How to get started

[Porsche4Live]

Hi all - I am starting to look at potentially buying a classic 911. I would love to have a nice original 911 or 356.

I'm fairly experienced at buying new Porsches but have no idea how to get started with classics.

I'm looking at a budget of ~50k. How can I start? I have been looking at BaT and other platforms but I just don't know how to evaluate what a 911 of this age is worth, which ones to stay away and what to do if I really want to buy a specific one. How much should I budget for maintenance and repairs? How difficult is it to redo the interior (I'm used to new cars, while the look of a classic 911 is great, the interior is a bit lacking for me).

Thanks!

[Pteratec]

After a year of research I went with a 1988 Porsche 911 with a 3.2 engine and a G50 transmission. It seems the Porsches get better after a couple of years of production. I believe the version started in 1986.

[Tom]

After a year of research I went with a 1988 Porsche 911 with a 3.2 engine and a G50 transmission. It seems the Porsches get better after a couple of years of production. I believe the version started in 1986.

Welcome to Carpokes -- and good advice! The later 3.2's have the hydraulic clutch, which was the one thing I really (really) missed in my '85.

[AG81]

Seems like what was $50,000 in 2017 is now $70,000. The less you spend now the more you will spend later. It's a well known fact with air-cooled 911's. If you don't get a respected PPI your just asking for trouble. If you take a chance on an auction your just taking a chance. My experience with BaT is not a good one. Others have had way better experiences.
I suggest going/flying/driving to see the car first hand. Pictures can not be trusted.

[Rich_911]

My first Porsche was an '88 911. I loved the car. My only problem was the air conditioning - the car had rubber hoses so ... in Houston the coolant was too low to effectively cool the car every 18 months or so. I don't believe that particular coolant can't be purchased any longer. Major changes to the AC system may be required.

[Tom]

My first Porsche was an '88 911. I loved the car. My only problem was the air conditioning - the car had rubber hoses so ... in Houston the coolant was too low to effectively cool the car every 18 months or so. I don't believe that particular coolant can't be purchased any longer. Major changes to the AC system may be required.

I had an '85 and would second that. Even in tip top shape with everything working exactly right, the a/c on those cars just couldn't keep up with a hot day. Those systems used the old R12 refrigerant, which is no longer produced, but you can get old stock from eBay etc. at ever-increasing crazy prices. Converting the system to r134a without updating the rest of the system makes a weak a/c even weaker, but there are places like Griffiths that sell all the hardware needed to make r134a system work way better than the factory system. https://griffiths.com/mr-ice-project/

As a side note, I always wondered if the tiny vents and weak a/c on the 911 had anything to do with the 86+ interior and a/c system. Quite the contrast. The 911 spits out a/c through a few tiny little vents, whereas half the dash are huge vents on the 944....