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Posted by: abbott295 Mar 10 2007, 07:50 PM

My son just wrecked our '73 2.0 carbureted yesterday. Flipped it on its top, roll bar/rear window frame did its job, protected him, except for his arm getting caught under it. Arm not broken, landed in the dirt. But what do I do with the car? The owner of the tow service/salvage yard will be giving me a bid on it Monday. There is already a $125 towing charge for picking it up. $75 would get it delivered home. All the sheet metal is damaged, except maybe the rear trunk lid, car had rust issues before and engine had oil consumption issues also. But it was fun to drive. Anyone got any advice? What do I hope for from him, what could I hope for parting it out, any other options?

Edit: I have plenty of pictures, but they are too large to post. How can I make them smaller?


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Posted by: Vacca Rabite Mar 10 2007, 07:56 PM

if it is that bad, get alot of info together top give to your insurance. Have the car totalled for as much as you can, and get a new one.

If you want to re-build, buythe car back (pennies on the dollar) and put the good stuff on a rust free tub imported from CA ro somehting.

Zach

Posted by: scotty b Mar 10 2007, 08:00 PM

Contact Barry Fuller (grasshopper) he is in your area and maybe interested in it for parts.

Posted by: Johny Blackstain Mar 10 2007, 08:00 PM

Glad to hear the boy is OK. You need to assess the mechanicals of the car, as well as the body. Probably would help if you posted pics. Anyway, if your mechanicals are all sound & the body is gone, find another 914 & start swapping. If you're not up for it you can always sell her as a unit or part her out. All depends on your budget, desire, ability, location, etc. Good luck.

Posted by: Bleyseng Mar 10 2007, 08:06 PM

How in the world did he get it upside down?????

Posted by: sww914 Mar 10 2007, 08:20 PM

Pound it out, strip the comfortable stuff out of it and turn it into a racecar.

Posted by: rick 918-S Mar 10 2007, 08:56 PM

First, Glad the boy is ok. Second, How did he get it up side down?? and third, get some picks. And oh ya,

Posted by: GWN7 Mar 10 2007, 08:58 PM

Good to hear your son is ok.....

Insurance?

Most 914's have $600+ worth of parts on them. Depending on their shape condishion. Saying that you have to be prepared to take the parts off and sell/ship them. That in itself can be a chore.

Depending on the amount of damage you might be able to repair it.

If that is not a option (too far damaged/rust issues) then you might want the car brought home and use it as a leaning curve project for yourself & your son. Your into it for $200 brought home. So if you end up parting it out you will be ahead of the game by selling the parts to offset the replacement cost of another car.

Here I have a rule. If your driving it and it breaks, your responcible for repairing it. This applys to things that are borrowed/lent. In this case replaceing it would be applicable.

The tow guy will prob offer you $200 for the car & the tow bill.

My advise is have it brought home and you & your son work on it to take it apart (if it's not repairable). This way you both will learn how they are put together. The money generated from the sale of the parts can be put towards the replacement cost of the car that replaces it.

Posted by: abbott295 Mar 10 2007, 11:59 PM

To turn a 914 upside down, first you give the keys to a 20 year old and always tell him to drive carefully.

He was coming home from college, about an hour away, by the back roads and entered a curve too fast, braked late into the curve. There is a side road that goes off the outside of the curve and slopes down. He probably got a little over the edge into the negative bank of the curve and started to slide, tried to correct, fishtailed apparently, slid somewhat sideways off the road after the intersection where there was a steep ditch, though not deep, but that probably stopped the tires from sliding sideways, but the momentum carried the car on over. It's really not that hard.

No we don't have collision coverage on this, no one else involved, no witnesses, but very helpful passers-by got him out and notified me. I paid $1500 for it about 3 years ago, so the loss is not great, but I would like to minimize it if possible.

In this picture, the 914 ended up just beyond the little car there (Nissan NX) under the trees. You may be able to make out some skid marks as it was getting sidways the last time and heading for the trees.

