i've restored an 80 vw westy and a 68 vw single cab truck. i'm looking for a new project. i've lost a ton of $$$ on these projects but it keeps me sane. i like the look and history of the 914 and it seems that project-status cars are around for a decent price. does my previously-dented wallet prepare me for what's ahead if i go this route, or are we talking a completely different ball game?

i "restore" vehicles to make them safe and fun and usable, not showroom or anything like that.

what should a guy look for in a project car?

First and foremost rust. Always look for rust. In general there are 2 kinds of 914's out there. Ones that have rust, and ones that have had the rust repaired. Chances are if you are buying a project 914 its gonna have some level of rust. Thats OK, you just want to know what you are getting and what makes sense to repair.

As far as $$$, these cars share more with 911's than with any VW. So expect Porsche parts prices.

Mechanically, I would say you are prepared.

get the rustiest one you can find - it will keep you busy for generations : )

start with a decent one - and your efforts and expense may not come close to the other vehicles you have tackled.

i am assuime a type IV 914 - a concours condition 914-6 cone is gonna cost you big bucks.

i won't say to think about a chevy powered 914 - i won't do it - nope : )

see my blog

jim

Here's what I would suggest.

Rust, as with any 35+ year old car is a serious issue. Structural rust is the most costly to repair. So, Id look for an orignal tub from a dry part of the world - Arizona comes to mind. So long as you stay with a "four" and, as it sounds, can turn a wrench, you should not suffer.

The mechanicals & interior parts are readily available, for the most part. With the proper basic structure, purchased at a juditious price, you should be able to (at least) recoup your costs - for a decent driver. Go the originality direction & you'll probably suffer again.

IMHO - Pat

this sounds intimidating. but what does it mean? never having owned a porsche, i have no frame of reference.

thanks for the tips all, it sounds promising.

another question i would have is what do these cars "feel" like? while i applaud the reliability of modern sport vehicles-especially japanese ones- a complaint i have is that they lack character and personality. i once had a fiat spyder that was a complete piece of unreliable junk but i loved it because it drove, sounded, and smelt like no other car.

These cars feel amazing. One of the most fun cars I have ever driven... and I have driven many very $ cars. I have a picture of my son when he was three months old while we were in a Mercedes SLR, and another while he is in a Carrera GT. If I could buid a 914 or own one of those I would still choose my 914. Plus, no one expects it to be fast. You can make these scream and go around corners at much faster clips than most other cars.

what do they feel like?

these cars are one of the best handling cars you can find. With the near perfect balance of the car, the ablilty to go through turns is outstanding. Also, they are fun to drive. My car with a mild 2.0 type 4 may not be the fastest or quickest car, but it can always bring a smile to your face. If you like to drive, this car is probably for you


just watch for rust, and make good friends with us, and we can help you through the process

Rusty,

Come out to Western Speedway May 11 and I'll give you spin in my 73. I'm the Competition Director for the local PCA region (Vancouver Island Region) and we will be having an autocross. Registration is open at 1 pm I'll be there.

The only car that a 914 can be compared to is.........well another 914. Mine is not typical though. The old 90 lb springs have been replaced with 200 lb springs and I have Koni sports on all corners, sticky tires etc. Of the three 914's that autocross my teener is the slow(er) one.

Anyhow if you can make it out it would be great to chat. We're always looking for fresh blood more participants.

Conrad Peden

Go to Pelicanparts.com and price some parts you typically need. Brake pads, clutch, etc. and parts you may think you'll want. Suspension upgrades etc. Maybe that will give you a frame of reference.

I didn't mean to intimidate you. But sometimes people think these are just like VW's. They are mostly like Porsches. The only thing they have directly from a VW is the motor. And, if you end up with a 2.0, even that is slightly unique due to the Porsche designed heads. The prices aren't insane, but they are a little higher.

914's are all Porsche in a good way too. Basically they are like go-karts for the street. I don't think you would be disappointed. If you asked a bunch of ice cream lovers if they liked ice cream, what kind of answer would you get?

It is so true...Everytime I slide behind the wheel, it's like the first time

Some of the Fella's have mind numbing, ball shrinking, fire belching Monsters.

I am not one of those, but a warmed up type four will propell these little cars to

speeds that the suspension and brakes (when maintained)will handle without any

problem. They handle like it's a part of your body, funnest fuching car I have ever

driven. Now on to the parts, not the cheapest, but alot of us go to swapmeets,

watch ebay, etc, and build these on a pretty meager budget. But the high point of

all of this is the 914 DOES accept 911 parts, suspension (up to 1989), the

whole front suspension just bolts in. M/C too. Rear brakes... Well you'll see. Bottom

line, The extra cost of the parts is easly made up by the superior experiance when

driving. But I am biased. My .02

Rusty,

If I were in your position, I'd be taking Conrad up on his offer. He's got quite a collection of pictures from his car in the beginning and the whole process to get it where it is today. Nothing like experiencing it to help decide to go for it.

