Dr. 914 interview on Aircooled Technology Radio!, Coming in May, post your questions here. Options

[dr914@autoatlanta.com]

Question:

George, is your bussiness where you want it to be. Do you plan to expand and become larger, is it too big already. Do you have retirement plans? what the hell will happen to all of those cars if you do retire? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Thanks for the question: We are currently overhauling the website and really have our hands full now. The 914 catalog mailing was fabulously successful (I hesitated printing and mailing until I talked to a mentor of mine Mike Yeager at Mid America, who pounded it into me that car people are all not just exclusively on the internet)
Since then we are deep into the 924 944 catalog which in comparison to the 33,000 mailed to the 914 list, we have over 60,000 in the 924 44 24s 68 list! It is going to be terrifically expensive but we are doing it and have really stocked the shelves with parts for these cars.
I like my business where it is as I LOVE to restore Porsches and the shop is a very important part of our business for that and giving us instant technical knowledge of all of the cars. The guys in back are heavily into boxsters and 996 models now, the heavy number of 914 restorations here certainly the ballast to keep us super super busy. Our business will naturally grow (in the past it has risen and fallen on the introduction of different Porsche models) and with over 200,000 boxsters out there we will have a lot to handle in the future. We have many many parts planned that we are now making domestically and in China, (and India)
By the way, Mia and I do e bay together on the weekends for the fun of it , selling crap that no one would ever know we have (like the leftovers from customers restorations, 356 took kit pieces, 63-65 buick riviera parts postwar Lionel trains, and advertising our catalogs and books)
I will never retire nor become more cantankerous as I get older so expect me around for awhile. I can still run six miles just fine, but maybe my arm wrestling is not as good any more, but I am much more tolerant and not so idealistic anymore.

If I ever sell the "collection" It would be as one and that would mean I retired from the 914 and that I will NEVER do.

[dr914@autoatlanta.com]

question

where do you see the evolution of 914's going into the future?


How do you think the gas crisis, and the emissions crunch down on old cars( (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) ) will affect 914's?

914s are the last of the air cooled reasonably priced Porsches so in the near future they will rapidly appreciate as many have seen them do recently. However as the years pass the demand will diminish and the values will level as the baby boomers fade and die off. Let's face it the 914 will never be the true classic that its father the 356 is, more of a cult car with an intense following.
Let's face the facts we are running out of petroleum and the years of the gasoline burning engine are limited. Everytime I get into my Dad's original 64 Buick Riviera and step on the gas, I know that 12 mpg on high test makes the car expensive entertainment (and I can remember filling the car for 24 cents a gallon!)
With that said, I truly believe that in ten years gasoline will be ten dollars a gallon and driving every gasoline powered car will be entertainment

[dr914@autoatlanta.com]

What is your favorite engine transplant for the 914 (Porsche and non-Porsche)?

Have you driven a 914 competitively? (Road race, autocross, hillclimb, other)

What is your current favorite non-914 automobile of all time. Or list, or dream car?

What non-US country has the most 914s on the road or in existance today?

What reproduction 914 parts might we see from you in the next couple of years?

-Mike Dugan

The best all around transplant for a 914 is a 3.0. Factory designed to operate with a larger six cylinder (but not as big as a 3.6 without serious chassis and suspension stiffening) one can purchase factory like parts to easily install the engine and have sufficient power for most occasions. The 3.0 is readily available and fairly bullet proof and with Richard Parr's carb set, a fairly easy installation while keeping the 914 original in appearance and in the factory configuration

I have completed many of the Porsche club driving schools at Road Atlanta along with taking their three day racing school. I would love to race, pride myself on turning some fairly hot laps at Road Atlanta, but would never race because it would bankrupt me!!!!!!!
My favorite non 914 car ARE my 356s. I really love those cars. Other than that I have my Dad's original 64 Riviera he and I purchased new in May of 64, I love my 71 jag xke convertible, look fondly on my 73 mgb gt as it reminds me of my first college car, and recently came within a moment of buying a new ford gt 40
As everyone probably knows 75% of 914 production went the the U.S. and of that 75% went to you california boys (maybe that is why you all act so spoiled!!)
Of what remained nothing went to England because of the right hand drive problem (crayford conversions was not a dealer!) So these days most of our out of country business comes from Germany and France. Very strong clubs in both countries. (and of course Canada)
We are planning many new parts for these cars and always starting with the body as I have always said. "if you have no body you have no car" The specific parts are company secret as we know what is needed in the market and don't want to give it away.

[736conver]

Ah these are questions for the radio show.
I believe Jake is looking for questions not for you to answer them here but on his show.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

[zymurgist]

How about electrical parts, new or refurbishments? I'm thinking along the lines of fuel injection items such as TPS's.

