How many are out there today? Options

[mrdicb]

I'm stuck writing a research paper for school. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/sad.gif) Fortunatly I had the choice of my own topic, so what did I choose? The 914 of course.

So here's the bad part-- I can't seem to find some vital information about them. Hopefully someone here can hook me up with some info (paticurally with a reference I can list as a sourse)

How many 914's are there currently estimated in the US?

[nomore9one4]

There is only one and I have it! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif) I bet if you use the search area on this forum you will find all sorts of info. Some even useful! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/cool.gif)

[spare time toys]

Top of the page 914info should help. Good luck and stay in school (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/clap.gif)

[GWN7]

This was discussed before.....some feel that a figure of 50% of the nearly 90,000 that were shipped to North America survive in one shape or another. As to actuall cars that run or will run again someday I would venture to guess the number is a lot smaller.

There are 4,500 members registered here......some own 1, some own several.

On Ebay there on average of 20 cars per week, so 20 X 52 = 1040 car trade hands and of those how many are members here?

I'd guess that there are 20,000 cars in drivable or could be drivable shape left.

[mrdicb]

QUOTE (boboli914@att.net @ Nov 3 2005, 05:18 PM)

There is only one and I have it! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif) I bet if you use the search area on this forum you will find all sorts of info. Some even useful! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/cool.gif)

Then what is that in my garage? Yeah, I tried searching both this forum as well as google, but I can't get a specific estimate as to how many are currently out there.

spare time toys: Thanks, I checked that earlier and it verified the number I already had on the origional production numbers, but that doesn't tell me how many of those are still around.

[lapuwali]

This very topic has come up, in reply to exactly the same question.

There are complete production numbers available under 914 Info (top of the page), but there are no reliable figures on how many are actually in use. Part of the problem is definition. Do parts cars count? Do cars that have been on jackstands for the past 10 years count?

[mrdicb]

QUOTE (GWN7 @ Nov 3 2005, 05:37 PM)

This was discussed before.....some feel that a figure of 50% of the nearly 90,000 that were shipped to North America survive in one shape or another. As to actuall cars that run or will run again someday I would venture to guess the number is a lot smaller.

Thanks, That'll be the number I'll use for now, until someone can disprove it.

[Hammy]

Not as many as there should be.

[bondo]

Take the number of jackstands and divide by 4. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

[mrdicb]

QUOTE (lapuwali @ Nov 3 2005, 05:40 PM)

This very topic has come up, in reply to exactly the same question. There are complete production numbers available under 914 Info (top of the page), but there are no reliable figures on how many are actually in use. Part of the problem is definition. Do parts cars count? Do cars that have been on jackstands for the past 10 years count?

Well here's specifically my criteria:

My report is on what would be a more productive race series to sponsor, an all 914 series or an all Boxster series.

My conciderations are:

Availability of the car models
Cost of the cars for the racers
Cost of vehicle maintaince to the racers
Number of venues each car can perform in (AutoX, SCCA, NASA)
Number of potential racers for each car
Effect the cars will have on the series spectators

So the number I need would reflect the number of track worthy cars there are.

[GWN7]

QUOTE (mrdicb @ Nov 3 2005, 05:41 PM)

QUOTE (GWN7 @ Nov 3 2005, 05:37 PM) This was discussed before.....some feel that a figure of 50% of the nearly 90,000 that were shipped to North America survive in one shape or another. As to actuall cars that run or will run again someday I would venture to guess the number is a lot smaller. Thanks, That'll be the number I'll use for now, until someone can disprove it.

That figure includes parts yards such as AA's. Greg posted some pictures of about 50-75 cars that they have that will probably rust away before they see the road again and I'm sure that others can point out places that have almost that many cars. Rich Bontempi has probably that many cars parted out (not sure so don't quote me) from the pictures I have seen of his yard. Then there is Easy.....(no idea how many they have) Parts Haven? And there was a place that closed their doors a couple yrs ago who's name escapes me that had a ton of cars....

[grasshopper]

well, as long as the west coast people keep cutting up perfectly solid cars....just to cut them up...then there wont be many left soon (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/dry.gif)

[lapuwali]

I'd probably vote Boxster. I don't know the Boxster production figures off the top of my head, but I'd venture they've made more of them by now than 914s, and far fewer of them have been crashed into oblivion, and none of them have rusted into nothing.

