Wheels Australia - June 2018

trend seems set to continue its upward march.

Wheels’ own Michael Stahl is prime example of a 911

buyer who got the timing right. Stahly took the plunge

on his 3.2-litre 1989 G-series car around six years ago,

paying circa $55,000. “Aside from having always wanted

one, I also knew I basically had no superannuation, so

while I had no idea the value would soon double, I did

figure that I’d be very unlucky to ever lose money on it,

even taking into account the running costs,” says Stahly.

But proving even sound investments can take a hit,

Stahly’s 911 would go on to need engine work, and his

perfectionist streak didn’t allow him to just do the bare

necessities. “I was expecting $12K, but a broken piston

and weeping bearing seal prompted all new cylinders

and pistons ... the rebuild totalled $27,500. The clutch

was fine at that point, but the rubber centre failed six

months later, so another engine drop, new clutch, $3.5K.

But if I did the sums, given that the car is worth $120K

any day of the week, I’m probably still slightly in front.”

The desirability list for 911s includes original

Australian delivery (versus UK cars which can have rust;

Oz cars are also usually better specced), coupe body

(versus cabrio or Targa) and manual (auto only arrived

with the 964’s Tiptronic – well, excluding the early, weird

Sportomatic; another story). A 911 is generally more

valuable if it hasn’t been messed with; there was a big

trend in the 1990s to bodykit sad old G-series to look like

964s; then in the early-2010s to ‘backdate’ late G-series

and 964s to look like ’73 RSs. What most buyers want

now (short of a Singer) are clean, original cars.

But what about enthusiasts wanting something a bit

more modern? “I’d direct them to a good 996 or early

997s,” says Anthony Raymond. “These cars have hit the

bottom of their deprecation curve and are on the way

back up.” He suggests savvy buyers look closely at lower

volume models, like the brilliant, wide-bodied 997 GTS.

“I’ve had a couple of 991 owners roll out of their current

cars and ‘backtrade’ into 997s because they claim it gives

a more authentic 911 feel and character,” he says.

And so the 911 legend – and its price of admission –

continues to grow.

ASH WESTERMAN

FOR PLEASURE AND PROFIT

ZUFFENHAUSEN; INVESTORS ALSO HAVE A DEEP APPRECIATION

A peek under the skirts

Paying a Porsche specialist like Autohaus Hamilton for a pre-

purchase inspection could be the best $500 to $1000 you’ll ever

spend. “Our techs spend a minimum of three hours going right

through the car, and detail any work that needs to be done

immediately, and then outline all the rectification work that’s

imminent, so a potential buyer knows exactly what costs they

face over the next 12 or 18 months,” says Anthony Raymond.

STAHL’S 1989 G-SERIES HAS MORE

THAN DOUBLED IN VALUE DURING

HIS TENURE, BUT NOT WITHOUT

HEFTY REPAIR COSTS