39 years ago today

[GH85Carrera]

I took delivery on my 1974 914 2.0

Friday, September 13th 1974 and 12:02 PM on a sunny day my 914 finally arrived at the dealership. I brought the car back in on Monday morning with 605 miles on in ready for the first service.

In March of 1974 I went to the local VW Porsche Audi dealership to order my dream car.

I was 19 years old and had been saving money and building credit for "all my working career"

Not one salesman would even acknowledge me. I finally picked out the old Grey haired guy with the biggest office and sat down and stared at him. He finally ask if he could help me. I said in a loud voice "yea, I am here to order a Porsche" I knew way more about 914s than any of the salesmen. I started with the list of what I wanted and he said they don't have any like that. He really want to sell the Orange and white Limited Edition on on the floor. He wrote up the order, I wrote a check for $6,742 and he said it would be in next week. What a lie. That dealers number is 277-1700. I remember that because I called every morning and they said it would be in this afternoon. In the afternoon they said tomorrow.



This was taken in about 1979 when the rear springs had worn out. The Bilstien shocks were stiff. There was a dip in the road and the suspension was compressed but the shocks would not let the wheels move out. I replaced the spring right after that and it would not hop in the air anymore.

The 914 was my only car and I had no garage until 1980 when I bought my house. After I got married we took a fall foliage tour to Arkansas. It was a hot fall day and all the makeup my wife had melted in the rear trunk. She said I needed a Porsche with air conditioning. That is when I started looking for a 911. I could not keep the 914 and the 911 so once the 911 was in the garage the 914 was put up for sale. I sold it in 1995 after 21 years and 160,000 miles.

I don't know how many Friday September the 13th have passed since 1974 but that day is forever burned in my mind. It was a great day.

[Rot 911]

Glen, that is a great story!

[MotoSook]

Nice story. Happy 13th.

[UconnTim97]

Woderful story! Thanks for sharing.

[herr_oberst]

Cool story!

What was your CB handle?

[GH85Carrera]

This is me and the car in 1974.

I haven't changes a bit except to grow a beard.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Cool story!

What was your CB handle?

Blue-streak.

[FLYGEEZER]

Thanks for sharing your story. I've never had the means for a NEW Porsche but would love to have had the chance .... with some asshat salesperson that thinks they are above the customers purchase decisions or abilities to pay for the purchase.

[GH85Carrera]

Credit wise I could walk into the dealer now and buy a new 911. I just can't imagine spending that much money on a new car. My wife wants me to get a Caymen. I would sell my 911 for the right GT3, but I don't really want to look. I really like my PAID for 911. I have not had a car payment in this millennium.

[FLYGEEZER]

Likewise.....Haven't had a car payment since 1999 or any debt since 2008. I do get tempted however. But then again there's the grandkids. I'm at the point I enjoy doing for them.

[tweezers74]

Originally Posted by FLYGEEZER

Likewise.....Haven't had a car payment since 1999 or any debt since 2008. I do get tempted however. But then again there's the grandkids. I'm at the point I enjoy doing for them.

That is the coolest story ever, Glen. I love hearing stories like that... About somebody's past. It defines who you are and is very telling of the person who I know now. Thanks for the pictures too. You're right! Exactly the same except with a beard!

And FLYGEEZER, that is such a sweet thought. That you enjoy your grandchildren that much to forgo a new car for yourself. I hope your grandchildren know what a wonderful grandfather they have. My maternal grandfather passed away when I was very young and never met him. I was already in the United States. I met my paternal grandfather only a handful of times before he passed away. This was after he moved to the US. I am so happy that my boys are close to their both sets of grandparents. Hugs!

[Z-man]

Cool story -- I think its the fact that your story is about your 914 and not a 911 that makes it appealing... just sayin'

-Z

[javadog]

Did you buy it from the dealer in OKC?

JR

[speeder]

Your story brought back a flood of memories for me, being a teenaged gearhead in the '70s. I am 4 years younger but I bought a '73 914 2.0 in 1976, when I was 16. I got a loan from my dad, I'd done something to please him, (which was rare), and caught him in a generous mood. You must have really had your act together at 19 to swing that.

I had already owned a 1971 914 1.8, bought for $500 with some body damage and rust from one of my neighbors, Dave Durenberger, who went on to become our U.S. Senator for a while until he left office in disgrace over some campaign finance scandal. That car had an interesting history of its own. But I digress...

My next door neighbor, exactly your age and a good friend, was on this legendary HS football team that won the Minnesota state championship. He had a lot of cool friends and actually let me attend his huge keg parties when his parents were out of town, even though I was his 8th grade neighbor. Just imagine "Dazed and Confused", down to the hot Scandinavian nymphets in bell bottoms, bong hits with the big dudes, the whole football team + the rest of the school in one house, etc...

One of his best friends and team mates was this guy named Kim Edwards, a big black kid from the champion team who went on to play college ball if not mistaken. He had his act together for a teenager and he owned a brand new 1974 914 1.8 in lime green with the Appearance Package and 914 Fuchs, god was it beautiful...I envied it as much as any muscle car at the time.

Thanks to the wonders of the internet, and FB specifically, I recently re-connected with my neighbor and good friend who now live in Olympia, WA. I had to check his friend list for familiar names and sure enough, there was Kim Edwards. Amazing memories for me and thank you so much for sharing your 914 story!

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by javadog

Did you buy it from the dealer in OKC?

JR

Nope. This all happened in Montgomery Alabama. The dealer was Southern Motors.

My dad gave me an interest free loan to buy my first car, a $600 1960 VW bug. He paid for the insurance until I turned 18. I paid for 100% of all expenses for my cars. I can remember buying a set of recap tires for the bug. A set of 4 mounted and balanced was $30. The car would only go 70 if there was a tail wind.

I never drove one of my parents cars until I was over 21 and needed a large trunk for some project.

I did all my own maintenance because I was cheap.

I was hired for my 1st job when I was in 11th grade. I was sitting in class and the professional photographer the school used to shoot group photos for the year book asked me if I wanted a job. I was hired that afternoon. Since 1970 I have only had four working days with no job.

[Geneman]

wow what a great story really amazing ..and love the cheesy leather leather sunvisor totally biker chic seventies.. if it were my car then.. (a red 72 barracuda with shag carpeting) there likely would be "seeds " to vaccuum up and an 8 track ... thanks for sharing frank great memories

[GH85Carrera]

When I ordered my car I asked about the factory radio and it was stupid expensive. I opted for no radio. I bought a 8 track player and installed it myself.

It was a real challenge to find speakers that would mount into the foot well speaker covers. There was no internet and I could not even find the Porsche club. It was not until 1976 that I finally found a PCA member. The closest region was the North Florida region! I had to drive 100 miles to Dothan Al to autocross. I still have a FTD trophy from the North Florida PCA "Gulf-fest 1976" event.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

This is me and the car in 1974.

I haven't changes a bit except to grow a beard.

I've got one of those 50 lb grey beards also

Cool story Glenn! Mine was a brand new Jeep CJ5 at 17 back in '77...also from my "working career" 'cause I knew dad wasn't gonna buy "my wheels"

[gatotom]

Those 914's were sweet cars, I had a 70.

Yesterday 9-12-2013 traded in my 2006 A4 S-Line for a 2013 A4 S-Line, feel like I am driving a giant computer.

[GH85Carrera]

Yea, the 914 was a fun toy.

It is pretty much a safe sex car for old geezers. I can attest that if one is 19 or early 20s and has a limber girlfriend it can happen.