3,800 Mile 914 - Preservation Ideas, How to maintain low milage 914 Options

[914x2]

I’m looking for some advice on how to “preserve” a very low milage 914. The car has 3,800 miles on it. I purchased it from a Porsche collector who bought it at this auction:
https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/mo17/lots/r...porsche-914-18/

For background, I purchased my first 914 for $600 in the 80’s at age 14 with five years of lawn mowing savings. The car didn’t run, had a lot of damage and was riddle with rust. My father and I spent a couple years getting it running, repaired the rust and “restored” it. I’ve owned old Porsches ever since.

I drive all my cars and frowned upon the idea of just displaying them in a garage. However, I now find myself feeling a bit like a caretaker of this car as it is likely one of the most original examples in the wild. So, I’ve morphed into the “display it in the garage” guy with this one.

I am looking for advice on how best to keep it mechanically sound while limiting miles. It is in a climate-controlled garage (always has been) with fluids changes every year. I use ethanal free gas as did the previous owner and I am removing the gas every year by pumping it from this car into my wife’s SUV. I take it on a 10 mile drive every 6 months.

I’d appreciate thoughts on anything I should, or should not, be doing to achieve the goal of preserving the “originality” of this car while still exercising the mechanicals.

[JeffBowlsby]

Where in the US are you? (please edit your profile-City, State)

Some initial pointers:

1. Environment & Location

• Choose indoor, climate-controlled space: Store the car in a dry, well-ventilated garage or a specialized storage unit maintained around 50°F–60°F with low humidity (ideally 65–70% or lower) to prevent rust and condensation.
• Avoid concrete moisture: If parking on raw concrete, lay down a heavy-duty plastic vapor barrier or flooring mat to keep ground dampness from rising into the chassis.
• Use a breathable cover: Wash and wax the exterior thoroughly, then apply a soft, breathable indoor car cover. Avoid plastic tarps, which trap moisture and scratch paint.

2. Fluids & Fuel

• Change the engine oil: Replace the oil and filter right before storage to clear out acidic combustion byproducts that can pit engine bearings over time.
• Stabilize or drain the fuel:
• For storage under a year, fill the gas tank to roughly 95% capacity to minimize air space (reducing condensation) and mix in a quality fuel stabilizer like Sta-Bil, running the engine briefly to circulate it.
• For storage exceeding a year, completely drain the fuel system.

3. Tires & Brakes

• Prevent flat spots: Inflate your tires to the higher end of the recommended PSI (or around 40–45 PSI), or place the vehicle on jack stands (under the suspension control arms) or tire cradles to take the weight off the rubber.
• Disengage the parking brake: Leave the handbrake off (chock the wheels or leave the car in gear instead) to keep the brake pads or shoes from bonding or freezing to the rotors/drums.

4. Electrical & Interior

• Maintain the battery: Disconnect the ground cable or hook the battery up to a smart trickle charger/battery tender (like a CTEK or Battery Tender Plus) to prevent deep discharge.
• Deter pests: Place clean rags, steel wool, or mesh covers over the exhaust pipe and air intake to block critters, and use non-toxic or enclosed cabin moisture absorbers/baking soda inside the car (avoid leaving open food or loose traps that attract mice).
• Skip frequent idle warm-ups: Do not start the car every week or two for a few minutes; short runs build up corrosive condensation inside the exhaust and engine without getting hot enough to burn off moisture.

[mepstein]

Hand it off to a museum.

I'm still trying to take in the idea of buying one of the most fun road cars ever made to not drive it. I'm always telling our customers that their cars deteriorate from not driving them.

But that said, (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)

[914x2]

Thank you JeffBowlsby. I am new to the forum and will make sure to update the profile to location setting.

The car is in Michigan in a climate controlled garage (heat and AC) designed for cars storage and currently on a lift. I'm currently doing all the things you recommend with the exception of a few of your very good suggestions. I had not thought to put some baking soda in the car and over-inflate the tires, great idea.

Also I have the emergency brake engaged, that is coming off tomorrow, thanks for the suggestion.

