Delivered new from Anderson Behel Porsche/Audi of Santa Clara California, this final-year 1983 Porsche 911SC Coupe is said to have remained with the same family from 1985 up until the seller’s purchase in 2022. It comes finished in Grand Prix White over a Brown leather interior and factory equipped with Sport Shock Absorbers. The car has been fortified with a Carrera chain tensioner upgrade and is accompanied by a long-documented service history. A lifelong California car, this 911SC is now being offered for auction with just over 123k miles on the odometer.
This 911SC is finished in Grand Prix White with factory optional rectangular front fog lights, an electric sliding sunroof, and a set of freshly restored Fuchs alloy wheels measuring 16”x7” and 16”x8”, dressed in Continental ExtremeContact tires (02/21). The seller describes the paint as being mostly original and showing some chips on the front bumper, leading trunk edge, and a dent on the passenger side lower front valence. Additional images are provided in the gallery along with paint meter readings and a clean CARFAX report.
The cabin is appointed with Brown leather and came factory equipped with cruise control and power windows. Other accessories include matching brown carpet floor mats, a vintage Blaupunkt Tucson SQR 06 radio, a carpeted dashboard cover, and a removable Nappa leather wrap added to the steering wheel. Some wear is noted on the driver’s seat bolster as well as a puncture in the headliner near the driver’s side C-pillar. The seller also states that the clock does not work and the A/C compressor has been removed.
An air-cooled 3.0-liter flat-six engine rated at 180 HP drives the rear wheels by way of a 5-speed manual transmission. Optional Sport Shock Absorbers came equipped from the factory and the seller states the engine has been upgraded with oil-fed Carrera chain tensioners and an airbox pop off valve. The seller notes there is one broken head stud, the alternator may need refurbishment, and the A/C system requires updated fittings and a recharge. The results from a recent compression test show 150psi-160psi across all cylinders.
This sale will include the original owner’s manuals, toolkit, A/C compressor, service records, a clean title, and a Porsche Production Specifications Certificate.
Comments (70)
Bid in the amount of $42,000
Bid in the amount of $41,500
Bid in the amount of $41,250
Bid in the amount of $41,000
Bid in the amount of $40,500
Seems like a very honest and transparent Seller on this auction. This awareness of service issues may be curbing the enthusiasm for some bidders, but I would put a lot of value in the clarity this Seller has provided. Mechanical things can be fixed, and it's worth doing it if the "bones" are good, and that appears to be the case here.
Bid in the amount of $40,000
Bid in the amount of $39,000
$38.2K seems light for this really nice SC, We'll see soon if it gets it done.
Bid in the amount of $38,200
Bid in the amount of $37,911
Bid in the amount of $36,000
@miniwerks Hi - I do not know how many shades of brown are available, and I think there's at least 2 shades of tan, my window sticker does not state a code, only "Leather interior in special color Umber" under Options
It looks a LOT like your interior as well as my old 1980 911SC in Chiffon
Bid in the amount of $35,250
@edgy4sure It is a bit different from others I have seen, I do prefer it over black. I am not well versed on the different browns, do you know how many there were? COA just says "brown" with code YG.
interior looks like leather to sample Umber Brown (I have in my C2S)
love this SC - GLWA
Bid in the amount of $29,750
Bid in the amount of $29,500
Bid in the amount of $27,250
@twickes40 Thank you for your interest. The shifting is significantly improved, definitely eliminated the notchy shifts. Probably more information than you need but I started with an "OEM" short shift kit from SMC. It was a piece of junk and definitely not genuine Porsche. I have since learned that OEM is very loosely used by many parts manufacturers. I took it to John Holleran, he showed me a factory, Porsche kit and it was night and day in terms of quality. He made a great video showing the differences on Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CjmynfEPXWa/
Regarding the clutch, I am not aware of a second clutch job since the one in '88 but clutch feels fine, no issues.
@miniwerks great example of a well kept SC. How is the shifting after the short shifter was installed? Less notchy? Also, I reviewed the records and it looks like the clutch was replaced in 1988. Do you have any records indicating it was replaced after that? If not, how would you describe the clutch? Thx
I really like cars like this one (full disclosure of known issues).
@Bruce914 Oh cool, I bet we have run into each other. If my SC does not sell you will see it in the future. I will address known issues and continue to enjoy her. Good luck if you decide to bid further.
@miniwerks small world - my wife and I started cars and coffee folsom - so we have been going for awhile. haha. I lived off winding - I'm sure we have run into each other. Watching this closely.
I should add if I am unable to get an estimate from Tony in time I could offer a $500 credit toward the repair. He is very quick with turnaround, at least he was with the initial wrap.
