Should I pull the trigger on a 914?

[speeder]

Originally posted by SoCal911SC
BTW, the 73 and 74 2.0 are the same car, the main difference is that all the goodies (Fuchs alloys, swaybars, center console, chrome bumpers and a few other nice things) were standard equipment on the 73 2.0. Because of the declining US dollar in the mid 70s, Porsche was forced to make those items optional on the 74 to keep the base price down. But a 74 with the sport and appearance group options is the same as a 73. So don't get too hung up on the 73.

While I agree w/ almost everything else in your post, this paragraph is incorrect. Or I should say that it is correct that standard equipment was made optional in '74, but other than the rear sway bar I really don't know what else. The center console(?)

Here is a picture from 1976 of my '73 2.0 non-appearance group car; no chrome bumpers, alloys or vinyl top stuff on roll bar. Just a bare-bones car. I paid $2800 for it w/ low miles, (~26k), and a dent on the RF fender that you can't see in the pic. It was getting a jump-start on a 20 below zero day here, it was my sole transportation that winter. Went good in the snow and had great heat, too.

[speeder]

The explanation for my car had to be that in 1973 the appearance group 2.0 was a different model# and base price than the stripper, and then in '74 the appearance group was an option on the 1.7, and standard on the 2.0. (But did not include the alloys, read the sticker- they would have been a separate option). In '74, the 2.0 had steel wheels standard, but instead of the crappy VW hubcap type they were the "styled steel" sporty ones that Beetle convertibles frequently had. (Remember those)?

This "separate model" jive was not so unusual as you might think, auto makers still do it w/ option packages. Porsche wrote the book on creative window stickers where they would raise the price and include less at the same time; sometimes several times during one model year as the currencies fluctuated. They were bastards.

No way on earth was my car altered, where would they have gotten the painted bumpers? They did not exist in '72, but I will admit that a non appearance group 914 was a rarity, period. Who buys a brand new Porsche that is that cheap?? It was an expensive toy no matter what, compared to an MG or an Alfa Spider. My car was like an early "T" w/o "S" options group; you know- only 3 out of 5 gauges present, steel wheels, no deco rocker trim, etc...

P.S.: In '74, a lot of cars had the "Porsche" graffics/stripe down the sides, I never liked that.