Saw the oldest known Creamsicle today, need your help

[bowlsby]

So I went to Monterey today to see this 1974 914 LE car as I have been intending to for a few weeks… it is the earliest known VIN 914 LE to my knowledge and has been painted out to look more like a standard 914. The buyer of this car will either make out well or lose his proverbial shirt.

It’s in pretty good condition overall…been repainted a few years ago. There are a few blems in the bodywork, but nothing too serious. The battery tray is gone and there is rust in the rear trunk…but its repairable, the longs look solid enough. It does not have a Certificate of Authenticity, but it looks real to me. The exterior trim has been painted over in black and the authentic front spoiler has been replaced with an aftermarket spoiler.

Original A/C (disconnected), great upholstery, cracked dashpad. Engine rebuilt maybe 20K ago, has 128K(?) miles.

But there is one thing VERY unusual with this car and it could make a huge difference in its value to a collector. It is subtle and you have to look hard and you have to know 914s and LE in particular. The rust does not bother me and is not what I am talking about. Please go to the 914 LE Registry and look at VIN 14375, the very first LE listed, review the photos I have posted and tell me what you think. Specifically:

Whats the one serious issue with this car and what is this car worth?

http://members.rennlist.com/914_canam/

Note that recent Ebay sales figures are also indicated on other Creamsicles on the 914 LE website also for your reference.

[9fourteen]

what is the box in the spare tire well for? Picture R.

[M. Hendrix]

A/C



M

[norustscott]

Smogged? air injector stuff on a 2.0l ???

[rockaria]

The front air dam is not an LE Air Dam from what I can tell, as you stated. And it has 75 or 76 2.0 heads that was designed for a stock air injection unit that came with the cars those years.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

At a minimum, the left-side head has been replaced with a 75-76 smog-pump head. The whole motor may or may not have been.

A non-original engine would affect the "collector's value" on the car; a non-original cylinder head probably would as well. With the utter lack of any LE characteristics on the car--the need to add them all back in to have a recognizeable LE--and the cylinder head swap, I would think that this car really isn't worth any more than a non-LE 2.0 in similar condition.

But I don't value the LEs as highly as some do in the first place.

--DD