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Posted by: jcgaylord Oct 12 2004, 12:34 PM

I just bought a 74 914 and it came with an original Saratoga top including original instructions. It's barely used. Any idea what these fetch? I know for my 944 I paid $550 for one that needed a little work on the seals and I see them routinely go fo $800+ in new condition. I bought my 914 strictly for good weather, open-top driving so I'm considering selling but not positive yet.

Off topic sort of but I live right near where the tops were made and when I had my first 944 back in 1986 I went there and bought one for almost $800 (1986!). It's actually 20 miles outside of Sartaoga in a town called Jonesville. Too bad they went out of business their tops are unique.

Posted by: double-a Oct 12 2004, 12:35 PM

forgive my ignorance, but what does a saratoga top look like?

~a

Posted by: Aaron Cox Oct 12 2004, 12:43 PM

did it come on an orange low miles car?

saratoga top is like a big sunroof....tinted/smoked glass i believe. never seen one personally.

Posted by: double-a Oct 12 2004, 12:47 PM

cool, sounds exotic.

~a

Posted by: Jenny Oct 12 2004, 12:56 PM

Uh... being 5'2 and 'slight', I've definitely had occurences where the top has slipped out of one hand while I'm trying to negotiate it. Hate to do that with a pretty saratoga or painted top.... as much as I like pretty tops.

Jen

Posted by: Mueller Oct 12 2004, 01:33 PM

this is one of those items that are tricky to price...people that have one for sale "think" they are worth more than what people are really willing to pay

I'd say start high in the classifieds and work your down until you get a real bite.

on eBay, I've seen them go from $700 to "supposedly" $1500+, but I do not know if the $1500 price was for real or not...they buyer could have backed out or half a dozen other things could have been going on with the auction...

I spoke to the original manufacture of the saratoga tops a few years ago.....there was some interest in making a better, more modern version, but he wanted a $2000 tooling fee, plus the tops would cost about $600 to $800 each if we sold 50 of them

Posted by: rey Oct 12 2004, 01:38 PM

I sold one to Bowlsby for $300. In fair shape

Posted by: Targa Oct 12 2004, 02:43 PM

I will be selling my Saratoga Top soon as I need the money to finish getting my new engine done more than I need the cool top. I will post it in the classifieds soon if anyone is interested. I spoke to someone at Saratoga not long ago(they still make tops for BMW's, Miata's, and Porsche's) trying to get as much info as I could and all he could tell me was that they only made about 500 of them and sold worse than any other top they have made.

Posted by: tdgray Oct 12 2004, 03:21 PM

Come on tell me this isn't "THE CAR"

Posted by: MattR Oct 12 2004, 03:35 PM

According to that seller, he turned down $3000 for his top! <_<

Posted by: Root_Werks Oct 12 2004, 03:38 PM

Interesting to say the least.... Hope he posts some pics of the 914.

Posted by: AZ914 Oct 12 2004, 04:48 PM

Double-A.... here is a pic.

Anyone else... $3000? Hell, I'll throw in free overnight shipping...


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Posted by: Jeroen Oct 12 2004, 05:10 PM

Put it on e-bay... You'll end up with a shit load of money...

And Jenny... don't worry. Your top looks just fine

Posted by: Jenny Oct 12 2004, 05:22 PM

Posted by: Aaron Cox Oct 12 2004, 05:26 PM

well. get on with it!

Posted by: MattR Oct 12 2004, 05:29 PM

lol, you perv. go watch your csu pomona "videos".

Posted by: Jenny Oct 12 2004, 05:37 PM

What videos??

Jen

Posted by: ArtechnikA Oct 12 2004, 05:39 PM

they were $350 when they were new, i still remember the ads in Panorama. $350 was a lot of money then (1975) -- what 1975's $350 worth in 30-years-later money ? (factored for inflation, the prices for as-new tops are about what they were then...)

they mighta sold worse than any other because the word got out in a hurry that they broiled you in the sun and leaked like seives in the rain ...

Posted by: Aaron Cox Oct 12 2004, 05:44 PM

they made a porno on our campus i guess.... i heard about it...thats it. so, lets see some pics jenny

Posted by: BatAc Oct 12 2004, 05:51 PM

I've definitely had occurences where the top has slipped out.............