Used Boxsters are under $15K now, and basically would require gutting, a cage, a hardtop, and tires to be an interesting racing car. The Boxster would appeal to a larger number of younger race fans. A 914 will be an unknown to many US racing fans, would attract no marketing help from Porsche, and in virtually any 914 you'd be looking at paint, some rust work, and a suspension rebuild, as well as gutting, a cage, and tires. The 914 would still be cheaper, but not by enough to matter, IMHO. You could also get more money for your prepped Boxster than your prepped 914 when it comes time to sell it.

[GWN7]

QUOTE (mrdicb @ Nov 3 2005, 05:49 PM)

QUOTE (lapuwali @ Nov 3 2005, 05:40 PM) This very topic has come up, in reply to exactly the same question. There are complete production numbers available under 914 Info (top of the page), but there are no reliable figures on how many are actually in use.   Part of the problem is definition.  Do parts cars count?  Do cars that have been on jackstands for the past 10 years count? Well here's specifically my criteria: My report is on what would be a more productive race series to sponsor, an all 914 series or an all Boxster series. My conciderations are: Availability of the car models Cost of the cars for the racers Cost of vehicle maintaince to the racers Number of venues each car can perform in (AutoX, SCCA, NASA) Number of potential racers for each car Effect the cars will have on the series spectators So the number I need would reflect the number of track worthy cars there are.

Well with 914's they are out of production and the field of available shells is lessened every year due to their age. But the available ones are still cheap enough that you can build a very competive car without a huge investment (ok a small huge investment) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif)

With Boxters they are still in production and the first few years models are coming down in price to the point where the average racer can afford to buy one and modify it to where they want. (my cousin just bought one, to race)

There used to be a guy who had posted in his tag line "The Boxsters are coming" (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

[Bleyseng]

I can't imagine there are anywhere near 15,000 cars left in any condition. Sure there is lots of them still around in Calif but elsewhere there is only a handful.

[914Sixer]

In the last 20 yrs I have probably taken apart and crushed 30 cars. I got rid of lots of stuff I wish I had now but there never seem to be enough room to store what you think you need. A large wearhouse would haveen sooo nice!

[SGB]

Perhaps it is different on that lefty coast (but not that I've seen when I've been there), but I've seen VERY VERY few on the road (or AX track even) around here. Only when I've gone to national level PCA events have I seen genuine road worthy examples driving real distances. So I think, using "road worthy"as a criteria at least, that there aren't that many left- only a few thousand, even counting streetable AX cars. I think it is a very interesting topic though. Even with 4000 members, how many are driving their 914s?

[jd74914]

QUOTE (grasshopper @ Nov 3 2005, 09:01 PM)

well, as long as the west coast people keep cutting up perfectly solid cars....just to cut them up...then there wont be many left soon (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/dry.gif)

yeah really (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/dry.gif)


I agree with about doing the boxster. as brad said "the boxsters are comming" they seem to be the way of the future (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/cool.gif)

[grasshopper]

QUOTE (914Sixer @ Nov 3 2005, 06:33 PM)

In the last 20 yrs I have probably taken apart and crushed 30 cars.

not trying to bash you or anything, but were any of these full out rust buckets, or could they have been restored.... it just makes me mad that people just make a decision that because it needs new floors, or a new jacking post, that it needs to be cut up..... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/mad.gif)

[mrdicb]

QUOTE (lapuwali @ Nov 3 2005, 06:02 PM)

I'd probably vote Boxster. I don't know the Boxster production figures off the top of my head, but I'd venture they've made more of them by now than 914s, and far fewer of them have been crashed into oblivion, and none of them have rusted into nothing. Used Boxsters are under $15K now, and basically would require gutting, a cage, a hardtop, and tires to be an interesting racing car. The Boxster would appeal to a larger number of younger race fans. A 914 will be an unknown to many US racing fans, would attract no marketing help from Porsche, and in virtually any 914 you'd be looking at paint, some rust work, and a suspension rebuild, as well as gutting, a cage, and tires. The 914 would still be cheaper, but not by enough to matter, IMHO. You could also get more money for your prepped Boxster than your prepped 914 when it comes time to sell it.

Unfortuantly, I think the final winner is going to be the Boxster aswell. I have concidered everything you have mentioned-- and have come to the same conclusions.

I think the biggest factor is going to be the "sexiness" of the series. I think boxsters will draw a bigger croud than 914s. Now I just need to prove that.

If you ask me, I'd rather race a 914 over a Boxster anyday. Infact, I AutoX my dad's 914 every week over my mom's boxster.