[E-Man]

Thanks anyway George! I might miss the show. Jake: Ask anyway. You never know where the conversation can lead.

OT: I learned to drive in fields on a Farmall tractor; Dad taught me road driving in a '68 VW Microbus (2nd one he owned, first was '59); day after I got my license I drove thru the garage door (Dad in passenger seat; another story altogether).

Go with your gut and fun with it.

[dr914@autoatlanta.com]

How about electrical parts, new or refurbishments? I'm thinking along the lines of fuel injection items such as TPS's.

yes yes yes! You are on the money here 2.0 tps!

[Joe Bob]

Esplain dis, Lucy.....

http://motor.etax.dor.ga.gov/motor/titles/index.asp

[dr914@autoatlanta.com]

Esplain dis, Lucy.....

http://motor.etax.dor.ga.gov/motor/titles/index.asp

ainta no title on cars 85 and older Charlie Brown! 86 and up only In fact Georgia had no title law at all until 1964. I own four 356 models, three are worth 90 grand plus one 75 plus and only have registrations NO TITLES!!!!!!! One has to guard these old non title cars here in Georgia with his life.

[veltror]

We are paying 8.32 dollars per us gallon her in the UK, you have a lot further to go before you can start complaining... trust me....

R

[736conver]

We are paying 8.32 dollars per us gallon her in the UK, you have a lot further to go before you can start complaining... trust me....

R

Not to get even further into hijacking this thread but your paying for the NHS with that extra taxation. Not really comparing apples to apples.

[dr914@autoatlanta.com]

We are paying 8.32 dollars per us gallon her in the UK, you have a lot further to go before you can start complaining... trust me....

R

We are probably not complaining but worrying about running out of oil. I truly believe that if Saudi Arabia said one day that they would not sell us oil any more, we would instantly invade the country (not to hijack the thread about the dirty bastard selling numberless bodies!)

[jsayre914]

(not to hijack the thread about the dirty bastard selling numberless bodies!)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)
I like your humor george

[TROJANMAN]

ainta no title on cars 85 and older Charlie Brown! 86 and up only In fact Georgia had no title law at all until 1964.

That's not entirely true, but I have grown tired of this conversation.......... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[914werke]

ainta no title on cars 85 and older Charlie Brown! 86 and up only In fact Georgia had no title law at all until 1964.

That's not entirely true, but I have grown tired of this conversation.......... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

To continue this hijack of a hijack:
Thats pretty weak! Call someone a liar
then bail before backing up your argument.

R.

[Eric_Shea]

QUOTE

(not to hijack the thread about the dirty bastard selling numberless bodies!)



I like your humor george

Me too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

I think it's the "bodiless numbers" he had for sale on the Internet we're more worried about than the rusted POS shell. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[PeeGreen 914]

We are paying 8.32 dollars per us gallon her in the UK, you have a lot further to go before you can start complaining... trust me....

R

We are probably not complaining but worrying about running out of oil. I truly believe that if Saudi Arabia said one day that they would not sell us oil any more, we would instantly invade the country (not to hijack the thread about the dirty bastard selling numberless bodies!)

Why would we do that? There are many other contries that have oil... including our own. I think it is just a matter of time before India and China's opperations are up to full capacity as well.

[TROJANMAN]

ainta no title on cars 85 and older Charlie Brown! 86 and up only In fact Georgia had no title law at all until 1964.

That's not entirely true, but I have grown tired of this conversation.......... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

To continue this hijack of a hijack:
Thats pretty weak! Call someone a liar
then bail before backing up your argument.

R.

I didn't call him a liar, but what he said is only half true.
There are statutes on the books that say otherwise.
Some of them are posted in the other thread that talks about him selling VIN numbers without cars (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Joe Bob]

I'm not talking about a title....I'm talking about putting a FACTORY VIN on another car...and then selling said car as a street legal, allegedly from the factory original car. You simply can't legally do it.

A stolen car, a theft recovery, a wrecked/salvaged car that is rebuilt gets a new VIN from the State....a STATE generated VIN, not one that identifies it being direct from the manufacturer. Just like the sticker from DMV my crappy fake Speedster has.

The State inspects it, you provide a brake and headlight certificate and it gets back on the road....some States even exempt you from smog. CA issues 500 a year, I stood in line and got #348 at 8:10 am on January 2nd....

IF A TITLE is issued it's stamped as being a homebuilt, rebuilt, salvage, reclamation, or a one eyed trouser trout.....if no title is issued, you at least get a registration that describes what it is.

If THAT's not the case, then that State you live in should have more cousins marrying each other.....because it sure can't get any more retarded.....

[Sam Charters]

To try and apply California logic to what go on in the southern states will never work, do not even try.

My Question for George is How many of these cars are going over to other countries each year and if so which ones?

Slits, the answer to your question is; that car is in the process of restoration.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)