A couple years ago, shortly after I bought my 4-cylinder car, I remember reading a post written by someone (don't recall who) who was selling his 4 because he'd been "bitten by the /6 bug". At that time I remember thinking, that will never be me. Why would anyone want a 6 enough to pay what they cost when you can have a 4 for such a comparatively small entrance fee?

Well, at some point along the line I got bit as well. After watching cars coming up for sale for about a year, I finally decided that I wanted to try to find one. Several months and several almost-buys later, I finally found a car.

I've been putting off posting this because I wanted to put some time into writing this thread. I wanted to try to capture or put into words the experience, the frustration of the hunt, the endless hours of scouring the 'Net, and most importantly the continued feeling of amazement when I walk into my garage and see her sitting there.

Nah. I think I'll just post some pics. The one thing I do want to say is that there are a lot of people in this community who helped me both directly and indirectly in acquiring this car. I greatly appreciated and appreciate their input along the way...I hope I showed it. Specifically I'd like to thank (aliases used to protect the guilty ) Sir Andy, McMark, Eric Shea, Dr. 914, Carr914, URY914, Gustl, DaveP, smg914, boxstr, TedK....and without a doubt others that I am forgetting, sorry. Oh and if you see your name on that list but don't even know who the hell I am, well, you DID help me out in one way or another...so again: thank you!

On to the car. This is a US delivery 1971 car, #283. It's a matching numbers example, stock specs. Color is Bahia red, original color with one respray. The car isn't perfect, but I plan to get it there. Short term plans include sail panel vinyl and (new) trim, black top, seals, new emblems, deep 6 Fuchs, new tires, correct stance, etc. I've been able to trace the history back to about 1980, confirming 65k original miles.

Enjoy the pics...

Taking delivery in Napa, what a picturesque setting...vinyards as far as the eye could see. The BMW is the car I drove to Napa from Portland, I started a topic a while back to that end...it was a fun drive down there.

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Camping on the way home. Imagine my surprise to come across this 912 along the way. Cool guys, they let us crash their camp site for the night when no others were available. Yes all that moisture made me cringe, yes this was the first and last offroad adventure for this car.

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I really like this shot. Bahia red is very difficult to capture in pictures, especially once you convert the image type to something reasonable in size. It is *bright* in person!

Somewhere south of Mendecino, gorgeous spot for a pic.

I just included this because DAMN did this brewery have good beer! Wish I could get it in central Oregon...

One more artsy one. Just love the color composition, this is the closest that any of these pics are to the true color.

Damn! Nice car. Congrats

Very cool!

Enjoy.

looks like a very nice car welcome to the world of the factory six. Now you can say i fire her off with my left hand LOL...Is that the car that needs H,E

Hardy har Eric, by the way the is in the mail...

I still wish we could have met up. Kinda of a bummer to think about such nice cars in my backyard and I missed them. But alas, such is life. See ya at WCR09!

Of and CONGRATULATIONS!

Very cool. Welcome to the wonderful world of 6s

PURDY

GREAT looking car! Nice to have an original red one. COVER THAT NAKED SAIL PANEL! I was embarrassed that you showed your 914-6 naked like that to the public!!!!!!!! (of course that roof needs to be refinished too!) Too many previous owners wanted to get that 916 look that I HATE!!!!!!!!!!! I think that if I had a 916 I would cover the hardtop in vinyl and install the factory side vinyl while I was at it.

I have North Coast Old Rasputin on tap in my garage

You should be able to find Old Rasputin and Red Seal in Bend, and maybe Old Stock and Brother Thelonious. Try the Newport Ave Market.

Awesome!
I was just down in Napa for my anniversary 2 weekends ago but, I was driving around in rented Solitice and not a kick ass /6!

Hope it is everything you wanted and more!!
Cheers!
Nate

That looks like fun.

That is a sweet looking ride. Congratulations.

Did you buy it from someone here in Napa?

