Valuation opinion: effect of performance mods on collectibility

[Eminence Gris]

An acquaintance wants a vintage 911 or two as investments. One car he's contemplating was originally a 2.4 E, but the original engine was given a full upgrade to RS spec: displacement, cams and MFI pump cam. So it's essentially an "invisible" upgrade of 40+ HP.

My personal opinion is that this is a good thing (or at least not a detriment) for a car to be driven and not just displayed.

What say you?

[Tazzieman]

My personal opinion is that this is a good thing (or at least not a detriment) for a car to be driven and not just displayed.

He either wants to drive it or not. Life is short and often unpredictable. Go for it while you still can. These cars are wasted in collections.

[gsjohnson]

I really don't think upgrades to a matching numbers engine will hurt the value much. We like to drive them, so certainly enhancing the driving experience can't hurt...

[Richardnew]

You can do it if nothing show externally. Once things start to look different the value goes down. Original always brings the best money. Think about this. Do you own the car or are you the custodian of the car.

Richard Newton
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[NorthernThrux]

Yep, it's (one reason) why the upgraded tensioners with the collars are preferred over the oil fed ones by the purist restorers. No external clues to modification. All boils down to, as Richard said, whether you feel you own the car or are the custodian.

If you own the car, do what you (he) want. It's yours and the imprint you leave on it will become part of its heritage. Just don't expect that to yield the highest return on investment. It may yield the highest smiles per investment for you. If however, you are the caretaker, then there is an expectation that you will keep/restore the unadulterated original experience. These are the cars that will become rarer and rarer and will be the ones to hold/increase their value the most. Doesn't mean the car can't be driven, but mile for mile, smile for smile, the original car will always fetch more, no matter how many additional cc are under the hood or how many cibie lights are on the bonnet or what kind of radio was added in the dash.

Most importantly...keep driving them.

[John Straub]

I think it's fine, it it looks the same.

John

[72targa]

I can't imagine complaining about more power...

[curtisaa]

An acquaintance wants a vintage 911 or two as investments. One car he's contemplating was originally a 2.4 E, but the original engine was given a full upgrade to RS spec: displacement, cams and MFI pump cam. So it's essentially an "invisible" upgrade of 40+ HP.

My personal opinion is that this is a good thing (or at least not a detriment) for a car to be driven and not just displayed.

What say you?

Modified Porsches are NOT "investment" grade cars. My experience , ownership, and driving experience is that T is a T, E is a E, and a S is a S and should ( for investment) be left in it's original configuration.......that being said, and NOT being an investor...... torque rules !!!

[jaudette3]

I'm not that knowledgeable about tangibles as investments. But I watch "Antiques Roadshow" once and a while and I have a glancing familiarity with the value of Morgan silver dollars as my father gave me a bunch of uncirculated ones. My perception is that once an item moves to collectible investment grade the valuation standard changes dramatically - it's all about originality and condition. The slightest change and the slightest variation in condition have massive impact on value.

Those of us who have hot-rodded early 911's that are now being sought out as investment grade collectibles, such as S's, have had a lot of fun, and we've added a lot of value - to the untouched original cars.

On the one hand I lament that our cars are becoming investible assets. On the other hand, it works out because I happen to have a lot of vintage parts for investment grade cars and I can generate a bit of cash flow with those in order to pay for my lowly non-investment grade cars, such as my '91 C2 and 73.5 T Targa. The 964 is bone stock right now, but I'm dying to hot rod one.

Cheers,
JohnA

[tomkirkcis]

I might be in the minority, but I think as great a driving machine an early car is with 2.7 rs engine is, modifying the original engine is a mistake and I wouldn't be inclined to buy it. Having the original engine pickled and on a shelf with a hot rod replacement motor is the engine compartment would be worth a premium to me. A modified original case would be a deduction.

tom