I do not know if I have ever asked for any opinions here before; if not , here we go!

One of my closest friends passed away three-years ago due to cancer. He was a big-time hot rod hobbyist - did things over the top (all the time). Builds were never bound by financial constraint. Just a couple weeks prior to his death, we spoke about transferring his "dream build" to me. That ultimately became a reality just a few months ago - now what to do?

I have strong convictions regarding the number of cars I own - self-imposed limits if you will. I have to admit that at the moment - I am breaking my own rules! With that said, I have some difficult decisions to make. Not all the pros/cons are being presented (by me) at this time but suffice to say - I can make any argument for either conclusion.

The car I have acquired is not yet built but has over 80G's in parts and pieces . It is an aluminum monocoque RCR GT40 with the wide 4-inch Gulf Flares (per side ). It has 15" rear wheels on knock-off's and 16" wide Avon tires. It is bad-ass! The gearbox was rebuilt and prepped by G-Box to run inverted - it is a G50-52 turbo 5 speed, FI/ITB's - all of the good stuff and much coin required. The clutch pack is a triple carbon 7.25" Tilton unit rated for 1360 ft lbs of torque (not a typo)! Everything on this project is like this...

I would use the car ONLY as a hot-rod - no track duty. A departure from the 914 I have built. Performance wise, by comparison, it would never be the equal to my 914 on track - better on the street. I do not want to own both - a bit overkill in my opinion.

I have to make a choice - there is no rush in doing so - between the 914 and the GT40.

I have provided samples of RCR GT40's below in the event that you are not aware of the car I am detailing. Realizing I am giving you 10% of the story, per say, what would you do? Thanks in advance...

Tony

Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment

If it were me, I'm keeping the rare, animal GT-40, no question and no regrets.

Ouch. Tough call. At first I started to agree with Big Len, but I'm somebody who's said you can bury me in my 914. I think the sentimental connection to the GT40 is what makes it a hard decision. I'm afraid you'll regret either choice. Keep them both or give them both to me!

I love our cars.....but...no equation !

Tony - My $.02.
For me, life is a journey and the accompanying set of experiences.

With your race car/hot rod and the -6 you're working on, you have/ will soon have about maxed out the 914 experience.

If I were in that position, I'd go with the GT40.

The only thing that might change my mind was what happened with a couple bikes I owned back in 2000: I had a Honda NSR 250 and got all enamored with the Honda RC51 so I got one of the first delivered in CA. Guess what? It sat in the garage. Every time I went to ride, I found I just couldn't get enough of the little NSR. I sold the RC a couple months later.

So, imagine you had them both in your garage and the honeymoon of all that TIG welded AL, 8-stack intake and 16" wide tires is over. (or does that ever happen? )

Which one gets your heart beating fastest?

(Or, you could save yourself all the agony and simply sell the GT40 to me. I promise you can drive it when you're next in CA...!)

Best of luck with your decision!

I love both cars - but the friend connection wins the day for me and the GT40 stays. Condolences on the loss of your friend. The man who ends up with your killer 914 is going to be a "lottery winner".

Sorry about your friend. I just lost a buddy in January. So here what I see from the snapshot: his dream versus your dream. Your now not going to be driving on the track. You are changing your goals and choices to his? His passing is still fairly fresh and now you have a tangible part of him. It might be easier to change your self imposed car maximum. If you can afford and store them keep both.

I'm sorry you lost your friend.
If I had the money, I'd make an offer on the GT40.
Definitely my dream car.

No way I could part with that GT40. If you don't want to drive it just move it into the living room as a piece of art.

Just a couple weeks prior to his death, we spoke about transferring his "dream build" to me...


There's your answer. I'm sure it's a tough pick but seems to me your bud wanted you to see the project through, and obviously had the conviction that you would. And while most, if not all of us would love to be able to have the option, the fact that there's an additional agenda tied to the GT40 should make the decision a little easier. You're a blessed man, I would think that if you parted ways with the Ford, it might linger in the back of your mind perpetually.

But, that's just my opinion...

Whichever one makes you happy.

Well, sounds like he passed it on to you for a reason.
You know what to do .

I could only opine if I saw a picture of the 914............ But it would have a great story and be really special to outweigh the history of the transfer from your friend.

"I have strong convictions regarding the number of cars I own - self-imposed limits if you will. I have to admit that at the moment - I am breaking my own rules! With that said,".

