1984 Porsche 911 Targa

This metallic dark green 911 with gold BBS rims immediately caught my eye. It's a rare - and handsome - combination. The seller claims it's original "moss green" paint with no accidents or paint work.

The Porsche bubble continues, the way Ferrari went 30 years ago, and with no signs of slowing down. The logic is as follows: your old air-cooled Porsche 911 will rapidly appreciate in value every year, with extra bonus on top if it's been well kept and in original condition.

Of all the 911, I do like the 80's versions. Despite the clunky rear bumper guards, these cars were solid, fast, and have aged well. The iconic 911 shape is HERE. These cars are also crazy SMALL - they are a micro-car compared to the average size of today's vehicles.

The targa is the least-loved 911 variant, because it's not the superior coupe and it's not the total top-down convertible either. Fortunately, with the rigid middle beam bar and cool single-piece wraparound rear window, it does what a Targa should do: give you a lot more open air and visibility than a sunroof coupe, and yet more structure and safety than a convertible.

If this one is as original as the seller claims, it could very well be worth the nearly $43k asking price. Hey, at least they're not asking $50k...or $60k...or $70k...

You know someone selling a Porsche has already won if you start thinking that way ;)

Available on craigslist here

1978 Porsche 911 SC

Prices of air-cooled Porsche 911 are going through the roof, with old racing and Turbo versions hitting six figures. Eventually all models will follow suit. This means that long time collectors can cash out, and new people wanting to get in can't anymore.

One of the last moderately affordable air-cooled 911 is the SC that was produced from 1978-1983. It served as the base model, but had a 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine that produced 180 horsepower, Bosch fuel injection and a 5-speed 915 transmission.

This one looks great in silver over black with ATS cookie cutter wheels. The seller says it is a documented one-owner car, with 70% original paint, original interior and 106k miles. They say they have receipts since new, and say it was just serviced and runs good.

I think the Porsche market is ridiculous, but I'm glad I found this base model "bargain" for my readers before it appreciates out of reach for most. Check for rust and accidents, but it otherwise looks like an honest, decent daily driver that can be restored later in life during retirement or something.

Available here on craigslist for $28,500.

Perfect Strangers: Porsche and Thunderbird

Last summer I spotted this rusty white 911 sitting at a Shell station in Massachusetts. The attendant said it has been sitting there in need of repairs for a while, but they stayed in touch with the owner. The car itself was complete looking but in poor shape. The clear coat had completely faded and was peeling to reveal surface rust. The interior was a mess. The engine is probably even worse. But it still looked striking in refrigerator white, just sitting there, neglected, forever in purgatory. My guess it was a late 70s or early 80s non-turbo Carrera.

Fast forward to this fall, when I buy my E46. I'm in need of a local European garage who I can trust to honestly assess, repair and service my car. I found them nearby and get talking with the friendly owner, Dave. He's a big Porsche guy, and he's looking for an old 911 to completely redo into a race car. I immediately think of the 911 I saw. It's a perfect candidate for that kind of work.

So I went back to see it today, and sure enough it was still there, but this time it had moved across the lot and now sat next to 1964 Ford Thunderbird.

The Thunderbird was also painted white, but in much better condition. The paint still had gloss and the chrome looked decent. It wore a hardtop and whitewall wheels. It looked beautiful.

One of the things I immediately noticed was the size difference between the two - how small the 911 is in general and especially compared to the boat-like Thunderbird.

I sent the photos of the Porsche along with some contact info over to Dave and am interested to see what he does. Regardless, it's fun seeing these this odd couple together, and even more amusing both seemingly broken down at a gas station. Purists don't cringe! They will hopefully have homes soon. At least the Porsche. COTC will keep you updated!

One Year Only: 1976 Porsche 912E

We at COTC love the 912E. This is also one of the lowest production 911 cars out there. Porsche needed an entry-level car to fill the gap as the 914 had just ended and the 924 had yet to debut. The solution was to fit the '76 911S with an air-cooled 4-cylinder Type IV Porsche/Volkswagen engine. The 912E ('E' for Einspritzung or "fuel injection") was born.

Porsche made just 2,099 of these before the sacrilegious front-engined 924 came along (and all its controversy).

This example (VIN 9126000709) has a build date of 10/75. The seller says it's a 2-owner car, but mention two previous owners apart from themselves, so assuming the seller is the current legal owner, this would actually be a three-owner car. They do mention they have maintenence records from the second owner, however.

It also comes in a striking coat of flat Minerva Blue (paint code 305-9-2) that the seller seems to suggest is original. It looks great, and makes the car really pop out. They also say the vehicle has never been in an accident and has no rust, huge pluses.

Porsche are best when barest, so the simplicity of the 912E is really appealing. The engine is similar to the 2.0-liter 4 offered on the 914, but the engine mountings are unique. It's smaller, less complex and therefore theoretically easier to maintain than the 6-cylinder. The decrease in engine size also meant less weight. Performance was typical, going from 0-60 mph in 9.7 seconds.

The seller's ad is poorly written and sometimes confusing. This car, like most second hand Porsche, warrants an investigation close up and a thorough inspection. But it sure looks tidy. Looks, however, can be deceiving. Either way, it's clearly been cared fore and should be able to see road action in the future. Post-1975 cars have to be smogged in California, however, so be aware. The seller says they have a clear title, but the car is unregistered (and therefore probably hasn't passed the smog test yet).

