Gifted 914/6, help!, I now need to care and feed a classic car, what do I need to know and do? Options

[Aaronski1974]

Hi all, I’m hoping you can offer your wisdom. My grandfather and uncle raced this car in 71-73 in northern California and now I’m in charge of it. I really want to honor my grandfathers legacy and take care of the car, and also drive it and have fun. Here’s what I know so far:
1970 914/6 was purchased used from a dj in LA in 71-72.
Grandpa and Uncle re-jetted the carbs and replaced the cams(unsure if this was swapped back)
They raced it at Leguna Seca
33k miles on it.
Garaged it’s entire life
Rebuilt in 2003
Last driven 5 years ago.

I visited family who currently have it to see what needs to be done to get it back on the road and found:
No rust, one small paint chip that’s been patched, no critter damage, completely original to the early 70’s. Checked around the battery and there’s no corrosion.
My plan is keep it at my families house in their garage in Cali. I live in Hawaii and it eats cars, so sadly I can’t take it home with me. What do I need to do to get it back to drivable?

Change oil
Inspect air filter
Check and likely replace tires
Insurance!
What else?


Thanks,
Aaron

[technicalninja]

I'd be damn careful with that.
So many members on here have one that non-stock stuff got installed on and those members are usually trying to take it back to stock in any way they can.

You really need a 914 specialist to oversee that resurrection.

Depending on what was done back in 03 I'd want every fluid, every filter, all rubber products, all cables, all know weaknesses inspected/replaced.

20 years is enough time on rebuilt brake products to rebuild them again, and PBR probably didn't do the first rebuild so re-plating most likely wasn't done in 03.
For a real 914/6 I'd do some research on the "hue" of the original cad plating and try my hardest to re-create it.

I'd keep everything I took off of it until I was absolutely sure it had no value and could be trashed.

I'd drain and inspect the fuel tank (internal inspection!) and either have it repaired or replace it. Entire fuel system needs serious inspection. Carb rebuild/linkage re-plating.

I'd also heavily document everything that was done now and hopefully the rebuild in 03 was also documented. A repair order is not good enough. Lots of pictures, parts receipts.
Commonly a restorer makes a loose leaf binder that he can add pages to as the project evolves.

One final tip...

Never, never say "the project is done" It isn't and never will be but I've had three friends that uttered that phrase and within 30 days their project car really was done.
2 were stolen/stripped and one was burned up in a house fire.
It's almost like Mr. Murphy gets insulted and makes it so...

Where most of the 914s on this forum are well below 6 figures the real 914/6s are closing fast and will end up 5-10 times more valuable than a 4 cylinder model.

The real 914-6 are valuable enough now that I would not use a real one for a serious performance build. You can mod up a 4 cylinder and it will increase the value and this is reversed when working with an original 914-6

Keep a big fire extinguisher with the project. Only times I've needed one is when it hasn't been available...