Dave

[914x2]

@ mepstein

Yes, the Porsche Museum folks in Stuttgart reached out and that might end up as it's ultimate home at some point.

I agree, they should be driven. As I stated above this one has me more as a caretaker of a unique reference vehicle. I've always drove my old cars as much as possible....at 57 a lot of miles on have been put on old porsches. The current plan is to preserve this one.

[JeffBowlsby]

@914x2

I recall this car from many years ago, it was owned by a gent here in the SF bay area. 100% sure its the same car. It had ~2,000 mi on it at that time. Compare the details of my photos with your car. Drivers side front wheel weights, the black adhesive residue on the engine bay firewall pad pass side and others, same-same. Sorry I have no contact for him, nor recall his name.

He sent me photos then, posted to my page here: https://bowlsby.net/914/Classic/Exceptional914s.htm

It is listed as "Sunflower Yellow" (apparently incorrectly. Same color, but Sunflower name was 1973-74, Summer name was 1975-76) a VIN. It did not have the side stripes at the time, and it did have AC, in fact I recall him telling me that he was going to carefully remove the A/C from the car. Any telltale indications the car had A/C at one time? Front trunk floor, unused open holes (or with plugs) in the chassis here and there, passenger side engine tin pieces original looking?

For unknown reasons there were several yellow '75 1.8L cars from the bay area back then, even a couple from the 1976 model year (calendar 1975 Q4) those that I know about (on same webpage above) are very low mileage original cars.

Wish I had the exceptional photos of this exceptional 914 as are on the Sothebys page.

[wonkipop]

@914x2



It is listed as "Sunflower Yellow" (apparently incorrectly. Same color, but Sunflower name was 1973-74, Summer name was 1975-76) a VIN. It did not have the side stripes at the time, and it did have AC, in fact I recall him telling me that he was going to carefully remove the A/C from the car. Any telltale indications the car had A/C at one time? Front trunk floor, unused open holes (or with plugs) in the chassis here and there, passenger side engine tin pieces original looking?

jeff - one indication i can see of the former AC is the relocation of the ECU to the rear firewall of the engine bay. every 1.8 i have seen that has the original AC system seems to have required the L jet ECU to be shifted from its original position beside the battery. most often dealers seem to have placed it above and near its original position on the passenger side firewall. other aspects of the AC that involved modifying the cooling tin apron appear to have been rectified back to original.


@914x2 - its an exquisite car. and belongs, one day, in the porsche museum in stuttgart.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[JeffBowlsby]

@914x2



It is listed as "Sunflower Yellow" (apparently incorrectly. Same color, but Sunflower name was 1973-74, Summer name was 1975-76) a VIN. It did not have the side stripes at the time, and it did have AC, in fact I recall him telling me that he was going to carefully remove the A/C from the car. Any telltale indications the car had A/C at one time? Front trunk floor, unused open holes (or with plugs) in the chassis here and there, passenger side engine tin pieces original looking?

jeff - one indication i can see of the former AC is the relocation of the ECU to the rear firewall of the engine bay. every 1.8 i have seen that has the original AC system seems to have required the L jet ECU to be shifted from its original position beside the battery. most often dealers seem to have placed it above and near its original position on the passenger side firewall. other aspects of the AC that involved modifying the cooling tin apron appear to have been rectified back to original.


@914x2 - its an exquisite car. and belongs, one day, in the porsche museum in stuttgart.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

Right-on, good catch. How did I miss that ECU location? The D-Jet ECUs get moved to the front firewall.

[wonkipop]

I’m looking for some advice on how to “preserve” a very low milage 914. The car has 3,800 miles on it. I purchased it from a Porsche collector who bought it at this auction:
https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/mo17/lots/r...porsche-914-18/

For background, I purchased my first 914 for $600 in the 80’s at age 14 with five years of lawn mowing savings. The car didn’t run, had a lot of damage and was riddle with rust. My father and I spent a couple years getting it running, repaired the rust and “restored” it. I’ve owned old Porsches ever since.

