914's as an investment, just a thought Options

[Howard]

I have been asked to write an article about car enthusiasts and would like to make the topic "914, Porsche's Ugly Duckling"

Have lots of stuff on the racing record. The car won everything in the under (and over) 2.0 GT class while the factory supported it, but want to spend more time on the 'fun factor' of the cars. Think about the lines of 'The last real Porsche'. After the 914, everything that came from them was heavier, more powerful, more expensive, and more gold chain than sports car.

Give me some ammo to use.
Edit: Here's something for you. Le Mans 1970. The 914 finished 6th and first in GT.
The cars that beat it were: 2 917's, 1 908, and 2 Ferrari 512's. If you could find any of these, they would be worth over $1,000,000 each and not be street legal. NARP my ass.

[BKLA]

Most either love or hate the 914. Rarely is there any ambivalence.

For me, my interest in the 914 hit me when I was about 11 years old in 1970 and saw a brand new one parked at my dad's office parking lot. Later, in high school, I saved my part time job money and paid for half of a two year old alaska blue '73 1.7 with about 30k miles on it. (I wanted a "six" but couldn't find one that I could afford at that time.)

This car was a big part of my life, even though I didn't understand it at the time. I A/X 'ed it, lost my virginity in it and met my future wife in it. (Not necessarily in that order -- wink wink nudge nudge) When I was feeling down I would take a drive up the old Lorane HWY or out to the coast, or up to Marcola. I drove it to Utah during winter break to go skiing with a cousin who was an instructor at Snowbird. Looking back, this car was my best friend in many ways.

I sold it three years later when I decided that I was the going to be the next George Folmer. I used the money to buy a used race car and trailer and went SCCA/ICSCC racing for a season. For the next few years through college, I met and raced with some great people that are still friends today. Yet, I missed the 914 and still lusted after a six.

Fast forward twenty five years. I acquire an old non-running 914 from a family member that has owner the car for 12 years and decide to to a 914 6 GT conversion. After six months of finding parts and dismantling the car, I realize that I am in way over my head for the budget that I wanted to spend. Mainly it has to do with the cost of rust repair. So... what to do? I start looking for a good base car or a conversion started by someone else.

Along comes the 914club, and I discover that there are a lot of crazy 914 people just like me and that the car has strong following.

For me, the story continues as I now have a '74 roller in the garage and a '74 6 conversion that is nearly complete. (I have had nothing to do with the conversion. but once it is complete and I take possession, we'll see...Hmmm.) The roller is sold (I think?) and I will soon pick up my conversion.

Do I think of it as an investment? Not in the financial sense, but I plan to enjoy it with my wife and my sons.

Am I trying to recapture the past? Maybe. I don't really know. I'd like to think its like reconnecting with a long lost friend and rediscovering why you became friends in the first place.

Some of my porsche friends think I'm crazy and tell me I should have bought a Boxster. Yes, the Boxster has more horsepower in a very similarly packaged, newer vehicle. Yet nothing, and I do mean nothing... has the unique character of the bastard child 914.

thanks...

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