Buyers Guide - Porsche 911 SC
We can all agree that the current Porsche 911 (992 generation) is the absolute perfection of sports car engineering. The modern yet instantly recognizable design, sublime road holding, and impressive performance make it an ideal car for every driving enthusiast. However, if you want to experience a real driving sensation, mechanical excitement, smell, and sound of a genuine sports car do you really need it to be so perfect? No, you don’t.
The sports car doesn’t need to be perfect; it needs to be charming, powerful, fast, and exciting. The right sports cars need their flaws because flaws make a character, and character is what makes it memorable and iconic. When you go out for a drive, you want to experience that character, not spend another forgettable afternoon in a car that does everything so right that it makes driving dull. For many 911 fans, looking for a perfect Porsche means going for the newer and technologically superior model, but it is a mistake. If you want to capture that character and experience the essence of Porsche 911, you have to accept that the less is more and go for earlier models, which might be slower, but ultimately much more exciting.
The car you need is a Porsche 911 SC. The SC was sold for just five years and wasn’t significantly different from the rest of the model lineup. Still, it was powerful enough to get you in trouble, comfortable enough to be a daily driver, full of character and tricky handling, and ready to make your day as soon as you turn the key. In our opinion, all of this makes it more memorable than any modern 911.
The Facts
This 911 was introduced in 1978 as a replacement for Carrera trim level. It featured a desirable wide-body rear end, a more powerful 3.0-liter, flat-six engine, better equipment, and a new name – 911 SC, which stood for “Super Carrera.” Initially available in two body styles, coupe, and Targa, 911 SC was sold as convertible in 1983, as the first factory-produced 911 convertible ever made. The 911 SC appeared in exciting times for Porsche as a company since its launch corresponded with the introduction of the Porsche 928, which was destined to replace the 911 model range. However, as we know, that never happened, and the success of SC, with almost 59,000 examples sold in just five years, helped convince the board to keep the 911 in production.
All 911 SC had a 3.0-liter, flat-six engine with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection system with 180 hp, initially. In 1981, engines were upgraded to 201 hp, slightly improving the performance. With 0 to 60 mph time in about 6.5 seconds and 140 mph top speed, the SC was a very competent sports car by the standards of the day.
What to Watch Out For
When shopping for Porsche 911 SC there are several essential things to consider if you want to get yourself an excellent example. Yes, the classic Porsches are well-constructed and well-assembled cars, but neglected examples, poorly repaired, rusted, and non-numbers matching vehicles should be avoided. Since there are almost 60,000 made, there are enough SC models to choose from so you can shop around and find another if the car you concentrated on turns to be problematic.
The main concern is rust, and although Porsche used galvanized steel from the mid-70s onwards, the 911 SC was still known to have rust issues if the car was not looked after properly. That being said, rust sports are floor pans, engine bay, rocker panels, the trunk, and behind the front fenders. Even though all repair panels are available, restoration of the body might be expensive because of specific 911 construction. Cars with a sunroof installed from the factory have problems with drain holes, which means that severe paint bubbling can occur around the sunroof and the bottom of the doors.
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Always check for body repairs using a paint thickness measuring device since tricky handling was the reason why so many overly-enthusiastic 911 SC owners found themselves by the side of the road. The damage was often in the front, and if you see that the front-end panel gaps are not perfect and you noticed slight discoloration, the car was most probably repaired at some point. The 911 SC was not notorious as the super-dangerous 930 Turbo but still, with a lot of weight in the back, short wheelbase, and no electronic aids to help you control the car, it was a handful at the limit.
By the late ‘70s, Porsche already enjoyed the reputation for its dependability and built quality, so well-kept cars should feel tight and composed with engines delivering advertised power. The only weak spot is the Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection system, which was a common feature on so many German cars of the ‘80s and early ‘90s. The system itself is pretty complicated but effective and sensitive to lack of use. Vehicles that were driven or started regularly shouldn’t have any problems, but examples that have sat for a long time might need full rebuilt, which is expensive.
When inspecting a Porsche 911 SC, make sure that the car is cold (not stared or driven before you arrived), let the owner start it, and inspect the exhaust fumes. A small amount of smoke should be tolerated, but if the car doesn’t stop smoking after 10 or 15 seconds and smokes each time you rev it, the engine has serious problems. The piston rings are on their way out, and you are looking at full engine rebuilt. Luckily, there are many competent shops that can do it, but it won’t be cheap.
At one point in time, the Porsche 911 SC was forgotten and not worth a lot, so many cars were abandoned, stripped, and left to rot. Nowadays, with the enormous spike in 911 prices, even such cars are getting sold and worth something. However, we suggest you avoid project cars, regardless of how complete they appear, the restoration is expensive, even though all parts are available from your local Porsche dealer. The best possible route is to find a nice, original car that has not been molested and has complete service history (if possible).
Even though the Porsche purists only acknowledge fully-original cars, several subtitle modifications make 911 SC much more enjoyable for use. If you find an example with upgraded brakes, climate control, sunroof, or high-quality audio system, it is a plus. That brings us to the interior and what you want to see is a dashboard without cracks, original switchgear, straight and not damaged door panels, and seats without any damage. The cars that have sat outside for long will have cracked weatherstripping, damaged trim plastic, and busted upholstery.
The Prices
At the moment, prices for Porsche 911 SC ranges from $40,000 for decent cars to $80,000 for low-mileage, one-owner examples. There are more than few project cars on sale with prices ranging from $20,000, but as we said before, the low-priced cars might be tempting, but they will cost a lot more down the road. Even though you might be puzzled by the spike in 911 prices, the market cannot get enough of those gorgeous cars. Not only do they offer the feel or classic Porsche sports car, the SC provides the looks of a notorious 930 Turbo with similar performance but without the danger and high price tag. Yes, the 911 SC has its quirks and flaws, but it is perfect as an all-around enthusiast package.
