Original Cars:How many are still out there?, Where do you see the market in the future? Options

[914_7T3]

Didn't want to Hijack bbrocks thread on how certain mods may affect resale value, but it really got me thinking about future values on these cars and where the market may be heading.

http://914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=314860

I love that everyone has a different vision for their car and can go their own way. Some members such as Arne & myself are currently working on driver restos and others such as Larmo among others are deep into some serious 6 builds.

After having been to about a 1/2 dozen events, there is definitely serious interest in the 914 and this will bring prices up for good clean original cars. Not sure when or to what degree, but I have spoken with several PCar Collectors, expressing interest in "seriously getting one, but they're hard to find"

Good clean cars and NOS parts will become scarce and drive prices up.

What are your thoughts on values possibly starting to trend similar to the beginning of the run up on 356s and 911s?

I would also like to hear about how many of you have Concours quality 914s as I have not heard much about those cars in the forums.

[Tom_T]

The OP was asking about how many original 914s are out there:
"Original Cars:How many are still out there?"

So IMHO, preaching the virtues of a conversion, &/or how everyone else who has an original or is restoring one to it are just being stupid is OT in the former case, & just plain rude &inconsiderate in the latter case.

Yes, there is a place for conversions, resto-mods, etc. in the 914 community - & I've tried to encourage you folks with them in SoCal to show them off at our PCA Zone 8 Concours in either Display or Judged - & guess what - one actually won class at our OC Concours in June! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/first.gif)

However, it's gotten very tiring for the folks with the swollen gonads to always chime in that we originality fans are stupid .... that includes you Mark! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Fro me - my goal has always been to put my 73 2L back into the condition it was when new - before all the repaints (2 by OO &/or dealer, 2 by me); before theft of the Fuchs 2L alloys, fog lights/grills/switch & center console by the dealer; & to have it accurately represent both a period in automotive history, & in my personal history.

I worked hard & ate lots of PBJ & Mac-n-Cheese to pay for it in 75-79, I had many road going mempories in it, & courted my wife in it - so I have a personal connection to it. It may start out after resto as a garage queen, but then I will enjoy driving it!

So I really don't give a Flying F**k if somebody else on here thinks that I should drop a Subie, -6, V8, big-4, or whatever else that they want in theirs - into mine!

I enjoyed driving my 914 for 172K miles & a decade pretty much as original - with the addition of Koni shocks/inserts & a few other period tweaks, & had restored/refurbed it TWICE in that time, & only stopped cuz some ditz ran into it in a parking structure in 1985, & I've hung onto it since then with the intent to & collection of parts for & my work on it for a restoration.

THAT is my right! PERIOD! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

You folks really need to get over yourselves, & allow room for & respect the original 914 lovers, just as we do with you!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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[bbrock]

The OP was asking about how many original 914s are out there:
"Original Cars:How many are still out there?"

I just posted on the other thread that after owning 3 of these cars with tired suspensions and rusty shells, I just want the experience of driving the car as it was when it left the dealer. So count me as an originality guy and I think I made a mistake by tying my question on the other thread to resale value.

For me, I think Porsche designed a damn fine car here that has been way under-appreciated and I like the car for its strengths AND weaknesses. I think it's kind of funny that my Honda CRV could probably beat my Porsche in a straight sprint. The Honda can go just as fast too. But you know, I've driven 115 mph in both cars and one is "meh" and the other is "Whee!" I even like the windshield washer powered by the spare tire. It is just another of the many interesting quirks of the car. That doesn't mean I don't salivate over those wide body, muscular sixes? I do! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif)

So I'm hoping when I'm done with my resto, I can be counted as having an original. But my struggle on the other thread that sort of started this brew ha ha is more about defining/interpreting originality. To me, the perfect 914 is an original '73-'74 2.0L sold on the European market - higher compression, euro signals and no warts. But if I convert a US car to those specs, it's not original. If I buy a car in the US, ship it to Hamburg, and then convert to euro to meet local requirements, is it still not original? It's a philosophical question. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)