I've allocated $10K for a restoration/refurbishment/upgrade of my long-time owned '70 914/4. This is a car I've had for 30+ years, autocrossed, rallied and concoured it. Its been in PCA, SCCA and BMWCCA events. Been to Parades. Been on family vacations north, south, east and west.
The reason for all this history...it's considered a member of the family and isn't going anywhere. I've refused a $5500 offer for it. The reason I mention that is to give you an idea of its condition. The body is virtually rust free, the battery tray is still intact, there are some minor rust perforations on the bottom pan, Stoddard fixed the rusted and torn right trailing arm back in '78, I have the original f & r pans and I have kept the car mostly stock with the exception of a Pedrini wheel and 195/55 tire upgrade and the fitment of a sport s/w. Paint is still good, but getting a little old from a '74 hail damage repaint.

So....do I,
1. Spend $10K on this early, but low performing 1.7 to get it looking really nice and extremely original? (Too nice that I might not want to drive it)

2. Do upgrades like 5 bolt wheels, sideshifter, sway bars, bigger brakes, etc. and "screw" the originality mentality? People seeing 5 bolt Fuchs wheels would think it an early six, but it would be a hoax.

3. Put a "6" in it and keep it looking the way it does, and have a "sleeper"? Add some discreet brake, chassis and suspension mods to handle the HP increase.

4. Try do build a "proper" and "authentic" 6 (I don't think that can be done for $10K), but still have "fake", "repro", "clone", "unoriginal" .

5. Leave it the way it is, enjoy its "authentic-ness", don't worry about it, and buy a Ducati , or a mutual fund with the money?

Since I've had this car for so long, I seen its "status" change constantly from un-wanted "stepchild", through grudging acceptance, from derisive regard to mild admiration. As the years pass, the car may even be attaining "cult status".

Old sports/GT cars always seem (to my eyes anyway) to look best at or near original configuration, be they TR-3s, 275GTBs, Stingrays, or 356s.
Since all, or most on this Forum are extremely knowledgeable, opinionated and, above all, ENTHUSIASTIC, about this very unique and wonderful car, I'd like very much to hear your input. Thanks in advance to all!

Subie Swap.

if you have 10k to work with, i'd strip it down, fix all the rust, and rebuild with minimal upgrades to near show car status... and enjoy for another 30 years.

Ferg

Since you asked, here is my $0.02 (might be worth less)

I say either inverst it. OR by another toy liek the Ducatti!
You already have a nice teener, so why pour all that money into it just 'cause you have it laying around!

The things that I was considering...

These cars are not getting younger. It is not far off a time when things will die on out cars, and it may not be possible to find replacement parts.

Their value seems to be slowly increasing, and it may prove to be a wise investment in itself to keep them for as long as possible in as stock condition(for resale purposes, my route eventually...)

But as for the 10K to be spent, IMO, I would pursue a subie swap.

Why? Take a 30+ year old car, install 3 year old engine and associated parts, and enjoy the looks and driving of the 914, without the back of your mind worries that bother some.


I.E., "Is she gonna restart after this drive?"...


Just a thought.

QUOTE (gopack @ Mar 21 2006, 09:03 AM)

Since you asked, here is my $0.02 (might be worth less) I say either inverst it. OR by another toy liek the Ducatti! You already have a nice teener, so why pour all that money into it just 'cause you have it laying around!

my $0.02 fix the little things that need to be done and invest the rest. Just don't stuck in "while I'm in there" mode when fixing the minor stuff.

My 70 wasn't "stock" when I bought it 3 yrs ago but I was ok with that since I want to AX it. Now if I had the extra $$ and the wife wouldn't shoot me I would continue the slippery path and make my 70 a true race car and then find a nice 74 LE with AC as my sunny day driver

YMMV

I feel like I'm somewhat in the same postion. My totally original '74 2L is nicer than most but there are a few spots where it could be refurbished a little. I've never been overly fond of the trunk rack and would like to remove it. If I spent $5K on a paint job and cleaned up the engine compartment I'd have a concours condition '74 2.0L. The question though is whether that is the car I want? I don't want to spend 20 hours on weekends preparing the car for concours competitions. I'd rather have more of a clean/driver hot rod 914. With a $10K budget I'd probably do a Raby 2270 kit engine and then figure out a way to get a presentable paint job for around $3-4K.

Since we are all in the fix/upgrade/make-it-better mode with our 914s, your direction should follow your goals for the car.

For my 74, I want to drive it every day. I want it to handle good, look good, with good power. I like the original body style of the 914 and won't change much on the outside except maybe chrome bumpers. I like the 5 lug look on 914s.

The suspension will be changed to a complete 911 front end with 4-to-5 lug converted rear end. Sway bars front and back. I have 7 in replica Fuchs for the front and 8 in for the back. All hardware has been purchased and is sitting in the garage waiting for me to get the time to work on it.

The 2.0L engine is good for now. When the suspension is changed and body work to fix some dents and some rust is done, then I will consider a power plant upgrade. I think I want to stay with a T4, just bigger. Would love a -6 but the overall cost scares me.

