How did you get into 914's? Options

[dheinz]

I wrote this article for our local PCA newsletter. It is my "auto" biography.

Please excuse the length of the piece.



When I attended the mid-winter party Ken Jeremiah said at the business meeting that it was requested that I write a biography for the Rundschau. My answer back to him was “Why, because I wasn’t there?” He said yes.
Anyway here goes.
Through the years, like many car enthusiasts, I have chronicled my life by remembering the car I owned at the time. I will try not to bore you with non- Porsche related information although there were some very interesting times in our tenement on wheels motor home that mirrored cousin Eddie’s motor home from Christmas Vacation. But I digress.
Back to my beginning. Similar to most club members, I had many homemade motorless go-carts as a young boy. Many were engineered from 2x4s and tricycle wheels and one even had a turntable steering wheel.
At age 16 I purchased my first car. It was a three speed and I had never driven a manual transmission. When I spun the tires on the test drive, the deal was sealed. Within 6 months I wrapped that 64 Ford Fairlane around a telephone pole. I replaced this with a hypo 65 Mustang. You know what they say about falling off the horse.
Several years later Uncle Sam sent me an unsolicited invitation to spend 2 years serving our country in Germany. This was at the end of the Vietnam War Era and luckily I was on my way to Europe, not Southeast Asia. This is also the time in my life when I married Debbie.
We needed a used car to travel around Deutschland and at the local used car lot was a strange looking bath tub shaped 356 convertible for 1700 Deutschmarks, which translated was 700 American dollars. But I wisely chose the 400 dollar German Ford Taunus.
Heinz-sight is not 20/20!!!
Shortly there after a GI buddy took me for a ride in his bright yellow 1970 911S.
The ride was exhilarating and I was thoroughly impressed with the handling and acceleration of the 911. It was also at this time when I realized that I knew who my automotive soul mate was. One evening at the local Hofbrau I saw a new vehicle that I had never seen before. It was a gold 914. I remember it like it was yesterday.
Back in the states from 1975 until 1979 we did the custom van thing. In 1979 I got a bug for an affordable Porsche like I had seen in Germany. The search was on. I found a local one owner 914 that was bright Ravenna green and authentic rust color. I emphasize rust. The studded snow tires should have been a dead give away. Within three years the rust was terminal no matter what tried to do to save it. My only real regret is that I did not know about the Porsche club then. I would have been a member for over 26 years now.
Still feeling the need for speed, I purchased a new “state of the art” 1983 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe. ( for Debbie) Ha ha, it was a 5 speed and she did not know how to drive a stick. History repeats itself.
In 1988 I purchased a new “state of the art” Ford Probe GT (lemon) the best and only good part of this car was the Mazda Engine.
My luck changed in 1991 when I won a sales contest. The grand prize was a “state of the art” 1991 Chevy Cavalier. I sold this immediately at a loss and eventually used the money as a down payment for my life long dream car. The search was on again and this time for a used 911. This was pre- internet and before my awareness of the Porsche club. With the help of a friend that has owned 911s, we found a local individual that was selling his 1982 SC.
My friend is a mechanic by trade and I utilized his expert advice and purchased the 911.I feel this car has been loyal to me. For those of those of you that have seen my “arrest me” red (is there any other color?)911, you know what sets it apart. Hey how about those seats, groovy baby? Just like platform shoes, maybe they will come back in style someday. This car still wears the original paint and has 63,000 mile of which I have driven 30,000 of them as the third owner. It is a Euro version with the prescribed mechanical updates. Fast forward to 1998 and our introduction to the internet. What’s this? A Porsche club in our area. This has to be a good thing. And it is. Our first event is the highway cleanup. One month later is a gimmick rally and we come in first place. Life is good.
This is a great bunch of down to earth folks. Everyone makes us feel welcome and we really enjoy the camaraderie. It was suggested that we try a driver’s education event.
Debbie and I had no idea what we were getting into, but we decided to make a mini vacation out of it at Watkins Glen. It was truly an inspiring and educational event. The next year I went to the track at Mid Ohio. Wow!! I was hooked. Up to this point my hobbies included hunting, fishing, boating, and ATVing. That all changed. I drove the 911 at the track a few times, but since it was our “first born”, we decided to shelter it in the garage.
In 2001, during one of my 50 hours a week on EBay, I came across a local 914/6. It originated in California with a rust free body, 3.2 engine and many upgrades. To me it was almost too good to be true. I showed the auction to Debbie and she said “Go for it”
What a woman!
This 914 is no concours vehicle, but it is a very capable track car. The only thing I had to upgrade in addition to tires were the seats and harnessed which I purchased from Apex Performance. I have bonded with this vehicle. I attend 6 DE events a year with my 914/6.
Over the past 8 years, Debbie and I have really enjoyed the club activities and all the great friends that we have met. In the middle of my Porsche shrine of memorabilia sits our Best All Rounder 2001 trophy that we were both humbled to receive. We look forward to many more years of fun activities and friendships.

