I'm working on creating the opportunity to do a full build on one of these 917s from 917 North America, Inc.

I would rent a dedicated shop next door for the build. As with all my major projects, it would be fully documented for the internet.

Right now, I'm fishing for the right person to become the owner of one of these incredible cars.

It would require signing a contract and the ability to spend $80k-$100k over the next three to four years.

Anyone?

I have some magic beans! That will be a cool build

80-100K? that seems really cheap. What are the specs? is that in addition to the price of the kit from 917NA?

VERY cool.

I was betting more along the lines of $500K for one of these cars!!

Is it street-legal? Would be fun to show up at cars & coffee.

Nice project Joe ! Would the car be registered as a 2012 model ?

From what I have read, earlier ones were built at a cost somewhere less than $100K and (once built) have sold for 3 to 6 times the original build cost.

Joe will have to reply; however, when I looked at them a couple of years ago that would be the cost of the using a NA 911 engine. If you build with a turbo, 930, etc. the build cost will go up acccordingly.

I would be willing to be a partner. Anyone want to pool resources on this? I'd expect there are 5-10 of us willing

My wife can spend 80K-100K in a couple of years.

They offer a 906 as well. That might be something I would be interested in...seriously!

Step 1: Build 917
Step 2: Sell 917 for Profit
Step 3: build 906 from proceeds.
Step 4: Enjoy free* 906!

* Free does not include cost of time, blood, sweat, tears, divorces, injuries, therapy, and/or loss of life and limb.

seriously guys, if you'd be interested in a 10-20k investment over the next XX months put your name in. =)

We'd have to have a lawyer do all the legal stuff, form a corp or something, then it's all fair and legal like. Protection for all. I'm sure we have an attorney here who'd help us out.

IMHO that's a hell of a gamble and a great way to lose friends. Spending 100k on a kit car hoping to double that is risky at best. Anyone wanting one of these could easily build it themselves for less than what you would need to sell your finished one for. Very small market your looking at....VERY small

I think what Joe is looking for is a single person that wants to have it built and keep it.

Seriously ?

Yes I am working on you car today

I'd love to have access to one, to use it, etc...if the biz is set up with insurance, etc...then owning 1/10 - 1/5 of one of these would be awesome - even if we never tried to flip it. It'd have to be done right, with the right bits, however, to make it worthwhile.

The $100k number is a very rough estimate at this point. The total cost could easily be escalated by $40k just on the engine choice alone.

These aren't available as kits, so no, you can't do one yourself. I know the owners of the company and we've been talking about the publicity that could be generated by a local, documented internet build at Series 9.

Prospective customers could come here to see the build in person, ect.

One can never have too many Porsche's....seriously!

I agree... to buy a car like this and think you are going to make a lot of money is a helluva gamble. Who knows what state the economy will be in?

It is a very small market. And, if it takes several years to get the car finished, you will be very late to the market!

Make money on a kit car -

THAT is effin' cool Joe! Hope it comes to fruition.


I'm just going to nip off and buy a few lottery tickets ...

Normally, I would agree. However, some of these are very high quality replicas versus the old "throw a fiberglass body on a VW pan" kit cars we all remember. A high quality replica will appreciate over time along with the car it copies. Some replicas are better built than the originals!

Will the appreciation out way the cost of the replica, cost to build, cost of maintaining, storing and insuring the car cost of not having the money for investments and cost of inflation. It's really dicey to say they are appreciating investments and even tougher to prove they are profitable investments. ...But I still would like one for my garage!

I don't disagree....never said they were an investment.
Just saying that the really nice ones can hold their own. Certainly will be more fun and worth more in 5 years than buying a new BMW7 series or a Panamera!

OK, settle down.

If you need an investment, call your fuching broker.

This build would be for an enthusiast who has the money to spend.

Joe, be very careful with these guys from 917NA. I'm very good friends with the people at JB Racing and they have told me a few stories - Money & Legal Problems

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=144338

I've always wanted to drive 200mph+ ... Nurburgring, Le Mans, Sebring, Road Atlanta, Long Beach, Daytona ...

Oh, you said "who has the money to spend." You already got all mine.

Still, one can but dream. I hope you get a taker, I'd love to see that thing being built.

Thank you TC, but I don't have to be that careful. The son (my age) of the owner is a close, personal friend. I know all the details. The reason I'm becoming more involved is to try to get this awesome plan off the ground.

More will follow, but I'm willing to put S9s reputation in the mix. If I commit to this build reaching fruition, trust me, it will.

I will never sign a contract or take an order that can't be fulfilled.

It is an Awesome Plan & which could turn out well. You know the details & that is the most important part

I've owned two kit cars and have made significant money between them...the key was not building them!

Joe, so what are the details here. I know more than a few that "could" pull the trigger if something like this was what they wanted to do. I just need a few more details. I by no means have any money to throw at this but I do know many that do.

The car will be built to spec, so no true details until we find a buyer. He will dictate the details.

I have dealt with literally dozens of kit car companies over the years. I always watched my back and didn't give them any terms other than COD. One of them sent me 4 bad checks in a row and wonder why I got pissed and sold their engine to someone else.

The ONLY replicar company I have dealt with that is run the way a business should be is Special Edition/ Beck. The rest have proven to be shoestring operated fly by nights that rob Peter to pay Paul and do a very poor job of it.

Be very careful and expect over-promising and under-delivery along with non realistic delivery dates on the front end. Thats how the replicar industry rolls~

Also, when you find that buyer pay to have a REAL contract made with him. He may be able to afford it today, but not next year and your ass needs to be covered to include who gets the car in an event that he misses payments or does not follow through with terms. Trust no one.

Apparently Jake, you have not done any business with Henry at IM.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that anyone that is going to lay down 100k on a kit car is going to want that contract just as much as anyone else

You'd be very surprised... I have a hundred thousand dollar Spyder at my shop now and because the owner didn't have any contracts in place the car was held at one shop since 2008! We got stuck having to rework tons of the subsystems just to keep our engine from dying.

Just because someone has 100K to spend on a toy car doesn't mean they are wise~

and just because they have a piece of paper with signatures doesn't mean they are protected.

Joe, some enticements - this was at our Cars & Coffee this morning

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My .02 is these are super cool but in the end it is still a kit car, replica, tribute or whatever term you prefer. For that kind of money I would rather have a factory car with some race pedigree or limited production value and upside. I know know many Porsche cars that fit that description are being priced out of the stratosphere but there are collectible options like the RS America, 993tt and so forth that are still 'relatively' affordable.

We have access to Bailey Cars as well. The parts come from either Australia or South Africa. I understand the Bailey is very very close to the original. It's only been beefed up in places required to have more metal by FIA requirements at today's standards.

Drop in 3 -4's or 2 -6's and away you go.....