Not real keen on having another project, I have plenty of projects and he is a college student who spends his summer doing drum and bugle corps.

Thanks for all the responses.




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Posted by: So.Cal.914 Mar 11 2007, 12:20 AM

I am a little confused on the story( how in the hell) but what is important is your

boy is OK. I've only seen a few that had been all the way over. If your not into

swapping out tubs then I (as mentioned above) would sell off the parts on evilbay

and here (give us the first crack) and buy another one. And this time do like alot

of us do, get one that 'Sits' but dosen't know 'Rollover'.

Posted by: Brando Mar 11 2007, 12:54 PM

If nothing under the car is destroyed (suspension wise) cut the windshield frame off and the rollbar, weld in a cage and race it, strip the interior.

Posted by: rmital Mar 11 2007, 04:12 PM

....just curious, which corp?

Posted by: alpha434 Mar 11 2007, 04:51 PM

That car looks fine. Just a weekend driver, yeah?

I'm with Brando. The windshield is (mostly) cut off for you. Same with the targa. Piu l'una rollcage e finito! Replace the windshield with a minimalist lexan piece. Replace all the quarters with fiberglass. Quarters are readily available in either slopenose W/O flares or with the frogeyes AND flares. Or slopenose with flares. BUT NOT frogeye w/o flares. But that's what the club is for. Who's got quarters? Same with hoods, and all. You can really race the thing up. Make it REALLY fun on the weekends. And for not a huge amount of money.

It's not a loss at all. It's an oppurtunity.

P.S. Dibs on the engine. What's shipping to 80209?

Posted by: alpha434 Mar 11 2007, 04:55 PM

Also, did he flip coming over that hill, towards the cameraman, or going away from him?

Much respect for any 20 year old with enough balls to go THAT fast. Yeeouzaaa!!!!

Posted by: Mid_Engine_914 Mar 11 2007, 05:10 PM

I think your son was very lucky. From the damage to the car it looks like he could have been seriously hurt. I'd love to see some more pictures of the car from various angles. You can download http://www.irfanview.com/ for free and it's really easy to resize pics by just clicking on >Image >Resize on the toolbar.

Posted by: BMXerror Mar 11 2007, 05:28 PM

Plenty of people have the balls to go that fast... but very few have the brains to know what to do with all that speed, and when not to use it. It's still a public street.
Glad your boy is alright.
Mark D.

Posted by: GWN7 Mar 11 2007, 05:28 PM

There is also http://www.faststone.org/ to use for resizing pictures.

Posted by: TimT Mar 11 2007, 05:42 PM

This one is an add on for windows.. All you do is right click on an image, and the menu will open and there is an option to resize pictures..

Seanery posted this awhile back.. and I just found it and added it to one of my laptops.

scroll down and install Image Resizer...

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

Posted by: Vacca Rabite Mar 11 2007, 07:08 PM

There are easily $1500 worth of parts on that car, if you part it.

Sell them here or on Ebay. There are several vultures here (like myself) restoring these cars that can make use of the deceased.

Zach

Posted by: Andyrew Mar 11 2007, 08:34 PM

I would not repair the chassis. I would part it out like said above and either get another chassis to transfer the parts over to, or get another running car and sell the parts.

Andrew

Posted by: abbott295 Mar 11 2007, 08:37 PM

Thanks everyone for your input, suggestions and experessions of, I don't know what to call it, concern, relief or whateever that Peter is all right. He is already using the arm again, although with some pain limiting some movements of the hand, mostly and didn't even bother getting the prescription for pain medicine.

Drum corps: He is in Spirit from JSU, Jacksonville, Alabama. What's yours? His brother was in Phantom Regiment last year and again this year. Going for No. 1!

