How did you get into the 914 habit ? Options

[Brad]

This should work.

[Mark Henry]

My story is total aircooled VW’s. My dad and older brothers had bugs and dune buggies since the late 60’s. I learned to drive a buggy at the ripe old age of 13, chased by cops through trails and fields, I never got caught, in the act at least. Had a bug in high school when they weren’t the coolest, and except for a few dark years I’ve always had a bug.
My trade is cabinetmaking, but I also had a beetle resto, parts and engine business called Mark’s Aircooled. About 5 years ago I decided that I didn’t really care for the resto and service part of the biz, so I shut that down and now I only do engines part time.

Last spring, one of the very few people that I will still do repairs for, asked if I would get his uncles 914 running. It was in excellent condition, but it had been in storage since the late 80’s. It needed a couple injectors, oil, filters, lines, minor brake work, etc. When costs started to add up the chap asked if I knew anyone who wanted to buy it. A Porsche guy checked it out, said he wanted it and I thought we had an agreement, but when I took it over to his place he tried to almost halve the agreed price. I smiled and politely said, “go fuck yourself,” and drove off.

My wife was following me in the bug with the kids, I decided to stop and let her drive a Porsche for once in her life. I started to follow her and then ‘vroom’ she was gone! When I got to the house she was standing there, looking at the 914. A bit later she casually asked how much the guy wanted for the car. Then a little while after that, I walked in the house and heard her on the phone, eavesdropping, I realized she was finding out how much insurance would be. Now I liked the teen, but with a 1 yr. baby and a 3yr.old girl and more old VW’s then you can shake a stick at, I had never really thought about owning it. Besides for sure the wife would say no, right? WRONG! She wanted it! Cool! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool_shades.gif)

Now we are proud 914 owners, both totally addicted, she drives it to work on nice days and I grab it whenever I can. She is very much a gear head (for a girl) and she has always gone to the VW shows with me. Most of our VW’s are hopped up, so now she (and of course so do I) wants some more go. Yee-haa! Gotta love a chick that digs cars!

Oh ya, I used to be one of these NARP (not a real Porsche) asshole’s and of course I had never driven one. I’ve now seen the light! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif)

Our cars

’74 914 1.8 (soon to get some steroids)
’67 Cal-look Bug (2007cc)
’71 Squareback (2007cc) California car, the original owner called her Freda, so do we.
’72 Super Beetle (stock, winter beater)
’67 Bus (resto in progress, might get it done one day)
Okrasa 36hp engine project (I don’t even have a bug for it, yet!)