That, and he's a pretty nice guy with a cool car.

I am surprised nobody has mentioned the WCR that is in July. If you want to see 20-30 or maybe more 914s in one place, they will be in Seattle in July. That's not far is it?

As an Ic cream lover, and a potato chip lover, I can offer the following advice:
Every time you drive a 14 it's a new challenge and when you get it right it'll give you a massive high!
I have owned an ice cream flavored 944 which was lovely but ultimately I got bored with it. I then tried a Toyota Celica GT4 flavored chip. The only way I managed to maintain interest in that was to keep adding go faster modifications. Then I had a TVR which made the most intoxicating sound but the rear wheels just wouldn't stay attached to the road.
With the 14, if I go for more than a week without driving it I start to get withdrawal symptoms. This causes me some considerable difficulty, living in England, since I don't like to take the car out in the rain. Over winter I often get quite severe cold turkey......
Conclusion: If you like cars with character you will love a 914. But as the others have said it won't be cheap. I just wish I lived in the US as you have such a wealth of specialist suppliers.

That question is easy to answer. There are a lot of 914's in your region. go for a ride. Better yet, I'm sure you can find a 914 owner that will let you take a spin in the driver's seat.

unfortunately i'll be outta town that weekend, but damn, you guys make it sound so easy. there's gotta be a catch. i must have spent like 9 grand on that single cab (that's my story and i'm sticking to it in case my wife reads this) and it doesn't sound like a 914 would too far off. i should try driving one first tho, because i'm a sucker for the unusual. if it's just like any old car i'll get bored and won't finish the thing. doesn't sound like that's too likely.

The truth is that you can spend as much or as little as you want on your 914. No I don't have all the latest high-performance stuff, but for a daily driver, my cost per mile (including all upgrades, maintenance gas, insurance, tires,etc) is about the same for my 914 as it is my Hyundai Tucson.

This only works if you decide to turn your own wrenches, look for the best pricing on parts and budget your expenses. Yeah, I would love to have a show car like many of the cars your see on this board, and I plan to have as nice a car as any of them in the future. The difference is that I have a set budget I can spend on my teener each month, so I have spread the upgrades out over two years. In the meanwhile, my bad paint discourages anyone from stealing my ride

As a daily driver, I put about 15,000 miles on my 914 last year. This included M-F going to-from work and weekends goofin around SoCal. I don't track or AX my 914, as I believe it would overstress some of my older parts (which are shceduled to be replaced later this year.).

Anyway, driving the 914 is a blast. But you have to get used to people coming up to you to tralk about your car. On weekends, I have a minimum of two people a day who either want to tell me a story about a 914 they once rode in or ask me "What the hell is that???". The 914 is the most cost effective "exotic" car you will probably ever own. Good luck with your decision... And if at all possible, take them up on the ride. But I'll warn you, some of these cars (and their drivers ) are animals.

OK, my standard rant that I've bored people with since 1973: two trunks that hold an amazing amount of stuff, even when the convertible top is stowed in the back trunk; did I mention the simple, elegant top? Goes on and off in less than a minute. Because of the fixed rear window integrated into the nominal roll bar, there's less wind turbulence than your typical roadster. Wide, roomy cockpit with basic instrumentation - find one with a center console for extra guages. Huge gas tank with 25+MPG possible. Rack and pinion steering, four wheel disc brakes and mid-engine configuration provide handling and stopping that has to be experienced. Most people, after their first drive or ride, come back saying...."I had no idea....."

Because you're so low to the ground - eye level to the door handles of a Mini - it feels faster than it really is, so that even at slower speeds it's very fun. You will find excuses to go to the store.....and then take the long way to get there. You can have a blast with a stock 1.7 or hot rod with an amazing variety of engines. Over the last 38 years the mid-engine platform has been exploited in so many ways that it boggles the imagination. It's truly become an exotic hot rod platform.

Best yet is the community of 914 enthusiasts that is frosting on the cake. I've been involved in a lot of vintage car clubs and the expertise and attitude of the people here make me proud to own one of these little jewels. You may have a hard time stopping at just one!

Here's just a sampling of what owning a 914 is all about:

If we haven't convinced you yet... Then it's probably a bad idea.

Just drive one. I bought mine last fall and put about 1500 miles on it. Then took it apart and replaced worn out parts and refurbished the rest. I've had it back on the road about 1 month and drive it to work everyday that rain isn't predicted.

Mine's only a 1.8 but damn it's fun to drive! I only wish the roads to my office had more curves in them. Someday it will have a 2056 or 2270.

i'm convinced. now to figger out how i'm gonna pull this off