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Did a Ship Double the Price of a 1968 Porsche 911 in Scottsdale?

Air-Cooled Porsche sales at the 2023 Scottsdale auctions were strong with only five no-sales out of 46 air-cooled Porsches that crossed the auction block.


Porsche 911 Smithsonian Ship Exhibit
$209,000 1968 Porsche 911 featured in Smithsonian Air & Space Museum

Of particular note was a 1968 numbers matching 1968 Porsche base 911 with an 18-year old restoration that should have sold in the range of $63,000 -$107,000 according to the Sports Car Market Price Guide. This little Porsche brought twice that at Barrett-Jackson, hammering in at $209,000.


The unique story with this Porsche is that the owner built and donated a large-scale model of the nuclear aircraft carrier Enterprise to the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum in Washington, DC. It has been seen by millions since 1982, with an HO-scale model of this very Porsche hidden in different places on the aircraft carrier over decades for children and adults to find.


Barrett-Jackson hit big numbers with another 1968 Porsche 911 that is #18 out of 928 built for this custom Porsche 911 built by Dawson Vintage LLC. It brought $220,000 for this custom coupe with modifications and a new restoration.


The Collector Car Auction season featured three major auctions that were held in Scottsdale, Arizona Friday, January 21, 2023 till Sunday, January 29, 2023. The three auction companies offering air-cooled Porsches included Barrett-Jackson, Bonham’s and RM Sotheby’s.


The review of results showed most other air-cooled Porsches selling in the pre-sale estimates. There were a lot of Turbos for sale in Scottsdale as they favor the buying audience in Scottsdale where American muscle rules the day. A Porsche Turbo appeals to even those who are not hardcore Porsche enthusiasts.


The following is a breakdown of the air-cooled Porsche sales that occurred at the Scottsdale collector car auctions in 2023.


Porsche 356

big money Porsche 356 Outlaw sale
1960 Porsche 356 Super 90 Outlaw Sold for $335,000 at Bonhams

Porsche 356 Model for Sale Pre-Sale Estimate Sale Price

1952 Porsche 356 Pre-A 1500S Cabriolet $220-$250,000 No Sale

Red/Tan Bonham’s


1954 Porsche 356 Pre-A Coupe $275-$325,000 $295,400

Radium Green/Green Bonham’s


1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A Continental $250-$300,000 $221,200

Turkish Red/Acella Bast Leatherette Bonham’s

1956 Porsche 356 Pre-A Super Speedster $350-$400,000 $362,500

Red/black Bonham’s


1956 Porsche 356A Super Speedster $275-$325,000 $335,000

Black/Red. Originally Aquamarine blue RM Sotheby’s


1960 Porsche 356 Super 90 Outlaw Coupe $175-$225,000 $246,400

Blue Gray/Oxblood Bonhams


1963 Porsche 356B 1600 Coupe $90-$120,000 No Sale

Ivory/Black Bonham’s


1963 Porsche 356B 1600 Super Cabriolet $150-$200,000 $217,280

Ruby Red/black Bonham’s


1964 Porsche 356C No reserve/no estimate $77,000

Ruby Red BJ Barrett-Jackson


1964 Porsche 356C GT Outlaw Coupe $130-$160,000 $136,640

Burgundy Red/Tan Bonham’s


1964 Porsche 356SC 1600 Coupe $110-$130,000 $128,800

Ivory/Red Bonham’s



Porsche 911

Porsche 911 Sale at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale
1968 Porsche 911 Custom Coupe | Photo Courtesy Barrett-Jackson

Porsche 911 for Sale Pre-Sale Estimate Sale Price

1965 Porsche 911 No reserve/no estimate $145,200

Pink Pig Tribute Livery/black Barrett-Jackson


1966 Porsche 911 2.0 $160-$200,000 No Sale

Polo Red/black Bonham’s


1968 Porsche 911 No reserve/no estimate $184,800

Light Cream White/brown Barrett-Jackson


1968 Porsche 911T Custom Coupe No reserve/no estimate $209,000

Silver/Brown Barrett-Jackson


1968 Porsche 911 Urban Outlaw Coupe $175-$225,000 $220,000

White/black Prepared by Magnus Walker Bonham’s


1970 Porsche 911E Targa $120-$140,000 (no reserve) $106,400

Burgundy over black original paint RM Sotheby’s


1972 Porsche 911S 2.4 Targa $200-$250,000 $218,400

Silver/Red Bonham’s


1972 Porsche 911T Targa No reserve/no estimate $112,200

Black/black Barrett-Jackson


Porsche 911 G-Body

Porsche 911 Targa Sale at RM Sotheby's
1977 Porsche 911 3.0 Targa Turbo Look Sold for $180,00 at RM Sotheby's