sputnik775

Hello fellow Porsche enthusiasts.

I am new to Rennlist so pardon if some of these questions are stale.

I might be buying a 1974 1.7 Fuel injected 914 with out rust, with about 50,xxx miles. I would have to drive the car 500 miles back home. what should I be concerned about? The guy says the car drives fine. Never the less 500 mile road trip scares me. Also what is the price range for a 914 with what I stated above. Paint is really good too.

Thanks

skl

I drove a 356C cab from SoCal to central Iowa back in the mid 80's so I must be crazier than you. I took a suitcase with fan belt, extra distributor, points, and various other spares... we made it...

As for a 914- extra distributor points for the FI, fan belt, a few of the old style German fuses in various sizes. Kind of crap shoot as no one along the way would have any idea how to trouble shoot it if something did happen. Be sure the fuel filter isn't too old and the gas is not real old either.

AAA member??

You'll probably do fine... you could ask this over at 914 world too- the answers may be interesting...

Maltese Falcon

+1
AAA is your friend, they can also plan the route for you. Taking a buddy in a chase car with you? Safety in numbers
Marty

sputnik775

hey guys thanks for the reply. I do have roadside assistance with my insurance. Unfortunately no buddy with a chase vehicle. Will be doing the trip by my self and my emergency tool bag. Never owned a 914 so any advice WILL HELP!

Litesonic

I applaud your bravery... that is going to be epic.

Make sure you have a charged phone (and possible way to charge it).

Along with old gas... make sure your tires aren't too old. Even a low speed blow-out could end things too soon.

cairo94507

Yeah, if you do not have the Premium Road Service with the 200 mile towing available, add it to your coverage before you leave to get the car. Aside from that, make sure you have some road flares, rags, racer's tape, zip-ties, electrical tape, water, fire extinguisher, good cell phone, cash. Good luck and enjoy the ride.

NaroEscape

We purchased our 1st 914 from my wife's parents who live in Colorado...and we lived in NJ at the time. We flew out and drove it home. Yes...Colorado to NJ. At the time, I had a friend in PCA who recommended I take a copy of the national magazine Panorama that had all the local region contacts listed. it was a life saver...we used it a couple time!!
They don't print the names in Pano anymore, but map out your route and figure out what PCA Regions you're going through, then write down the names and numbers of the region board members (or save their websites to your phone). PCA members are usually very willing to help, at least what I've found.

Besides...500 miles is nothing. we had people drive more than twice that to attend Okteenerfest last year!

Good luck!

Emo993

Did he say how many miles he has driven lately...if a lot thats good. I would drive around town for an hour or so just to check everything out before taking to the highway. Check tires, fresh fuel, charging system, oil etc. and list of any reenlist, PCA friends on the way. I'm in Wisconsin if you need help. Mark 608-434-9146

sputnik775

again thanks, Im still trying to decide whether to go on with the purchase. Wife is being extremely uncooperative haha. The car has not been driven much lately, owner does take it out here and there when the weather is good.
I have never driven a 914, and it is a 1.7 L can it keep up with highway speeds? Thank you Mark for providing a contact number! I would appreciate if anyone who owned a 914 can talk reality of owning an air-cooled FI 914. I feel like I might be in for a surprise. my number is 775-303-4772 call or txt to set up a good time to talk. I will possibly be departing to look at the car this Friday.
Thanks guys!

Emo993

I've owned some 40 sports/foreign cars and the 914 is still one of the best drives,. Porsche's from 356, 914, 928, 914 and 98-993. And yes the first 914 is still in my garage on its slow way to 914-6 GT clone. If the car you are looking at has a good body I would not hesitate and values are going up. Good luck. mark

skl

My '71 started life as a 1.7 and while not "fast" is a great highway cruiser. Before I modded the hell out of it, it made many trips to Florida for the 24 hour race from Iowa. NO issues with highway speeds. It will easily cruise well ABOVE any speed limit...
As noted above, take a list of PCA people along the way. It can prove very helpful.

cairo94507

Amazingly.....my wife was less than excited when I said I wanted to buy another 914-6. I sold my last one probably in 1994 or so. After 15 years it was time to return to the fold. It took me about 1 year to find a worthy candidate. Once found I had a battle on my hands to get her permission. Mind you, this was an inexpensive purchase really. Her last two cars were just over $100K each compared to my daily drivers that were about 30-40K. Fortunately the former owner of my car did not want to sell and the car was never advertised. Took 9 months to get her to say I could get it. I really did not want to buy it w/o her permission and then have it be a sore spot every time she saw it. In the end I bought it for a very very fair price and she can't wait until it returns home so she can drive it. I know she will enjoy it as much as me when she does drive it.

stout

Still have my '73 "Question Liter," 26 years later. Other Porsches have come and gone, this one stayed. I miss looking at and driving my 911, but I can't imagine being without my 914. My car started life as a 1.7, was probably a 1.9 until last year when it got a small-bore six worth 200~ hp. The last time the four had been rebuilt was sometime before 1986, when my family bought the car. It was tired and probably only made 80 hp (maybe less) and leaked like the Valdez, but it still started every time, on the first try. There's something to be said for that. While modern minivans left me in the dust—I'd be kind of trying, the mom sipping her coffee and oblivious to the thrashing Type IV—that Type IV in that car offered a lot of fun for a lot of years. And as noted above, the Type IV/901 power train made for easy cruising at 70+ mph all day long. Quiet, too, and very quiet if all the window seals are sorted. Any kind of uphill grade meant fourth gear was a good idea, however, especially for the sake of cylinder head temps.

1.7 wasn't offered for 1974, just 2.0 or 1.8. If the car you're looking at is a 1974 and a 1.7, it may have had an engine swap (and a fuel injection swap, as well, as the 1.8 used its own system). Or it has carbs. A lot of people will tell you carbs are awful, and that the car isn't worth as much, etc. Carbs work just fine with good linkage and proper tuning—just look at all of the 356s, 911s, 912s, and 914-6s that used them successfully in the hands of the great unwashed, in all temps. The factory FI is preferable, but I'd be more worried about rust and fire prevention than induction.

You can also add virtually any engine later on, from a 2.1-liter Type IV with carbs and 125 hp to a 993 3.8—or any number of others from other manufacturers. The things to concentrate on are rust (!!!) and model year (1974 is a good one).

I've driven a lot of Porsches over the years, and the 914 remains a favorite—partly for sentimental reasons but also because it was and is a gem. Mid-engined, very lightweight, clever packaging, air-cooled sounds and smells, and early Porsche charm. The 914 isn't for everyone, but those above have it pretty well nailed: The 914 isn't so much a car as a fold.

skl

Pete summed it up nicely... good to have the PANO guy in our camp!!

sputnik775

It is great to hear the positives of 914. The little fact about the 1974 only offered with 1.8 or 2.0 was not known to me. I will be looking at that closer as the seller claims the drive train is original engine and transmission. Maybe he doesn't know himself... Appreciate the info!

Also, pardon the ignorance, but where do I find the list of PCA members along the planned route?

Cheers