Introduction of guy and car...., first 914 on its way.... Options

[Frankvw]

My first 914 !
Introduction of guy and car....

Introduction
Frank, from Holland, the Netherlands, Europe. Frankvw on the forum.

I am no stranger to the car hobby, but totally new to the Porsche world. So, not only did I recently buy my first 914, it was actually my first Porsche.
For many years I am into VW's some came and went, but also some stayed: a 1960 VW Beetle Ragtop and a 1978 VW T2b Westfalia Berlin.
After deciding I wanted a 914, I did a lot of reading and looking what was 'out there'
I did check a lot on the internet, including (of course) the 914world forums, especially from January 2016 onwards when I sort of decided I was going for it !
In april 2016 I did sign up to 914world as a member to make it more registered and tried to keep up through the different topics.
I already tried to contribute in different topics, since I also will be taking a lot from the 914world community.

How did I buy my first 914 ?
I kept an eye on the classified section of 914world, but nothing came along or was sold too soon. I wanted to buy from a clubmember so I had a better idea what I was buying.
Being from the Netherlands, Europe, it would be a buy based on trust. I figured that was easier to find on the 914world with your backup.
I did also check Craigs List to see what was out there, prices, details etc but my idea was that it would be hard to find a trust-deal on there.
I also kept an eye on Ebay, but I learned soon the cars were sold for higher prices then I had in mind. I saw the comment on the 914world somewhere : 'Evilbay is a great place to overpay'
I wanted a driver, not a project car and one day a 914 showed up on Ebay, a 1973 1.7 914, second owner with all history with it.
I contacted the seller and I had the idea I could find that trust-buy with him, we had good communication (mail, phone, SMS) and he was willing to help out in the shipping process.
I did enter the bidding war (well...20 bids in total) and I won !

The car and the color...
as mentioned, a 1973 914 1.7 with its original FI, on Riviera's. In fact, all is original except for one respray in 2002, in the original color.
The second owner bought it 18 years ago from the original owner who had it the first 25 years. Almost all history and maintenance known !
The most interesting part is the color. It was already discussed on the forum, since the seller called it sepia brown and it wasn't.
Before the auction ended I contacted Porsche Germany to help me check the color and they helped out (as much as possible).
We found the data they normally print on the COA, and there was stated it had several options. for example interior 31 (beige leatherette), was sold through a dealer in LA to first owner, option 570 (extra seat cushion) etc.
But also was stated on the files that this 914 was delivered in Color option 99 - Special Wish, which translated in code 98 on the Karmann doorpillar ID.
It was definately a custom wish, since the car was bought in the original color by last owner and he had it resprayed in 2002 since some of the clearcoat faded/came off.... and 914's had no clearcoat from the factory I learned.
Porsche could not find out what color it ended up in, so no more info on the color besides seller claiming it was resprayed in the same color it was before.
It is for sure a metallic brownish color, and the targaroof was also painted that color by the way...
I will have to wait what the real original color was if I remove some parts/carpets.....In case you have ideas or opinions about this color...let me know !

Wait?
Yes. Car has to be transported to the Netherlands from USA. First, car will be transported from Connecticut to NJ (see pic attached)
and from NJ it will be loaded in the harbour of NY to be send on it's way to Europe.
I waited to post this intro since I thought when the car started his journey away from the sellers house, my adventure and ownership will start (although I already went through the financial process and paperwork)
Car was just picked up in Connecticut ! (see pic attached) voila, my intro !

What is next?
After the car arrives in the Netherlands, I have to pay tax, more tax and some other tax, since it is from outside Europe. Then I have to bring it for a Identity check and a Technical check
All needs to work and should be in good (enough) order, important stuff like structure and brakes, but also the small stuff like wiperrubbers and working horn. You get the idea.
This means I have to go through the car before I go there, and that is when I see what I still really need to do on the car to be able to drive it in NL.
I already know about some small issues with the car, from the info of the seller, but you always have to wait what really pops up, right ?
I also need some items not needed for this tests, like better beige vinyl seatcushion covers and one targaroof clip holder, but I will keep my eyes on the classifieds here !
After the tests, a Dutch registration, licenseplates, insurance and go with that banana (like we say in Holland) :-)

Ok...enough for now (problably already too much to share for an intro, but I got carried away typing, sorry)
Frank (Frankvw)

[Frankvw]

yesterday afternoon the big day, the Nation Road/Safety test to get a license registration in NL to drive the car in Holland.
It has multiple layers since the car was never registered in Europe before, so some extra tests are required to make it road-legal here.
Paperwork, ID check, check if it is not build out of more than 2 cars, structural integrity check (rust), length, width, determine weight of the car, and then enter the technical area.

The Technical Area was the part why I was a bit nervous. They check everything really strict and since I did a lot to the car, a lot could come out of it...
did I do a good job ?

this is the scale where they determine the weight of the car, one of the checks/tests


Short sad version : it failed the test.
Emotional version: why fail it over such small defects ?!?!
Optimistic version : it only failed over 2 easy thingies, easy to solve

Everything was in great order, also the brakes (that cost me a lot of money, time and energy), lights, tires, electrics, play, steering, shocks etc etc all in good order.
It failed because of two things:
1) damaged rubber dustcover of the steering balljoints
2) left windscreenwasher nozzle was not effective enough (it worked, but not good enough)

So, at first I was disappointed the car failed (actually it meant that I failed), then I realized it is actually roadworthy and legal after those thingies are fixed !
But that will take some time, since due to Covid19 the earliest re-check will be about 6 weeks from now.
This gives me some time to find and replace the dustcoverboots and fix the nozzle defect.