This is my story and I am sticking to it!

[smj]

Oh, we can "go long?" Heh heh heh...

I used to have an '88 Honda CRX, and about 1991 I worked with a guy who had a CRX Si. One notable evening I had a hell of a time keeping up while following him to some group event after work, and we got to chatting. He tells me about how the CRX was fun, but he really missed his old Porsche 914. The bit that really stuck with me was how late at night he used to drive Route 2 outside of Boston and not lift for the rotary (or "roundabout," or "circle") out around Concord/Acton... See it here.

A few years later I was living in Manhattan and loaned the CRX to a friend so he wouldn't have to buy a beater to get through the winter. He got rear-ended and that was the end of the CRX. Over the summer I found I *really* wanted to have a car, but didn't need one. So I thought, "Hey, I could get anything, doesn't have to be practical. I could get a Porsche!" Mind you, I don't think I had come across so much as a picture of a 914 by this point.

This was mid-1997. After reading up on 914s on the 'Net a bit I somehow decided that I would need to learn to weld, and that I should start off with something that didn't pre-date Disco. So I wound up dumping a lot of money into an early-'85 944 and got T-boned within three months of getting it on the road -- but that's another story. I didn't give up on the 914, just post-poned it until I had a garage and money. I got the garage, the money took a while...

To this point I had never driven a 914 in my life, but I had gotten a very memorable ride in my first PCA DE instructor's trick 2.2l 914-4 at Watkins Glen. The only thing that blew him away in the curvy bits was the Lowenbrau-liveried 962 that was at the track that day... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drooley.gif)

Jump to 2005, I'm in Berkeley, California trying to buy a house (Fool!), and getting frustrated. I start looking at 914s again, because I'm in the land of the rust-free car. ™ Lo and behold, I came across a gent in Seattle selling a very pretty '74 914 that appeared to be in great shape. I flew up and bought the car after talking to him and his mechanic on the phone a few times. The car had some issues, but I loved it and have rarely had a better time alone than the drive back from Seattle.

So far I still have that car, and the factory -6 I picked up earlier this year. On the one hand I should sell the -4 and put the money into the -6. On the other hand, the -4 is setup well and so much fun, I don't want to. On the third hand, there's no room for it in the garage and it can't be left to sit out in the rain... Something's got to give, and I don't want it to be body rot on the -4. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[nightcrawler]

Once I took a quick glance on my buddy's 914 and I was hooked. To this date, my height is the one and only hindrance from owning a 914. It sucks.

[Bruce Allert]

Got to talking about them with my bro n law. Said he had one, his mother had one his brother had one, his sister had one (but not all at the same time mind you)!and my wife learned how to drive on one.

So then he gets up & goes to the book shelf & draws out this Haynes manual & says, "here, do some light reading." That weekend I read the whole manual & was hooked.

It's been up & down hill from there (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

....b

[Joe Bob]

My first car was a 63 bug with a burnt valve. Dad was a salesman and used it for his route he put 150K miles on it....fine wines, spirits and high end meat. Rebuilt it and tossed the crank threw the case.....got a Gene Berg 1835 and tossed the second gear thru the case....fixed the tranny and then wrapped the ride around a curb while chasing my asshole neighor thru the twisties.....he was driving a 2.0 914.

Fast forward to 1990, my bro-in-law had a neighbor who's son passed away and his project 1970 was sitting in the drive. 200 bucks later I got a semi running 1.7 with crunches on both sides but with four f\glass flares.

