914 what year is best?

Kmatts · 05-25-2006, 07:21 PM

I have no experience with 914s, plenty with 911s, 964s, 993s....I saw a stunning 914 today and now I'm wondering..... "what year would be the best to own". I'm guessing maybe a 73 because of the 2.0? I'm looking for opinions/advice. And if this has been covered many times, please send me a link. Cheers.
Kyle.

SGB · SGB's Garage

Well, objectively speaking as a '73 2.0 owner, it is supposed to be the "best" model all around. I don't know that the differences overall are that substantial, but the earlier cars (to 74 I think) had steel bumpers (sometimes chrome and always so on a 2.0) v. the rubber black ones that look/are heavier but seem to follow the lines of the car nicely to make it look less blunt. 2.0 liter cars were made as sorta a step up, with most options standard, like center console and fog lights.

tod914 · 05-25-2006, 07:55 PM

Aside from the 6's (70-72), 73-74 2.0. Most of the 73 2.0 (95 hp)came fully optioned from the factory. In 74 options were piece mealed and the car also aquired extra bumper pads on the rear. The 1.7 was replaced with a 1.8. Early 1.7s are pretty spunky. 75-76 2.0 88hp. Probally the last choice would be a 75 1.8. 74 1.8 prefered over 75 1.8. 75 has heavier bumpers etc. 76 model year was 2.0 only. But, condition is really more important than model year.

Dr Johnson book on 914's will tell you everything you need to know... excellent guide.

Kmatts · 05-25-2006, 08:17 PM

great info. I didn't know the options in '74 were standard in '73!
and yes, the early chrome bumpers are very good looking. I'll keep my search confined to a 1973 2.0. Can anyone give me an idea on price range to expect? price depends on condition, I know, but lets say for an average car and perhaps an extremely nice one?

tod914 · 05-25-2006, 08:29 PM

really hard to say.. prices vary so much. 7-8k should be a decent one.. very nice restored car 10k+, low milage original cream puff.. 14-20k although a few went for more than that. Seems the cars have gone up in value the past couple years. Chances are you would find a better deal on the west coast than elsewhere. Lots of variance inbetween.
Rust is the killer on these cars.. I think this site has a what to look for section.

Kmatts · 05-25-2006, 08:34 PM

Tod, thanks very much. I'll see if I can find the "what to look for" section. I'll likely be going for a "very nice restored" one. That is a bit more than I was hoping to spend.....oh well!!!!

tod914 · 05-26-2006, 04:28 AM

Sure hope that's helpfull. There are always deals around. So if your patient and wait for the right car, chances are you'll get a nice one for a good price. Maybe 20% less than what I quoted. Those numbers are just rough guidelines. Im sure some other members might be able to provide you with more accurate/definetive pricing.

heres the link
http://www.pelicanparts.com/914/How_to_buy_a_914.htm

914club.com has classifieds
ebay.com
http://ww2.collectorcartraderonline.com
hemmingsmotornews.com
pca.org - browse the local chapthers
camp914 (might be a good resource in finding a car for you)
and pelican here

Parts add up very quickly on these cars... as I'm sure your well aware. Always best to buy one that someone else emptied their pockets into so you don't have to.

SGB · SGB's Garage

Todd has great advise here, basically, I think the only place you will find one that has already been TLC'd is the classified here at PP, or at the 914club.com, and I guess in Panorama, too. I really think $10k should buy a really good example. Good paint, bumpers, rubber, prolly repaired "hell hole", maybe some miles or carbs instead of FI, but otherwise a "good-as-new" 914.

tod914 · 05-26-2006, 07:48 AM

I think a nicely restored car with a fresh rebuild (documented) from a reputable source is probally your best bet. Only thing to consider, unless you have photos of the car prior to repaint, kind of difficult to determine whats underneath. PPI is important as well, leak down and compression check, etc.

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

The best year 914 to find is the one that has the least rust. Condition, IMHO, is so much more important than the details of year, etc. You can swap almost all of the important parts (bumpers, engines, transmissions, etc.) around with a relatively-little amount of work, especially when compared to fixing rust holes.

That may be changing somewhat, now, with the value of these cars on the rise. "Originality" might be starting to become more of a factor. If so, then which year you get also takes on more importance, because that in part determines what kind of "stuff" can be on the car.

BTW, the 73 1.7s did not have all the options "standard". And there were some 73 2.0s that were delivered without some of the goodies.

--DD

Kmatts · 05-26-2006, 08:02 AM

Tod & Scott, thanks very much for the info. I've read the links and looked on collector car trader.
I found this to be pretty useful as well.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/914_Darling_FAQ/914_Darling_FAQ.htm
It really seems to me, that there are very few unmolested 914s out there. Some pretty nice cars around the 6-8k range even, but all are carbs not injected. Are you guys running carbs?

RSBob · RSBob's Garage

Echoing what Dave said - I have a '71 with virtually no rust (just a few little dots in the headlight buckets) with a 6,500 2.0 soon to get a side shifter. I am upgrading an earlier car, with no real rust issues.

Kmatts · 05-31-2006, 07:46 AM

Dave & Rick,
thanks guys, that is GREAT news and info. I'm looking at a few cars locally. one project car that has some potential. I will keep you posted if something good arises.
Cheers,
K.

AZ914 · 05-31-2006, 11:15 AM

Kmatts,

If you are up in the Seattle area as your location indicates, you might want to check out CAMP914.COM (in Oregon). Member BOXTR (Craig) is the camp counselor and has a way of finding very nice 914s. He always has a few for sale. Not the cheapest but usually nice examples.

Jason Porter · 06-04-2006, 07:57 PM

I recently saw a 72 with a V-TEC Honda engine in it...

914 handling, Japanese engine...

Kmatts · 06-04-2006, 07:59 PM

Jason, thanks much...I'll check out the site.
Kyle.

D1A3 · 06-14-2006, 07:29 PM

Aside from condition (most important), you can take most any tub and build it the way you want. Thsi is one of the things that is great about the 914. I have a 1976 with the bumpers backdated to chrome ones. I like it because there are subtle updates/improvements to the chassis that are not there in the earlier cars.

If your lookign for something as a keeper, you may want to try and find a 73-74 as offered up above.