I drive all my cars and frowned upon the idea of just displaying them in a garage. However, I now find myself feeling a bit like a caretaker of this car as it is likely one of the most original examples in the wild. So, I’ve morphed into the “display it in the garage” guy with this one.

I am looking for advice on how best to keep it mechanically sound while limiting miles. It is in a climate-controlled garage (always has been) with fluids changes every year. I use ethanal free gas as did the previous owner and I am removing the gas every year by pumping it from this car into my wife’s SUV. I take it on a 10 mile drive every 6 months.

I’d appreciate thoughts on anything I should, or should not, be doing to achieve the goal of preserving the “originality” of this car while still exercising the mechanicals.

its an interesting dilemma to have.

i have a 48,000 mile car. it was 34K when i bought it in 89.
i had it laid up for 16 years due to the average difficulties of life and its torments.
in the last 6-7 years i have clocked up 4K miles since recommissioning.

but its not in the league of your car.

whatever its worth as advice.
i drive mine probably at most once a month.
and when i take it out i make sure i drive it for at least an hour minimum.
and i get it warm. and once its warm i give it a damn good thrashing.
if i can. because life is short and the 914 is FUN in capital letters.

point. don't let it sit around for too long between drives. its bad for all the juicy bits.
and when you drive make sure the drive is not TOO SHORT because that is bad too.

i had an interesting problem just this last sunday.
half way through the drive the gear shift went spastic.
i was lucky to get it back to the workshop.
i had to fumble around at a set of lights for about 5 minutes trying to find a gear.
eventually found second and eased it off. you got to love that tourqey stump pulling type 4 engine. yesterday got it up on the hoist and pulled the shift rod.
the bushing at the firewall had completely turned to fragmented crumbling dust.
fortunately our "race department" here has a whole bag of 911 shift bushings.
go straight in. and i am back up and running.
so yes cars may have 3K miles on them but materials have 50 years of expended life.
bear that in mind on a jaunt in your time warp machine. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer3.gif)

in the end you still got to maintain them. and maintaining them is preserving them.

[wonkipop]

@914x2



It is listed as "Sunflower Yellow" (apparently incorrectly. Same color, but Sunflower name was 1973-74, Summer name was 1975-76) a VIN. It did not have the side stripes at the time, and it did have AC, in fact I recall him telling me that he was going to carefully remove the A/C from the car. Any telltale indications the car had A/C at one time? Front trunk floor, unused open holes (or with plugs) in the chassis here and there, passenger side engine tin pieces original looking?

jeff - one indication i can see of the former AC is the relocation of the ECU to the rear firewall of the engine bay. every 1.8 i have seen that has the original AC system seems to have required the L jet ECU to be shifted from its original position beside the battery. most often dealers seem to have placed it above and near its original position on the passenger side firewall. other aspects of the AC that involved modifying the cooling tin apron appear to have been rectified back to original.


@914x2 - its an exquisite car. and belongs, one day, in the porsche museum in stuttgart.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

Right-on, good catch. How did I miss that ECU location? The D-Jet ECUs get moved to the front firewall.

c'mon mate - you are an architect too. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
we got a sharp eye for detail, or at least thats the idle boast. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[914x2]

@JeffBowlsby

Thank you very much for this background. Yes, indeed this is the car! I’ll print out your post and place it in the “historical folder.”

Note, I did not buy it from the SF owner you met. Rather, I purchased it less than a year ago from the person who bought it at the Sotheby’s auction. That owner put about 400 miles on it.

[914x2]

*wonkipop

I couldn't agree more. I don’t plan to “pickle” it but rather keep it running and mechanically sound. I work on a lot of old cars and they all have their own quirks relative to use.

Essentially my dilemma is should I drive it spiritedly twice a year for 10 miles (after a long heat-up period) or three times? Or perhaps twice a year for 20 miles? Again, the primary goal is to keep it exercised while minimizing miles.

[JeffBowlsby]

I have a friend who is caretaker to a small collection of fine cars, and he takes them each out for a short ride on a scheduled basis about once a month to keep them humming.

[914x2]

I want that job!