1976 911T - Stay away? (long)

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scarletsoft - 28 Jul 2004 18:29 GMT

I've been looking at 911s for awhile, and have been doing a lot of
research. I found this ad in the local paper:

76 911 Targa with Targa top, black on black, looks and drives great,
California car, 125,000 original miles, $8999

I'm learning about middle year 911s and some basic things to look for
and ask about. So, I went to give the car a quick first look.

Here are some comments:

1. The engine hood says 911T. All my research tells me that there was
no "T" in 1976. Is this a sign of a previous accident? (I don't know
how to distinguish between a T engine and a 2.7 engine - so I don't
know what's in there).

2. The current owner purchased the car sight-unseen from California
and had it shipped out east. He has owned it a couple years. He
doesn't know anything about 2.7 engines or Porsche engines in general.
Sounds like he bought it without doing any research.

3. There's a crack on the engine hood and it looks like fiberglass
underneath (I didn't have my magnet with me).

4. The targa top looks like it doesn't fit correctly.

5. Other than the above, it's pretty nice. No rust and a good
interior. 11 blade fan.

Please help me - I like the way it looks, but I'm scared about the
above problems. Do I stay away?

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Don - 29 Jul 2004 00:33 GMT

> I've been looking at 911s for awhile, and have been doing a lot of
> research. I found this ad in the local paper:
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
> Please help me - I like the way it looks, but I'm scared about the
> above problems. Do I stay away?

It's been a long time for me, but I seem to remember that the T designation was a carb'ed engine. I just got out my Paul Frere book and it seems that memory is right, but there could be a lot of modifieds out there after some 30 years. They were two-three throat Webers mounted with electric fuel pump (oh boy!). The S came out in 1974 and "Replaced the T and E models"

BTW The Porsche Story, by Paul Frère, is an excellent reference book. He was a design engineer for Porsche for many years.
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Don - 29 Jul 2004 05:36 GMT

> > I've been looking at 911s for awhile, and have been doing a lot of
> > research. I found this ad in the local paper:
[quoted text clipped - 31 lines]
>
> BTW The Porsche Story, by Paul Frère, is an excellent reference book. He was a design engineer for Porsche for many years.

Oh, BTW, Targas may be beautiful but they are a handful to keep in top shape.
The gaskets are expensive to replace and maintain, so I hear. In LA back in
the 60's I saw won that had been stolen by kids, rolled it; the roll bar took
out 300' of curbing. The bar was scratched up a bit. Kids were hurt by
flying concrete.
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Adam Schwartz - 29 Jul 2004 04:46 GMT

I dont know that much about those models... but here is a good web site..

http://www.idee.demon.nl/911_27/911_27.htm

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Don - 29 Jul 2004 05:31 GMT

> > I've been looking at 911s for awhile, and have been doing a lot of
> > research. I found this ad in the local paper:
[quoted text clipped - 31 lines]
>
> http://www.idee.demon.nl/911_27/911_27.htm

Thanks for the URL; another Bookmark for my files. Isn't that (signal green?)
'73 beautiful? That's why I opted to stay with the '88/'89 prefernece, those
are the last years of the "real 911's". As Paul notes, they did away with the
"wings" (front fenders) for '90 to improve air flow and cut down on high speed
wander due to cross winds. I lived in nortern New Mexico at the time where there
was one Highway Patrolman at the time. I had mine up to 125+ a couple of times
from Santa Fe east to Las Vegas (NM) and noticed it was a mite touchie up there
when the wind blew. It was winding roads through pine covered forests.

Who was it that did such a beautiful essay the other day about why he loves
Porsches? He sounds who we used to refer to, in the 1950-70's, as a
"Porsche Owner". Not just someone that owns a Poarch[sic]. There's a huge
difference.
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vricardo - 09 Aug 2004 12:54 GMT

Hi! You should get a copy of a little cheap pocket-book called "Porsche Red
Book". There you'll find all production numbers, factory colors, options,
specifications, engine codes, serial numbers, and photographs for all
European and American 911s through the latest watercooled model.

Amazon.com: Books: Porsche 911 Red Book: 1965-1999 (Red Books)

Then you'll know if the car is good or not.
But I woudn't buy it if I wasn't sure...

Good luck!

98 2,5 986

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