A classic air-cooled Targa, this 1979 Porsche 911SC comes finished in Guards Red and is equipped with a 3.0-liter flat-six engine connected to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The car reportedly had four prior owners and was part of the last owner’s Porsche collection for several years before being acquired by its seller in Pennsylvania who has since invested about $28k in refurbishment including an engine out service and reseal.
The exterior was reportedly refinished in Guards Red from its original Grand Prix White color under the second owner’s care. This 911SC sports chrome window moldings, door handles, and headlight rings as well as functional factory front fog lights, headlight washers, a heated rear window, and a brushed silver Targa bar with a matching rear model designation. The car rides on a set of previously restored 15” ATS Cookie Cutter wheels that were mounted with new Pirelli Cinturato tires about two years ago. An additional set of unrestored Fuchs wheels is said to be included as well.
Inside, the front seats are said to have been reupholstered in black Italian leather while the door panels, handles, and pockets have all been replaced. An upgraded Kenwood Bluetooth head unit has been installed along with upgraded door speakers, a three-spoke MOMO Prototipo steering wheel, and a set of custom Coco floor mats. The A/C compressor was removed by a previous owner and requires a rebuild. The compressor will accompany the sale along with the original steering wheel. The seller notes the oil level gauge operates slowly and the original odometer failed about a year ago and has since been repaired with approximately 500 miles driven during the interim.
An air-cooled 3.0-liter flat-six engine delivers up to 180 HP and 175 lb.-ft of torque to the rear wheels by way of a 5-speed 915 manual gearbox. Bilstein shock absorbers have been installed along with a high-flow Bursch catalytic converter pipe. A major engine-out service was completed in 2020 by Christopher Radbill’s Automotive Repair including the removal of all pistons and cylinders to replace broken head studs, an engine reseal, machined flywheel, and replacement of the starter, heat exchangers, heater hoses, hood/decklid struts, and shifter bushings. A compression test was also performed at this time which yielded excellent results as well as refinishing of the fan shroud and engine compartment with new decals applied. An oil change and drive belt replacement were completed more recently in December 2022. A corresponding invoice for the engine-out service is provided in the gallery along with all invoices for work completed by the current owner and previous owners going back to 2012.
This sale will include the original owner’s manuals, service records, a clean title, and the original A/C compressor, steering wheel, and smog pump.
Comments (52)
Bid in the amount of $31,250
Bid in the amount of $31,000
Bid in the amount of $30,250
Bid in the amount of $30,000
Bid in the amount of $29,500
Bid in the amount of $29,250
Bid in the amount of $28,911
Bid in the amount of $27,500
Bid in the amount of $27,250
Bid in the amount of $27,000
Bid in the amount of $26,500
Bid in the amount of $25,911
Bid in the amount of $25,250
Bid in the amount of $25,000
Bid in the amount of $22,911
Bid in the amount of $20,000
Bid in the amount of $17,000
Bid in the amount of $16,000
Hi everyone final countdown today. I will be monitoring the auction as the seller for any questions off and on between meetings. Thanks for your interest in my 911. If someone ends up winning the car you will not be disappointed.
Bid in the amount of $15,500
Bid in the amount of $15,000
Bid in the amount of $13,500
Bid in the amount of $13,000
Bid in the amount of $12,000
@Ranger3 I returned home and uploaded a several page invoice which represents a lot of the work when I had it in for the engine out work. There are a few more invoices from this multiple month stay at Radbill but the images reflect a lot of the engine work in addition to the summary statement covering what was done. I have perhaps 15 pages more of invoices for work I have completed for the car totally about $28k.
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
@gkcrane hi thanks for your interest the dash has a few small cracks. I have a quote to replace it the proper way by removing the windshield but it hasn’t bothered me so haven’t competed that project.
What is the condition of the dash pad?
@Ranger3 I forgot that image 71 lists everything that was done for the engine out/rebuild/reseal in the meantime until I am able to get home to access and upload the invoices.
@BDehart, thanks for the update. Look forward to looking at the invoices and work completed.
@Ranger3 Hi, so I talked to Radbill who reconfirmed that all 24 head studs were replaced and it was a top end rebuild/reseal. When evaluating the engine before work started, they didn't believe the halves needed to be split and resealed. I will be home Weds afternoon and I'll add a picture of all the receipts for this work so everyone can understand what was done to the car as part of the engine out work completed in '21.
@BDehart...excellent news on the head studs. Thanks for your prompt replies.
@Ranger3 Yes all 24 studs were replaced as part of the engine out work, I'm checking on the reseal of the case halves with my mechanic as I'm traveling away from the receipt files today and want to be accurate. I'll be able to answer this part of your question by sometime tomorrow.
@BDehart, were all 24 head studs replaced during the major engine service? Were the case halves split and resealed? Thanks in advance for your responce.
@Ranger3 thanks!
@BDehart...Thanks for your note. I will be bidding. Sold my 79 911SC back in November of 2021. Been looking for a suitable replacement. You have a very nice example.
@Ranger3 thanks Ranger I had a false sense of the top restoration. There is a guy in NJ who does it that I looked into a little while ago that seemed less expensive but maybe that’s not a full restore of the top. Good to note for anyone concerned about the top. It’s fine as is in original condition and in this car’s case spends far more time off the car.
Bid in the amount of $11,250
Bid in the amount of $11,000
@BDehart...you stated "It’s not expensive to have them restored" regarding the Targa top. A full and proper top restoration starts at $3000 and goes up. So, "expensive" varies with one's finances. I have had a few restored in the last few years. BTW, the top on this car will not stop me from bidding on this one. GLWTA.
Bid in the amount of $7,750
@Roma the targa top looks good on the car and fits well, but there is some wind noise so I’d assume water could get in (I don’t drive it in the rain). I think this is fairly typical. It’s not expensive to have them restored but since it looks good and I rarely have the top on (except for cold winter dry day drives) I haven’t had it refreshed. I honestly keep the top off from spring until late fall here in PA as the targa style cockpit doesn’t let a lot of wind in with the top down. It also folds up nicely and stores in the frunk.
@Roma thanks for your interest the car doesn’t have rust, body and undercarriage is in great shape.
Bid in the amount of $7,500
Would the Seller plz comment on the Targa seal, i.e. water leakage and wind noise? THX
Would the Seller plz comment on any rust? THX
Hi everyone, I wanted to reach out as the seller and thank you for your interest in my 911 SC Targa. I am a collector that regularly has 3 to 4 diverse cars in my collection. As mentioned in the write up, I invested a substantial amount into the 911 to mechanically sort it out with an excellent, very experienced Porsche shop, and the car has a nice appearance as well with a good respray and nice interior with some work done there as well. It's a really enjoyable car to own and drive, I'm simply ready for my next classic sports car adventure. I'm sure I will miss this car when it sells. I'll monitor the auction for questions and thanks again.
Oh and cookie cutters too!
Very nice! And so nice to see one with brushed silver targa bar and chrome window trim!
Klusters thanks for your interest and comments on the car. Yes, the car is fully sorted mechanically. I have only put a little under 600 miles on the car since I had the engine out work completed. I take it for weekly drives where I live where there are a lot of great, windy backroads.
Bid in the amount of $5,000
Wow, really well-sorted example of a great model year. The 911 SC is a fun ride - super responsive steering and a level of chassis feedback that modern sports will never be able to replicate. When folks talk about really feeling like you are part of the machine its these SCs that offer that visceral feedback. I remember being pleasantly surprised over they usability as a daily driver as well. A/C units never worked well, good call on removing it.
Looks like the major issues were sorted out. Engine out service service is really comprehensive - how many miles have you put on her since?