TRIED&TESTED VALUE AT A GLANCE Condition Price Performance Overall

PORSCHE 911 3.2 CARRERA 1984 ‘B’ 166,055 MILES £39,995 911 & Porsche World’s With roving tyre kicker, Kieron Fennelly

This white coupé is a striking example of how well eighties 911s, the 3.2 in particular, can absorb large mileages if maintained consistently. Even so, the service history of this nine-owner 1984 3.2 takes some interpreting because if a replacement service book is present, it lacks several stamps and research is further complicated by the fact that this 3.2 lived in Eire for some years, a period partially documented by a miscellany of unfamiliar-looking invoices; regular MOT certificates (both UK and Irish) appear though to support the mileage.

Originally delivered by Dick Lovett (the sticker remains in the rear window) who carried out the first ten years of servicing, the Carrera was subsequently looked after by Evans Halshaw, Northway and Camtune at different times. To a certain extent the gaps do not matter as the ninth owner comprehensively overhauled the 3.2: Graeme Langford is a well known Porsche enthusiast – his former 993 GT2 was featured in December’s 911&PW and he acquired this 3.2 in late 2016. He had it resprayed and the engine rebuilt only to decide he was not using it sufficiently and sold it to Ashgood, at a significant loss says the dealer.

That loss should be the next owner’s gain: the Carrera looks very good with its new paint and unmarked Fuchs wheels shod in virtually new Pirellis – P7s on the front and Cinturatos at the rear. Underneath it appears clean with no signs of corrosion in the wheelarches or structural welding. Paint under the boot carpet looks original and undisturbed and the engine room is very tidy without being concours. The cabin is dark blue: door panels and dash are correct with everything in working order; the pinstripe seats are clean, but show some marks; these unbolstered seats are slightly squashy and not terribly supportive; neither steering wheel nor gearchange is especially worn, but the carpet mats are shabby. A Sony CD player looks rather anachronistic, but this should not worry most potential buyers for this Carrera appears a solid and eminently usable classic 911: the flat six fires quickly and idles smoothly and on the road the Carrera serves up authentic air cooled motoring: performance is impressive, and it will no doubt improve especially at higher revs as the rebuilt engine loosens up. The 915 gearbox, refurbished 30,000 miles ago, has had recent attention to first gear synchromesh: changes are smooth if not hurried and provided the clutch is depressed fully; the clutch itself feels meaty enough though its bite point is rather high. There is an element of drive-line shunt when lifting off at low speeds, but ride is firm and rattle free, the damping correct and the Carrera steers accurately with little weighting up of the steering as cornering speeds increase. The front brakes have almost new discs and retardation is up to 3.2 standards though the pedal requires a firm shove.

911s of this vintage require thought and concentration to drive properly, something of a shock to drivers used to the modern variety. For the enthusiast, however, short of a totally restored (and therefore far more expensive 911) this taut, responsive 1984 3.2, which has no MOT advisories, is probably as good as anything on the market in this bracket. It is nonetheless a sobering thought that ten years ago in comparable condition it would have probably been offered at half the asking price. PW