1971 European Spec Porsche 911T
Last year on Memorial Day morning I was scouting the Craigslist classifieds looking for that elusive 'barn find' early Porsche. You probably know the one I mean, the low mileage car that was tucked away for some years by an owner who wouldn't or couldn't drive the car. I've been doing this for years, and I've come to realize that cars like this just don't exist in the way we'd like them to. On the few rare occassions something like them pops up, they are usually already gone by the time you can get through to the seller (if you even can get through). Anyway, to make a long story short I was having my morning coffee on the porch with my laptop, doing my usual scan of eBay, Pelican Parts' forum, and Craigslist. Normally when I search Craigslist I do a local search, then move on to a wider area. Between the time I searched locally and then refreshed the page, this Glacier Blue 1971 911T was posted. I mean I basically watched it appear in a matter of seconds. Even the timestamp on the ad was only a minute old.
Now if you've looked for these cars as long as I have, you know it's better to be lucky than to be good. That morning I was lucky. I immediately emailed the seller and offered to collect the car on that same day, paying the full asking price in cash. Although the pictures and description of the car left some details out, I could easily see that it had been cared for, and the asking was reasonable even for a car with needs. Several excruciating hours later (there was no phone number in the ad!) I got a reply email. It seems the response had been overwhelming, but since I was local and could collect the car immediately and pay the full asking, the car was mine if I wanted it.
So here it is. After almost a year of putzing around rebuilding the brakes, carbuerators and fuel system, the 911 is now ready to be sold on. You see, at the time I bought the car I had a fantastic backdated '88 Carrera, and a 912 as well. This car was meant to be a rehabilitation project that could eventually be sold to help fund my other Porsche passions. With both the Backdate and the 912 since sold, it's now time to sell the '71T and start to build my own new dream, a '67 Short Wheelbase Hotrod. I have the shell of the car, but no motor or mechanicals. Instead of staring at this '71 in my garage, it's time to bring inside the '67 and create my own idea of the ultimate early Porsche. Although long-winded, I think it's important to know from whom you are buying a car, as well as why and the history.
This Glacier Blue Euro 911T is an interesting car with almost no known history. That's right, the previous owner knew almost nothing about the car, and had only the original european owners manual to go with it, one receipt from its previous mechanic, and two sales receipts. The rest of its past can only be inferred. I know, it kind of sucks. But instead of telling you about the past of the car, allow me to focus on it as it sits presently. As a European car, this 911T has the Europe-only; switches, marker lights, gauges, and Weber carbuerators. When it was imported at some point the headlights were converted to American DOT mandated 'sugar scoops' although I have just recently switched them back to H4s. Also specific to Euro-911Ts are the seat upholstery, which favor a courderoy center not available on US cars.
Extending further into the interior, the car has the original carpets and seats, although the seats need new springs and stuffing. As mentioned, all the euro gauges and switches are still in the car. According to the 2000 document, the car had 72,579 kilometers. The 2003 document indicates 74,673 kilometers, and now the car shows 75,148. I have no direct way of knowing if this reading is accurate, but take a look at the underside and battery tray pics and you can make your own determination. Also, the previous owner and his wife stated that they bought the car on their honeymoon, and had it shipped to his parents in Connecticut (where I retrieved the car) since the parents had a garage. Living over an hour away, the car fell unused and unloved into a state of disrepair. Which is where I came into the story.
The car is remarkably rust free underneath. If you've looked at these cars you know that such a statement can be football fields away from reality without the pictures to back it up. Since I've worked on my fair share of these cars, and even been burned by presumably rust free cars, the best way to back up my claim is with the extensive pictures included below. If you know what you're looking at, then you know the car is remarkable. When my mechanic rebuilt the carbs and adjusted the valves, he informed me that although I had drained and refilled the tank, it needed to be cleaned and resealed. As a result, he ran the car directly from an external gas tank in order to complete the tuneup. I have now received the original fuel tank back, and it is going in the car this week.
Now here are the detractions about the car, because at this asking price there is always something to be addressed. First, and the big let down for me, is the car is not in its factory original color. By my estimate, it now has a nice 15-20 year old driver-quality, windows-out repaint in Glacier Blue. Strike One. However, the original color of the car is Signal Orange, so I'm going to change my call from Strike One to Ball One, since the car can be driven and enjoyed in its current hue, but also returned to its factory gorgeous Orange color if that is the new owner's desire. Next, the car drips a little oil. Strike Two. Not a lot of oil, and certainly not an alarming amount. As a matter of fact, if you've ever owned an early 911 you already have a piece of cardboard in your garage for just such a problem. Again, I think the call changes from Strike to Ball. Last, as I mentioned earlier, the car has no paper history. No receipts to prove that every oil change since new was done by the same grumpy German mechanic. No delicately aged receipt from 1983 to remind us that gas prices are ridiculous today (yeah yeah, I know about inflation). If you're a document freak this is definitely a Strike. If you're more like me, then you enjoy a car for what it is presently, and welcome the discounted price of a car without seamless pedigree. Strike or Ball? Only you as prospective new owner can decide.
So the car has a combination of Strikes and Balls depending on where you come down on some of these issues. At the moment, it is in my garage this very night awaiting the installation of the freshly refurbished gas tank (see pic). If you want the car, you are welcome to have a pre-purchase inspection done. I will assist in any way that I can, but I will not shuttle the car all over God and creation. If you are an international buyer, I will work with your shipping agent, but only to assist. Please don't ask me to make arrangements for you. If you can buy a car across continents then chances are you are a big boy or girl.
This is a very cool and mostly original car. It has a few bumps and bruises, but it's 40 years old and rust free. I am asking $28,500 OBO. I believe this is the market correct price for a nice early Euro-spec 911T. Please email me for more details if needed. Call on the phone if you are ready to make an offer. My name is Mike, and I can be reached at: (631) 355-1073 EST. The car is located at my home on Long Island.
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Originally Posted by climbernyc
