This 1974 Carrera is available for $25,000 on Craiglist in Seattle, Washington from Redmond European, a shop that does great work on Porsches. The very sharp will recognize Dane Burns’ spectacular 3.6 liter 911 that was featured in Excellence Magazine a couple years ago in the background of one of the pictures. This car is a great looking car nicely plays the Grand Prix White/Blue color scheme that will always been associated with the 1973 RS. It has some great stuff on it, including upgraded suspension, and beautifully finished fuchs alloy wheels in the desirable 7″ and 8″ widths. The car also has some other goodies such as 3.2 liter Motronic engine, European lights front and rear, sport muffler (Dansk perhaps?), and Carrera chin spoiler.
In terms of values, 1974 Carreras are in a strange phase between the cheapest 911s (74-77’s) and the most expensive 911s (72-73 long hoods). 74 Carreras are rare cars, and the best US examples seem to trade hands near $40,000 (European ones are worth significantly more since they have the mechanically injected /83 engine used in the 73 Carrera RS). This car seems reasonably priced given the flaws and 3.2 liter engine (a plus for better performance, a minus since it’s non-matching). The seller mentions that the car has minor rust, dashboard cracks, and a salvage title from having been stolen.
The interior is nice looking, with recently reupholstered seats and new carpets. The door panels are America RS type ones for a sporting feel, while the lack of radio also adds to the Spartan aesthetic. Both the seats and door panels were done in leather, indicating, like the rest of the car, that someone was willing to spend money to do things well.
The engine compartment is tidy and looks so much cleaner without the air conditioning compressor and auxiliary blower that usually fills the space in the top left of the engine compartment of 3.2’s. The fan shroud has been “backdated” as well to the type designed to work with the 1974 and SSI heat exchangers. 3.2’s are known to consume valve guides so it is wise to verify that this engine does not suffer from that problem.
This is a great looking with a few ointment flies that will not matter to the enthusiast looking to enjoy the car. It is not a concours car, but will provide a great deal of fun and a similar feel at literally a tenth of the cost of a 73 RS.