1979 Porsche 911

Description

If you grew up in the '80s, a car like this 1979 Porsche 911 SC Targa, and the Lamborghini Countach were the posters of choice on your bedroom wall. Today, you can own the legend for a remarkably affordable price, complete with performance and handling that'll still scare the heck out of passengers.

With all the fanfare over their performance, we think Porsche deserves credit for their astounding build quality. While the aforementioned Countach looks like a homemade kit car in comparison, the 911 is immaculately built, as solid as a block of granite, with paint, and a body that looks fantastic, even three-and-a-half decades later. Sure, it's got some minor signs of use, but if it didn't start out spectacular, it wouldn't look this good today. The Arrow Blue paint is quite rare and gives the 911 a more sophisticated look that's a pleasant contrast to in-your-face Guards Red. And collectors love this color. With two owners, there's no evidence that suggests the car has ever been abused or raced, and the fit of the doors and the precision feel of the latch mechanisms is as exacting as it was in 1979. Unlike many cars with lift-off roof panels, the Targa seems immune to chassis flex and leakage, another testament to Porsche's legendary build quality. You'll also be pleased to note that all the black rubber bits are in excellent shape, the black anodized trim around the windows is still crisp, and, well, your neighbors are going to think you won the lottery when you pull this in the driveway.

Porsche's interiors have been all-business from Day One, but this 911's work environment is luxurious, too. Sporty black leather buckets firmly hold you in place for spirited driving, but these cars are also superlative long-distance cruisers. Ergonomics were still kind of an afterthought at Porsche, so the secondary controls can be bewildering, but the gauges have their priorities right, starting with the big tachometer front and center. Carpets and door panels are in excellent shape, and with A/C (needs a recharge), and an updated AM/FM/cassette stereo with CD changer, it's got features that make it worthy of daily driver status if you choose to go that route. The back seat is best referred to as an upholstered package shelf, but the front trunk is actually well-shaped, and useful, and includes a bunch of factory literature, air compressor, and other components.

The 3.0 liter flat-six is known for its bulletproof internals, and even if you drive it like you hate it, it keeps coming back for more without complaint. There's not a lot to see under the deck lid, except for a big air cleaner, a bigger cooling fan, and the A/C compressor, but it definitely works. Big torque makes the car squat and scoot, and it offers that wonderful tenor wail that's characteristic of the breed, and your friends will hear you coming a quarter-mile away. The 5-speed transmission offers well-spaced ratios and an overdrive, which combined with the supple yet sporting suspension, makes this a super-car that you can drive every day. Powerful disc brakes, and unboosted steering that telegraphs every grain of the road surface to your palms are standard equipment, and are a major part of the Porsche motoring experience. The underside is quite tidy and shows exactly zero signs of life in the snow belt, critical for a car without a roof. Pretty Fuchs alloys with blacked-out centers wear 205/55/16 front and 225/50/16 rear Michelin radials.

With again, just two owners since 1979, this is the right 911 to buy today. Prices are moving up rather quickly on these ultra-reliable SCs, making this one a very attractive buy. Call today!