This is the path for my 914. Good luck with your "dilemma".

Spoke.

How are you going to fit 7 and 8 inch Fuchs without changing the body style??

I vote for #5. Keep it original and fix only what is necessary.
Before you go too far in investing another $10K, I would do a very comprehensive rust exam. If the car needed major rust repair in '78 it would seem that much more could be required 28 years later. That and paint could eat up most of $10,000.

#1 or #5

If you are going to a 6, I would be on the market for a conversion that is already done.

Since you asked for opinions, here is mine and my whole viewpoint.

You and only you need to figure out what kind of toy you want. If you want a stock car that is great, then keep it stock. I do not want to own a concourse car. They are nice to look at and oogle over, but I would rather drive it like it was meant to be driven and not spend every last minute polishing/maintaining/etc...

I chose to spend my money on a fun/fast/exciting/slightly updated car and that is what I'm working toward, (but in steps).

I like the looks of the 914-GT cars and one day mine will loosely resemble a GT/street car.

I'm not doing the hood pins/hole in the hood/fibreglass hoods, etc. I'm keeping those parts stock.

I'm doing a 3.2 conversion and have the flares for it, but they have to wait until later as I want to drive the car this spring/summer.

I am converting to 5-lugs with SC brakes. One day, I'll even put the 915 in it, but that is another project.

For me, a reliable and fun street car/toy is what I want. I don't mind modifying it, but really want to enjoy it as much as possible. I bought the car because it was fun to drive, not because it's fun to work on/look at.

My budget if all added up would be close to that $10,000 range.

In the end, I should have a car with slightly easier to obtain parts (newer), more fun to drive (more power and better brakes) and just what I want.


just my 0.02

Purchase a nice 6, or two nice 4's.

Heck you might want to try a v8, or a subi even....

That would be an investement....

Freshen up the motor for more power Really won't take too much money.
strip the paint and repaint. don't add another layer.
Just for interest wht number is your car.
mine is 945.

I agree with itsa914 and have similar interests.
My car was vintage raced I have now modded it to Autocross and will continue to mod it till the money runs out. Then make more money and keep modding it.

An un-molested car is worth a good deal of money in my book and will only go up in value. Early cars are special and I hardly thought my W case 1.7 was underpowered. Just not a good AX motor.

Joe,
My yellow '70 is #3114, built Jan. 70. #945! I've not seen one that low, what's your "build date"?

Porsche Rescue,
The trailing arm failure was attributed to the battery acid "run off". The rust on the car is no doubt the result of its use throughout the year in its first 7 years of its existence. By the time I became aware of a 914s propensity to corrode(in '78), the damage had been done. Needless to say, the car doesn't leave the house during "salt" season here in the Midwest. Each spring, when I get under the car to lube, grease and drain, I'm constantly and painfully reminded that the rust in the trailing portion of the floor pan isn't going away until I put a new pan in there. That's where some of $10K is going.

sounds to me after reading those replys that we are all on the same page. Don't do what we want do what you want ,your cash your result.
i am like the rest going for a fun/reliable sharp/dailydriver
may the teeners live
every 914 that makes it back to the road is on saved.
current total so far and it is in pieces is around 12000
Lord help me i am addicted

Let's see some pics of your car! And, you are only 80 miles from the Bluegrass Classic. So drive it down here in May!

It's your $$ and your car, but if I were in the same position, I might approach it like this (kinda like what would you do if you won the lottery)

Since it's already had a repaint due to hail damage, then I would repair and re-paint to get it as close to original as possible. Since your car is relatively unmolested, there's more value in the future because of that. If you mant more car, Subie, six, V8 or whatever else you might be looking for, I'd buy one that's already been taken down that road, you'll get plenty of upgrades for less than doing the same yourself.

I've got a Model T that was assembled from many others, back in the early 60's, and it's been in the family ever since. There are other early cars that I'd rather have, but for now I'm keeping the tradition thing going. The last thing that I'd want to be responsible for is turning it loose to some hot-rodder, there's someting to be said for preservation.

Good luck with the quandary
Eric

Technically speaking, you don't have a dilemma; you're in a quandary. A dilemma is a choice between equally unpleasant options; and none of the options you list are unpleasant, except the one about selling, which you've already rejected.

If you were starting from scratch, with your current knowledge of 914s, what would you be looking for? Engine? Wheels & Suspension? Body Mods? Paint Scheme? With your budget, you can have pretty much anything within moderation. Do you like the look of an original -6 without flares? Is the flat 4 heritage important? When you look at pics on this site, what types get the strongest response? The beauty of your choice is that you can make a sweet, reliable driving machine without destroying the character of the car. If I had to psychoanalyze your choices, I'd say you favor an original look but want a little more flair. I'll bet your dark desire is for a -6 but you don't want it to be looked at as phoney. If you do a -6 conversion, people may ask if it's 'real'; just like they've told you in the past that it's NARP. Even so, they'll respect the car for what it is. Unlike many vintage cars, the 914 doesn't need to be original. It's been a mongrel for so long that anything goes. Do what's comfortable.

Good luck.

Marc