@virafp Thanks for that insight, very helpful! I should be able to have the headliner tear addressed before it changes hands. I was hoping to hear back from Tony Garcia by now regarding the steering wheel. I would guess no more than $500 since some of the labor to make the Napa leather cover does not have to be repeated other than restitch but not sure what the labor would be to weld the crack. I will ping him again, hopefully I can have an accurate estimate before the auction closes.
@miniwerks first off, I must commend you on your "full disclosure" listing! I wish all sellers were as forthcoming! This may help clear up broken bolt issue - I checked with two local shops (one of them I use for my Cayman S, but he is a air cool Porsche master!) and without seeing the car, he said that in spite of the leak down numbers, once the engine is pulled, with the work that goes around replacing all the studs, its a 11K job on the low side to a 15K job on the high side. He also mentioned that it may take more than one visit after the work is done, to get the oil leaks to stop! He also mentioned that due to the length of the studs, doing it without engine removal is a bad idea.
On a side note, would you let us know if you can have the headliner repaired before the new owner takes delivery, and also the cost to redo the steering wheel? Thank you and GLWTS!
Bid in the amount of $27,000
@Bruce914 Thanks for your bid Bruce. I bet we have run into each other at previous Cars & Coffee events. I have been going to them for many years but only one time with the SC. It was recently out at the Town Center in Eldorado Hills. I was parked next to a friend, Mark Smedley with his red 1986 930. I had not been to one in a long time and was impressed with the number of cars. I don't know how far back you have been attending them but when we lived in Wilhaggin, I had a 1957 Jaguar D-Type recreation by Bryan Wingfield and would take it to the Pavilions location next to Ruth's Chris. BTW, big fan of 914s, had a 73 2.0 Appearance Group when I going to Sac State in the 80s, loved that car. Always wanted a Signal Orange 914-6. I bet we know a lot of the same people. We live off Winding Way and Hazel but had many homes in the greater Sacramento area.
Bid in the amount of $26,000
I recognize that on ramp - take it often. Surprised I have not seen this at cars and coffee folsom or any Porsche events in the area. Good looking car.
Beautiful car and the frankness of the Seller should create confidence. Good luck!
I added photos of the headliner tear, still waiting on repair estimate. Also all 4 Fuchs that were recently restored, the trunk carpet that also shows the trickle charger that comes with the car, the jack that looks new, and floor boards on passenger side, driver side identical.
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
@shoooo32 I agree with your comments about John, he posts some of his builds on Instagram under the username hollerans_performance. He has a separate room in his shop with maybe a dozen engines in process, 356s, 912s and 911s and they are pure art. Speaking of John, I left him a voicemail this morning to get an estimate on the alternator refurb and fan housing fix and hope to post here today. If it does not sell, that was my next thing to address.
As a prospective bidder, if you're not looking to address the head studs (and all the "while you're in there" maintenance when dropping the engine), you probably shouldn't own an aircooled 911 this nice. This is a solid car - it's worth the $10-15k needed to make it a great car. And if you're in the bay area, John Holleran is the man. His engine builds could be considered artwork.
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
I removed the horn button and can now feel the spoke issue. I circled the area in red where it is broken. I sent the photo to Tony at Autobahn and awaiting his input. I asked for an estimate to weld the crack and recover in the Napa leather again. Will update when I know more. See most recent photo added to the gallery.
@wadds1971 I am not sure how it works as this is my first time listing a car. Thank you for your compliment. I do still plan to report back on the headliner. I have a call into the local mobile guy. If it is a simple job for him and he has time this week I might just have him do it.
@miniwerks - I don't understand why your "handle" isn't highlighted in red when I post a comment, but it has happened to me many times in the past on PCar, so maybe it is something unique to their website. Anyway, I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate your quick, and thorough, responses to my questions. It seems clear to me that you are being totally open and transparent in describing all aspects of your car, and that is refreshing to see!
@miniwerks Meant to say very high standard.
I just added the 3 pages from the body shop for repair to the left rear quarter. As noted earlier, the outer panel is OEM and the work was done to a very standard.
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
@wadds1971 Regarding the steering wheel, just had a long chat with Tony Garcia at Autobahn Interiors, great guy by the way, highly recommend him. He said they would have noticed any crack in a spoke so I am sure this happened maybe when I was rolling it around the garage or getting out of the car? Not sure how or when it happened but he can repair it and has done many of them. I am taking a picture of it to see if it shows and how close it is to the original padding and the new overlay and will send to Tony for his input. So the good news is that the original wheel can be easily preserved. If I learn more from Tony or estimate to repair I will share it here.
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
@wadds1971 Thanks, I agree, I am not normally a fan of GPW either but the brown works very well. Normally I like the bright colors used on the early long hoods like Tangerine, Signal Orange, Signal Yellow, etc.
