Printable Version of Topic
Click here to view this topic in its original format
914World.com _ 914World Garage _ My quest to find my father's 914
Posted by: Motorrific Jul 18 2019, 07:14 AM
My dad had a 1971 914 in red. He sold it from our West Jersey home in the early 90s and the family largely forgot about it until I saw one on the road a year ago and started trying to find his car.
We've tried going through the DMV for registration records but they say we have to at least have the vehicle plate. We've called our insurance agents and they have no record of the car. We're currently cleaning out my parents house and have thus far not found any documents or pictures regarding the vehicle. I think we will eventually find something, but nothing promising yet.
What we do know is the year and color and that it was sold in West jersey in the early 90s. It was a 4 cylinder that had been boared out to larger displacement and upgraded with Webber carbs. My dad also told me it had the "euro spec" gauge cluster with everything displayed in KPH and "wheels unlike any car I'd ever seen." He was not the first owner of the car so we cannot go through Porsche.
I realize there's a fair chance that the car is scrapped by now. But if it's still alive somewhere, I want to find it and buy it and bring it home. If anyone has any ideas, I'm all ears.
Posted by: mepstein Jul 18 2019, 07:20 AM
I grew up in Moorestown but I never remember seeing a car like that. I would look through family pics and hopefully you will have a pic of the plate or other identifying info. Maybe an old file that he kept records for past cars. Good luck with the search.
Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Jul 18 2019, 07:43 AM
no way to find without a vehicle id number, sorry
My dad had a 1971 914 in red. He sold it from our West Jersey home in the early 90s and the family largely forgot about it until I saw one on the road a year ago and started trying to find his car.
We've tried going through the DMV for registration records but they say we have to at least have the vehicle plate. We've called our insurance agents and they have no record of the car. We're currently cleaning out my parents house and have thus far not found any documents or pictures regarding the vehicle. I think we will eventually find something, but nothing promising yet.
What we do know is the year and color and that it was sold in West jersey in the early 90s. It was a 4 cylinder that had been boared out to larger displacement and upgraded with Webber carbs. My dad also told me it had the "euro spec" gauge cluster with everything displayed in KPH and "wheels unlike any car I'd ever seen." He was not the first owner of the car so we cannot go through Porsche.
I realize there's a fair chance that the car is scrapped by now. But if it's still alive somewhere, I want to find it and buy it and bring it home. If anyone has any ideas, I'm all ears.
Posted by: Motorrific Jul 18 2019, 07:50 AM
no way to find without a vehicle id number, sorry
I guess I'm hoping maybe by some stroke of incredible luck that somebody here bought a red 914 in West jersey in the early 90s or knows someone who did. I figure they aren't all that common.
Posted by: JeffBowlsby Jul 18 2019, 07:50 AM
Post a photo if you can for any distinguishing characteristics it may have.
Posted by: Motorrific Jul 18 2019, 07:58 AM
Post a photo if you can for any distinguishing characteristics it may have.
Thus far we haven't been able to find any pictures or records of the car, but rest assured as soon as I have more info I'll bring it right here.
Posted by: Cairo94507 Jul 18 2019, 09:09 AM
Good luck in your hunt. I would think the local DMV might be able to do an all vehicles registered to your dad/address in the given time frame search. I would try to see if the local DMV has an investigations division and see if talking to them will give you any clues or tips. 
Posted by: sb914 Jul 18 2019, 09:43 AM
Social media! Post it everywhere.
Posted by: FlacaProductions Jul 18 2019, 10:37 AM
no way to find without a vehicle id number,
sorry
Sometimes you can't find it WITH an ID/VIN number....those fields that George has are big....best of luck, though - keep looking!
Posted by: pete000 Jul 18 2019, 11:07 AM
I would love to find out where my dad's 1956 356 Speedster ended up. Last known owner was a video store owner in Fort Lauderdale Florida around 1980ish.
Attached thumbnail(s)
Posted by: Crudbud Jul 18 2019, 01:27 PM
Unusual to have a car that is cherished without photos. Maybe check relative's for photos for a license plate in pic? Don't know if you could check for any tickets or fines incurred on his driving record? Good luck with your search!
Posted by: IronHillRestorations Jul 18 2019, 03:37 PM
no way to find without a vehicle id number, sorry
I guess I'm hoping maybe by some stroke of incredible luck that somebody here bought a red 914 in West jersey in the early 90s or knows someone who did. I figure they aren't all that common.
It's a long shot, but stranger things have happened. I hope you find the car, that would be so cool
Posted by: orthobiz Jul 18 2019, 04:08 PM
Did I miss the color??
Paul
Posted by: Motorrific Jul 18 2019, 09:32 PM
Did I miss the color??
Paul
Red
Posted by: shelby/914 Jul 18 2019, 10:00 PM
Have you looked for old insurance files or talked to your Dads insurance agent. Insurance papers usually show the vin.
Dan
Posted by: Motorrific Jul 19 2019, 07:07 AM
Have you looked for old insurance files or talked to your Dads insurance agent. Insurance papers usually show the vin.
Dan
We did and nobody seems to have any records of it, I guess because they haven't insured it in like 25 years at this point.
Posted by: IronHillRestorations Jul 19 2019, 09:14 AM
It's harder than it used to be, due to changes in privacy laws.
Years ago I got a nice black 74 2.0 from Texas, and tried to find ownership history and got dead ends. Funny thing is a couple years later when I had the car all apart I found a real nice 3/4 carat diamond solitaire engagement ring in the tunnel
Posted by: Motorrific Jul 19 2019, 09:24 AM
It's harder than it used to be, due to changes in privacy laws.
Years ago I got a nice black 74 2.0 from Texas, and tried to find ownership history and got dead ends. Funny thing is a couple years later when I had the car all apart I found a real nice 3/4 carat diamond solitaire engagement ring in the tunnel
Wow haha some luck !
Posted by: Beeliner Jul 19 2019, 10:54 AM
It's harder than it used to be, due to changes in privacy laws.
Years ago I got a nice black 74 2.0 from Texas, and tried to find ownership history and got dead ends. Funny thing is a couple years later when I had the car all apart I found a real nice 3/4 carat diamond solitaire engagement ring in the tunnel
Wow haha some luck !
That would help pay for a 6 conversion.....
Posted by: sb914 Jul 19 2019, 11:32 AM
It's harder than it used to be, due to changes in privacy laws.
Years ago I got a nice black 74 2.0 from Texas, and tried to find ownership history and got dead ends. Funny thing is a couple years later when I had the car all apart I found a real nice 3/4 carat diamond solitaire engagement ring in the tunnel
That’s where that ring ended up!
Can I have it back ?
Posted by: Motorrific Nov 29 2021, 01:43 PM
I grew up in Moorestown but I never remember seeing a car like that. I would look through family pics and hopefully you will have a pic of the plate or other identifying info. Maybe an old file that he kept records for past cars. Good luck with the search.
Never found a pic, but I found the VIN and added it to this site. It's 4712913642. A title check showed the car was last registered in New Jersey in September of 2009. I've been calling every Porsche dealer in New Jersey asking them to see if the chassis code is in their system. One told me they can't release that information unless it's the owner but they told me before I even gave them the code, so I don't think they're hiding something. The other dealerships have told me they don't have any record of it. At this point, my only option is word of mouth and telling as many people as possible.
Powered by Invision Power Board (http://www.invisionboard.com)
© Invision Power Services (http://www.invisionpower.com)