About Our Pricing

The Porsche 911 market, especially the air-cooled Porsche 911 market, has only increased in complexity since we first opened our doors. We endeavor to provide the best Porsche 911s on the market. While most competitors purchase their inventory indiscriminately from commercial auctions and other dealers, a vast majority of our vehicles are sourced privately from enthusiasts like you (and us!). Over the years, we have found that this method, though tedious, is the best method for us to find vehicles that meet our criteria of condition, significance and desirability.

How we evaluate a car

Before purchasing a car, we evaluate a number of details regarding these criteria. Using a paint meter, we test each body panel for originality (paintwork) whether the car has 100 miles or 100,000 miles. The gap between the body panels are measured for consistency, although there is some variance from the factory on some older models. Inside the car, we inspect for evidence of damage relating to storage and climate; sun-induced cracking and bleaching on the dashboard or seats, signs of water leaks, rodent intrusion, etc. Tires and wheels are also evaluated for dry rot, flat spots, metal corrosion, scrapes and more.

Each car is then test driven by our team before being inspected in our shop. Our multi-point inspection evaluates the state and performance of the engine, transmission, clutch, brakes, tires, tire alignment and other mechanical aspects of the car, as well as electronics, computers, etc. If we identify any defects, they are addressed, remedied or otherwise repaired prior to being listed for sale.

Why a car may be listed, unlisted and relisted

On occasion, a car will be listed, unlisted and relisted at a different price. You may also see “Call for Price” on some listings. We often get questions from our clients regarding the reasoning behind this — often enough to write this text. As we mentioned, the market has many intricacies. The most common reason for removing and relisting a car is alteration. We may purchase a car that passes all criteria, but there may be an element or component that isn’t valued by our client base.

Call for Price

Once in a while, a car enters our possession without many comparables. It may be a rare configuration or a one-off color palette, it could have extremely low mileage or it may be in remarkable condition. With so few comps, the market can fluctuate weekly. A number of factors dictate their current market value such as weather, cultural relevance, market supply, originality and even competition. Market supply increases before every winter, and it decreases as warmer weather returns. Depending on the weather’s intensity, a car’s value may vary 10–20% during the offseason.

An Anecdote

We had recently purchased a beautiful 1994 964 Carrera Coupe. All original with less than 20k miles, this car was perfect. After clearing our inspection, the car was photographed and listed. We acquired the car at a favorable price, and we priced it below market value. One may think the car sold immediately; that’s okay, we thought so too, but that wasn’t the case. Two months later, this 100% factory-original 964 was still in our showroom despite several in-person visits and dozens more online inquiries. Unsure of what the problem was, we reached out to a repeat client who had shown interest in the car. When asked why he didn’t commit, our client shared his disdain for the original D90 wheels equipped.

Immediately following this conversation, we decided to take action. The listing was removed, a set of new magnesium SM Cup 1 wheels were installed, and this 964 was promptly photographed and relisted. If you’re well versed in 964s, you know that these wheels do not come cheap — a set of used wheels sold on BaT for $15,000 back in 2020. Conversely, a set of D90s can be acquired free of charge if you ask the right person. A problem arises here: initially, we thought this car would be a quick turnover, so we priced it as such. We didn’t leave much margin, certainly not enough margin to absorb the price of these wheels.

Now equipped with the new set of Cup 1 wheels, the car was relisted for a greater price to cover the cost of the wheels. Within two hours of posting the new ad, we collected a deposit and the car was gone by week’s end. The D90s were included free of charge.