These are all wonderful cars and I would like to own everyone of them, but only one has my blood and sweat in it.
It comes with a couple of funny stories I will share.
When I answered the Craigslist ad, the car was 4 hours away. I talked to the son of the man who had owned it and had passed away. The car was in storage in his garage.
I purchased the car sight unseen, and sent a flatbed up to pick it up. I met the driver of the truck there and they opened the door.
This is the rusty bucket I found.
Click to view attachmentClick to view attachmentClick to view attachmentClick to view attachmentAs it made its way down the highway on the trip home, parts were falling off the car into the road. Not good.
Story 2 -
As I looked for a running 1.7, I found one while on a business trip to PA. I paid the man and it was to be delivered. Never happened. I will not post the links, but the engine we first installed was the infamous dANNY engine. Search is your friend! Your vote is earned right here!
I have met many good friends through 914 World, and many have helped me restore this car.
I called Al (Gandalf_025) one night and said "What are you doing tomorrow? Want to take a drive to PA with me and get an engine? It might involve violence."
"Why not." He said. Never mind it was about a 12 hour round trip run.
I restored this car over two years as therapy from health issues. I am not sure it helped me physically inhaling all the chemicals I used, but it gave me something to obsess over.
I lost my dog and my wife. The dog turns up at night, and I think he has been under the car bench all day, while I work on my projects. I find grease and oil on his head at night when I pat him.
My wife is another matter.
When I finish the conversion, I will have to take a look around for her. The oil and grease did not work for her.
Here are a couple of shots from Hershey 2014.
Bling by Zach.
Click to view attachmentand the parking lot picture posted above.
A vote for this car is a vote for the 914 World Members from the Northeast that have helped me on the way.
Back to the first day,
We had to drag the car out of the garage with the winch from the tow truck. All the wheels on the car had siezed. I found out later, that when I first posted that I was buying the car, Rich Towle had checked around looking for wheels and tires for me. I knew they were flat, I didn't know they were siezed. He did not know me, he just offered help.
Al comes by regularly to help me when he knows I am about to attempt something by myself that I should not be doing. Usually bringing parts that he knows I could use, after I do something stupid.
Steve (74Ravena) stops by offering encouragement and support. He is now the owner of the 1.7 that I have enjoyed for years.
When I bought a set of wheels "Fits 914" and they did not. Scott (Scott_in_NH) came by with his 2.0, and offered his wheels for fitment. We jacked up his car in the driveway and took them right off his car. He had bigger tires, and his wheels fit perfectly. This is how I learned my lesson about offset.
Mark (mksala) has an original 914-6 in Adriatic Blue and he lives in a town a few miles away. One night when I was traveling I got a call from my frantic wife. A friend had seen my car running around town. She thought someone had broke into the garage and was taking the car for joy rides. She felt unsafe, she felt violated. Later we figured it out.
Mark patiently tried to teach me autox techniques. He is fast. Very fast. I am not. Mark sends me notes now and then offering up parts and advice.
Eric (partsman) invited us to parade at the local Santa's Parade. We bump into him at shows and at Limerock Park. These little cars like to be driven!
And, I can not forget the gang that shows up at the Tangerine Open House and Rally, Hopefully we will bump into one another over the summer.
So, I respecfully ask for your vote, for the Northeast Group and the Canadian mooks I goof around with on CLUBNARP, Drive on!