Dumb idea of the day? 914 parts car

[Eric 951]

Came across a model year unknown 1.8 baby blue 914 VERY local to my work warehouse. No title--visible rust, missing doorcards, but otherwise complete which my be able to be had on the cheap(less than 500.00). No pics to post.

I am of the "if you have the time and space--part it out" school, but am a 924/944/951 guy. I know a little about 914s and the major weak points--especially the rocker panels and "hell hole" rust. I may be able to store it in our warehouse which would allow covered parting at my leisure, so I think I could recoup my cost plus some extra $$ easily.

I cruised the 914 boards/classifieds here to get a "base line" idea of what parts are going for and what parts are in demand. My local buddies say "do it", wife says "NO way", but what does the PPOT brain trust think?

[sammyg2]

914 guys tend to be a tad ....... frugal.

Not all, but many.

[t-tom]

914 guys are frugal.....thats why the 914 used part market is pretty hot. We sold a broken outside door handle on ebay for 55.00. 914 parts are pretty valuable. I'd jump on it.

[BReif61]

If you can get it for under $500, can you really lose?

[id10t]

The engine and trans core values are way more than $500 alone... gauges would be another couple hundred...

DO IT!

[diverdan]

That seems like a very good buy. However, its like buying a job, and a low per hour one at that. If it is for fun then that is a different story. All the best.

Diverdan

[Nostril Cheese]

Been there done that. Great if you have the room. Many parts are worth money.

914 owners are cheap, no bones about it. I know Porsche shops that wont work on them because the owners are cheap.

Eventually, 914s are going to be worth something as there's few of them left in original condition.

[sammyg2]

On the way home from Joe Bob's house a hundred years ago.
That's halfa 914 in the back of the pickemup.

[Eric 951]

I contacted the seller and am waiting to make arrangements to go look in person. Can anyone tell me where the data plate is located on the 914, so I can at least decipher the MY?

[quicksix]

The vin will be on the A pillar and for a four cylinder, will begin with a 4,followed by the model year. The left headlight bucket and left wheelwell have them as well.
If it begins with a 914 sequence it is garbage and I will take it off your hands cheap.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

914 guys tend to be a tad ....... frugal.

Not all, but many.

and flakey

[URY914]

He better pay you to take it if you're thinking you're going to make money on it. Trust me I know anout this kinda thing.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by URY914

He better pay you to take it if you're thinking you're going to make money on it. Trust me I know anout this kinda thing.

^^ yepppppp. You might be able to flip the 901, but realistically if it ain't locked up you'll have a hard time finding a buyer at 100$.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by Tobra

and flakey

Some of us, yes.

Best score ever, bout 10 years ago I was at a pick a part in Santa Fe springs and spotted a 914.
The driver's door handle was perfect, as was the chrome front bumper. You never see one of those without rust, pits, or dents. The door mirror was nearly perfect.
I believe I paid less than $50 for all of it.

I came home and posted about my treasures and a buddy in san berdo wrote back and made an offer, less than an hour later they were gone and I had a wad of money burning a hole in my pocket.

That was a good day tater.

[Joe Bob]

Vin# is under the windscreen driver side and on the fender well pass side in the trunk. Third number is the year. 1.8 is either a 74 or 75.

[Joe Bob]

Oh yeah, the fuel injection and smog crap shares components with the one year only 76 912E. That ride needs parts in CA as the DMV still demands oem smog stuff to pass the visual for 76 and up smog certs.

L-Jet superseded the D-Jet FI for the 1.8....who the hell knows why as they still did D-Jet on the 2.0s on the 76 model year......

[fastfredracing]

My buddy sent me a text about that car last night. I searched for it this morning, but could not find the ad, assumed it had been sold.... Did you buy it???

[Eric 951]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

My buddy sent me a text about that car last night. I searched for it this morning, but could not find the ad, assumed it had been sold.... Did you buy it???

Fred,

Didn't buy it yet. Going to look today at 1:00 PM. Didn't know there was an ad--a guy at my fab shop told me about it- and gave me the guy's contact info. The shop where the car is parked is 5 mintues from our fab shop-where did he post the ad?

The current owner really doesn't know anything about the car(year, or even model)--it was his father's purchased out of Arkansas.

[Eric 951]

Just an update--since I have been away from e-mail for the Holiday weekend.

I looked at the car Friday--it is a 74 914 1.8 rubber bumpers. The car was in poor condition--small hit on driver's front, no title--the interior was NOT complete--missing door cards, passenger seat--drivers seat was trash--smelled like cat piss. Motor was missing air box and portion of fuel injection, all exterior parts which I thought would be a quick sell were damaged or missing--no door handles, lenses all crakced/glazed--rust in doors--trunks looked pretty clean, hell hole wasn't bad--rockers were rusty--had standard 4-bolt wheels. Baby blue over black with a decent targa top and engine lid/trunk decks and anice driver side chrome mirror

Seller was very nice--younger guy whose father had passed and was just trying to get rid of the car--I gave him some more info on make/model and what I thought would be a value if he was offered--I said if you get anywhere near 500.00 to take it. Said he had a guy coming from VA with a trailer to look on Saturday.

Fred--found out he had it posted on Pittsburgh CL--you probably couldn't find ad because he has it listed as a "Porche"

[Joe Bob]

Rubber bumpers are 75-76 models.