1978 Porsche 911SC

If it’s not immediately evident, this 911 is what we call a ‘project’. That means you won’t be putting fresh fuel in it and driving straight to the MoT station. We can well remember the days when Porsches like this used to pop up in similar condition fairly regularly, it didn’t seem like all that long ago either. However, since Singer rose to stardom and brought with it interest in resto mods, the SC in any form has become hugely sought after.

According to the vendor, this SC was taken off the road in 2004 due to a clutch failure. He says there was also an issue with the gearbox that locked out third gear.

Since then it appears to have been stored ever since and that means there’s plenty of areas now requiring attention. It’s safe to assume that this is now a candidate for full restoration.

We’re sure it’ll be worth the effort to get it fighting fit once again.

The paintwork on this example is a bit of a mixed bag: in some areas it’s still shining but in others it’s looking dull, flat or has bubbling. The paint is chipping and flaking off both bumpers with visible rust on most of the exterior panels. The worst can be found on the headlamp surrounds, outer sills and lower wing sections however, there are still small holes to be found elsewhere, including around the fuel filler, on the driver’s B post and around the bottom of the windscreen on the nearside.

In essence, it’ll likely need a bare metal inspection and respray to be a proper job.

What is very good news is that this example remains hugely original, and everything appears to still be present. For example, someone has removed the front fog lights, we know they were fitted as the holes in the valance remain. One was smashed at some point as it’s found resting with its undamaged partner in the front. There are some nice optional bits of kit fitted to this SC including the electric sunroof, headlamp washers and ducktail Supersport (930-turbo-esque) engine cover and spoiler (included in the sale but not fitted). Just as well, as the original engine cover has a dent (nearside).

The outside might need love but the interior seems to have survived far better. The headlining is good apart from a small patch of peeling around the edge of the sunroof on the driver’s side. The door cards also appear surprisingly smart, though someone has drilled a few extra holes in them at some point, either to mount a speakers or to try to reconnect the cards to the door skins.

The traditional ‘tombstone’ Porsche seats look good with fabric that’s a little grubby but all there. The only damage is to the base of the passenger seat, the fabric of which has split away on the offside. The leather covering the steering wheel has also parted company with its rim but other than these small points, the cabin looks good. The carpets are all present and correct. Sadly, the original stereo appears to have gone walkabout with just a single-din shaped hole remaining.

Clearly, sitting for 17 years hasn’t done the running gear any favours, but at least the vendor had the forethought to remove the brake pads so they wouldn’t bind onto the discs. The good news is that the floors look really solid and the rot on the sills seems to be pretty localised. A deeper investigation is needed of course, but we’ve certainly seen a lot worse. The suspension shocks are rotten and will need replacing, along with the exhaust and clearly the whole running gear will need a once over, but at least it’s all still here.

The 180bhp 2993cc flat-six engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission (with the aforementioned issues) and though it’s all a bit grubby, we’ve little doubt it’ll come back around once it’s treated to some knowledgeable and sympathetic restoration.

The vendor reports that the original logbook and service booklet are included in the sale, with the latter only missing a single page of care. The mass majority of the paperwork points towards older maintenance, which makes sense considering this car’s near 20-year hiatus from the highway.

A Laserline 921 V2 security system (immobiliser) was fitted back in 1999 at Unicar Leeds and also in ’99, the AA conducted a secondhand car check, which revealed that this 911 hadn’t been stolen, had a plate change or had any outstanding finance against it to that point. There are a few larger four-figure and high three-figure bills in the car’s history, but considering the mileage since and its current condition, these no longer seem particularly relevant – nice as they are to have.

As we eluded to earlier, the period of picking up project Porsches from this era is long gone. They’ve been far too popular for far too long now. That’s the real bonus with this car, it represents a rare opportunity to get into a classic 911 for a lot less. If you’re handy with the spanners, you could bring this 911 back to road-going condition and cut out the huge labour bills. These are some of the easiest cars to work on out there after all. As a result, we’re confident that this project 911 will hit its £11,000 - £25,000 estimate.

Viewing is always encouraged and as stated this car is located at our HQ near Abingdon; we are open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.