My $600 craigslist find

[davtbaum]

Picked this guy up today for only 600 bucks! It's a 1983 (non-turbo) with 243k miles that drives great, just needs some new shocks and a rear window and trunk that shuts!

[2forme]

Nice find! Would have been better if the WRB BRZ was the 600$ find.

[DarkSunrise]

Nice, bring it out to CDC

[FrX]

There aint no such thing as a cheap Porsche. I multiple my labor rate times three for 944's.

[leon78]

HAHA...good find....and good luck with that "just needs" idea.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Money pit!

[speedy racer]

I owned 84 944 its was a money pit, $500 to change water pump.

[davtbaum]

Haha I know I know I'm going to keep it for as long as it drives without any major issues. Or maybe just fix the cosmetics and resell on Craigslist to make a buck.
@DarkSunrise this will definitely make it to atleast one CDC event! *crosses fingers*

[dem00n]

I've work on 944's, they are money pits if your not wise.

Now why would i say that? Because its stupid easy to find used parts for these cars, i personally know 2 junk yards that have a few of 944's to take a part. Theres a lot of 944's out there, plenty are just scrap.

They are however fun cars, but they will turn into money pits because the used parts break the next week.

[Vegas Racing]

Nice find!

[Sasquachulator]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jPaYnaKVDk"]The £1500 Porsche Challenge - Top Gear - BBC - YouTube[/ame]

[Whitigir]

Nice find sir! I admire your enthusiast spirit! Please make a thread on updated progress.

[davtbaum]

Originally Posted by Whitigir

Nice find sir! I admire your enthusiast spirit! Please make a thread on updated progress.

Thanks - an update!

This is an amazing car - it is a blast to drive and in a lot of ways reminds me of the BRZ. The car has no power steering but tight turning, low power but is geared appropriately and some pull in 1st and 2nd. Even though the rear is soft (could be the years, the torsion setup) it still feels like it could be competitive on the track.

I immediately went to work and cleaned up the interior, stripped the wet carpet in the trunk and got all the glass from the broken hatch out. I performed regulatory fluid maintenance and discovered that only one radiator fan was running! Luckily this has had no effect on engine temp during my daily 495 traffic . I also replaced all the fuses and, low and behold, WORKING AC!!

I found two 944s being parted, unfortunately in completely opposite directions from where I am (one in fort washington, other in Lancaster PA). I was able to salvage a hatch for $120 from an awesome guy named Dennis. He even threw in the latch assembly when we couldn't get the stock latches to shut! Then I took the porsche on a 2 hour *fingers crossed* drive up to Lancaster to pick up a new fender and windshield from another white 83 shell for $200. The car made it there fine and I was able to install the fender myself this weekend and the windshield today (for $120)!

All in all I think she is quite presentable $1040 car now . Mechanically she's great, the engine runs and idles well but there is certainly some rattling in the rear that will need to be addressed (likely bushings, maybe CV).

Here's some pics!

Cleaned up!





Interior (see awesome steering wheel :p )


Before the fender replacement


during


after

[Whitigir]

Look goods. I love seeing these, especially on the road. Thanks for update. That fender paint matched up very well.