1984 Porsche 911 Carrera "Philadelphia" backdate by ROCS
Vehicle Details
- Year: 1984
- Make: Porsche
- Model: 911 Carrera
- VIN: WP0AB0913ES121496
- Mileage Shown: 75,576mi (TMU)
- Transmission: Manual
- Title Status: Clean
- Color: Dark Blue
- Seller Type: Private Party
- Location: Gallatin, TN 37066
- Lot #: V-0028867
Reimagined by the specialists at ROCS Motorsports, this 1984 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe was commissioned as an extensive custom backdate restoration between 2020 and 2021. The ROCS “Philadelphia 911” was crafted as a highly individual build including weathered dark blue paint, faded racing graphics, classic long-hood bodywork, and a vintage-style interior with custom bucket seats and hand-distressed red leather upholstery. The car has also been upgraded with a Steve Wong performance chip, SSI headers, and Dansk muffler, while its engine and gearbox were fully rebuilt prior to the custom restoration. Showcasing impeccable craftsmanship and attention to detail, this custom one-off ROCS 911 is now being offered for auction by its seller out of Tennesee accompanied by a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity.
During the ROCS restoration, the styling of the car was backdated with custom-fitted long-hood bodywork finished in distressed blue paint. Other details include hand-patinaed and aged Porsche stripes and racing graphics, vintage leather hood straps, 911R Lexan rear quarter windows, 911R-style taillights, a fiberglass RS-style rear bumper, exposed oil cooler lines, a custom twin-grille rear decklid, and modern projector beam headlights. The 16” Fuchs wheels come finished with gold-painted centers and silver outer lips, dressed in a set of Pirelli P Zero Rosso tires sized 205/55 in front and 245/45 in the rear.
The hand-patinaed interior has been redone with distressed red leather RS-style door panels, grey Perlon felt carpeting, a custom black leather dashboard, and custom bucket seats with corduroy centers and ROCS emblems in the backrests. Other additions include a vintage three-spoke MOMO steering wheel, a painted roll bar, race-style floorboards, and an emergency cutoff switch in place of the analog clock. The power windows have been retained, although there is no air-conditioning or sound system present.
Prior to the custom restoration by ROCS, the air-cooled 3.2-liter flat-six engine was fully rebuilt along with the 5-speed manual gearbox by Elite Motors of New Jersey in 2015. The engine has been upgraded with SSI heat exchangers, a Dansk sport muffler, and a Steve Wong performance chip. Additionally, Bilstein dampers have been installed and the suspension was rebuilt in 2021. Stopping power is provided by four-wheel disc brakes. Corresponding records are provided for reference in the gallery detailing the comprehensive mechanical work and refurbishment of this build.
This sale will include a clean title, documentation of the restoration, and a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity.
Auction Results
- Highest Bid: $105,000
- Auction End: Apr 25, 2023 08:16:22PM UTC
- Number of Bids: 10
Comments (36)
Bid in the amount of $105,000
Bid in the amount of $104,000
Bid in the amount of $101,000
Bid in the amount of $100,000
Bid in the amount of $98,000
Bid in the amount of $95,000
Bid in the amount of $89,000
While the creativity and design aesthetic is unique and maybe not to everyone's taste, there is no doubt on the build quality. I had the pleasure of storing the ROCS Chicago car at my shop for a couple days in advance of Checkeditout 2019 and can vouch for Rich's work. That build is an example of a "shiny object" pcar and all of the U.S. PCNA royalty who attended our event loved it as well.
Bid in the amount of $77,911
Not to sound like a broken record, but once you see and drive this car (or any ROCS build) you "get it". There's a cohesiveness to the aesthetic and an overall vibe that needs to be experienced in person to fully appreciate. Two ROCS cars will be featured at Luftgekuhlt in San Francisco this weekend, check them out if you're going to be there.
@KCnSF "Be the person your Dog thinks you are" J.W. Stephens
...a much more fun quote ;-)
@Al_Cantara Here is the thing though, your typical decaying 911 generally requires quite a bit more than mechanical sorting, which in itself is expensive. Most decaying long hoods require substantial rust repair, then there is the power level and usability factor. Folks at this level want the best available mechanicals their budgets dictate. Often taking a later car and kicking it back a couple decades is the way to go. Long hoods unless substantially modified are generally slow and require more tedious repairs and maintenance in general. The end user of these cars wants to get in, turn the key and drive with minimal fettling, they are all well achieved and on the go who have more interest in hoping into a car they love possessing minimal amount of downtime. As far as being an impostor, you can argue every backdate restomod is that, you can argue that RWB for example, which I think are super cool myself are poser race cars since so many are close to stock mechanically. So we build on spec, some cars have higher budgets, some clients are keen on certain aspects of a build and couldn't care less about big HP for example.
As far as patina goes here is what I have to say and I've said this before:
What are our cars? Well, they are carefully thought-out, executed, functional, creative exercises driven by passion, that is what we build. Our art cars don't pretend to be patinated cars, you'll find no rusted or bare metal panels, they represent history, an era, a feeling, nostalgia, design, style. They represent vast and alternate possibilities and pose questions. They allow for different views, they make you think, they invite human interaction and invoke conversations.
Lastly, see them in person, talk to me in person and you will understand the above... I don't have a massive ego, I do have pride both in my art form and as a Human being.