Available here on ebay in Santa Monica, California with bidding at $9,200 and reserve not met.

Under $15k: 1979 Porsche 911SC Targa

Want to catch some fresh fall air before it gets too cold (which is happening very fast for us New Englanders)? Try on this 911 Targa for size.

The Targa body is still the unloved child of the 911 range. The coupes and convertibles are about equally desirable, but no one seems to want a targa. I'm not sure why. It's the best of both worlds, with some of the structural rigidity of a hardtop and some of the open air pleasure of the convertible. And yet maybe that's exactly why they still haven't taken to collectors, a car with such a strong personality as the 911 shouldn't be ambiguous and undecided as to what the nature of its roof is. Or should it?

I like the them. Since collector's don't, the targa versions are often priced lower for those looking to get into the rear-engine Porsche world.

The seller of this example says it is mostly original except for a whale tale, front spoiler with integrated fog lamps, steering wheel and other items that enhance the car, even if cliche.

911 look good in white and this is no exception. The red interior contrasts nicely, and the seller shows matching red seat covers protecting the leather.

Most importantly, they say it has no rust. Mechanically, they say it runs and drives nice and everything works including the power windows. Under the hood is Porsche's tried and true bulletproof 3.0-liter 6-cylidner air-cooled engine. The seller says there is 107k miles on it.

This seems like a relatively well cared for example. I would inquire about ownership and accidents, and look into more maintenance history. If it checks out, stash that targa top away for a blast of cold air.

Available here on craigslist in Salem, Massachusetts for $12,400.

Well Sorted: 1979 Porsche 911 SC With Sunroof

This Porsche comes in a rare factory color the seller says is a special order called "medium ivory". It looks great against the blacked-out factory Fuchs. Porsche cars look best in earth tones or dark colors.

The 911 SC was introduced in 1978 as a new version of the 911. It featured a rear-mounted 3.0-litre 6-cylinder engine with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection and a 5-speed 915 transmission Output was around 180-188 horsepower.

The seller says they've been the second owner for the last 10 years, and the car now comes with new tires, new window seals, new brakes and smog tailpipe delete.

They say the mileage is 108k. I love high mileage Porsches. It means they been driven, and if they are still running, most likely maintained along the way too. Much better than garage queen cars that start hurting the more you use them and keep you hostage to around the block, and definitely better than neglected units.

I like the Porsche logo on the non-airbag steering wheel, you don't see that often and it was later deleted with the addition of the airbag.

They say everything works great, including the air conditioning (what is it about the Porsche 911 and a/c issues anyways?). Even if the a/c didn't work, the rare factory sunroof option will cool you off. I love the idea of a sunroof on a 911, although purists will probably scoff at the slight loss of structural rigidity.

Cosmetically, they only point to a few flaws: some chips in the front spoiler and wear on the driver's seat. No big deals.

With a car this nice, the only real question is: why would anyone want to get rid of it!?

Find it for sale here in South Central Massachusettes for $17,900.

Turbo Transplant: 1990 Porsche 911 AWD Turbo

It can't be easy modifying a Porsche. Nevermind the immense cost. Just making sure it looks, feels and performs right is where the battle is. The shape is already so classic, changing it just the slightest bit can throw the whole thing off.

This seller is offering an extremely interesting modification that looks to pass muster.

According to them, the previous owner was a wealthy doctor with deep pockets who spent $50,000 putting a 1991 3.3-litre turbocharged engine into this 964 body Carrera 4, complete with whale tail rear wing and composite fenders.

I love the results, cosmetically and mechanically.

The current seller claims he was told the transplant has now boosted power to an astonishing 425 horses. The 964 was already an athletic performer. With these upgrades, it's got to be a rocketship. The wide tires, all-wheel drive, and massive rear spoiler must keep it glued to the pavement like nothing else.

The performance stats wouldn't be so sweet if the body wasn't done well.

Fortunately the mods exhibit restraint and good taste. The 1990-94 964 body is my favorite 911 of all time. It still retains the classic shape and spirit, but without the ugly bumpers and black plastic of the '70s and '80s models, and before the 993 body which tweaked things a little too much.

The dark metallic green over sand interior is a classic '90s color scheme that is different but appealing.

The spoiler is pitch-perfect and jives beautifully with the rest of the body, even mimicking the slope of the lower seam line before the rear wheels. Porsche spoilers can get ridiculous and ruin the profile, but this one is just the right look and size.

Even the slightly tinted windows are ok.

The aftermarket wheels also surprisingly work well. They retain a Porsche emblem in the center, and are simple and sporty enough to be noticeable but never distracting.

The seller states the odometer clocks in at about 141k miles, but the engine transplant only has about 70k on it. I wouldn't be intimidated by the relatively high miles. The more a Porsche is driven, the better, especially if it has been cared for. The seller backs that up to by saying that there are receipts to prove regular maintenance over the years, including a recent cylinder compression test with results coming in at 125. The receipts are key and make this more and more seem like a really right piece.

The seller has bidding starting at $20,000 and a buy it now of $29,995. Given that real 911 Turbo prices are sky high and will continue to rise, that could be a good deal, but it's still a lot of money. This build was a good concept and seemingly executed very well. If it can be proven the car was well-maintained and it is ready to go again, this is going to make the next owner very happy. Rear-engine, all-wheel drive, turbocharged power...it doesn't get much better.

Find it here on ebay in Phoenix, Arizona.