While I realize that price increases for any sports car is seasonal, are we seeing a long awaited bump?

Looking at the recent selling prices of cars, it looks like the prices for nice solid cars are rising. Not only are the super nice, show quality cars gaining ground, the nice solid cars appear to be gaining ground as well. In addition, the number of solid cars available for sale seems to be unusually low lately.

Obviously, seasonal impact, early Porsche, and 914/6 prices are having an affect...I just wonder if 914 prices will hold or even gain ground?

Yes I've noticed the prices for these cars are rising.

....And I've noticed a rise in the real 6's(prices)

Maybe the Tuner Crowd is aging and they have the money. I've notice a lot of these guys love the potential the 914 offers, actually get the thumbs up and a wave from them when I go by? Has the look and sound, plus vintage appeal and it's an affordable Porsche. Put a Subie and flares on a 914 and it's the ultimate Tuner.

Prices have been on the rise for some time. Its nice to see for those of us that have these cars.

On the other hand, as these cars get valuable, you have to actually think before cutting into a nice one to add a radiator or other non-OEM type motor. It was kinda nice to be able to get a decent car on short money and not feel bad about turning it into something else.

At this point, I am glad that all the changes I made to my car are totally easy to reverse.

Zach

Not sure this is limited to the 914 market, thinking it may be somehow tied to the economy rebounding a bit. I have been looking for a Westfalia vanagon and over the last year have seen some crazy things happening with the prices. Whereas I missed out on a few decent runners in the 1-2k range a couple years ago, more recently it seems like everyone is asking 10k for their broken prices just seem all over the board at the moment, not sure what is actually selling though. Very few 914s around here for sale recently as well where as during the low point of the recession there were a ton offered up.


I think things might stabilize a bit when people start to realize their is not made of gold

Guessing prices for a 6 wont be going down ever though.

I spent nearly a hour writing one of my diatribes about this issue. Read it, and realized that I was being too one-sided.

Yep, they are rising. The best, like Tod914's 2.0, and Steve's one-off, and pristine LE's will control the world of pricing for fours. Why? Because they are vintage and original.

The "real" sixes, in their small numbers, have gone viral in pricing but will drag the good fours upward also.

Tuner cars are individuals. The driver makes it what's important to him/her. But, if you are a speculator (and they control the markets for cars) you'll be looking for a 914 four that has the originality factor, or the WOW factor to make it flippable. Most of these guys are expecting to make a profit. Some are collectors.

MY opinion is that tuner 914's , while they have a niche, will never realize the potential that a stock vehicle will. Look at what Tod did! My God, he raised the bar so high! Because it was nearly bone stock and a premier concours car.

Here are the facts. Bone stock/mildly customized will bring the best seller values. No different that any other vintage cars. Its what vintage flippers want. And they'll continue to get it. Theey control the market.

However......your 914 is your 914. Do with it which makes you happy.

I once saw a 914 converted into a mud bogger, with a huge Chevy V8 in Louisiana. Body must have been 8 feet above the chassis. I liked it, though it was a cobbled up POS and broke. But it was that guys platform. I've seen worse too, but it was the drivers' perspective.

I'll always be a "weenie" because that's where I've been for 42 years. But, I've grown to respect others approaches. It's your car.

See what ageing can do to you?

Eric - starting to like the rear fog.
Pat

ps - think this was long, you should have read the first itteration

Truth in what you say Pat, but you're looking at it from a Collector and Porsche owners perspective. The Tuner crowd see's the 914's from an exotic speedster prospective and their interest in 914's increases the demand for a small and limited supply, which could have an impact on increasing the market value of a non stock or unrestored 914. I too am one who preferrs stock, but can appriciate a conversion if done right. Oh... and for the record I'm 21.......years older then you, so welcome to the beginning of the over the hill gang.

I can appreciate both and I know that molested cars, /4s or /6s will never reach the collectibility or prices of a nice original. Since my car was so far gone when I got it, I never thought twice about modifying it. It will never be worth restoring the right way - would cost more than it's worth. I think cars like that are perfect candidates to let people's imaginations run wild. And even they will go up in price as interest increases (again, never like an original car will, but they benefit from guys like you who keep yours that way).