I'm leaning toward keeping the car unless the salvage guy offers me $500 net or better even though I don't have time for another project or racing. I'm thinking of looking for another driveable one and cannibalize this as needed, if needed. My other fun car (1975 BMW 1502, a european model) came with a lot of parts but I have hardly needed to use any in 4 years.

In the second picture, the sharper part of the curve is behind the photographer and the car came from that direction and ended up just past the NX and I'm sorry but that isn't the picture that you can see skid marks in. And speaking of pictures, I know how to type and edit my typing, but I let Peter put in pictures and he's back to school now and is thinking he'll be driving the Bimmer when he's ready to get back in the saddle. Hmmmm...

Does that catch up on most of the questions so far?

Posted by: rick 918-S Mar 11 2007, 08:57 PM

914's and Bimmers!


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Posted by: cooltimes Mar 11 2007, 09:09 PM

As others, I am glad your son is not hurt bad. Sometimes it takes the smaller edge of driving and an accident to keep us from being in a worse one later.
Your description of what you did with the 914 before this accident says you really enjoy just having one to drive. Working on one that is heavily damaged and has an engine that you said isn't in the best of mechanical order say look at another rather than peck around on one damagwed like that. The chrome bumpers are worth abot $300 if they didn't get damaged which may suggest you part it out but having to deal with it is not worth doing for the money you would get.
Look in the classified here at 914world. Parts. Then access what you think is good on yours that you can sell. If you can't do better than twice the price of the offer for your car, sell it to someone that has a 914 here on the 914world for the same price you are offered by the tow person. The goodwill will return itself time and again.
914's are not expensive to buy. Just expensive to make it a daily driver cream puff that everyone wants. Look around. There is probably another 914 waiting for you at about $1500 to $2500 that will put you right back where you were before the accident. Good luck.
Look at my web page. Mine does all the same things yours did and I still keep it until I can get some help to fix the leaky push rod tube seals. Want to fix those leaks on mine, I'll sell it to YOU for $1600 CASH AS IS but you will have to pick it up.

Mike Cooley
Oakfield TN
http://members.rennlist.com/mikecool/

Posted by: abbott295 Mar 12 2007, 04:55 AM

You indicate your 914 isn't highway reliable. What problems do you thinkit has? I think we had just changed a caliper to get this one to that point. Peter was starting to get his mechanical abilities started with this. Small steps for starters, but this is how we get them involved, yes?

And how much are five Fuchs wheels worth? But I think some have some scratches or possibly more damage. I don't have them to look at fight now, but I thought they still looked useable.

Posted by: Vacca Rabite Mar 12 2007, 11:11 AM

4 Lugs worth between 300 - 600 depending on how bad they are scratched.
Well, okay, 0 - 600 damage dependant.

If they are 5 lug, more.

Zach

Posted by: cooltimes Mar 12 2007, 11:18 AM

I have no idea about mine other than it does run. I paid $1500 plus $300 to get it trailed here from Texas. It has sat mostly since I discovered "again" I am not a mechanic but just an old 71 year old retired machinist. I make machines from scratch, not repair them after John Screwitallup has neglected it for years.

I really am not trying to sell you my 914 but I will if you want it just as it sits. I am just suggesting they are there at those prices mentioned but will sell mine if you are up to the task of doing lots of minor works to make it reliable enough to take off down a highway. Around here, that would be dumb since there isn't anyone around that would help me get it back home except one of those tow truck jockeys adding cost to the paid for price.

Talk in these 914 places says different, but usually the talk is BS when you live in a rural area, not the western part of the USA, and nobody around for miles has one of these Porsche 914's disguised by a VW stamped on it.

Fuchs are cool even with some scratches. Start at $150 per the set if scratched are scratches, not gouged, and upward to $300 for the normal shiny set including the lug bolts. Make your sales a local pickup and you'll be doing a long wait but shipping does slap the crap out of your efforts selling to far away places. Get your money any way you can but be long winded in your descriptions. Some will nit pick even though they don't intend to buy even a cheesehead screw.

