How Much to Get In?, Looking to buy 1st 914 Options

[vesnyder]

Currently own a 911 SC and looking to purchase a solid fix-'er-upper 914. Thanks to this board and Doug Hardman (aka CptTripps) I've learned a great deal about 914's over the last several weeks. What should I expect to pay for a solid 914 that I can drive and fix up? Anybody have a project that fits the bill?

[ArtechnikA]

as you already own a 911 (i have a '71E) i know you will be able to relate to these generalities:

1) there is no upper bound.
i kid you not, some of these cars, and i am NOT talking about megabuck race cars with provenance, are knocking on the door of $100k. the Collectors are beginning to notice. $50k sounds like a lot (well, it does to me !) but the fact is that with the Euro exchange rate, our cars are starting to look reasonably priced, especially to Europeans, especially to those comparing them to equivalent locally available cars. and where they take the market, sellers follow.

2) all 914/4 are $10k
3) all 914.6 are $15k

corollary: buy the best, most rust-free example you can afford.

you can spend less than $10k getting into a /4, but that's where you'll be by the time you've dealt with 30 years of weirdnesses, "deferred maintenance", and various age-related ills. $10k seems high for a /4, but i assume it will require an engine sooner rather than later, and is more likely than a /6 to be the victim of rust, neglect, deferred maintenance, and Mickey-Mouse tinkerage. that is my opinion, based upon my experience. others will have had different experiences, and formed different opinions, which you are as welcome to accept or ignore as you choose as you are mine.

4) there are good, reasonably priced cars out there. cash talks, bullshit walks. be ready to make the deal when the car you want comes along. good deals don't last undiscovered out there for long.

this is usually where i talk about not being too fixated on color and trim level because rust repair will cost you 100X the cost of replacing the Sherwood radio you hate. but you've been around 911's so you know this.