Hi all, I’m hoping you can offer your wisdom. My grandfather and uncle raced this car in 71-73 in northern California and now I’m in charge of it. I really want to honor my grandfathers legacy and take care of the car, and also drive it and have fun. Here’s what I know so far:
1970 914/6 was purchased used from a dj in LA in 71-72.
Grandpa and Uncle re-jetted the carbs and replaced the cams(unsure if this was swapped back)
They raced it at Leguna Seca
33k miles on it.
Garaged it’s entire life
Rebuilt in 2003
Last driven 5 years ago.

I visited family who currently have it to see what needs to be done to get it back on the road and found:
No rust, one small paint chip that’s been patched, no critter damage, completely original to the early 70’s. Checked around the battery and there’s no corrosion.
My plan is keep it at my families house in their garage in Cali. I live in Hawaii and it eats cars, so sadly I can’t take it home with me. What do I need to do to get it back to drivable?

Change oil
Inspect air filter
Check and likely replace tires
Insurance!
What else?


Thanks,
Aaron

Purge all old gas lines, carbs and tank of old fuel, then replace all rubber fuel lines to be safe! Might be a good idea to bleed brakes and replace those hoses as well to be sure of safe braking operation before driving. You have a valuable treasure on your hands!

Not much to add on the maintenance list -- although a car that has sat for so long will very likely need carbs rebuilt.

But just wanted to make sure OP is aware of recent trends in the value of an original 914/6. See: https://bringatrailer.com/porsche/914-6/

I'm not going to opine whether it'll bring higher value in original condition or after being refreshed to roadworthy. But even if you intend to drive/enjoy it, the increasing scarcity and value of original /6 cars should probably be a factor in how you approach it.

Thanks, it was parked with a couple gallons in it, I was debating diluting it vs draining. Looks like draining is the way to go.
After that’s done, hand crank the engine to get oil where it needs to be was also recommended.

Regarding carbs/points and tuneups, anyone recommend a mobile vintage porche mechanic in the San Francisco area?

And:

So, was it raced or just tracked at DEs? Modifications? Log book?

Where in CA? Post photos?

Yea, low miles vintage 6 with all original parts zero rust rot or fading paint, all maintenance records…
Can’t sell it. Gonna work on it and drive it with uncle and my boys(6 and 12) but I do wish it was less valuable. For me the value is the wonder I felt Learning to drive stick at 14 in that car in my grandparents driveway. It still smells the same. If the boys ever wanna go drive it at Laguna seca I think I’d have to say yes. We still have grandpas turtle trophy for slowest lap. That would be me now!

I'd be damn careful with that.
So many members on here have one that non-stock stuff got installed on and those members are usually trying to take it back to stock in any way they can.

You really need a 914 specialist to oversee that resurrection.

Depending on what was done back in 03 I'd want every fluid, every filter, all rubber products, all cables, all know weaknesses inspected/replaced.

20 years is enough time on rebuilt brake products to rebuild them again, and PBR probably didn't do the first rebuild so re-plating most likely wasn't done in 03.
For a real 914/6 I'd do some research on the "hue" of the original cad plating and try my hardest to re-create it.

I'd keep everything I took off of it until I was absolutely sure it had no value and could be trashed.

I'd drain and inspect the fuel tank (internal inspection!) and either have it repaired or replace it. Entire fuel system needs serious inspection. Carb rebuild/linkage re-plating.

I'd also heavily document everything that was done now and hopefully the rebuild in 03 was also documented. A repair order is not good enough. Lots of pictures, parts receipts.
Commonly a restorer makes a loose leaf binder that he can add pages to as the project evolves.

One final tip...

Never, never say "the project is done" It isn't and never will be but I've had three friends that uttered that phrase and within 30 days their project car really was done.
2 were stolen/stripped and one was burned up in a house fire.
It's almost like Mr. Murphy gets insulted and makes it so...

Where most of the 914s on this forum are well below 6 figures the real 914/6s are closing fast and will end up 5-10 times more valuable than a 4 cylinder model.

The real 914-6 are valuable enough now that I would not use a real one for a serious performance build. You can mod up a 4 cylinder and it will increase the value and this is reversed when working with an original 914-6

Keep a big fire extinguisher with the project. Only times I've needed one is when it hasn't been available...

East bay nor cal. Silver. No photos yet. Just went over to check condition this week, planning to flatbed it to my parents garage in June and repair it there after schools out. I’ll post pics then.

Just tracked afaik. They weren’t competitive. Just father son bonding from what I can tell. Likely just a few track days. No roll cage or major engine mods. They were big into 60’s rallying where you drive a to b to c really accurately with a stopwatch.

I have a great and weird family. Uncles lotus and moms 60’s mustang and triumph were also at grandpas house. Sadly all those cars are gone, but they were my playground growing up.

I asked my mom about the details “they bought the car in 71 from a disk jockey in LA and drove it back home to the Bay Area.”

I am in San Ramon if you need anything.

This reply just shows how little I know. Gonna go research cad plating now. Yea, I’m not going to modify it at all if I can help it. Just keep it nice and drive through wine country a few times a year when I’m in town. If the boys ever want to be serious racers I guess we will get a Miata.