As far as teaching the kids they probably know more than most parents about these cars. My son is my example. He knew more about the wiring problems than most on here when he was 14. Problem was he just didn't want to share that with me or anyone else but give them the key to any car and they will get it running, burn a few tanks of gas and then break something that cost money so they walk away and find something more dependable. My son is now too busy and lives in a different city so I don't ask help from him.

These cars are not the best thing to attract girls who prefer to have ac and a comfortable ride. Some like the weird attraction of men who think these 914's are special and maybe these women think they will look special too. Thank GOD I met my wife before getting one of these.
BTW, these comments are my own opinion. I don't lie well so I tell exactly how I think. Remember. The only one that cares what you think is yourself.
Good luck

Posted by: abbott295 Mar 12 2007, 07:46 PM

My kids never showed any interest in learning anything mechanical until after learning to drive, so he's just starting. But he actually wired in a starter button by himself and was trying the caliper. Both of the boys learned to drive stick in the Bimmer. Porsche came after. My wife has actually suggested finding a replacement 914. I'm not stuck on that; there are so many fun cars out there, but I think any roadster would have to have a rollbar before it went very far. Even the NX is a fun drive.

Posted by: Andyrew Mar 12 2007, 10:02 PM

I have learned that most teenagers dont really give a hoot about cars untill they actually start driving.
I was a rare case.. started learning things when I was really young.. heck I learned some darn good sbc combo's from some of the best game/simulators out there..

Theres lots of good cars out there.. The 914 happens to be the one most us chose to spend time with!

Posted by: jd74914 Mar 12 2007, 11:08 PM

I have loved cars since I was little, but the real passion comes from most with a license.

I'm not sure what you are thinking of for a replacement car, btu I do have to say that I have been dissatisfied with every NSX I have been in. Their lack of trunk space really gets me too

Posted by: abbott295 Mar 13 2007, 06:10 AM

This is an NX, not NSX. I think they are differnt cars.

Posted by: jd74914 Mar 13 2007, 08:59 AM

Ah, I read that too fast. Nissan . . . interesting.

Posted by: cooltimes Mar 13 2007, 10:23 AM

My son had those same game inspirations as well. The outlets we provide our kids in early years is a history lesson they never forget but as always, the 914 was somewhere in their early need for speed background.

Posted by: abbott295 Mar 13 2007, 05:55 PM

Okay. Thanks for all the input. I haven't heard from the salvage yard yet, so there is time to run another idea past you all again.

What does anyone think of getting the windshield fixed and the bent back wheel (Peter may post some more pictures soon), attempt to straighten the rollbar and keep driving it.

I see someone else is asking for advice also on a wrecked 914.

Posted by: jd74914 Mar 13 2007, 06:30 PM

Go for it. I would cut off the windshield frame, have a new one welded on, then fix the roll bar and drive.

Posted by: effutuo101 Mar 13 2007, 06:53 PM

I love the picture of Malibu Gran Prix with the 914 in the back ground.
Chris

Posted by: cooltimes Mar 13 2007, 07:20 PM

Yes that was one of our 914's back in about 79 or 80. I had six of them sitting at home and at a farm just as nice as that background 914. I dropped the photo into this thread because we got a little off "wrecked it" subject and started talking about the kids.
We teach them what we like and sometimes that is not exactly what they have in their own mind. My picture of the Malibu Gran Prix was showing my son's being inspired by the racer he sat in and his inherited from me, curosity, looking around to see how it functioned.
The guy never would have let us in the gate if we hadn't cruised up in the 914. They hadn't even opened the Malibu GP business for business since they were prepping up for opening day that coming week end. The 914 impressed the guy just as much as the racer impressed my son. He took my kid around the track a few times and we returned the favor by letting him whiz the 914 around.
In a way this fits the thread since it looks like the state of the accident brought some closer attention of driver and son just as the racer pix shows my pride.

