The Few, the rare......, As delivered, no resto, no repaint - show 'em! Options

[Pat Garvey]

As the title suggests, post your 914 if it is even close to 100% original, as delivered. Post copious text and pics, so the others can use as a benchmark.

You know who you are, so just do it!
Pat
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[Tom_T]

EDITED - DELETE

[silver74insocal]

although it isnt complete, its all original and its how i got it. if this isn't right for your topic please delete, Thanks. Dave

cant get pix to attach let me try again

[smg914]

A large crowd has gathered and they have been patiently waiting for the story behind the infamous Sahara Beige '73 2 liter. New photos and some history of the car to follow between now and Christmas.

[smg914]

The bottom of the car wasn't always clean enough to eat off of. It took me nearly a year to remove the thick, back tar undercoating from the wheel wells, inner rocker panels and the bottom of the rear trunk area above the transmission. I did it all by hand using mineral spirits, hundreds of white terry cloth rags from Wal-Mart, wooden paint stirrers (to scrape the softened tar one layer at a time) and an unbelievable amount of elbow grease. I did this because I wanted to see as much of the Sahara Beige as possible. Why hide it with thick black tar? Beneith all that undercoating I found magnificantly preserved original paint.

[smg914]

But man was this car clean and after much deliberation with 2 concours judges (Gerry Curts and Bob Wannamaker) I was convinced that it was my duty and responsibility to spend the time to take it to the next level of cleanliness.

Tomorrow I will go to Kinko's and scan the photos I took the very first time I saw the car in the original owners driveway. I will also tell the story behind the car.

[smg914]

The brown "Rich Corinthian Vinyl" interior is the perfect contrast to the Sahara Beige exterior.

note: The R.C.V. is just a joke

[Pat Garvey]

The brown "Rich Corinthian Vinyl" interior is the perfect contrast to the Sahara Beige exterior.

note: The R.C.V. is just a joke

Nice start! Now get on with the history.
Pat

[smg914]

I purchased the car from its original owner (Charles) in March of 1998. This is how it looked the very first time I saw the car. My wife and I drove our Signal Orange '73 2 liter from Tampa to Punta Gorda, FL to see the car. When we arrived at his house the car was sitting in his driveway. Charles and his wife named the car "SARA" which you can see on the front license plate.

[smg914]

Charlie purchased the car on October 7, 1973. He wanted a white Porsche but when he saw the unique beige 914 sitting on the showroom floor at RUSNAK P/A in Pasadena, CA he had to have it. RUSNAK had special ordered this 914 with the $330.00 color to sample option. Charlie loved to drive the car to Laguna Seca and Sears Point to watch the races. Charlie flew 747's for United Airlines. He retired in 1989 after 25 years with United and moved from San Mateo, CA to Punta Gorda, FL.

[smg914]

Although the car was delivered with tinted glass all around, Charlie had all the glass tinted with the film that is applied to the inside of the glass. It was actually a good thing because I believe it did a wonderful job of perserving the interior. No fading at all to the brown vinyl. The tinted film pealed right off and was very easy to remove.

Charlie sold the car because he ordered a Boxster and was moving to Minnestoa to be near their son. When I purchased the car from Charlie, he was 78 years old.

The car was completely orginal. It had its original muffler, heat exchangers and bumper tops. Although I replaced the muffler with a brand new Leistritz muffler, the heat exchangers and bumper tops remain the originals.

[smg914]

The car came with the original window sticker and every receipt since new.

[smg914]

All the nuts and bolts and assemblies still have their original plating in beautiful condition.

[smg914]

[smg914]

Less than 23,000 original miles. The front and rear valance panels and both side lower panels have the factory original black paint and on the back side of these panels they still have the original factory primer showing with no rust. The car has been kept in a climate controlled garage its entire life.

[smg914]

Dealer installed AC that will freeze your socks off. Note the AM/FM stereo radio made by "Automatic Radio". The total cost of this car was $7,071.40 + tax. That was a lot of money for a 1973 914. I ordered a brand new pheonix red 2 liter in early 1973 and the price was only $5,318.50. Although that car didn't have any options beyond the appearance group and the performance group which were standard on the 2 liter in 1973. Not to mention the multiple price increases that took place in 1973. I remember at least two $600 price increases in 1973. One of which was probably for the 1974 models.

[smg914]

Paint code 98 for color to sample (previously used Porsche color). This car was manufacatured in July of 1973.

[smg914]

The car seems to change its shade of beige depending the lighting conditions. Although a couple of beige 914's have recently appeared (all pre 1973) this is the only Sahara Beige 914 known to exist.

[smg914]

The Car of the Month photo that was taken at Rennsport Reunion III in Daytona. The car was the Preservation Group Division winner at the 2003 Parade. Lost out for the overall win to a 928 with 140,000 miles that was driven everyday. That was the last concours I ever entered (long story).

[URY914]