It was a day filled with different emotions, and I slept good last night (better than the night before the test (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) )

PS a good thing to mention: I was not allowed to drive the car on the Dutch roads, because it is not registered yet. That gives some challenges if you want to test stuff like the brakes.
Yesterday, at the day of the test, you get a license registration for the day to drive it so you can come to the teststation.
This means I really drove it for the first time since I bought it, which was also exciting.

In the end this day was a good test for man and machine....

[dt4]

Hey Frank that's a great result, its a shame that there is a 6 weeks wait until you can get the retest but at least you know its road ready
well done

[DRPHIL914]

washer squirter, really (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif) i've had my car for almost 12 years, and they have never worked, i am installing the switch from Carmagic soon and pump from 914sixer, but up to this point i have just applied Rainx windshield treatment, wipers work so i've never had an issue even in severly heavy rain storm, had great visibility, but oh well you have to play within the system you have, you should be able to fix that and maybe its just low pressure in your tire/bottle that didnt allow for this to work, but loook at the lines, they rot out at the connection in the steering column and under the dash make sure you are not squirting water on the floor either. your local auto parts should have tubing , but if the nossle is bad and clogged then 914rubber has replacement ones.
Good luck and look forward to your next update being a fully licensed roadworthy car!!

[FlacaProductions]

Good work - two easily correctable things but it's a shame to have to wait so long for the re-test.

When you go back, do they check everything again or just the items that "failed"? Do you get the same inspector?

[Frankvw]

Thanks all for the positive replies.

@DRPHIL914 I should have mentioned I converted the washer system to an electric one, using the original washer reservoir with a pump attached on it, small pushbutton at the dash, using one of the already present holes under the dashmaterial next to the sigarettelighter.

@FlacaProductions They will only check what is marked as failed in the report. It is possible I get the same inspector, but he mentioned for these universal issues any inspector should be able to perform the check.

[Cairo94507]

@frankvw - Congratulations on passing all but 2 very minor issues that are easily addressed. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

I wish we had stricter vehicle registration laws here in the USA- especially CA. I regularly see complete piece of craX cars which are currently registered rolling down the road. The Highway Patrol (police whose main job is the enforcement of the CA Vehicle Code) do nothing as these rolling wrecks drive right by them.

When I was a lot younger, we had surprise CHP inspection stations that were set-up on major roads and your car was put through a basic inspection to see if it was road worthy. That was stopped probably 35 years ago unfortunately.

Admin Edit: Sorry... had to remove the political comment.

[porsche914rick]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

[Tdskip]

Car looks great BTW!

Thanks for the update.

[MM1]

Yep - it's a beauty - you'll be free and clear soon!

[Frankvw]

so, the parts arrived, since it was hard to find just the rubber dustcovers, I thought...why not change the whole thing, right ? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
They are old and new ones do not break the bank.

before (soaking in WD40):

The rubber bootcover was a goner for sure. I could tear parts of easily as you can see.
How could I have missed that going through all stiff I wonder now.....

So, the new part installed (on both sides of course)

With a selflocking nut instead of a castell nut with pin.

I also fixed the not-good-enough-spraying-windscreenwasher on the driver side (the other item it failed on). It turned out the valve that is in in front of the washernozzle was clogged. I could not get it free, so I deleted it and now it works fine.

The next test possible is in 5 weeks to show I fixed the items it failed on previously.
It takes so long because of Covid-19. A full test is 12 weeks waiting time at the moment.
Untill then, no driving is allowed....... waiting waiting waiting......

[Frankvw]

Ok....BigDay#2...Today the new test for a road-legal-registration in the Netherlands after Test#1 failed me on small issues (see earlier post).
Fixes were done and I drove there on a 1day temp license (that is the white homebrew plate on the car)
Always scary to drive there since it is its second run ever here and I have to ride highways but also need to go through a long tunnel. You never know right ?
I made it in 1 piece, got during my ride there several people looking at the car (welll...I guess they were not looking at me) and some thumbs up, That is always cool.


Inside it is not allowed to take pics, so you have to take my word the test was done (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
So...tested.... previous issues extra checked and when we were done, we close the drivers door, but it would not latch..and the inspector said that was a no-go if the door did lot click in its lock.
Unbelievable...I never had that before and now it is killing my test ?!?!
I tried shutting it like 15 times but it did not latch. He told me to take a seat and he would get a fellow inspector to discuss the status.
So, I close the door to walk away and it latched.(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) ...so...we both look at each other and he marks the form as PASSED !

Next is to do a tax thingie on the car online (done afterwards immediately) and wait for the licenseplate registration to arrive (in about 1 week).
Then insure it and have the plates made. After they are on the car it will be road-legal !

Almost there....and again I feel like I am allowed to use the banana icon !
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

[Shivers]

Wow, what an journey. Congratulations, have fun.

[dt4]

great news (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Arno914]

Congratulations!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

What an exciting story, indeed. Sounds like the inspections in the Netherlands are even tougher to pass than here in good old Germany.

Nice Pictures, too! Hope to meet you some day at an European 914 meeting.

Arno

[Cairo94507]

Congratulations! You are on the down hill side now and will be cruising around in that beauty in no time. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

[bbrock]

What a well-earned banana! Here, I'll give you another (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

[PanelBilly]

I don't know how I missed this thread, but better late than never

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)

[iankarr]

Great car...and a great story.

[shag]

I am very happy for you.

[Frankvw]

@Shivers @dt4 @Arno914 @Cairo94507 @bbrock @PanelBilly @iankarr @shag
Thanks for the feedback and kind words ! That really means a lot in my motivation to work on my 914.
To the rest that reads my posts...thanks a lot for your interest in my topic.