Search For a 914
Posted: Tue May 26, 2020 8:29 am
Well, yesterday I actually went to look at a 914 in person here in the KC area. So, I'm going to mark that as the official start of the search for a 914. That's the next candidate to add to the hooptie fleet. My 914 backstory: my first "Porsche experience" was with a 914. I was an 18-year old senior in high school, and I had saved up about $3,000 to buy a fancy car (mind you this was 1982). I focused in on a Porsche 914. I ultimately ended up with a '77 Fiat X1/9, which was a horrible car that I absolutely loved and hated at the same time (when it was good, it was oh so good, but when it was bad . . . ). Anyhow, I remember arriving at the 914 seller's home, being taken out back to a small carriage house, and the doors swinging open to reveal a baby blue 914 in all its glory. As the doors swung open, you could hear the choir of angels singing on high and ray of golden light appear out of the night sky and shone brightly upon the Porsche. I was hooked. Alas, twas not to be as the seller wanted more than my $3,000 to part with it. Hence, I settled for the X1/9 for the princely sum of $2,900 (to be sold 2 hard years later for $1,500).
So, back to the current search. The auto museum closes on the purchase of a new facility this Friday that will temporarily be used for classic car storage. So, despite the home garage overflowing with questionable-quality '80's iron, I have a place to shove another acquisition. Not sure that the wife will tolerate a purchase anytime soon. But, the search is half the fun, right? Plus, with the 914 (as with most Porsche models), there is a lot to learn about the various engines and options and years. And rust. There's just a lot to learn about rust. If you don't know what the terms "hellhole" and "longs" mean, then you aren't ready to buy a 914. The good news is that assuming I buy a car with a solid, rust-free (or mostly rust-free) body, the mechanicals are pretty straightforward. It doesn't appear that there's much to fear about an engine rebuild - it looks like a full rebuild is maybe $3,000-ish. Of course, like anything Porsche, you can spend more. Unlike the 356, parts don't seem to be crazy expensive. Since the interior is pretty spartan, a ripped seat or cracked dash is not that big of a deal.
Colorwise, I've decided I want a "Skittles" color car: green, blue, red (of course), orange, yellow. Thankfully, they made plenty of those. Not interested in a "classier" color like white, black, gray, silver. Although, there are the "creamsicle" white with orange trim cars that I'd go for. In fact, there's a creamsicle tribute on ebay right now that seems like a helluva deal at $18,500 asking with documentation of over $32k spent on it.
OK, so the car I went to see yesterday was Sunburst Orange '71 model. The seller was the brother-in-law & sister of the deceased owner. The car had a solid body, but had not been started in 30 years (according to the seller). It was stored inside. It had clearly been resprayed at some point in its life, despite the seller's insistence that the paint was original (a previous potential buyer had supposedly checked all the panels with a meter). Frankly, I'd prefer a car that has been resprayed with a clearcoat as I'm too lazy to try to keep up with single-stage paint (in nearly 5 years of ownership, I've never actually "waxed" the 996tt). It was a 1.7 liter car with factory air conditioning. Air cleaner and other parts removed from the engine bay. Tires were all flat (and 30+ years old). Steering wheel and other interior bits were off the car. Rocker panel covers were off the car (which was actually a plus for me so I could check out the longs). They were asking $17,000. Sellers were nice folks, but absolutely clueless about the car. I was very, very nice and non-judgmental and non-confrontational about the car, but I did my best to give them my honest opinion of the car. That included telling them it was worth no where near $17,000. If it was in concours condition, then yes, it might bring $17,000. I told them it was going to take $10,000+ to get the car back in a decent condition. I told them that in its current condition, it is worth $6,000, maybe $7,000 at the highest. But, that was a lie. Thinking about it on the drive home, I wouldn't pay over $4,000 for it. Frankly, given the year and engine, it might be more like a $2,500 car. Here are a few pics:
So, the search is on. This first car is definitely a no-go for multiple reasons (which makes it a great first car to go look at - no chance I'm buying it). I'd really like to get to drive one. I think it will be a better fit than the X1/9 I bought last spring.
