Over the last 25 years or so, I have owned 34 different 911 models, with the oldest being a 1969 911S and the newest an RS America. Within that group of cars, I have also owned a 1973 Carrera RS, a 1977 Turbo Carrera, and other higher-end air-cooled 911 cars. Of all those, there is only a single sub-model 911 that I chose to own not just once, but twice: the 1978-83 911SC.
The reason? I feel the 911SC was not only the best built, but also perfectly sums up the entire 911 experience. It is as if everything came together in that model, combining all the lessons learned with a strong engine and what is probably the ultimate development of the classic 911 chassis. The secret few people will tell you is that the SC drives just like every other 911, including the 1973 Carrera RS. I know some will disagree, but I have thousands of miles behind the wheel of both models, and that was my takeaway.
Our AutoHunter Spotlight is one of these cars, a 1978 Porsche 911SC offered by a private seller in North Haven, Connecticut.
This Porsche 911 would not be considered a show car; it looks like it has been well-loved and used for years. According to the seller’s listing, they have owned this 1978 911SC for the last 32 years, since 1993 or thereabouts. This is exactly the kind of owner I want to buy a vehicle from, as they know its history.
The exterior of this SC is finished in black over a tan interior. Looking at the photos makes me think this car might still have a lot of the original paint, as it has numerous chips and other flaws. Personally, I would leave the paint alone – simply detail it as well as possible and drive it. Some modifications include a very period-type modification of a Turbo Carrera-style rear tail. Other spot-on period changes include a set of 16-inch BBS RA wheels. This wheel swap was very common in the 1980s and they look great. The seller does note there is some curb rash on the wheels, which is something worth fixing.
The interior is a mix of correct and incorrect. The door cards, rear seats, and dash all look correct and in decent shape. The front seats, while in good condition, have definitely been recovered in cloth. I am not sure if I would just leave them alone or recover them with the correct leather. The seller states the dash has a few cracks, but I can’t see them in the photos.
The engine compartment is simply that of an old 911SC. It looks like it would clean up nicely, though, and would be worth the time to make it as nice as possible. I think that the way it would look after a detail would be quite surprising.
The seller states both the engine and the transmission of this 911SC received comprehensive rebuilds and that the engine rebuild cost $22,000, which is on par with costs these days. I would want to know who did the work. Connecticut has some great air-cooled 911 shops, and if it was done by one of them you just got extra-lucky.
So what we have here, in my opinion, is the perfect air-cooled 911 to simply drive and enjoy. You can even take it to a Porsche show or two. If some know-it-all comments that it’s too bad it is so worn, ask them what their 911 looks like. Chances are they don’t have one. At that point you can just bask in the feeling of owning a legendary air-cooled 911 you can drive everywhere and every day.
These cars are truly something special, and the driving experience is unlike any other sports car in the world. Sure, you can pay six figures for a mint in-the-box super-low-mile Porsche you are afraid to drive – or you can instead buy this car, one that is likely affordable and perfectly demonstrates just what driving and owning a classic 911 is all about.
The auction for this 1978 Porsche 911SC Coupe ends Friday, August 8, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. (PDT).
Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and a photo gallery
