come up for sale locally (serial number 300886).
Attachment 44667
It's very rusty and will need a lot of work - I'm just getting to the end of the bodywork on a very rusty 356, so I understand just how much work would be involved. I don't really need another project at the moment, but perhaps this is an opportunity that might not come up again so soon.

So how rare is something like this, and how well are they regarded in comparison to other early 911s? Is this car something that's worth getting into?

Thanks for any opinions.

[Herr Softie]

Peter Morgan's book "Original Porsche 911" says 235 built in '65, so it is pretty rare. Numerous unique parts so if you are going for originality, you have many quests before you.

[Eade Hopkinson]

Peter Morgan's book "Original Porsche 911" says 235 built in '65, so it is pretty rare. Numerous unique parts so if you are going for originality, you have many quests before you.

Actually any car up to 300232 was built in calendar year 1964. Numbers after that were built in 1965, yet basically they were all called a 1965 model year. Thus, this 65 is not part of the original 232, yet still is a very early car.

[Herr Softie]

65 Chassis #'s are 300001 to 303390. The number of 65 911 cars built is 235. Does anyone have a source of info that this car is not one of the 235 1965 911 cars built, or am I misreading my source material?

[Zithlord]

Lot of sorces are wrong. First 234 where produced in 64, the rest 300235-303390 where produced in 65. Up to approx. 301900 are 65 models, the rest 66 models. The car in question where most likely produced in april 65 and are a 65 model. The model transition from 65 to 66 where during the summer holiday at the factory in July 65.

300688----900828---100728-------------18 Mar 1965/1965 Belgium
300703- - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - -Gettysburg,PA
300720
300771----900909--- ---------- ------------ ------ ---------Tom “tfiv”
300839----901063---100930-------------4 April 1965*/1965 Alan B
300845---- ----------- --------- ------------- ----------- ----John Clinard
300880---- ----------- --------- ------------- ----------- ----SanFrancisco
300882---- ----------- --------- ------------- ----------- ----Sidney, Aus
300898---- ----------- --------- ------------- 1965/1965 - Paul Henninge
300921 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (“Zithlord”) Norway
300941---- ----------- --------- ------------- ----------- ----France
300952---- ----------- --------- ------------- ----------- ----Minneapolis

[tfiv]

65 Chassis #'s are 300001 to 303390. The number of 65 911 cars built is 235. Does anyone have a source of info that this car is not one of the 235 1965 911 cars built, or am I misreading my source material?

Brad, Here is a scan of a factory spec book. I've never looked at Morgan's book, but you can't always trust aftermarket sources.

[Herr Softie]

Lot of sorces are wrong.

This must be true. Off the top of my head, I know that Sports Car Market has repeated the number 235 for total 1965 production, and I know I have seen it elsewhere. Once again, board members have the facts.

[Alan B]

I have 300839. From the Kardex, my car was delivered on April 20, 1965.

To get back to your original question, there are many hard to find parts, and as with all our cars, rust repair can drain a budget very quickly. Numbers matching engine and transmission would increase the value of the final car. Someone who knows the early cars could give you an idea of how much is missing.

I think it could be a very worthwhile project. This is one of the first 1000 911s. It is eligible for many vintage events that won't allow later cars. Many of the hard to find parts have much less expensive later parts that fit, and these could be used and then resold when the correct parts are found. This car could come back to life, a much nicer result than ending up as an organ donor.

Let us know if we can help further and what happens,
Alan

[911quest]

The way I look at it might not make since to restore it now but buy it and sit on it for a few years then restore it. Either way from the limited pictures I would buy it as a project.

[kenikh]

Worth restoring if you have or are willing to learn welding skills.