Built "The Rocket" a 3.0/6 and ran it for 8 years. Won the PCA Zone 8 AX championship in 1999. Got bored, sold it (dumb), bought a 911 cab.....missed the car, missed the crazies on the various lists, tried to buy back The Rocket (no go), so I bought an unfinished 3.2/6......

In between I have bought, cut up, sold around 60 bugs, vans, and 914s.....

Currently have a 57 Speedster replica with a 2180, FI and turbo'd, 73 914/6 (3.2), an 83 cab that has been backdated to 73 body style and sports a 3.6 with a No Bad Days chip and Motronic FI.

Yes, I'm sick...... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[Scott Carlberg]

Yes, I'm sick...... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

..that's why we LOVE you Mikey! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smiley_notworthy.gif)

[snflupigus]

built a model when i was a kid of a 944 cabriolet... then my dad bought an 83 944 in about 90 from his boss. Learned how to drive a stick on it and always wanted a Porsche.

Then a kid who worked with me at Omaha steaks had his dads 914 on a regular basis at work. I guess the guy was a police cheif or something in Omaha? It was a silver 6 conversion with custom front slant-nose like fenders.

he took me for a ride when i said, "but how do you live without torque?" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) --- a few quick turns and then we were at about a 100 on the interstate fairly quickly and I was sold.

he ended up getting hit by a lady (not his fault) a few months later and broke his leg and they parted the car out. Anybody know that guy?

then I saw this car on ebay...

(IMG:http://www.snflupigus.com/pics/1.jpg)

but got outbid at the last few seconds and it ended up going to hawaii?

so I bought the 356 replica the next week instead.. owned it for a few years, took it apart.. lost interest and didnt have a car with AC in AZ... so put up ads to sell it so i could go buy something else... now its MikeZ's and he rebuilt it into a turbo'd beast... (hindsight, i never would have traded for his Dakota if i knew my buddy would finally offer to sell me his camaro 5 months later) but Z, the truck is still great. 14.6 is still the best 1/4 time. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) --- this winter it will hit 13's somehow if i can get the timing down with the methanol injection now.

anyway, before i traded away the 356, i saw my current car on ebay with 1 day left, i made a fairly spontaneous decision and won it in the last seconds of the auction, flew up to seatle, drove it back to phoenix, then put 14k miles on it and the took it apart...

"and thats....... the rest, of the story"

[shoguneagle]

A lot of years ago when I had just returned from Southeast Asia and was out of the Navy, I was looking for a auto project to build. Making a long story short, I ended up with several Alfa Romeos' over the next few years which I did various stages of restoration including complete rebuilds, locating parts, horse-trading, and whatever.

This lead to selling and getting out of the car restoration hobby for about five years. I was working full time in San Francisco and going to night school for my Masters Degree. After five years and transferred back to Sunnyvale area, I was looking for another complete build project.

Then came a 914 with a fire burn, completely stripped, nothing there except for the shell. Two years later it was running a 350 V8, etc. You must remember this is before you have the packaged parts such as today. Renegrade or Ron Simpson made just adaptors and converted water pump kits. Most of the information was located on type written paper, in someone's files, etc. I built it completely except for the painting. Ran it for 300 plus miles, handled like an old Corvette (early 60's). After putting the best suspension, etc. in it while building I was greatly disappointed. It sat for fifteen years.

Got involved with Alfas' and Lotus' again. Time to retire and move. After moving needed another project. The projects I do I think you have to be insane but I really enjoy bringing cars back from the "dead file" to where they are on the road again. I still had some 914 parts leftover from the V8 conversion and after moving (sold key parts just so I would not have to move them).

Guess what!! The parts led me back to 914s'. Since moving I have been collecting parts to build a 914-6GT replica. The building curse and 914 sickness reared it's ugly head. Car and parts are in the garage where the Corvette usually sits (it is in storage) and the "SICKO" project of building a body shell again has started. It is going to be a sixer with Carrera front suspension, 901 trans, modified rear suspension and brakes, flared fenders, etc.