" we spoke about transferring his "dream build" to me."

I think your the custodian of his project, with the dream of the first drive. Complete it and enjoy the moment of that drive. Then return it, or trust back to his family. (Value or car)

With all cost and finances being equal and fair.

I believe I wasn't as clear as I intended to be regarding details of the transaction. That is clearly my fault. Mark, I already own the car (as in I bought it). The rest - see below:

1) My friends family placed a very high number on the package after he died...they were
aware of our conversations but we were still too far apart. At that time, the total investment in "parts alone" exceeded 100k.

2) I was not "given" this car...I purchased it a few months ago. I have significant skin in this project and there are no strings attached.

3) When we couldn't come to terms on the cost years ago...I decided to build my version of the ultimate 914 (my interpretation only of course). I have ended up with significantly more money into my teener project than the original cost of the complete project.

4) The pictures I have shared are NOT my car but rather the same manufacturer. I thought a comprehensive, completed car would be better to share with everyone. They are really, really nice...

5) I really (really!) like my 914...it was and is my dream build for a dual purpose hot-rod/race car. I have well over 1500 hours (my hours!) into this build - I don't take that lightly. I also would not simply give me car away - it will take a very special buyer (one with class and balls)! Not that I want to exclude women, of course.

Thanks for the thoughts fellas - I mean it!

Tony

Tony - I'm just kidding about the offer. After paying my kids college tuition last week, I barely have money to put gas in my car.

But congrats! Nice "problem" to wrestle with.

Ha! I missed that one Mark...I do understand about the college thing though. My son leaves in three weeks for UGA starting 8 straight years of college tuition!!! My daughter is 4-years younger...

T

First thing I'd like to say to you is RULES A MADE TO BE BROKEN. KEEP BOTH! Find a way to do it.

Also, do you really think you would drive a GT40 Golf on the street? Good luck with that. Be easier to make the 914 the street car.

Good luck with figuring you're problem out with no regrets.

Your life revolves around the 914. Sounds like the GT would be a Coffee Queen.

I think I'd keep the GT as an investment, and keep doing things with the 914.

Besides, do you really want to be part of the Ford crowd

Sell the GT...it is a Ford

My condolences on your friend. Keep it in memory of him. If there was no sendimental value I would sell it.

Hmmmm.....

914 is the "track car" ...

GT40 is a "street car" (yeah right, but we'll go with it ;-)

So no "conflict" there (unless there's a "but honey" problem).

So I say - adjust your dang "person rule/limit" & just build a bigger garage if needed!

Even if you ultimately have to part with one in the future, you're making a judgement now without even knowing what that GT40 build will finish out like, & how you'll actually like driving it in the end (hard to understand not, but...) ....

So any decision today is made on incomplete info. today (even with your having 100% of the info. vs our 10%).

Plus - as Chef & others pointed out - your buddy passed it into your care to get it finished, so finish it, then drive it, then decide whether to sell it, or build a bigger Garage!



Cheers!
Tom
///////

Keep both of them if you can, and wrap the 914 in Gulf livery. Your friend might have liked that, and it will be faster on the track.

Sounds easy enough but...

1) I have TWO too many cars...not just one.

2) I already own (and have for a few years now) a better "track car" than either the 40 or 14 can or will ever be...

3) I am also in the throws of a very nice six restoration - somethings gotta give! My significant other is patient but she does have her limits!

4) My 914 will be going through the process of making it more of a street-rod with track duty fading (cage mods, door glass, etc.). My DSR is just so much better and cheaper should something go way, way wrong...

T

My 2 cents is don't discount the importance of your support group. Will you enjoy hanging out with GT40 people like you do your 914 buds? I find a large part of the enjoyment I get from owning a car is sharing those feelings with people who have similar values to my own. I'm by no means dissing the Ford guys, cause I was one, just saying check out some events that you might go to with the GT40 to see if the crowd fits you.

And then there's the issue of your putting all your effort, time and money into your friend's project, only to have the first thing people ask you- "Is that a REAL one?"

I bet you don't get that with your 914.

After having said all that, my favorite slot car as a kid was modeled after #73!

Again, just my $.02 .

-Harry

You and I. Build in a day. Just saying...

