Cuda911's 914 Thread ! ! !
06-11-2014, 01:58 AM
#1
Race Director
Thread Starter
Cuda911's 914 Thread ! ! !
Hey all,
Today, June 10, 2014, I bought my first 914. It is a 1974 1.8, silver.
My first 914 posts were on 914World in a thread dedicated to my hunt for a 914. I had a parallel thread going here on RL. They can be found at the following links:
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.p...;#entry2048714
https://rennlist.com/forums/914-914-...ent-914-a.html
Many, many people here provided a massive amount of fantastic information. I have studied, read, and (hopefully) learned the very basics of 914s.
A special thanks to RL'er Niche, who provided massive assistance, guidance, and encouragement during the search. Ultimately, he sent me the link to the ad for this car.
Now that I own one, I will have a million more detailed questions, and I hope to keep things documented in this thread.
First, a few photos for you:
.
Today, June 10, 2014, I bought my first 914. It is a 1974 1.8, silver.
My first 914 posts were on 914World in a thread dedicated to my hunt for a 914. I had a parallel thread going here on RL. They can be found at the following links:
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.p...;#entry2048714
https://rennlist.com/forums/914-914-...ent-914-a.html
Many, many people here provided a massive amount of fantastic information. I have studied, read, and (hopefully) learned the very basics of 914s.
A special thanks to RL'er Niche, who provided massive assistance, guidance, and encouragement during the search. Ultimately, he sent me the link to the ad for this car.
Now that I own one, I will have a million more detailed questions, and I hope to keep things documented in this thread.
First, a few photos for you:
.
Last edited by Cuda911; 07-06-2014 at 03:29 AM.
06-11-2014, 02:03 AM
#2
Race Director
Thread Starter
The history of this car:
It was originally purchased on July 12, 1974 from Mesa Porsche, La Mesa, CA by a couple from Carlsbad, CA, Frederik and Marilyn Grote. They traded in a 1968 Dodge Charger. Total price including tax: $6,400.69. [That is $32,287.32 in 2014 dollars]. Of this amount, they financed $1,000 at an interest rate of 13.62% (remember those Carter years of runaway inflation?)
(The radio was a $150 option they added but it has FM!!!
They meticulously maintained it at Dieter's Porsche in San Diego. Every oil change was done like clockwork. Every service was fully documented.
.
.
It was originally purchased on July 12, 1974 from Mesa Porsche, La Mesa, CA by a couple from Carlsbad, CA, Frederik and Marilyn Grote. They traded in a 1968 Dodge Charger. Total price including tax: $6,400.69. [That is $32,287.32 in 2014 dollars]. Of this amount, they financed $1,000 at an interest rate of 13.62% (remember those Carter years of runaway inflation?)
(The radio was a $150 option they added but it has FM!!!
They meticulously maintained it at Dieter's Porsche in San Diego. Every oil change was done like clockwork. Every service was fully documented.
.
.
06-11-2014, 02:04 AM
#3
Race Director
Thread Starter
Then, one fateful day in September 1988, alas, they were hit in a front-end collision. The front end was damaged, including hood, bumper, and fenders.
The Allstate adjustor estimated required repairs at $3,974, and therefore declared it a total loss. Car condition on the 1988 insurance appraisal listed as "good". A Letter from Dieter's Porsche in San Diego stated that the car was regularly serviced there and in above average condition at the time of the accident. Receipts support this.
The original owners of the car bought it back from the insurance company for $450, however the car now was issued "salvage" title.
The Grote's owned a number of Porsches, including a 356. It is a bit unclear, but it appears that the Grote's then placed the car into storage until 1997. In 1997, the car was fully restored. The motor was pulled, sent to Mark Stephens High Performance of Tehachapi, CA. It was completely torn down, and rebuilt. A new clutch, shocks, and various other items were replaced.
The body work was conducted by European Auto Body, a Porsche body repair specialist in Escondido, CA. There are receipts for body work totaling $4,655.12, dated 12/9/1997, which correspond to the work that was needed per the 1988 insurance estimate. Very odd to me that all of this was done so many years later.
Receipts for all of the engine work, body works, etc. are on file in the folder I have for the car.
The Allstate adjustor estimated required repairs at $3,974, and therefore declared it a total loss. Car condition on the 1988 insurance appraisal listed as "good". A Letter from Dieter's Porsche in San Diego stated that the car was regularly serviced there and in above average condition at the time of the accident. Receipts support this.
The original owners of the car bought it back from the insurance company for $450, however the car now was issued "salvage" title.
The Grote's owned a number of Porsches, including a 356. It is a bit unclear, but it appears that the Grote's then placed the car into storage until 1997. In 1997, the car was fully restored. The motor was pulled, sent to Mark Stephens High Performance of Tehachapi, CA. It was completely torn down, and rebuilt. A new clutch, shocks, and various other items were replaced.