I am sure the steering wheel could be repaired and restitched, I will ask Tony Garcia today. The Napa leather is something he does on a LOT of G-body cars and it is a nice upgrade. His guy may not have noticed the crack depending on the fixture they use to stitch the leather, I did not notice it driving either.
The rug on the dash is a dash cover for sun protection used when parked. This was made at the same time as the seats and dash. I will scan and post that receipt shortly. It matches the matts there were made too.
The headliner tear could be repaired, there is a mobile upholstery service here in Sacramento that I have been meaning to contact. I showed the picture to Stu Tifft who lives nearby, he was Bruce Canepa's top upholstery guy for many years and now works independently. He did the sport seats and interior on my former 911T. He gave me the name of the mobile guy and thought it would be an easy job. I will post what I find here.
Regarding the head stud, many opinions on this one, probably best to chat with your local Porsche mechanic. I would not want to mislead anyone with my very limited knowledge but from what I have found, it sounds like many owners will continue to drive their cars with just one broken stud and given the leak down and compression numbers, no popping sound, should be fine for some time. After discussing with my mechanic, I was disappointed but not concerned about driving it.
@miniwerks - Very nice looking SC. I'm not usually a fan of white on 911's, but, together with the interior color, this car looks very appealing. A couple of quick cosmetic questions:
1. Really a shame about that steering wheel breakage, as the new cover on the rim looks very well done, and attractive. I'm amazed the damage was not noted before the new skin was applied. Do you know if the wheel can be repaired, and the cover restitched?
2. Why the "rug" on the dash in pic #30? Is that just to prevent dash cracking from sun exposure? Are there any dash cracks that are not visible in your pics?
3. Did you seek any repair ideas for the torn headliner in the left rear? Is full replacement the only viable option?
4. It might be helpful to post a range of estimated repair costs to fix the head stud situation. Somehow, it just doesn't seem right to drive this car for any length of time with known damage like this.
Thanks for any feedback you can provide. I'll be anxious to see where the bidding goes by the end of your auction.
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
@Raposa Sorry about that, good point. Will take photos or scans now of the service receipt. I will also do the compression test and short shift kit install. These were all of the "services" I had done. Stewart's Automotive also did the safe removal of my R12 and compressor. Look for new photos in the gallery shortly.
You mentioned leak down test numbers and I didn't seem to see them. Can you point me in the right direction?
Sucks about the head stud. Had this with my first SC. A lot of info out there about this being predominately a cold climate issue.
@Bruce914 Thank you, I think there is a great deal to like about this car but wanted to lead with the issues I am aware of. I like that it is bone stock, entirely rust free, dry CA car it's entire life, nearly full service history, numbers matching, excellent leak down numbers, unusual color interior for GPW, normally found in Chiffon cars, it is a joy to drive, especially with the OEM short shift kit installed by John Holleran, and I have to admit, the perfect tool kit is cool. It could be an ideal basis for a back date project or leave as-is and just address things as needed. If I end up keeping the car, I planned to look into the Group4Wheels satin gold Campagnolo wheels and possibly add matching Carrera script on the sides, duck tail, H4s, etc. Any modifications I make I like to be able to reverse to stock if needed. You might say this one is a blank "white" canvas.
Good looking car, I like the honesty with the report and comments.
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Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
@Jimbo1907 I added two photos of the stud. It looked better when it came out, it has been in a box in my garage so a little surface rust on the barrel that was not there before. As mentioned earlier, the mechanic noted no moisture or debris in the area where it came out.
Additional content has been added to the gallery for this listing.
@Jimbo1907 I found this comment from a 1983 SC very similar to mine that sold 2/22. I can say with certainty mine does not have any popping sound and no loss of compression.
Seller's comment regarding his mechanic's statement about costing a few thousand dollars to repair it doesn't sound right. I don't think you repair one broken stud, I think you do all of them at the same time but again I have very limited mechanical knowledge, my tool box has a credit card and a cell phone in it. If you have a local Porsche shop that you use, I would get their input as well. The last thing I want to do is mislead anyone.
Seller's comment from 2/22...
"At the time the car was serviced and addressed by Doc’s Grrrage (that’s how they spell it), the mechanic told me about the broken head stud. I asked him two questions: 1 – will it hurt to drive the car as it is? He said, no. There would be a popping noise, but that as little as the car was driven, it should be fine. 2 – what was the cost to repair? He told me it would be several thousand dollars if I wanted to repair it, and actually took me to the bay to show me a different Porsche that had it’s engine pulled and they were actually addressing the same issue on it."
@Jimbo1907 I must admit my mechanical knowledge is very limited but perhaps someone else can chime in. Meanwhile I will do a little research and see what is normally recommended. I think the best way to address it is a top end rebuild but not 100%. I don't think it is necessary on my car at this point considering leak down and compression numbers. I remember reading a thread on another auction site for a similar 83 SC with one broken stud, I will see if I can find it and copy/paste some of the comments. It was an interesting discussion as I recall.