Hey Reid,

congratulations

nice that you really bought this one - I'm sure that's a good deal

and welcome to the world of SIX ... close after me

Gustl

Congrats and Very Nice Car!!!!!

I bet that was a fun drive home!

Jim

Hmmmm, are deep sixes oem?
































Congrats.....

Awesome Car!!!

Congratulations!!!

Eric Read

wait a minute. i thought you owned the Peter Gregg 916...

sorry about the hijack

Grats. Nice looking six. Let us know when you swing back the other way and realize how much the 4 feels lighter and nimbler than the 6.

Way ta go Nut.

I dare ya to drive that garage queen over the pass to Dredford this week. Hell, I'll even buy ya dinner! LOL.

True Story
I drove my copper car while I was in Cali last weekend. What a difference


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Congrats on the six

the six`s feel heavyer because all the extra cion$ under the engine lid

Yeller!

Congrats on the six! That is just plain beauuuutiful. I'll have to shoot you a line when I get over that way. Love to see ti in person

congrats

Thanks all for the kind words! Let's see here...


Yep. Looking at the passenger side unit it appears that it did something to piss somebody off...more than once. It's already been repaired, I'm not going to try again.


Yeah Mark, bad timing...would have been cool to come by your shop. I seem to always get my cars in CA so maybe for the next one...

WCR09? Would love to but if it's gonna be in SD it's going to be hard for me to make it.


Ha! Wait...you don't own a 916? C'mon George, get on it. I agree though, sail panels and top will be going to back to stock look. I thought it was going to be easy but after reading Eric's writeup on doing it I'm a bit more nervous...especially because I'm going to have to redrill the holes for the lower trim piece.


Like you, I have a draft system and was referring to getting it in barrels. Can't get jack out here, it sucks. In Colorado I could get ANYTHING.


Nope, just took delivery there. Delivered the BMW to the guy I bought the six from, from Portland, and he trailered the six up from Phoenix.


And so it starts Mike, damnit. The urge to keep this car 100% original is one I'm struggling with. I want it to be totally original, with a few little touches that are easily reversible per my own tastes ~ wheels, steering wheel, suspension...things like that. It's ok right guys? Right? Still though, I do struggle wiht it. I have a lot of respect for these cars and for me keeping it 100% bone stock is a component to that. The wheels are in my garage though, so damnit I'm doing it!

ps: they're not anodized and you can't stop me...


Already noticed that for sure. But the power felt as I accelerate through higher RPM ranges in the six is definitely exhilerating, and FUN. Wait...Mike, are you saying I should keep both cars? Really? Should I? Someone just say so ~ after all, you all are the experts and who am I to argue? I'm sure my wife would agree.


Thanks for the offer E...one of these times I'll make it, no really! Alas, I'm headed the opposite direction this weekend for a little camping action.


Ok I digress....yes, Medford scares the shit of me!


Absolutely. BTW, the annual Sunriver exotics show is coming up, thinking about entering one or both of the teeners in that one. Saw one there two years ago, a nice signal orange 1.7.


One of the "fringe joys" of this car is that I now own two Teeners! Another one of those, "that'll never be me" kind of things. They look nice parked next to each other, currently the attached crappy cell phone pic is all I have to show for it, but you get the idea.

Thanks again all for the compliments and congrats!

Reid

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Ahhhh... I see. Do you tap Sankeys, or Cornies? My buddies and I split half barrel Sankeys into three Cornies. Comes out pretty cheap that way. Old Rasputin is the most expensive beer that we have done, and it runs $178... $1.44 a pint, or $1.08 a bottle. Beats $10 a four pack. Just did an Anderson Valley Hop Ottin'... $137 a half barrel direct from the distributor.

Next up is Great Divide Hercules Imperial IPA. $165 a half barrel.

mmm purtie!!!

nice catch!

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Congrats !!

And nice use of a forklift on a /6...