To Buy or Not to Buy?, 914 found Options

[Spider]

Hi All:

Been looking for a car to drive daily that get some mpgs. Found a nice RX-7 and a 944, then remembered a friend of mine has had a 914 for 20 years, garage kept the whole time. He takes it annually to a mechanic to see if it needs anything. Right now, won't start and they think it needs starter.

It is for sale. He asked me to "make offer". I don't know anything about these cars except for what I read here, so looking for a little help.

1972. Think it's original motor and F.I.. Said to run well, and I believe what they are telling me, but I would be buying it "as is" without hearing it run or driving it. They drove it about a tank of fuel's worth every summer for the last several years.

Obvious Problems:
Surface rust on back truck floor (think I could Por-15 it)
Rust bubbles on body, including under both door handles
The rear trunk hinge mounting tab is broken at the body. (Needs welded?)
Missing rubber pieces over bumpers (are there any decent used ones?)
Missing side marker lights
Repainted. Original color was orange. Repaint is lousy
Top of roof not smooth. (This bad paint or maybe a repro roof?)
Seats re-done in red velour (yuk!)
Needs starter or ?
Car shows 85k miles but ODO has been broken for 20 years.

Basically a 40 year old car that's never been restored.
What do you think it's worth?
These things sure look fun!
Thanks!

[pt_700]

while they do get good mpg's, not many would consider them daily drivers. that said, if you're comfortable depending on a 40 year old car for such duties, we bow down before you!

bumper tops can be found at local wrecking yards from time to time and i'm sure there will be some for sale in the classifieds here too. not really urgent, more cosmetic though. those in great condition can be quite expensive.

tops originally had the textured finish. sounds like the one you're looking at was just painted over.

all in all, not a bad sounding car (check for the rust issues rand mentioned). if you're mechanically inclined or can pay somebody to fix all the little things that need attention on an old car, go for it!

if there's not too much rust, see if they'll take a grand? someone else here recently got a decent one for $750! i recall paying $1000 for my '71 1.7 w/ very little rust (ca car) about 15 years ago. if it were running w/ little to no rust, it might be worth $2000-3000 or more.

[ripper911]

not many would consider them daily drivers.

Some of us do. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

I say, go buy a starter and slap it in there, takes about 3 minutes. Watch it run and look over everything, then buy it if it checks out.

Then drive the hell out of it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)