The body work was conducted by European Auto Body, a Porsche body repair specialist in Escondido, CA. There are receipts for body work totaling $4,655.12, dated 12/9/1997, which correspond to the work that was needed per the 1988 insurance estimate. Very odd to me that all of this was done so many years later.
Receipts for all of the engine work, body works, etc. are on file in the folder I have for the car.
06-11-2014, 02:06 AM
#4
Race Director
Thread Starter
As Mr. and Mrs. Grote were getting on in years, eventually the car was again garaged at their house in Carlsbad, CA, until their three daughters (Mrs. Grote was remarried, so they were Mr. Grote's step daughters) held an estate sale in August of 2011.
A lady attending the estate sale purchased a large concrete mermaid. When she returned a day or two later with her husband to retrieve the mermaid, he saw the car in the garage and purchased it.
Because the car had not been started for years, he had it flat-bedded to Konig Motorsport, a Porsche repair specialist in Oceanside, CA.
There, the car was thoroughly inspected, and many parts were replaced including: all brakes and rotors, master cylinder, front wheel bearings, plugs, points, filters, distributor cap, rotor, condensor, fan belt, tires, shifter bushings, fuel injectors (cleaned and sealed), alignment, etc. Over $4,000 in receipts on file.
The new buyers own a number of classic VW's, including a VW bus, Karmann Ghia, etc. So, the 914 was only occasionally driven.
It was listed as an item in a three-family yard sale this past weekend. A friend saw the ad, emailed me, and I looked at the car yesterday and bought it today.
The only identifiable rust is a small amount inside of the rear of trunk. The Hell Hole is clean, the rockers are clean, the front end is clean, the floorboards are clean. There are no cracks in the dash. All electronics work. The driver side door lock mechanism needs to be repaired or replaced, since it won't lock with the key (but can be locked from inside the car).
The car drives, steers, and brakes perfectly.
Here are a few photos showing the body condition:
.
A lady attending the estate sale purchased a large concrete mermaid. When she returned a day or two later with her husband to retrieve the mermaid, he saw the car in the garage and purchased it.
Because the car had not been started for years, he had it flat-bedded to Konig Motorsport, a Porsche repair specialist in Oceanside, CA.
There, the car was thoroughly inspected, and many parts were replaced including: all brakes and rotors, master cylinder, front wheel bearings, plugs, points, filters, distributor cap, rotor, condensor, fan belt, tires, shifter bushings, fuel injectors (cleaned and sealed), alignment, etc. Over $4,000 in receipts on file.
The new buyers own a number of classic VW's, including a VW bus, Karmann Ghia, etc. So, the 914 was only occasionally driven.
It was listed as an item in a three-family yard sale this past weekend. A friend saw the ad, emailed me, and I looked at the car yesterday and bought it today.
The only identifiable rust is a small amount inside of the rear of trunk. The Hell Hole is clean, the rockers are clean, the front end is clean, the floorboards are clean. There are no cracks in the dash. All electronics work. The driver side door lock mechanism needs to be repaired or replaced, since it won't lock with the key (but can be locked from inside the car).
The car drives, steers, and brakes perfectly.
Here are a few photos showing the body condition:
.
Last edited by Cuda911; 06-11-2014 at 03:10 AM. Reason: typo
06-11-2014, 03:02 AM
#6
Race Director
Thread Starter
^^^ Drive mine whenever you want! Thanks again for all the help!!!!!
Guys.... Here are my first questions, basic though they are:
1. Driver's side door needs new lock cylinder, or current one fixed. Do I see a lock smith or a car restoration guy?
2. The radio antenna is black. Is that original? I prefer chrome if it should be chrome.
3. It has what appears to me to be a 1973 front bumper, from the repairs conducted in 1998. But, it doesn't have the chrome from the appearance group. Is the chrome a metal overlay piece I can buy? Or did they just chrome that metal portion of the bumper? Also, I really like the fog lights of the 1973 appearance group. Can they be added to the bumper that I currently have?
4. That bit of rust inside the trunk... should I spray it with Rustoleum to stop it from spreading? Should I sand it down first? Or should I take it to a body shop?
5. What is that grommet for in the middle of the carpet in the rear trunk?
Guys.... Here are my first questions, basic though they are:
1. Driver's side door needs new lock cylinder, or current one fixed. Do I see a lock smith or a car restoration guy?
2. The radio antenna is black. Is that original? I prefer chrome if it should be chrome.
3. It has what appears to me to be a 1973 front bumper, from the repairs conducted in 1998. But, it doesn't have the chrome from the appearance group. Is the chrome a metal overlay piece I can buy? Or did they just chrome that metal portion of the bumper? Also, I really like the fog lights of the 1973 appearance group. Can they be added to the bumper that I currently have?
4. That bit of rust inside the trunk... should I spray it with Rustoleum to stop it from spreading? Should I sand it down first? Or should I take it to a body shop?