Reading between the lines it sounds like you took advantage of an opportunity to buy the GT40 and you shouldn't have. I've done that before and probably will again.

I've got 2 914s in the garage, 3 cars in the driveway, and 3 cars on the street. 6 of them need some sort of work done on them. 1 is Dads BBC Squarebody that I haven't decided to mod or Resto. 2 are a fix and flip. Plus a 10th car on the street that is a friend of a friend that I'm impatiently waiting for him to buy a new trans for. My plan started with a 914 and a DD. Too many cars at one time is relative

Almost every afternoon I turn on the swamp cooler and misters to ease the pain of 115f and try to cross off lines on the to do list.

Complete them both and spend plenty of seat time in each before making this decision. Don't let either one go before then. The decision needs to be made according to the size of your smile when driving. You can bend the rules that long. You must!

...I believe you need a self-imposed rule!

T

Tony,

You and I have spoken many times. Personally I would s
Keep it , finish it, drive it then decide.

Thanks guys...allot to consider!

T

Took me a while to consider my response. You wouldn't trade your wife for a new "faster" model, so why would you think of trading the teener in? Now having two wives... that's one to debate. I'm too old to handle a harem, but you might be up for it

Cringe, Billy, hope it didn't take too long. Never let your wife hear you compare her with cars or you'll end up with none. On both fronts. Different universe. (yes I got the joke)

Tony, I get your personal conviction to keep the toys within limits. But I sure hope you'll give yourself some time to ride this out before letting one go.

Just imagine the faces and thoughts going through everyone's minds as you pull up to the paddock towing your 914 track car with your super custom GT40.
Your friend would be proud!!!

Keep both if possible but the GT is first into the garage.

I have rules

1. Cars pay for cars. Which means only the money gained by working on cars on the side, or flipping, or parts sold, can be invested into the projects.

2. I'm at my limit... no more space I'd like to be done with projects by the end of 2018, and likely won't take on a new one unless I score a nice 914 chassis to put the wrecked car parts into.

Tony, sorry for the loss of your friend.
My son & I are big fans of the GT40's.
Devil may care....keep em' both!
Good luck.

Condolences, sorry to hear about your friend.

If the only thing stopping you is your self-imposed rule, I'd keep them both. When something extraordinary happens like this, it is fair to throw the rules out the window.

Sounds like it is NOT just your rule holding you back though. I'd try to keep one of them close, i.e. hand of to a son/daughter, nearby enthusiast, etc. I guess you would have to be lucky to know a person who is close, interested, and also able to handle such a car mechanically and financially.

The wife comparison is apt- you can pick one and once you do, you will occasionally have doubts but you have to trust your decision and stick to your guns! At least with a car, if a friend ends up with it they are more likely to let you take it for a spin for old times sake! :-)

I hope you follow-up on this story, I would love to hear how it turns out!

How much more money and time would you have to invest in the GT to complete and make road worthy?

That is not an easy question to answer...really. So much depends on choices...my vision would be different than my late friends. He was intending to build a dual purpose track/street car - emphasis on the "track" though. I would build, as mentioned previously, strictly a street oriented car.

T

This is the kind of decision we'd all love to have! Is there really a wrong decision? I'd be happier with the Prince racer, tangerine 914, and GT40 in my stable than with two racers and single street car. But that's because I don't get to the track as often as you do. You sound like a guy who values track time and, especially, beating down more reputable machinery with your 914. It's just too bad that you have to drop one of these awesome machines.

If space is a main consideration - it can be rented.

Have you driven a "street" GT40 yet? The car you showed is wonderful to look at, even with the body panels removed, but how are they to drive on the street?

If barely decent to drive to a Cars and Coffee event would you really want to hop in it for a few hour fun run to the coast or mountains?

I thought I wanted a Dodge Viper until I drove an '04 a few months ago, great car to look at but during my drive I decided not a car for me at all.

Mike,

No I have not - it would take modifications for me to fit properly anyway. Funny you say that about a Viper...I had one and really liked it. Back then, quite some time ago, they were terrible track cars. Now they're great.

T

.................if you are short, the GT 40 will fit AND you can drive under semis on the freeway

I think everyone is trying to describe apples vs oranges ... it's all fruit.

Post some pictures of your GT 40 ...............

We are all going to the big race track in sky....................

Thank you everyone...I have made a decision. I will repost when wheels are actually in motion.

Tony