What do you think of this car?, 1973 914 2.0L Options

[HeelnToe]

I can only add to inspect that drivers quarter closely. If indeed the sticker was just taken off, it should be evident with perhaps some fading of paint to show where the sticker was ect.

Body-wise, other than rust, this is my biggest concern. My hunch is that the panel was dented, fixed and then re-sprayed. My hope is that the sticker just fell off. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I'll look for overspray, color match and any other problems. I do have someone coming with me (Pete Bristow of Bristow's Automotive) who should be able to be another set of eyes.

[Ferg]

I can only add to inspect that drivers quarter closely. If indeed the sticker was just taken off, it should be evident with perhaps some fading of paint to show where the sticker was ect.

Body-wise, other than rust, this is my biggest concern. My hunch is that the panel was dented, fixed and then re-sprayed. My hope is that the sticker just fell off. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I'll look for overspray, color match and any other problems. I do have someone coming with me (Pete Bristow of Bristow's Automotive) who should be able to be another set of eyes.

It's not that big of a deal if it's been done correctly, it's the bad bodywork that devalues the car.

Ferg

[championgt1]

A piece of the sticker should not just fall off. That porsche script is all one sticker.

Looks like a nice car. Good luck! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[914-8]

A piece of the sticker should not just fall off. That porsche script is all one sticker.

Looks like a nice car. Good luck! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

If it's all one piece, how do you open the door??

Someone, somewhere, posted about that exact car around 3 weeks ago (maybe a month). I think on Bird and Rennlist. There were pictures and discussion about it, and the guy had an appointment to go look at it. Apparently he didn't buy it?

[HeelnToe]

Someone, somewhere, posted about that exact car around 3 weeks ago (maybe a month). I think on Bird and Rennlist. There were pictures and discussion about it, and the guy had an appointment to go look at it. Apparently he didn't buy it?

I saw that, too, on Rennlist. That's where I found the photo of the battery tray I posted earlier.

What is "Bird?" Is that another forum?

[Rand]

Yup, "bird" is Pelican Parts Forums

[HeelnToe]

Yup, "bird" is Pelican Parts Forums

Oh great, just what I need. Yet another way to waste time online... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

[HeelnToe]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Well, that didn't work out the way I hoped it would. Thanks to everyone in the group for the advice. It prevented me from buying a 914 that had serious structural rust issues.

Probably the smartest thing I did was take the advice from folks here to call Pete Bristow from Bristow's Automotive in Tacoma. He agreed to do a "house call" for me and come with me to take a look at the car. The owner was unwilling to drive it all the way north to Tacoma, so Pete made that a non-issue.

Pete knows his 914s, and within seconds of checking out the car, started spotting things wrong with it that I almost certainly would have missed. Like...

• The right trunk hinge had been re-welded and was missing some parts
• The paint was definitely a "10-foot" job, with serious scratches on the trunk and crackling all over the place
• The battery tray looked good, but the frame rail beneath it was rusted heavily
• There was actually a crack in the frame that was well hidden, tucked right against the firewall. I never would have spotted this. Pete earned his keep right then and there.
• The left front corner had been hit at some time in the past and repaired. I actually spotted this one, but Pete confirmed it by pointing out a few places where the repair work had been done.

So, overall, it was a nice-looking 914 with some serious problems. Definitely not worth the $8500 the owner was asking. Probably more like $3000-4000. I was looking for a car without rust issues, so I passed this time.

Again, thanks, everyone, for all of your help.

[914-8]

Good job on getting a PPI. The car seemed suspect, since at least one apparently serious person looked and passed on it.

As to the Bird board, I didn't think there was anyone left in the world that hadn't heard of Pelican! (Although it is awesome for 911, I don't think the 914 board gets a whole lot of action anymore. When it first started, the Pelican 914 board was bigger than all of the other models combined!).

[championgt1]

This car has also been floating around on craigslist for awhile. Originally when I first saw it on there it was around 10 g's. Glad you got some help and not a car that was not what you thought it was.

[ericread]

Sorry the car didn't work out for you. Keep lookin, there are some amazingly good 914s out there if you don't rush and you carefully look them over. For the most part, the posters' here are really well qualified, and will almost always be available to assist.

The good news is you're not stuck with a Lemon (reference "24 Hours of Lemons")

Let us know when you finally get your teener. And as always, blue skies and green lights. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[HeelnToe]

Thanks, everyone. The search continues. You'll see me at an autocross this summer, I hope.

[championgt1]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif) Keep up the search!

[6freak]

RUST UNDER BATTERY TRAY AND A LITTLE UP FRONT JUST BELOW THE WIND SCREEN WASHERS.! ALL NORMAL ALL REPAIRABLE! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif)
ITS JUST MONEY