5. What is that grommet for in the middle of the carpet in the rear trunk?
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06-11-2014, 10:04 AM
#8
Great find!! On the rust, I would go after it with a wire brush or flapper wheel to clean it down to the bare metal. Then treat it with something like POR15 to neutralize/stabilize the corrosion and then paint to match.
Good luck,
Gary
Good luck,
Gary
06-11-2014, 01:04 PM
#10
Race Director
Thread Starter
Thanks! (I think.... lost? Lost in time? Lost in space? Lost cause?).
I had never heard of POR15.... just looked it up.... I see a few You Tube videos that show how to use it for cars... I will watch them.
Do they sell POR15 at Home Depot, etc.?
I had never heard of POR15.... just looked it up.... I see a few You Tube videos that show how to use it for cars... I will watch them.
Do they sell POR15 at Home Depot, etc.?
06-12-2014, 02:06 AM
#11
Race Director
Thread Starter
Here's a great You Tube video that shows how to use POR15 properly.
I want to get this car into a shop right away and have a good inspection and replace anything that looks like it needs it. There is a minor transmission fluid leak at a rear seal that needs to be fixed. The steel wheel rim rings are a bit rusty on my car. I may get them rechromed.
Today I cleaned up the car and waxed it. Amazing... not even one single scratch or door ding anywhere! I thought there were some scratches, but they were minor scuffs that polished right out.
I just got back from my first drive... I took off the targa top and went about 40 miles or so on the back-country twisty roads... I LOVE this car!!! smile.gif It is an absolute blast to drive. In my other Porsches, when I am going 90 it feels like 40 mph. In the 914, when I am going 40 it feels like 90! smile.gif
Another question for you guys: Does this car like to be driven at lower or higher RPMs? I like to drive more in the "power band", so my tendency is to keep the RPMs up in the 3500 to 4000 range rather than upshift. But, different cars have different characteristics. If I should be keeping the RPMs down, I will get myself accustomed to using a higher gear more frequently. Do these cars like to get up to 5k rpm between shifts? I admit, I drive my cars hard, but I do want to be reasonable.
When I was shopping for a 914, I was afraid that the 1.8 would seem to "weak", and really wanted those extra 19 HP of the 2.0. Honestly, though, the 1.8 seems MUCH better than I had hoped. Of course, I still wouldn't mind more HP, but I am plenty satisfied.
If you guys recall, a "colorful" 914 was one of my "must-haves". But, after owning this car for all of one day, the silver color is sure growing on me!! smile.gif
As you all can probably tell, I am super pleased with this car!!!
.
I want to get this car into a shop right away and have a good inspection and replace anything that looks like it needs it. There is a minor transmission fluid leak at a rear seal that needs to be fixed. The steel wheel rim rings are a bit rusty on my car. I may get them rechromed.
Today I cleaned up the car and waxed it. Amazing... not even one single scratch or door ding anywhere! I thought there were some scratches, but they were minor scuffs that polished right out.
I just got back from my first drive... I took off the targa top and went about 40 miles or so on the back-country twisty roads... I LOVE this car!!! smile.gif It is an absolute blast to drive. In my other Porsches, when I am going 90 it feels like 40 mph. In the 914, when I am going 40 it feels like 90! smile.gif
Another question for you guys: Does this car like to be driven at lower or higher RPMs? I like to drive more in the "power band", so my tendency is to keep the RPMs up in the 3500 to 4000 range rather than upshift. But, different cars have different characteristics. If I should be keeping the RPMs down, I will get myself accustomed to using a higher gear more frequently. Do these cars like to get up to 5k rpm between shifts? I admit, I drive my cars hard, but I do want to be reasonable.
When I was shopping for a 914, I was afraid that the 1.8 would seem to "weak", and really wanted those extra 19 HP of the 2.0. Honestly, though, the 1.8 seems MUCH better than I had hoped. Of course, I still wouldn't mind more HP, but I am plenty satisfied.
If you guys recall, a "colorful" 914 was one of my "must-haves". But, after owning this car for all of one day, the silver color is sure growing on me!! smile.gif
As you all can probably tell, I am super pleased with this car!!!
.
06-12-2014, 07:05 AM
#13
Race Director
Thread Starter
^^^ Oh.... is THAT what it is? A Prius? Looked liked a beached Shamu to me.
You should have seen the guy driving it! Pretty sure he was an escapee from the nearby criminal rehab facility who maybe "borrowed" the facility's car.
You should have seen the guy driving it! Pretty sure he was an escapee from the nearby criminal rehab facility who maybe "borrowed" the facility's car.
06-12-2014, 10:42 AM
#14
Official Wednesday AM Red Bull F1 test driver
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
No, he was a typical Obama voter saving the world by driving his Prius...
As for driving the 914, as many say, it is more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow... and of course EVERYONE knows silver or white cars are faster!!!
As for driving the 914, as many say, it is more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow... and of course EVERYONE knows silver or white cars are faster!!!