I simply love these little cars. I love the design, handling, engines, history, people involved with them, etc. It is a "SICKNESS, SICKNESS, SICKNESS!!!

WHY DO WE HAVE SO MUCH FUN BEING SICK????

Steve Hurt (IMG:style_emoticons/default/boldblue.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer3.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rocking nana.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/flag.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/givemebeer.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

[StratPlayer]

I bought this 914 for my daughter when she was about 19. She's 28 now, anyway, she didn't like it cause it only had 2 seats. Well I adopted the car and its been with me ever since. Now shes in love with the car,,,lol.

[EdwardBlume]

My Dad bought my 74 2.0 in 1976. I got it about 9 years ago.

[Brew]

To this date, my height is the one and only hindrance from owning a 914. It sucks.

All right, I'll bite. How tall/short are you??

I mean, if Wilt can do it......

[theol00]

My relationship with 914s started in 1974 after I had I bought a brandnew 911 coupe in Germany - that car was fast and fun but had no open top. In the spring of 1975; while my 911 was being serviced at the Porsche dealer I saw this 1973 yellow 2.0 914 on the dealers lot. The Porsche salesman made me an offer I couldn't refuse and this is how I got into my first 914 - doesn't everybody need a car for the summer? I really enjoyed the car - it appeared more reliable and almost as fast (top speed and less squirly in the rain) as my 911. I had it for 4 years and than I sold it.

I moved to the US in 1984 and imported a 914/6 in 1985 - drove it for a while and sold it again in 1986. Didn't really like the tailshifter. (duh (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chair.gif) ) Than I got hooked on english sports cars for a while 1986 - 2002 - had every Triumph and a couple of Jags until I thought I had finally "outgrown" this car habit. That lasted for about 6 month.

I found a white '73 2.0 with a "for sale" sign on the side of the road. $2000 later it was mine...started to through money at it to make it reliable and nice looking, and drove the hell out of it...for 3 years.

Than I traded the car in on a 1992 Carrera 2 Targa which I still have...10 weeks later I bought the same 914 back...since I thought I coundn't live without one and the price was right ($3K less than what I traded it in for)...only to trade the same 914 in on a 1973 911S Targa that I couldn't live without....after a few month I sold that... on the notion of being a little to frivolous...and I tried to buy my good old 914 back. Unfortunately it was gone for good (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) .

I found a '73 1.7 zambesi green 914 that I wanted to convert into a 914/6 with 6 cyl motor, flares and the whole enchilada - than thought the car was too nice to cut up - sold that one - and than 2 years ago found the clean and rustfree chassis of my current 1970 914 with a busted motor - had GD Racing install a 2.2 E spec 6 cyl and have enjoyed it ever since. The car is fast and fun...the irony is shortly thereafter I bouht the 912 racing car chassis that housed the 2.2 and now I have that as well with a 2.7 ltr RS spec motor which I enjoy at track days...sometime I wonder if it is time for some trading again... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

I think I need some treatment? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif)

[p914]

How did I first get into 914s?
Well....
I opened the door and sat down in one and the rest, as they say, is history.

[RickS]

My female cousin had a new blue 1.7 when I was a kid. I loved riding in it. It was so cool, and so basic. No frills, nothing you didn't need, it cornered like it was on rails, the top came off, and hidden headlights!

In high school, I drove a 67 bug for a while and enjoyed its cool factor. It got me to the ski hill, to school and around town.

About 8 months ago, I rode in a 914 with a 2.7 RS spec motor, with E cams with a track prepped suspension. It was a wild ride, with 4 wheel drifts and slides, tons of power and a great 6 cylinder sport muffler bark. After that I was completely hooked.

A few months later, I found a rust free, repainted 71 with a Webber carbed rebuilt 2.0 with Fuchs. It also had the appearance group. When I drove it, the memories of the air cooled bug engine sounds came back, as well as my cousin's car, as well as the wild ride in the 2.7 prepped car. The price was reasonible for a car in such good shape, how could I say no?

I have since added a side shifter and have a complete suspension upgrade sitting in boxes ready to install. I also have a spare 2.4 190 hp mill sitting in the corner of the garage collecting dust. What's a person to do?

