Air Cooled Porsche Price Guide 2021- Why to Buy Each Model

This Air-Cooled Porsche price guide creates a pricing ladder from low to high and provides the main reason why to buy each model. You have four options in air-cooled Porsche ownership: 914, 912, 911 and the 356.

Air-Cooled Porsche Price Ladder from Affordable to High End

Prices vary widely from a $10,000 914 to a $200,000 plus, Porsche 356. Here is the price guide for air-cooled Porsche for sale (assuming a median priced driver quality Porsche).

• $10,000 - $20,000 Porsche 914

• $35,000 - $50,000 Porsche 912

  • $37,000 - $80,000 Porsche 911 Carreras (G-Series)

• $50,000 - $100,000 Porsche 911 (early body F-Series)

• $60,000 - $90,000 Porsche 964

• $60,000 - $150,000 Porsche 993

• $70,000 - $150,000 Porsche 356

Each model of air-cooled Porsche offers a different ownership and driving experience from the basic 356 and 914 to the “modern” Porsche 993. The price range from $10,000 to $200,000 reflects the desirability and scarcity of the model.

Lets take a quick overview of what each model provides to owner.

Porsche 914: $10,000 - $20,000

Porsche 914 model years: 1970 - 1976

1974 Alaska Blue Porsche 914

The Porsche 914 was an entry-level model when new and continues to be an affordable entry to air-cooled Porsche ownership. The style is love or hate it within the Porsche world but it is gaining acceptance as it ages as we see prices creeping up. There are two real benefits to ownership: 1) Affordability and 2) Handling.

You can join the air-cooled Porsche club for under $10,000 with a Porsche 914 though the more desirable 1973 and 1974 Porsche 914 two-liter cars are now moving to a $25,000 - $30,000 median pricing.

Whatever you think of the style, once you drive one, it converts the most diehard Porsche fan as the mid-engine, lightweight configuration will carve the curves tight and flat.

Porsche 912: $35,000 - $50,000

Porsche 912 model years: 1966 – 1969 and the 912E in 1976

1967 Porsche 9112 Targa Soft Top

Porsche introduced the 912 as an entry level model offering the 911 chassis with a four-cylinder engine as opposed to the larger flat-6 offered in the 911.

Prices in today’s market continues to reflect the pricing disparity that occurred when the 912 was first launched. Consider a 912 if you want the 911 look but in a more affordable package with a weight to power ratio that provides more balance for more refined handling.

Porsche 911 Carrera G-Series: $37,000 - $80,000

Porsche 911 Model Years: 1974 -1977

Porsche 911SC Model Years: 1978 – 1983

Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 Model Years: 1984 – 1989

1976 Ice Green Porsche 911S

As you can see the G-Series of the Porsche 911 chassis provides a wide variety of options and pricing. The earlier 911’s of the G-Series provide lower purchase prices with less sophisticated product specs while the later year Carrera 3.2 models offer a more sophisticated and refined air-cooled Porsche driving experience before the “modern era” of air-cooled Porsches came into being in 1989 with the 964 model and the later 993.

The G-Series Porsche 911’s provide the greatest value within Air-Cooled Porsches. You get to experience 911 motoring and design in a more modern package and at a more affordable price. Speaking from the experience of being a long-term Carrera 3.2 owner, you also get a bulletproof ownership experience if you buy right to begin with.

A quality car that has been well maintained is worth the extra upfront costs.

Porsche 911 Early F-Series: $50,000 - $100,000

Porsche 911 Model Years: 1965 -1973

1972 Porsche 911 Targa | Photo: rusty Russ

The early and first 911’s are at the top of the price ladder but also offer what many consider to be the true Porsche driving experience before the cars evolved to greater market acceptance through refinement. An early 911 has a distinctive look and provides a very visceral driving experience. The product is all about the driving and requires a deft hand and foot to maximize the speed safely through the corners with its trailing throttle oversteer tendancy. From a collectability standpoint the early 911’s are also the most desirable and have fueled rapid price appreciation over the years.

Porsche Airheads desire the early 911’s but you have to want the car for its emotional original product as opposed to looking for a refined driving experience. The lower end of the price scale would be for the Targa model. If you are looking at a coupe, prices will probably be more in the $65,000 plus range.

Porsche 964: $60,000 - $90,000

Porsche 964 Model Years: 1989 – 1994

1989 Porsche 964 | Courtesy RM Sotheby's

The Porsche 911 Carrera type 964 was introduced in 1989 and offered 85% all new parts but retained the classic shape of its predecessor. The 964 moved Air-Cooled Porsches into the “modern era” of Air-Cooled Porsches as their refined product offering included air bags, ABS, power steering, AWD, coil springs and shock absorbers and Tiptronic Automatic transmission. An improved climate system also provided for better heating and air conditioning.

For many years the 964 was overlooked but recently prices have been climbing as owners discover the more modern driving offering of the 964 with the classic 911 look. The low end of the price guide is once again for Targas and Cabriolets as the more desirable Coupe will in most cases be $70,000 and above.

Porsche 993: $60,000 - $150,000

Porsche 993 Model Years: 1995 – 1998

1998 Porsche 993 C2

According to Porsche every part of the 993 was redesigned from the ground up including the engine that offered greater power. The major change was the implementation of all alloy multi-link rear suspension. The system required widening the rear wheel arches providing for greater stability. The body retained a traditional 911 look but with a much smoother front and rear body design with a retractable wing and teardrop mirrors.

Look at the Porsche 993 if you have the budget and want an Air-Cooled Porsche experience but with the added comfort and safety that is offered with the last of the Air-Cooled Porsches.

Porsche 356: $70,000 - $150,000

Porsche 356 Model Years: 1950 – 1965

1962 Ruby Red Porsche 356B Model 60

The Porsche 356 started it all and the prices reflect it as the 356 commands some of the highest prices in the Air-Cooled Porsche world. A big plus with Porsche 356 ownership is that you are probably not going to lose your initial investment as prices continue to appreciate.

Owning a Porsche 356 puts you into an exclusive club because only about 76,000 were ever produced and it signifies that you are a true “Porschenista”. You’ll be rewarded with a fun drive, but not a fast drive. The Cab models are particularly desirable as the open top touring adds a vintage fun appeal to the car.

The Porsche 356 is a very basic car, so buy it knowing that is the case. If you are coming from a modern water-cooled Porsche this is probably not the Air-Cooled Porsche for you unless you have a strong emotional attachment to it from your youth.

Air-Cooled Porsche Buying Recommendation

Air Brigade looks at Air-Cooled Porsches in two categories, the traditional Air-Cooled Porsches from 1950 – 1989 and the modern Air-Cooled Porsches from 1989 -1998. If you have never experienced an Air-Cooled Porsche and are coming from a modern water-cooled Porsche then I would suggest you consider a 964 or 993 model that offers some of the more modern comfort and safety features.

If you first were attracted to Porsche in your youth through the 356, 911 or 914, then go for it and recreate the desires of your youth with one of these models. Fulfill the dream and enjoy the experience.

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