Not sure there is a such thing as a competent mobile vintage Porsche mechanic. I'd be skeptical of most people trying to lay claim to that title. If you want to hire someone to "wake it up" I'd take it to a reputable shop that specializes in these cars. You have a few choices in the Bay Area but Eason Auto Works in Oakland would be my first choice and my second choice would be Bauer, also in Oakland. Be prepared to pay real money. A good air cooled Porsche mechanic in the Bay Area has an hourly rate that requires a hefty budget for repairs. However, sounds like you have a car that is worth the investment. As a pandemic project I woke up a Super Beetle convertible that had been sitting in a garage for 15 years. It took more than 60 hours of my time, plus $1.5K in parts. An experienced mechanic who has done this before will be more efficient with their time, but you probably should count on at least 20 hours in labor and your parts bill will likely be higher...

EDIT: And I'd take Jeff Bowlsby up on his offer to help. I don't think you'll find a better resource in this area.

Congratulations on your 914-6. Here is a well respected, knowledgable Porsche guy:

https://mobileworkswest.com

Tom Amon has been working on Porsches for decades and knows what is what. He can come to you or you can take the car to his shop in Grass Valley, CA.

I know Tom Amon does mobile work…..or did anyway.
Surely someone has his number
Although he was in south BAy area.

Thank you! I txted my uncle asking for pics. I'll get them uploaded. Thanks for the references for shops in the area. it was rebuilt by John Skoien of continental Porche in Sacramento in 03. Looks like that is now Porche Rocklin. I'll get the VIN and ping them and see if they have records. I also Pm'd Jeff Bowlsby and asked if he'd come by to offer eyes and advice. We are in the next town over. small world.
Sorry I sound like an idiot. I won't eventually. Then I'll take my turn helping the new guys I promise.

you came to the right place!

Call Bill Eason from Eason Auto Works in Oakland. Not sure if he will do house calls but he certainly knows his way around 914s.
https://www.easonauto.com/

Tell him i sent you ...


Btw. i agree with the other comments above, be very careful what you do/replace on that car to get it back on the road. They only made 3300 of them and original parts are getting rarer by the day.
That said, replace all rubber fuel hoses (they like to crack and go up in flames) as well as all rubber brake lines (do *not* replace them with stainless, get OEM instead).

I'm in the easy bay, if you need another set of eyes ...

With todays fuel. Anything sitting more than three years will also need a carb rebuild

Great to hear that the new owner cares!
Enjoy the fun

Check PMB Performance in UT for anything brake related. They are the last word in Porsche brakes these days.

Sounds like you've got the show recs covered! I've had some issues with Mobile Works West (back when he was in SJ), so I'd say have it towed to one of the others.

--DD

@Aaronski1974


How confident are you that it was cad?

I did quite a bit of homework in preparation for plating things on our 914-6. Meaning I searched and read a lot. I am not a chemist nor have I sent anything out for testing. There is a thread on the Early 911S Registry forum that sounds pretty convincing that all Porsche models used zinc with chromate or phosphate for plated parts.

I am not trying to hijack the thread. It seems pertinent given he is planning to pursue plating. I'm curious as well.

This is a fantastic story. The really nice thing for you is that, yes, this is a *very* valuable car, but the only equity you've got in it so far is your memories and experiences, and your connection to family members that owned her before you.

So my advice is, spend the money as needed to get it right, and have fun *driving* her. Don't fret about this mod or that problem costing you some 'value'. That's all potential value. Someone could drop a piano on it from 100 stories and the wreck would still be worth more than you've got in it right now. (Heaven forbid!!)

There's nothing worse than having a car like this and *not* driving it. Trust me, I'm a veteran.

After imagining what it would be like to be in your shoes, I have a better recommendation.

I'd get someone involved that knows 914s inside and out and have them advise me what they would do if they owned the car. This person needs both concours and historic racing knowledge.

If it was raced in the early 70s and that could be proven (SCCA logbook, pictures, history) then the "race mods" might make it more valuable than stock.

It is a true "historic race car" at that point and keeping it as close to original race preparation might be the proper way to keep it.

A nice "survivor" is sometimes more valuable than the same car restored...

The real trick here is that the guy you have involved DOES NOT have a financial reason that might cause a conflict of interest.

Your guru needs to be "just advice" and not the guy who's doing the work.

I don't know Jeff Bowlsby but he is big time involved on the "originality" forum and appears to be a top-notch historian. I don't know what his historic racing pedigree is but I'd want his opinions on what should be done with that car.
You should take him up on his offer!

DennisV I have no idea what the factory plated the original parts with.
On almost all 914s that I will come across it will not matter anyway.
That specific 914 would be worth doing exactly what you have done and really nailing down what the original finish was.

Pictures of yellow zinc chromate plating colors are out there... looking forward to hearing and seeing more of your six

* dont loose perspective, in the end it's just a car, drive it & let those boys enjoy it

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mr. b is the man.
dedicated to 914 history.
with a very matured view on the why and the what of original artefacts and what constitutes one.

What an awesome story and a wonderful car! Can't wait to see pictures.

You couldn't have found a better source of support than here. Whatever simple or complex question you might have, ask here first and you will get an expert (not me ) answer promptly. I am always amazed

Most importantly, it looks like you have just renewed with the addiction. Enjoy!

“dont loose perspective, in the end it's just a car, drive it & let those boys enjoy it“

Good advise. These are simple cars to work on. Any decent mechanic can do the the things needed to wake up the car. Get it running and enjoy.