I couldn't help but take this out of context, Jen.

Posted by: vortrex Oct 12 2004, 05:52 PM

[quote=ArtechnikA,Oct 12 2004, 03:39 PM] [QUOTE=Targa,Oct 12 2004, 12:43 PM] $350 was a lot of money then (1975) -- what 1975's $350 worth in 30-years-later money ? (factored for inflation, the prices for as-new tops are about what they were then...) [/quote]
$350 in '75 is $1247.80 in 2003 according to the inflation calculator.

Posted by: Jenny Oct 12 2004, 06:06 PM

I'll have to look thru my archives for said picts... Don't hold your breath.

Jen

Posted by: tod914 Oct 12 2004, 07:47 PM

Those tops are brining in a premium now. I just seen one go for 17K. Oh, btw came with a car attached to it.

Posted by: horizontally-opposed Oct 12 2004, 10:48 PM

I once owned Saratoga Top Prototype #114, but I left it in a field and someone came on my property and stole it.

I demand that it is returned to me, immediately.

pete

(Actually, I do have a Saratoga top -- and it looks great on the car. BUT it does leak air and water in copious amounts -- the windnoise, rattles, and all the rest make it pretty silly as a top. And don't even get me started on the hardware and seal quality...)

Posted by: smg914 Oct 13 2004, 01:18 PM

Get your money back before the 100% money back guarantee runs out.

Sorry....that's just wrong. I shouldn't have said that. I just couldn't help myself.

Posted by: Jeff Bowlsby Oct 13 2004, 01:21 PM

The 17K signal car was a 73 peoples...


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Posted by: smg914 Oct 13 2004, 01:28 PM

By gollie you're right. I'm still laughing at my own joke though. I crack myself up sometimes.

Posted by: jcgaylord Oct 14 2004, 10:02 AM

It's not, but still a nice survivor.

Posted by: jcgaylord Oct 14 2004, 10:16 AM

Thanks all for the feedback. Someone mentioned the seals and such and it is comical how these were built at least compared to the 944 ones which are much tighter. The back attachment point is a block of wood and an eye screw on each side that according to the instructions you "tighten as needed" to get a good fit. There might also be some truth to the leaking aspect because this top appears unused. When I bought the car the owner was kind of like "Oh yeah I have this other top in the basement". I nearly fainted when I saw it was a Saratoga.

If I decide to sell I will post on this forum for a reasonable amount before offering it up to the bidding frenzy that is Ebay.

Posted by: StratPlayer Oct 14 2004, 10:32 AM

Someone selling one on the bay right now

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2494520800&category=10076

Posted by: Root_Werks Oct 14 2004, 10:42 AM

That top looks more like a 924/944 top to me. <_<

Posted by: skline Oct 14 2004, 01:11 PM

That is for sure not a Saratoga top for a 914. I have heard nothing but bad things about the ones for 914's. I wanted one really bad till I found out they leak and cook you when you drive with them on during the day. The only thing it would be good for is moonlight drives when there is a full moon. Not worth the money they bring for that.


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Posted by: skline Oct 14 2004, 01:12 PM

Another photo of one installed.


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Posted by: dflesburg Oct 15 2004, 10:49 AM

Plus,

I don't ever drive my car with the top on anyway...

I only put it on to lock it up.

Posted by: tod914 Oct 15 2004, 01:21 PM

Shame they don't seal better. It's a nice looking top.

Posted by: ! Oct 15 2004, 04:12 PM

"I" would burn it and apply for a tax deduction......

Posted by: AZ914 Oct 15 2004, 05:24 PM

Strange, mine never had a leaking problem. Of course out here in AZ, you can only use it in the winter... get that nice warm feeling...

Posted by: nickg Oct 15 2004, 05:57 PM

you know what, i would kinda like to get one of those, i had one on a 911 targa and it was pretty darn cool. if anyone seriously wants to sell one , let me know

Posted by: Bleyseng Oct 15 2004, 06:12 PM

I have always thought they were dumb on a 914 as the car gets real hot. On a 924 you get even hotter with that bigass rear window.

I prefer to let the air blow my hair around with the top off.