I just dig the fact that everyone is realizing what a great, albeit quirky car the 914 was/is. We should all be proud that people are getting interested in them. I just hope I can score a couple more before they get really expensive! But I should probably pay for the wedding first... and all the other important things

On a related note, has anyone noticed an increase in the asking prices of junky used 914 parts on Ebay? I was perusing used 914 parts on Ebay the other night and just shaking my head at what people are asking on starting bids or buy-it-now auctions. It's like sellers think these are real Porsches or something...

When I bought my 71, it was prebasturdized with a 2 liter four with fake Fuchs. I decided to take it to what I wanted and added a 3.0, side shift, 5 lugs set up and big brakes. Lots of other details were ultimately improved. I was offered 30K for it after it was 90% done. Being compulsive and it still needed the oil cooler and a few other things I didn't sell. I was rather surprised that the money was offered so easily for a car who looks rather stock but is pretty heavily modified.

The car will never pull the dollars of an original 6 but as a resto-mod it will still fetch enough to pay for itself. This goes to show that there are people out there looking for nice 914s and willing to pay good coin for the right car.

I agree that the pristine 4 will always command a high price, but I think the 914 will go the way of the Ford Model T. The 914 is a great platform for high performance upgrades and there will be a market for a well done 914, just like the hot rod Model T.

--- Rob

Yes. Ebay, craigslist, thesamba. Cars and parts have gone up.

The interesting question is are we at the beginning of a price run or just seeing enough stability that prices are simply stabilizing (until another economic pop)?

I'm thinking about selling one or two of my 914's (with four nice 914's plus two TR6's I really can't enjoy each as much as I would like). So, if I do sell; do I think about selling now or hold out and see if prices rise through the summer? decisions...decisions..

Bill, price just went up! haha

LOL... project cars are getting cheaper!

DAMN!

I think the rise prices has several components

1) There are a limited number of 914s still alive.
2) Awareness of the cool factor of a vintage 914 at relatively low initial cost
3) People are jumping on the 914s left. supply vs. demand.
4) Improving economy.
5) General awareness of collectable value of old things. How many of us had GI Joes, electric race car sets, baseball cards, Lionel trains that were sold, given away, thrown away, or sold in a yard sale for $1? Folks nowadays understand that old stuff may equal big bucks. People would be reluctant to give away poor old Uncle Bob's little car for a song.

Since porsche bought vw recently, it kind of minimizes the "is it a real porsche?" issue. With boxters being made at Karmen now, it's another reason to say yes it is a real porsche.

As far as ebay prices go, it's all about who will pay for it. George has had an agenda to inflate the price of these cars since I've been into it. People see these ads and figure their must be worth that.

These could be yours for only $47, used rear soft brake lines. They don't even match!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-of-2-used-rear...058&vxp=mtr

Yikes!

Seriously? How much could new ones possibly be? Not to mention they are probably swelled shut by now and useless.

I watch the market like a hawk and I have friends in the early 911 market too. Prices are going up and a pretty consistent rate for our teeners, even more so for the 911s. I remember when I bought my car I paid $1500 for a solid project that didn't run. That was five years ago. Then I saw the market drop a bit and cars weren't selling, even nice ones. As soon as their prices dropped a bit they started to sell and the prices folks were getting went up accordingly.
I'm building a reasonable car that I can drive and not freak out about leaving in a parking lot or getting stuck in the rain. I figure it should be worth 10k when I'm done. I'll have about that much in it so it's a win for me. If I keep it nice the value should stay at 10k or go up a bit even though I'm driving it allot. Three years ago a car just like mine sold for $5800. I should have bought that one!
You want to see ridiculous prices? Try buying an early 90s Westphalia or any Karmann Ghia!

Didn't someone say that George was buying good tubs from the west coast?

I know a while back I had inquired on a couple of craigslist cars and George had beat me to them. If the prices do rise he will be well positioned!

I think the fact that prices are rising on "Old Porsches" has a good affect on anything over 30 years old with the Porsche nameplate. A rising tide floats all boats...even 914's