Should I attempt to restore a 78 928?

So I have a family member willing to give me his 1978 European 928 with 80k miles. Currently the electricals are really jacked up.(None of the lights work, etc, etc.) The body isn't in the worst condition I've seen on a car but it's developing surface rust on the top and the paint looks like hell(peeling.)

It has been started so I know it will run. I'm pondering the idea of getting this car and bringing it back up to standard. It's an automatic.

I intend to have the interior restored and maybe input some modern accessories(stereo primarily, maybe gps).

My question is how much effort might this take and is there a ballpark figure based on your experience about how much it will cost.

I want it to look good once it's done if I take it on.

But I'm inexperienced with Porsche's and 928s. What do I need to look for?

Thanks!

Do you care if the cost of the restoration will exceed the value of the resultant restored 928?

Not in particular. I don't really expect that I will want to sell it within the next 10 years.

In a sense it depends on your need to work on it. You can almost always save money in the long run by buying a better example than in buying a poorer one. On the other hand if your aim is to do more, learn more, and have fun while gaining a sense of accomplishment go for one that needs more work - which is what the one you are looking at sounds like. It certainly won't be a good idea from a monetary perspective and has a higher risk of being a black hole. You won't believe what you find broken when you start to work on a 928 - complexity and age compound each other. A well sorted one that someone has already worked on for 5 years and lost all kinds of money on is the better fiscal choice.

Until what is exactly know is wrong with it, costs are hard to predict. I will throw out some numbers to ponder, and for others to critique
1. electric is perhaps primarily labor in identifying and cleaning, $2-$3k
2. body requires some work, and since the paint will have faded, you will likely want a proper paint job; $5k for both
3. interior restore, $5k, could be more if panels are warped or broken, or could be less, if you are happy with a good used interior (and can find one).

You could save almost all the electrical cost, by doing it yourself. I think body work and painting lean towards being best done by professionals, so unless you happen to be one, you will need to pay for it. You could swap the interior yourself, and there have been those who have done this work themselves as well, perhaps saving 50%.

Then you "just" have the rest of the car to deal with.

Don't be put off though, while the numbers can escalate, there are many of us, who do this because at the end you have a car that may not have the market value to justify your effort and expense, but you definitely can get enough enjoyment out of it so that it really doesn't matter.

So you need to pull the engine to start with.

This will do 2 things.
1. you get to see how bad it really was and it still ran.
2. it will hold you back from cutting corners well you work on the rest of it.

-You need a double car garage because when it starts coming apart you need room to work.

- you need $10,000 to get a good chunk of the work done which should be the engine, some suspension, tires and brakes
Depends on where you live. shop wise.

-Stereo = $2800

James, what will his interior cost?

Then the paint job which is a 2 month min job if they are not busy.
in Canada its over $11,000 for a proper paint job and not a quick 3g insurance re-spray.

Lots of guys re-spray themselves with step by step on the net

Some of this stuff you can farm out but if you are handy then there are lots of us on the forums that can walk you through it.


The Big Problem.

Something happens and you no longer have the time or the money (family illness)

Its so sad when this happens but the toys are the first to go.

The 928 will become a passion, its strange, but it will happen if you take the leap.

Enter at your own risk.

Brad
Proud first time 982 owner
bought it for $10G and I have that or more into it 2 years

My advice is to read all you can first.

My page is here
forums.928oc.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=37

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