As I always do, I will delete the pix after the subject hits middle of 2nd page so snag a copy.

Posted by: carambola Mar 13 2007, 08:12 PM

i looks to me like your man hung it out a bit too far this time. turn this one into a cheap racecar (if there is such a beast) and get a replacement. just a thought

Posted by: GWN7 Mar 13 2007, 11:40 PM

Finding the parts to fix it up shouldn't be a problem. Window frame, Windshield, targa bar, targa top?. A couple front turnsignal buckets & lenses is all I can see from the one picture posted.

To get a better idea of what it needs and the damage, we would need to see more pictures (sides, at angles and rear).

Posted by: HeavyHeavy Mar 13 2007, 11:50 PM

Well I can say I know more or less what you are going
through. Depending on what happens with mine, I might have
a car for you to fix up (the turquoise colored one from my
post I mean).

Posted by: abbott295 Mar 14 2007, 03:17 PM

Here are some more pictures.


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Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Mar 14 2007, 03:22 PM

this car would be easy to repair and the parts damaged cheap to buy, but the car looks a little rough to spend the time repairing and then restoring

Posted by: Mid_Engine_914 Mar 14 2007, 07:48 PM

The roll bar held up well.

Posted by: John Mar 14 2007, 08:46 PM

Without going through it in any detail (there really is no detail shown), I think the worst part is the driver side rear. Is the trailing arm bent or is the suspension console broken/torn off. (This would be my determining factor to repair this car cheaply.)

If the trailing arm is what is bent, new ones are cheap. If the suspension console (part of the frame rail that the trailing arm bolts to) is ripped off/broken, you should leave that repair to an expert and would be somewhat expensive.

If it were mine (and I have no spare money to spend), I would take out some hammers and get the fenders and doors as close as I could. I would bend the windshield frame back into place and see how bad it really is (they can be cut off and replaced). I possess enough parts to put that one back together, so if it were mine I would rebuild it myself.

It's not mine and I have 2 tubs to reassemble some day.

Whatever you decide to do, there are still some parts on that car worth something:

bumpers and rubber tops
wheels
rear turn signal lenses
interior parts
engine
transmission
axles

the list goes on.

Just don't give it away.

just my $0.02

Posted by: McMark Mar 14 2007, 11:22 PM

I'm from the land of 914s, but it looks too far gone for repair. You're going to have everything replaced before you're done. I'm glad to see the safety of these cars helped protect your son. I'm sure he's learned a little something about speed. Lots of good parts there. Part it out or swap them over to a good chassis.

Posted by: cooltimes Mar 15 2007, 02:11 AM

How is your son doing now? Ok we all hope.
I noticed that driver side rear wheel turned in too. I think the least amount that would have to be spent would be over $4K to get it back to where it was. After seeing these latest photos, thank God your son was in a 914 because any other car would have not protected him as your 914 did.
Buy another one. There are plenty that won't cost as much as to repair one in that condition. Keep your 914 if you can because you can always use or sell the parts. Those are some nice looking Fuchs and a chrome bumpered 914 looks better too IMHO.

Posted by: jeeperjohn56 Mar 15 2007, 06:11 AM

Sorry to here about your car, glad your son is alright.If you part out would like a price on front bumper
with rubber top also how`s the shape of the targa pad under the roll bar is it in good shape with no cracks? Thanks John

Posted by: abbott295 Mar 15 2007, 06:13 AM

I heard from Peter a couple of days ago. He was starting to get more use of his hand, (piano class) reported little muscle pain, but the skin burn was causing some discomfort. Skin burn, rug burn, mat burn, whatever indicates he may have slid a little on it. I also want to mention that he was wearing his seatbelt and that certainly helped also.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I called the salvage yard yesterday and the owner had had to go out of town on Monday for a funeral and wasn't back yet, so that is why I don't have his bid yet, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to keep it and get it on the road and not worry about the dents.

And y'all be careful out there. I don't want anyone else having an accident, on the road or at home or at work.