[drive-ability]

started smoking Pot, then just leapfrogged to L.S.D , the only thing left was a
914 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chair.gif)

[jimtab]

Well....my first car was a Triumph Herald convertible, my dad thought it was the TR3 I had mentioned as a graduation present from HS. Drove it into the ground in 3 months, traded for a 58 vw bus, didn't last long. After that a string of British stuff mostly Triumphs and MGs....but I kept thinking of a ride I had in John "OTTO" Williamson's 356 in HS and decided I needed one...bought a 57 coupe and fixed it up...traded it for a 58 speedster...fixed it up....sold it to buy a new VW sedan after I got married because my wife couldn't drive the Pcar. Good decision, huh? After being married several years got fed up with various sedans and trucks and decided to buy a 911s in 1973. Went to Anderson Behl in San Jose and Art Downey the lead salesman let me drive his s, it was great, he also showed me a 1964 cabriolet that I almost bought and then he asked if I'd ever driven a 914, since I was a bigger fan of handling than power he thought it would be a good fit....drove it and couldn't believe the difference in handling. We made the deal on the way back down Stevens Creek blvd. I had that car for almost a whole year until a dipshit in a Ford F250 made a heroic move and killed the car...damn near killed me too...a few inches, oh well. So I took the $ from the insurance and went back to Art, he had an Ivory '74 2.0 with demo miles on it, and with all the stuff that had been stock on the '73. Made me a nice price and I drove that until 1978 when my son was born and I had to get something with more seats...by then it had a 2.7L twin plug Pikes peak engine and some flares, and suspension tweaks. I sold it to the first guy who looked at it and told him to take it easy for the first couple of weeks, til he got used to the car...he crashed it a week later, tore the car in half just behind the targa bar...had a couple in between and now I've got my Brazillia Zambezi Goddess.. whoohoo. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif) now I miss my speedster (in my dotage).

[Qball]

In 1978 my friend bought a 75 914 off the orig. owner. About a month later I'm riding shotgun(where else?) and he lets off in the middle of a tight turn. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) We ended up across the road, car sitting upright on the passenger side with drivers side wheels in the air before falling down on all fours. No damage except a rolled rocker panel. Ten years ago he took it off the road and it had been sitting in his garage till last year when I talked him into selling it and putting it back on the road. So you could say I have a little history with mine.

[ws91420]

I was actually looking for a Karmann Ghia when I spotted the 914 for sale. Now I'm Hooked.

[Dominic]

Actually, my wife wanted one so that's when I started the search for a 73' 2.0L, we still have our silver 73' 2.0 that we bought 10 years ago.
How many people can honestly say.......It's all Her Fault! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Phoenix914]

Since I'm a new member here, this seems like a good place for my first post. I have been working on a '73 2.0 for about three and a half years now, slowly getting it roadworthy after it sat for a while.

This car came into my posession when I told a friend I would work on it a bit. The original owner, who is now in his 80's kept talking about this old Porsche sitting in his driveway that he wanted to get back on the road. Only problem was that he had trouble finding someone trustworthy to work on it in this area. I finally gave in and told him I would work on it for him to get it back on the road. I like fixing stuff, so I was just going to do it for the fun of it. I had no idea how much help this car needed.

The more I disassembled, the more I found wrong. A mechanic that worked on it previously (and incompetently) let it sit out for over a year with a leaking rear window and another one partially rolled down. Needless to day, there were some rusty spots on the floor that needed fixing, the worst being at the pedal cluster and in the tunnel. Very sad, because previously this had been a rust-free California car. So I got those areas patched up and have since done too many things to think about. The interior has been repainted and recarpeted. Seats and deposit box recovered. Gas tank coated inside and repainted. New fuel pump. Front trunk/fuel tank area repainted. And on and on. Next is fresh calipers and bearings and a trip to the body shop.

Thankfully, the overall condition of the body is not that bad.

The best thing about the whole deal is the owner said right away that he'll give me the car when I'm done. He pays for the parts and I do the labor. He just wants to drive it around for a while to show it off to his golf buddies. Pretty cool, huh?

Sorry about the length, but thanks for reading.

By the way, my name, Phoenix914, was chosen because I feel like I'm resurrecting this car from the dead.

Bryan