At this point, I'm focusing on getting a '73 or '74 2.0 liter car in nice condition for sub-$20k. I'd prefer the fuel injection be intact, but wouldn't turn down a nice carb conversion. The dream color is Ravenna Green, but the other "Skittles" colors are in play. Cuda mentioned a couple of years ago that he might be willing to part with his blue 914, which fits the bill to a "t", but I suspect the value of his car has gone into the mid-$20k's by now. Anyway, I'm going to document the search in here. Feel free to ride along with me and make comments as we go. But fair warning, get comfortable - it might take a while.
So, back to the current search. The auto museum closes on the purchase of a new facility this Friday that will temporarily be used for classic car storage. So, despite the home garage overflowing with questionable-quality '80's iron, I have a place to shove another acquisition. Not sure that the wife will tolerate a purchase anytime soon. But, the search is half the fun, right? Plus, with the 914 (as with most Porsche models), there is a lot to learn about the various engines and options and years. And rust. There's just a lot to learn about rust. If you don't know what the terms "hellhole" and "longs" mean, then you aren't ready to buy a 914. The good news is that assuming I buy a car with a solid, rust-free (or mostly rust-free) body, the mechanicals are pretty straightforward. It doesn't appear that there's much to fear about an engine rebuild - it looks like a full rebuild is maybe $3,000-ish. Of course, like anything Porsche, you can spend more. Unlike the 356, parts don't seem to be crazy expensive. Since the interior is pretty spartan, a ripped seat or cracked dash is not that big of a deal.
Colorwise, I've decided I want a "Skittles" color car: green, blue, red (of course), orange, yellow. Thankfully, they made plenty of those. Not interested in a "classier" color like white, black, gray, silver. Although, there are the "creamsicle" white with orange trim cars that I'd go for. In fact, there's a creamsicle tribute on ebay right now that seems like a helluva deal at $18,500 asking with documentation of over $32k spent on it.
OK, so the car I went to see yesterday was Sunburst Orange '71 model. The seller was the brother-in-law & sister of the deceased owner. The car had a solid body, but had not been started in 30 years (according to the seller). It was stored inside. It had clearly been resprayed at some point in its life, despite the seller's insistence that the paint was original (a previous potential buyer had supposedly checked all the panels with a meter). Frankly, I'd prefer a car that has been resprayed with a clearcoat as I'm too lazy to try to keep up with single-stage paint (in nearly 5 years of ownership, I've never actually "waxed" the 996tt). It was a 1.7 liter car with factory air conditioning. Air cleaner and other parts removed from the engine bay. Tires were all flat (and 30+ years old). Steering wheel and other interior bits were off the car. Rocker panel covers were off the car (which was actually a plus for me so I could check out the longs). They were asking $17,000. Sellers were nice folks, but absolutely clueless about the car. I was very, very nice and non-judgmental and non-confrontational about the car, but I did my best to give them my honest opinion of the car. That included telling them it was worth no where near $17,000. If it was in concours condition, then yes, it might bring $17,000. I told them it was going to take $10,000+ to get the car back in a decent condition. I told them that in its current condition, it is worth $6,000, maybe $7,000 at the highest. But, that was a lie. Thinking about it on the drive home, I wouldn't pay over $4,000 for it. Frankly, given the year and engine, it might be more like a $2,500 car. Here are a few pics:
So, the search is on. This first car is definitely a no-go for multiple reasons (which makes it a great first car to go look at - no chance I'm buying it). I'd really like to get to drive one. I think it will be a better fit than the X1/9 I bought last spring.
At this point, I'm focusing on getting a '73 or '74 2.0 liter car in nice condition for sub-$20k. I'd prefer the fuel injection be intact, but wouldn't turn down a nice carb conversion. The dream color is Ravenna Green, but the other "Skittles" colors are in play. Cuda mentioned a couple of years ago that he might be willing to part with his blue 914, which fits the bill to a "t", but I suspect the value of his car has gone into the mid-$20k's by now. Anyway, I'm going to document the search in here. Feel free to ride along with me and make comments as we go. But fair warning, get comfortable - it might take a while.