Posted by: greybeard50 Mar 15 2007, 01:00 PM

Check out where the boy plays at: http://www.spiritdrumcorps.org/
Wow! I hope you are proud parents! I am glad to hear that you boy came through OK & maybe learned a bit of applied physics in the bargain.

I really do not have an opinion on the best way to proceed...I have plenty of projects myself & some days I think it would be mentally healthier if I limited them to 1 or 2.

However, I do know the outcome of being slow played by the Towing company...you must be very careful or your "storage fees" will eat up any equity you thought you had.

You know and I know that piece of property 12 ft by 8 ft would be there whether your car was occupying it or not. The towing co. does not look at it like that. 10 days storage at $75 per day is $750 will you be paying in cash or with a credit card???

Posted by: shadygrady Mar 15 2007, 06:27 PM

Glad to hear Peter is getting along fine. I didn't think about storage fees piling up. I am in the area and do have a trailer, if you need one. Pm me if you need help getting it home to save storage fees.

Posted by: abbott295 Mar 15 2007, 07:25 PM

No, he said they would not charge storage which would normally be $20 a day. Didn't hear from him today, so I need to call tomorrow.

I won't know the situation with the driver side rear wheel until I can get it home and take a look at it. That appears to be what caught on something and stopped sliding and started the flip. Don't know how the passenger side got scraped though.

Is there a prize for Ugliest 914? I've gotten 'Dead Dirty Last' twice with my Bimmer at Peachtree Chapter BMWCCA's concours. Pardon my French. Concourse? Doesn't look right either way.

Posted by: cooltimes Mar 15 2007, 11:28 PM

Driver telling you doesn't hold water. I would get with Grady and get that 914 off that lot as quick as possible. This happened on the 9th and tomorrow, Friday is the 16. That $120 at least plus their charge to pick it up.

I wouldn't believe anything unless the price was in writing and signed by the owner of that wrecker service. We live in a different world and not too long ago, you could believe what most Southerners said but sad to say, not any more. Get it now.

Posted by: abbott295 Mar 16 2007, 05:57 AM

Y'all are such cynics. Isn't anyone naive like me anymore? It was the owner who told me they would not charge storage, but yes. it is time to get it out and get it under cover.

Posted by: greybeard50 Mar 16 2007, 09:44 AM

Cynic is such a harsh word...worldly wise may say it better without the "bite". I grew up in a community in north central Indiana where every male the age of your Dad was a WWII vet & grandpa's were from WWI. Everyone knew you & if you needed to get your ass kicked there were enough "Dad's" around to see that you learned your lesson. Heck, we usually had more adults at our Boy Scout campouts than kids!

Why the long story? If my 55 Chevy stopped for any reason, I could walk to the next house & get help. Several times the farmer would just tell me to fire up this or that tractor & drag 'er in to the barn lot & I could pick it up whenever I could get back.

The Shop teacher at school would help getting it fired back up & off I would go to BBall practice or to see Mary Ann. At any given time, there were about 70 High School Males with driver's licenses in the area & I'm guessing my situation was not unique. We all relied on one another.

BTW, when the farmer called & asked for help putting up the hay crop, I went gladly. When the Shop teachers house burned, I helped re-build it gladly.

Unfortunately, this same situation was not available to my kids. The school was much bigger, families were not as close, farming was done by strangers, etc. AND once (just once) I got bit by the Tow/ Storage dog.

Posted by: abbott295 Mar 16 2007, 08:21 PM

I grew up in a similar time and place and still haven't outgrown that way of looking at people. I still find that they pretty much live up to your expectations. Piedmont, Alabama may still be like that. People stopped to help get Peter out of the car and one of the ladies called me to tell me he had been in an accident and where she thought he had been taken and the ambulance that was used and where the car was likely towed to and asked to be informed about his injuries and all. I called her several times that night to get more information and to let her know what I was finding out.