"New" 914. Is it worth restoring? Options

[Lemmonhead]

New member to the 914 world. I just bought this car yesterday as a project car for me and my son and now wondering if I may have bitten off more than I can chew. I am mechanically inclined and do most of the mechanical work on the cars I have owned but this may be a little more than my pay grade. I have never welded or done body work.
It is a 1972.
I purchased it from an older lady for $1000, it belonged to her son who passed away about 5 years ago. She needed the money and I initially thought it would be a good project. It has been sitting in the elements and baking in the hot sun of Las Vegas for the last 5 years, so every piece of rubber and the interior is shot. The engine is there but I have no idea what condition it is in. She thought it may have ran when it was parked but is unsure. No keys to the car.
We are on a budget and would like to bring the car back to a daily driver status. What do you all think?

She tried to cover the car with tarp and tape it down with duct tape but that didn't last long.

[JoeDees]

I think it really depends on the condition of the longs and what you expect out of it. There's plenty there for you to make a profit parting it out, but it may not be completely out of the question to make a good driver. I think one can nearly always expect to buy all new rubber for a 40 year old car. 914 rubber's seat and carpet kits isn't that expensive. If the engine isn't too bad you can get that going without much problem. Redoing the brake system isn't overly expensive. And if the body is rather straight and you're willing to do a garage paint job with Tractor Supply paint that's not too expensive either. Really it all comes down to rust and what you want on the finished end on if it's worth the money.

[lcjo73914]

I think it really depends on the condition of the longs and what you expect out of it. There's plenty there for you to make a profit parting it out, but it may not be completely out of the question to make a good driver. I think one can nearly always expect to buy all new rubber for a 40 year old car. 914 rubber's seat and carpet kits isn't that expensive. If the engine isn't too bad you can get that going without much problem. Redoing the brake system isn't overly expensive. And if the body is rather straight and you're willing to do a garage paint job with Tractor Supply paint that's not too expensive either. Really it all comes down to rust and what you want on the finished end on if it's worth the money.

I agree