Would repairing the broken head stud involve pulling the engine and installing case inserts?
Bid in the amount of $25,000
I have a lot of receipts from Sierra Madre Collection, Stoddard, Pelican and a few service receipts. So far I have invested another $5500.
Pelican Parts (rear speaker grills) 225.74
Fuchs Restoration 1,256.00
SMC (headlight washer nozzles, door light rubber, valve stem supports) 109.08
SMC (911SC badge, rear speakers, unleaded only decal) 350.23
SMC (air filter, oil filter, washers) 46.71
Pelican Parts (O2 Sensor) 148.16
SMC (Taillight lens, seat belt cover, key cover) 119.10
SMC (hood damper, unleaded fuel decal) 26.60
SMC (left taillight lens, jack plug) 33.00
SMC (Front bumper beading, lock nuts, washer nozzles, washers) 71.18
SMC (hot air hose, speed nuts, seat belt covers) 63.26
SMC (hot air hose, decal for CDI ignition module, catalytic converter decal) 83.77
Stewarts Auto (Compression test, a/c compressor) 360.00
Stoddard (screws, hood strut, spare tire decal) 61.58
SMC (spare bulb set, rear license plate lights) 100.78
Holleran's Performance (Valve adjust, oil service, full inspection, leak down) 1,508.78
Stoddard (shift knob) 152.86
Holleran's Performance (short shift kit) 489.88
AAA Dent 300.00
Bid in the amount of $5,000
Bid in the amount of $2,000
Last comment for the start of the auction. When I took the car in for a valve adjustment, oil service and overall inspection, my mechanic found one broken head stud. He called me and explained he had some good news and some bad news. The good news was the near perfect leak down numbers, the bad news was the one head stud. For those familiar with the SCs, this is not uncommon and opinions can differ wildly on how to deal with it. Some will say drive it until it becomes an issue, others would pull the engine and do full top end. My plan was to drive it until it became an issue because as my mechanic explained, the leak down numbers were almost zero on all cylinders and there was no evidence of anything around the stud i.e. leaks or compression loss. I would be keeping this car for a very long time if a good friend had not informed me he is finally willing to sell his concours restored 1954 Austin Healey 100-4.
As I want to share everything I know up front, I will explain the accident that happened in 2006 under prior ownership. The owner's son-in-law explained that Janice had been out to lunch and another car backed into her left rear quarter while she was dining inside. She came out to find some other patrons standing around her car. They witnessed the car back into hers and were able to get the license plate, it was a hit and run apparently. Insurance paid the claim but wanted to just do body work and paint but Janice insisted on a full, new outer, OEM quarter panel. I have the receipt for the work, it was $6884. I took 65 photos of paint depth readings, I don't see them posted but happy to share. I think the majority of the car is original paint.
I should add that the a/c was working prior to removing but had R12. I had it removed at Stewarts Automotive so the R12 could safely be removed and lines disconnected. I wanted to replace the tired hose that runs across the fan housing and the only way to get at the other end beneath the compressor is to remove it and the brace beneath it. I had planned to reinstall in spring but add the Griffiths kit that has the fittings for R134. It is very inexpensive, $129 however the next owner might prefer going with their full upgrade so I will leave the compressor out for now. Small detail but you will see a new CA Emissions sticker that goes under the engine lid, I was afraid to remove the original but it is an eye sore. I suspect a good heat gun will do the trick but will leave that to next owner. Steering wheel should be replaced, at least with an aftermarket wheel, they are inexpensive and honestly feel better. My mechanic noticed the original wheel has a broken spoke, I never noticed it as I am not an aggressive driver and do not push firmly on the wheel, it still feels normal to me but I would be remiss if this was not called out. It was maddening too as I just paid $500 to have it wrapped in Napa leather by Autobahn Interiors. There was battery spillage at some point and most of it sprayed inside the trunk and hit the fuel cell, there is some spray under the hood and few spots up near the fuel filler door, I will update with more photos this weekend, I missed those on the initual upload and did not think this was going live until Monday so will update tomorrow. The tool kit and jack appear to have never been used, reminds me of my 1973.5 911T that came with a one year only tool kit that had been stored in a closet since day one.
Thank you 590HP for your clever opening bid. I am looking forward to answering questions and providing additional photos, videos as needed. I will try to find a better venue for photos and take new exterior shots this weekend. I provided a 3-page service history by date and mileage but do have many more receipts, the previous owner kept receipts from 12/85 forward. The service I had performed is almost a full PPI and captures things parts/services the next owner may want to address.
Bid in the amount of $911