dmalo810

My wife has always wanted a streetable 914 after I had and sold my 914 race car. So I'm trying to make her dream come true and need some advice on a possible project 914.
The guy wants $2500 for what appears to be a decent shape body, wheels, bumpers and interior. (Mind you, just from pictures I've seen.) All glass intact, all lenses look in great shape, no cracking.
I'm well aware of the rust potential and of course that is my major concern.
I called the guy and here is what he had to say about the car:
1975 w/2.0 or possible 1.8, he didn't know how to tell difference. How do you tell?
He says transmission is fine. How would he know?
Always garaged, floor pans solid and says no rust.
Car has the optional gauge consel.
The bad parts:
Engine pulled and doesn't run. Has Dolleto (sp) carbs? Thought they would be webers.
Painted red over yellow
He basically new nothing else about the car. He bought it as a non-running project but moved on to Harleys and lost interest.
All parts are there according to him.
I'm going to look at this thing tonight. My concerns are...
Parts to rebuild engine? Who is a good source? Would it be better to buy a running car with cosmetic issues?
What would something like this be worth as a roller, complete? Is $2500 about right or too high?
Thanks for any input.
Don

Jay Gratton

I think it depends on if the body is any good and if it is a 2.0. If it is a 1.8 I would walk away. I have a '73 for sale!!!!!

hitbyastick

Jay that's not a project

racer

To the question is, how much of a project do you want? How much of a project does "she" want. Does your wife want to drive a 914 "now" or in 3 years?

Well, its been a couple days.. did you get to see the car yet? Share your feedback!

dmalo810

I pulled back and decided not to look at it after doing a bit more research. What I found was running 914s for just a couple grand more in better condition then this so called project.
I rebuilt a 911 engine for my race car and installed. So being a project is not an issue for me. 3 years? Maybe, with all the cosmetic crap it was going to take.
Another issue was parts, engine kit, etc. I didn't find as many sources for these cars that I used to see just a couple years ago. Parts are going for premium prices too.
Got a couple I'm looking at, so the search continues.
Thanks for all the input.

Jay Gratton

True, but I thought it was worth a try anyway.

Irishdriver

Jay,

Can I ask what your car is worth, if that is not an impolite question.

Here in Germany the prices vary from good value to very silly. and the problem is that it is usually the rust buckets that are asking the silly prices.

Cheers,

Jay Gratton

What it is worth is an interesting questions. The ad for my car is on this forum. It is for sale for $18K/OBO. But from the looking around that Matt Romanowski and I have done I would even go as far to say that I am low and it should be more in the low 20's which is just crazy if you ask me for a 914. I love 914's, but $20K for one is crazy. But people are paying it. There was a '76 914 at the Parade that had 30k miles on it and was really pretty, but it had been repainted that went for $22K-$23K and my 914 beat it in preservation.

Manny Alban

holy cow, if they're that high, my all original 73 914 has tripled in valued !!!! Even has the original seals and vacuum lines. I might have to retire it from autocrossing...........nah, don't think so

Jay Gratton

Manny,
Your car would go for a nice chunck of change. But I would hold on to it if I were you.

hitbyastick

I like that these cars are somewhat gaining value. It's the only thing I own that does

Irishdriver

.
Actually that is a relatively low price here for a good car. The market span is growing here with cars ranging from 5000 euro to 75000 Euro (yes - there is one company asking 115000$ for a well restored 4 cylinder car).

Good 2.0 cars are getting near 20k Euro (30k$) which is why many cars are being imported from the US.

Jay Gratton

When I sold my 2.0 a few years ago, most of the action I got was from overseas.