[ CHASING CARS ] Quentin Willson’s hot tips
More evidence that once-heady Porsche 911 prices continue to soften
I didn’t think £36,000 was expensive for a 1987 E-plate, triple black Porsche 911 Sport Cabriolet 3.2 sold in January on the Collecting Cars website. Not so long ago this would have been a forty-five grand touch. And everything was right. Lovely all black colour combo, factory Sport package including Bilstein dampers, sport seats and front and rear spoilers, no less than 27 service stamps in two service books, new canvas hood and quite a bit of recent mechanical work. The Porsche market has softened recently – especially for 356s – but the Eighties 3.2s have always had a strong following because of their usability and reliability. And this one looked a very genuine car with a todie-for spec. All that was missing was the beefier G50 gearbox fitted to the last 3.2s, although purists say they feel quicker with the earlier 915 ’box. And it’s not their imagination, the combination of lighter weight and shorter overall gearing contributing to a faster 0-60mph dash.
‘Third and fourth owners often skimped on crucial jobs when the cars weren’t worth as much’
The Collecting Cars vendor description gives buyers a slew of useful information, revealing that E411 CVM had a glass-out repaint around five years ago, a new driver’s side sill and ‘kidney bowl’ panel – behind the base of the B-pillar – in 2023, two new Fuchs rear wheels and the fronts refurbished in 2024, a new alternator and new set of tyres plus work on the brakes, clutch and air conditioning. The electric adjustment on the seats had stopped working along with one door speaker. The high level of consistent and dedicated attention over this 911’s thirty-seven years was its strongest suit. That and the fact that it’s a Sport Cabriolet.
The mileage of 139,432 might have put off the uninitiated, but that’s considered low on a Carrera 3.2 which will still feel taut and fresh with many more miles on than that. Not that many older 911s benefited from this sort of unstinting devotion and third and fourth owners often skimped on important jobs, especially during a time when the cars weren’t worth what they are now. To have such a sterling maintenance history and all those regular fluid and oil changes means that the major mechanicals are likely to be long lived and if you sell – as you eventually will – it’s a major plus point. This was a fine 911, well bought.
When a Bentley costs Stag money, time to take notice
At £14,350, this is one of the lowest prices I’ve ever seen for a 2007 Bentley GTC, the convertible version of the Conti GT. It was sold on Collecting Cars in January and privately advertised by its owner of 12 years. The 89,000 miles weren’t in its favour, but there were 12 stamped services in the book, it was triple black – dark Conti interiors wear best – and it looked a very nice, together, original thing. The owner advised that it had passed its MoT with advisories for a worn brake disc, perished rack rod end dust cover plus two worn tyres. Putting those right would maybe cost £800 at a specialist with tyres well-bought from a fast fit.
What’s interesting is that for Triumph Stag or Mercedes R107 money, this W12, 6.0-litre, 194mph convertible is massively more bewitching. It is far more expensive to own but I’ve owned two Contis, and apart from an inaccessible vacuum hose at the back of the engine, nothing serious went wrong. They were joyous to drive, and I got 19mpg. Annual £600+ road tax is another issue.
But as the coupés fall below £10k and the convertibles are dipping below £15k, they do strike me as a monster opportunity. Bought well with a continuous, well-documented history and used sparingly, these are a new breed of relatively affordable, reliable and super-fast modern classics. Right now, they’re classic outliers – on the fringe of wider enthusiast acceptance – but I reckon with the drastically falling prices that we’re seeing, the appeal will widen significantly. Just make sure you buy a very well-maintained, mint one in the first place.
Bargain Benzes to be had, even with a low mileage
What’s a 1990 R129 Mercedes 500 SL with a warranted 27,000 miles worth? More than £10,950 I reckon. That’s what a very original, one family owner from new with documented history – MB dealer up to 22,000 miles – sold for in December on the Car & Classic website. Finished in a rare, and not to everyone’s taste, Willow Green, it still had the lower-body ‘Sacco Planks’ in a darker green on the bumpers and door bottoms.
Even more charming originality included a period Nokia dash-mounted car phone and factory Becker Mexico music system plus all books, tools, first aid kit and hardtop stand present. After being in storage for four years, there would be some obvious recommissioning to be done – tyres, fluids, service, hoses – and the owner mentioned some dash lights illuminated. No driving or running issues were reported but the last MoT was in 2020.
But for the money with a such low ownership, low warranted mileage and stamped up, mainly dealer history, I didn’t think it was dear at all. And it’s rare to find these early 500s with such a low mileage because they were bought to cross continents and swan round high-tab European hotels and golf clubs. We all remember the price rally of low mileage R107s back in 2015 – in time, it’s possible the same could happen to proper, documented, low mileage 129s. This was definitely one of those cars which, with a couple of grand to spend on servicing and spivving it up, could become a mint and perfect, low mileage survivor. This looked like a very wise buy to me.
ASK QUENTIN
Sell the Aston or the Rover?
I have a smart 2002 Aston Martin DB7 GTA with 55k, miles, in silver with black leather, and a lovely 1970 Rover P5B Coupé with 52k miles in Silver Birch with a Burnt Ash roof, black leather and a full tool kit. It’s a joy to waft around in. I’ve loved driving them now I barely take them out. Are either likely to rise in value or is it time to replace perhaps with a 997-generation 911 Porsche to use more often in daily life?
Oliver Smith
I’d sell the DB7 on and keep the Rover. I think DB7s have had their day and later Astons are looking better value. I’d hang on to the P5B as the supply of really good warranted mileage examples is limited and they’re such as easy car to love. Best 997 is a Gen-2S six-speed manual. They’re not without their foibles though, so always get a proper inspection by a Porsche expert.
Quentin Willson
Your sound advice please
I’ve a pre-ABS Ferrari 328GTS with 40k miles. It has a few blemishes – I think it makes the car very honest. The result of one owner for 20 years is a service history that shows all the mechanical problems that these cars can develop have been attended to and I’ve serviced the car every year as well as a cambelt change every other year. The car made me a lot of money in the first two or three years of ownership, probably trebling in value, but I reckon I’ve subsequently spent that back in maintenance. Now that prices seem to have plateaued and I’m averaging less than 300 miles a year – bad for the car – is it time to sell?
Simon Welton
Your GTS sounds lovely and is one of just 543 right-hand-drive, UK-supplied examples. The long ownership and continuous service history makes it desirable. But you’re right, prices have plateaued over the last couple of years with examples with 40,000-50,000 miles making £60k-£70k at auction. Will the 328GTS start appreciating again? Possibly. Testarossas and F40s have done well recently but the 308/328GTB and GTS not so much. If you want to sell, I’d pitch it at £75k expecting to take £70k. But also remember that having invested so much time and money over 20 years, it might be hard to find another one as carefully maintained as yours has been.
Quentin Willson
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