At the end of the day, we all have our tastes, likes and preferences and that is a great thing, I love juxtapositions. :-)
Bid in the amount of $69,069
@ROCS
There are dirty old 911's around that enthusiasts can find decaying in garages, buy, sort mechanically, drive and enjoy as is cosmetically, leaving them "dirty" which is their history.
Alternatively, there are true 'built' hot rods that can be driven with abandon, earning the wear and tear with every drive.
This build is neither. Not really a hot rod as it is mostly stock, and the patina was created rather than earned.
So it seems like a poser, an imposter. I enjoy art but I don't want it as the primary characteristic of any 911 I own.
That said, I am convinced there is someone (actually many) for every 911 - at least two owners so far for this build. It must have spoken to them. And there will be more owners who love this build. It's just a narrow market for resale.
@KCnSF Wow, totally inappropriate and disrespectful... Regardless I'd rather be someone who creates something and has pride in what they build than some troll on the sidelines picking over photos. Have some class, man.
Also you might want to watch this P-car Market live episode in which ROCS is discussed alongside, guess who, Singer, Gunther, etc. https://www.pcarmarket.com/videos/itm35/
@ROCS Hmm, interesting post there sir. I've personally thought "what a very cool car" each of the 3 times I've seen this car at auction, until your post. Now each time I see your work I can't help to think, "nice car but built by a VERY sensitive and arrogant individual". Your cars will never have the status or respect of an Emory, Guntherwerks, Paul Stevens, Singer or Magnus as you don't show any originality. Your design, or re-imagined work as you say 6 times on your website (you really need to give Singer credit for your use of that term), is based on projecting fake wear and patina with intentional panel gaps?
You remind me of a quote by Abraham Lincoln: "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt".
Greetings fellow PCarMarketers...I was pointed to this auction and so as the guy who executed this art car I figured I would chime in since there appears to be so many backseat drivers with no idea of what this car is chiming in on this auction.
First, if you know who I am then you know what my design ethos is, within this ethos reside two main categories, without going into a whole explanation or diatribe, we will call them clean and dirty cars. If I'm building you a super shiny show piece then that ethos is one of perfection and minute alignment HOWEVER if you truly know me and follow my work as well as my artistic career, then you know what I truly enjoy making is these dramatic art cars, the dirty kind. You might have even researched the whats and whys and if you just so simply as watch my YouTube video on the ROCS Panamericana then you know these answers. You will know that key areas of "panel misalignment" are a design element... I can certainly place metal or any substrate anywhere I like, up, down, sideways, curved, in the AM, PM or at night with the lights off... I can guarantee you if you see it, I put it there for a reason... No old beat up race car (or a tribute) would ever have perfect panels and that is one of the reasons, it also represents Philadelphia with its notorious grit, bumps and bruises that we all appreciate.... Putting the effort where it counts, in this case the artistic expression of the finished piece is paramount... folks don't commission my art cars because they want another shiny object to obsess over, they do because they want to live, love and enjoy the subject, they desire a different kind of experience and this is what I provide.. an experience you can drive. Now, go buy yourself a mid 80's Carrera, or any 911.... go make it your own, outlaw it restomod it... if you can afford to and then come back after you paid the bill and show me you don't have a good 200k into the car, until then sit back and enjoy the ride. Whoever buys this car can drive the heck out of it.
Bid in the amount of $59,911
@P-Unit please understand that mean spirited comments that add no value to the auction must be removed by our moderator. If you were selling a vehicle , you would want the same assurance. Also speculation on reserve is not fair to the process as it is private and we work with every seller to provide guidance as to where the reserve should be. This is why comments regarding reserve are strictly prohibited. We ask that all comments be relevant to the car and the sale, and not in poor taste. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding
@KCnSF That's what I said earlier, but they deleted my comment.
Current value has been determined a few times now on this car, time for the seller to either accept it or stash it away for a few years. You bought the top and continually re-listing isn't going to change that fact.
@tcmiami305 I don't think that is a fair comment as it is a super cool car although looks are buyer specific. It has a lot of cool cosmetic touches and is probably a fun ride the problem is there is nothing that substantiates the value being that high. There would be plenty of buyers at a lower sale price.
Was on Rennlist for 1/2 of what people are stating.
This car is a hot potato and .........
She’s back. Again.
Anyone considering this car should view every detailed (and magnified) photo here and on the previous BaT listing to understand the build details.
I remember well the right/passenger front fender under the headlamp and above the horn grille. Bidders must decide if panel alignment and bondo finishing is patina or poor build quality.
I guess that decision can go either way depending on the buyer.
Seller purchased this car last year on PCar for $155,750. Looks like most if not all pictures and videos are from the listing back then although only 250 miles added since.
@P-Unit There are plenty of people who dig the ROCS aesthetic and the craft that goes into them. They are definitely unique works of drivable art, and I for one appreciate that.
Spectacular. To get what it is worth, will require a very specific buyer. GLWTA!!
Good luck this time! Hope it does better than it did at the other place.
Fun rat rod, was recently on BaT but didn't hit the reserve. GLWTA, hopefully you have the right audience over here.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1984-porsche-911-carrera-coupe-21/
“You wouldn’t believe how expensive it is to look this trashy”. ~ Steven Tyler of Aerosmith