1989 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet G50 5-speed, 21 years with one owner, bidding opened at $1,000
Final-year G50 Carrera Cab with a long-term owner; the opening bid means little this early, so watch it.
1989 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet
Ended Why we picked it
This is a last-year 1989 Carrera 3.2 Cabriolet in Stone Grey Metallic over Linen Grey leather, with the desirable G50 5-speed. The seller has owned it since 2005, it has a clean Indiana title and a CARFAX from 1991, and the power top, top boot and windshield have been replaced. Recent work includes an oil change in May 2026, a battery in 2025 and tires in 2024.
With 13 days left the bid is only $1,000, and it will climb a long way. Comparable 3.2 Cabriolets have sold for $61,000 to $85,000, so we are listing it as one to watch. The light mods (1-inch drop, Fabspeed exhaust, BBS three-piece wheels) are easy to live with or undo, but they may keep purists away, and that could help the final price.
The value check
When we found it, the bid was $28,000. Comparable cars in the same condition have sold for $61,000–$85,000, so the middle of the market is about $73,000. That put this car 62% under.
Carrera 3.2 Cabriolets with 45k-94k miles sold for about $53,500-$85,000 from Jul-Sep 2026, and 1989 G50 cars sat near the top of that range. The $1,000 opening bid is about 99% under the $73,000 midpoint.
- 1989 Carrera Cabriolet G50 25th Anniv., 62k mi, sold $77,250 (BaT, Sep 2026)
- 1989 Carrera Cabriolet, 66k mi, sold $85,000 (BaT, Aug 2026)
- 1987 Carrera Cabriolet, 45k mi, sold $61,411 (BaT, Sep 2026)
- 1986 Carrera Cabriolet, 94k mi, sold $53,500 (PCARMARKET, Jul 2026)
What to check
- Reserve status is not stated, and the auction runs to Nov 2. Bids usually climb a lot near the end.
- Get a PPI that covers oil leaks (cam covers, rear main, oil lines), the condition of the Carrera chain tensioners, and a leak-down test.
- The listing notes a hole in the headliner, weak hood struts and a sticky passenger window switch.
- Rolled rear fender lips and lowered suspension; check the fender lips for paint cracking and look at the alignment and bushings.
- The CARFAX file name says Speedster; confirm the VIN and history with the seller.
- Check for rust at the windshield frame, the front pan and battery box, and under the top well drains.
Making it drive like new
A 3.2 Carrera takes well to restrained upgrades: modern Elephant or Bilstein suspension bushings and shocks, a refreshed top-end gasket set and upgraded chain tensioners if not done, a lightweight battery, and modern LED-H4 headlamps. The G50 gearbox already makes it the best-driving 3.2.
How it ended
Bidding reached $45,000 but the car didn't sell (ended Nov 2, 2026). Unsold cars often get relisted, so it may turn up again.
What 1965–98 Porsche 911, air-cooled cars sell for
| Condition | Sales | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project | 40 | $4,500 | $30,500 | $101,010 |
| Driver | 95 | $31,000 | $58,250 | $172,000 |
| Collector | 32 | $61,411 | $111,720 | $270,000 |
| Pro-build | 4 | $37,000 | $74,250 | $122,500 |
Recent sales
| Car | Condition | Result | Date | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 Porsche 930 Turbo coupe, matching numbers, 54k miles, bid at $29,750 with reserve | DriverCollector | $152,500 | Nov 2, 2026 | PCARMARKET |
| 1995 Porsche 911 Carrera (993) coupe, 6-speed with factory rear-seat delete, no reserve | Driver | $94,695 | Oct 30, 2026 | Hagerty Marketplace |
| 1986 Porsche 911 Turbo, numbers-matching US car with RUF touches, no reserve | Driver | $117,700 | Oct 30, 2026 | Hagerty Marketplace |
| 1979 Porsche 930 Turbo slicktop project, untouched since 2007, no reserve | Project | $89,880 | Oct 30, 2026 | Hagerty Marketplace |
| 1973 Porsche 911E Targa with MFI, COA and original order sheet, no reserve | Collector | $121,980 | Oct 29, 2026 | Hagerty Marketplace |
| 1971 Porsche 911S coupe with COA and records, no-reserve collection lot | Collector | $196,880 | Oct 29, 2026 | Hagerty Marketplace |
| 1967 Porsche 911 SWB coupe with 2.7L six, Porsche CoA and no reserve | ProjectDriver | $92,020 | Oct 28, 2026 | Hagerty Marketplace |
| 1969 Porsche 911E coupe with its numbers-matching engine rebuilt and MFI refurbished, no reserve | Driver | $75,970 | Oct 28, 2026 | Hagerty Marketplace |
