914-6 project identity crisis!, not sure what to do Options

[Bob Wolcott]

I began this restoration project in '97 and it has spent the last several years in storage. I began with a factory six and some of the following things have been done...

Steel flares added (factory)
Body dipped and de-rusted
2.7 liter motor built to RS specs w/ MFI
7 & 8" x 16" fuchs
New konis
leather interior (factory look)
brake upgrades
blah blah blah...

I know if I ever get this thing done it will have a reasonable amount of value and it will somewhat justify the pile of cash that has been dumped into it. However, lately I have been getting the urge to do some more agressive modifications like a roll cage, performance seats, and so on... How adversely would this impact the final value of the car? I am not doing this for the money of course, but it makes it much easier when the investment carries forward some residual value. I'm sure that someday I will get a hankering to do another restoration project and this would most likely provide the seed money. Anyone have thoughts on this? I'm really not in tune with the 914 market so I'd be interested to hear.

Thanks,
Bob

[ArtechnikA]

really, really well-done mods might return 50 cents on the dollar; average to mediocre execution will return about a dime.

unless you are building a period-correct vintage-race car, i wouldn't weld in a cage; most buyers will look at that and instantly conclude that either the car has ben thrashed on a race track, or that it is unsuitable for the street. bolt-in cages aren't as effective and leave holes.

if you want a track car, buy a track car. you will go faster and have more fun if you don't have to be worried that it's anything but a toy car. leave the nice factory 6 home on track weekends.

seats are not a big mod, but tag & bag everything you remove so it can be returned to original or sold as spares with the car. just about anything else will subtract perceived value from the car. consider it your cost of entertainment.