1984 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 Coupe

This is an exciting project.

Owned since 2001 by the vendor, who at the time worked for Jaguar in Warwickshire, this 1984 Porsche 911 (930) 3.2 Carrera Coupé has been SORN’d since 2006, although it was regularly driven out of the garage and around the driveway then put back again, until the battery finally died around 9 years ago.

When it arrived at our HQ it had the look of a genuine barn find, complete with layers of dust and various bits of indeterminate detritus adorning its curvaceous body. 

We half expected a chicken to fly out when we opened the frunk.

We gave it a good scrub and polish and it turned out to be really rather better than we’d expected, although not without some cosmetic issues. 

Giving it a decent clean gave us the opportunity to see the car, warts and all, in all its considerable glory.

We haven’t tried to start, run or drive it because it’s been dormant for so long and we don’t want to run the risk of doing any damage. But the engine does turn freely. Consequently, then, our assessment of it is made purely on the basis of its aesthetics.

Today, the odometer reads 140,378 miles. In 2005, the figure was 139,918. In 1996 it was 100,796 and, in 1989, it was recorded as having covered 40,293 miles.

The vendor, like many of us of a certain vintage, had the 930 iteration of the 911 in pride of place on his bedroom wall, probably sandwiched between posters of a Lamborghini Countach and that lady tennis player having a cheeky scratch.

He was able to make his dream come true in 2001 after finding himself with some spare cash after selling his first home.

He enjoyed the car immensely for four years or so, but then his circumstances changed and he found himself having to move back to Scotland.

Once there, a combination of the weather, work and familial priorities meant that he had less opportunity to enjoy the car.

So, it came to pass that the car was put away and didn’t see the light of day for many years after that. 

The vendor is only selling now because he needs to use the garage space to accommodate other things while he’s busy building an extension. 

From a few metres it really does look the part – every bit as squat, muscular and purposeful as these cars should be, and with livery in a very attractive (in our opinion) shade of metallic slate blue.

The wheels are pretty decent, but would of course benefit from being refurbished. 

Even the tyres, though obviously much too long in the tooth, look to have plenty of tread left on them, and the paint has also endured the vicissitudes of time with commendable stoicism.

Get a little closer, though, and a few cosmetic issues inevitably become more apparent.

There’s an outbreak of bubbling at the top of the n/s/r wing just below the rear screen, plus some lighter bubbling lower down on the same wing.

The car has a few shallow dents here and there: one on the ‘frunk’ lid, one below the n/s/r window, and one on top of the n/s/f wing.

There’s also some bubbling beneath the nearside headlamp, in places on the front bumper and valance, beneath the window on the driver’s door, and on the rear bumper. There is rusting and seraration of the o/s/f bumper bellows.

The ‘tea-tray’ rear spoiler is reassuringly solid and the rubber has neither faded nor cracked. There are a couple of spots of missing or cracked paint to be seen on the body of the spoiler.

The shut-lines and panel gaps are crisp, even and consistent. 

Despite many years locked away, the doors still close with all the satisfying Teutonic weight, authority and precision built into them by the expert engineers at Zuffenhausen in 1984. 

The badging, lights, lenses and other exterior fixtures and fittings - including the after-market exhaust with quad-tail-pipes - are all in decent order as far as we can tell.

The vendor tells us that the exhaust system makes a particularly throaty roar.

It’s a similar story of mostly good, but not everywhere, on the inside.

Firstly, though, we should mention that rust has eaten right through the base of the nearside door jamb on the inside of the ‘B’ pillar and there are other, smaller outbreaks higher up on the same section.

The offside door jamb on the ‘B’ pillar is also affected by corrosion but to a far less significant extent.

The blue interior is broadly good, save for a large tear to the squab on the driver’s seat. 

Elsewhere, the upholstery - with its blue vinyl with blue herringbone-pattern fabric inserts - looks really pretty good, front and back. 

The front seats are both comfortable and supportive. 

There’s no evidence of water ingress around the sunroof that we can see.

The door cards, headlining, carpets and mats all look decent and rather better than you might expect to find in a car of this age.

The dashboard, after-market Momo steering wheel, gear lever, handbrake, instruments and dials are equally impressive.

The ‘frunk’ is in good order and contains a space-saver wheel.

The engine (at least what you can see of it in a 911) looks dry and tidy, and everything seems to be in its right and proper place. There are a few patches of light bubbling visible on the inner lip of the engine bay.

The undersides look to be possessed of a decent amount of structural integrity although there is some rust in evidence in the sills.

Clearly, you’ll want to take a look for yourself and reach your own conclusion.

We have hand-turned the engine, and it spins freely.

The vendor adds: "I remember towards the end of my usage there was a problem with the cabin heater, it always pumped out hot air (but at least you could choose whether to melt your feet or your face!). I understand this is a common problem, believed to be caused by a stuck heater valve."

This car comes with a UK V5, a recent, clear HPI report, and a Porsche service book with stamps up until the early 1990s.

It also comes with a big, thick wad of bills, invoices and receipts covering its life up to 2006, when it retired from public life, plus its original handbook and manuals. 

We think this is an honest example of both the marque and the model.

Its history is well-documented up to the point it finally took a bow and waited for its next curtain-call.

It has a few cosmetic issues, none of which are insurmountable or too expensive to rectify.

We think this is a great project car and one that should ultimately reward its next owner with many years of high-quality, pedigree 911 fun.

We are happy to offer this vehicle for auction with an estimate in the range of £18,000 - £25,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.