Free 914?

944 fanatic · 08-22-2002, 06:56 AM

Hey there guys, as you can see from my screen name, I'm a 944 guy. I have to say I've always dug the 914 and said that if one should present itself to me, I would consider picking it up.
Well, one presented itself to me.
The car is free (1970 914) if I tow it away. It does not run right now, but I think with some TLC and a large amount of wrench turning, I could get it to work...
What are your thoughts on this? I know all about the '44, but practically nothing of worth about the '14...
It's got a little rust (really not that bad for a somewhat neglected 914) and the battery tray has leaked onto the suspension mount.
I wouldn't be looking for a perfect example anyway, so maybe starting from scratch with a free car is the way to go...A ground up resto doesn't really scare me too much as I wouldn't be on any kind of timeline and this car would just be a project to work on. I'm selling one of the 944's and the other might gte lonely, so I figured, hey, free 914, what the heck?!
Am I foolish to think I can do this? Really I think I just need a good solid push and I'll jump right in....anyone?
Just for my info, what does a decent 914 engine go for? I would want a 2.0..
Thanks in advance for any info you can give me.

Paul
84 944
87 944
70 914 (?)

Paul_Heery · Paul_Heery's Garage

OK. Here is what you should do.

1. Go over the free car and build a list of things that need to be done to make it roadworthy.

2. Add up the cost of all of the parts and the labor that you can't do yourself.

3. Take the total from step 2 above and go out and buy a 914 that is in roadworthy condition.

4. Slowly take parts from the free 914 and use them on the 914 that you purchased.

5. Pay someone to take away the pile of rust (free 914) left in your driveway.

anthony · 08-22-2002, 12:14 PM

I'd take it for free. See if you can get it running for cheap. I agree with Paul though, it doesn't sound like it's worth restoring.

JWest · 08-22-2002, 12:36 PM

1. Get it.

B. Have someone who knows 914s check the rust and tell you if the car is solid.

> If solid - consider restoration but weigh the costs against buying a nice 914.

IV. If structurally compromized, either use as parts for another 914 you purchase, or sell the parts and make some money.

Paul_Heery · Paul_Heery's Garage

e. Very funny

944 fanatic · 08-23-2002, 07:52 AM

Well I think I've made up my mind. I'm going to take the car, go over it with a fine tooth comb, and make up my mind what I want to do from there.
If anything, it stillhas the original Fuchs, which are in pretty good shape, so that right there makes me some money on the deal. Although lets say I part the car out and sell off the fuchs, how do I have someone tow it away? Hmm...This requires further thought.
On the other hand, this isn't something that I need done within the next year or two or even three, so if it took a ton of time to get it roadworthy, I don't think I would mind...I'm kind of enamoured with the idea of taking this POS old Porsche and making it roadworthy again. I know it would take a lot of time, money and patience, but in the end I think I might enjoy it. And, if, at any time I decided I was in over my head, I can always part it out on Ebay.
So, I'll be picking the car up tomorrow. Thanks for the input everyone.
(Major deciding factor - The "Boss" said "Go for it. You know you'd love it." Man I love this chick...)

Paul_Heery · Paul_Heery's Garage

Paul -

I'm not sure where you are located, but here is a suggestion. Before you go to pick up the car, see if you can arrange to buy the car from the owner for $1. Then, write up a bill of sale for that amount. This will help you later when you either 1.) register the car or B.) junk the car.

joel_m · 08-23-2002, 03:09 PM

Listen to Paul. It could take you 10 grand in parts to get to the point of one you can get for 5.

joel_m · 08-23-2002, 03:21 PM

A car that's been sitting up can really go to hell. Best to start with one that's been driven. Sometimes free isn't always good. Just advice from someone who restored car parked for several years. I mean everything functional had to be rebuild/replaced, not to mention the rust. If it was the only 914 left on earth, maybe it would be worth it. Of course it depends on the conditions it was stored in and how long.

Kevin Powers · 08-24-2002, 10:09 AM

take parts off it ,sell them, and make money?... ha ha ha ho ho, stop it james you're killing me.

kevin

AaronM · 08-24-2002, 07:53 PM

Money-wise, you're almost always better off to buy a well-restored example than to restore a car on your own. This goes for everything, 914's, MG's, 'Vette's, Model T's, etc.

Of course, the flip side of this argument is that if you do it yourself then you know _exactly_ what has been done and how it has been done. Plus there's the feeling of bringing back a machine from the dead. Personally I favor bringing the car back from the dead. There's no good logical reason to do it, and it will take vast amounts of time and money, but being a bit of a rank sentimentalist I like that option better. I've got an old dying Honda that I refuse to get rid of simply because it was my first car. Speaking of that, I'm off to find a distributor.

Aaron

P.S. If you do buy the car for $1 as suggested, I'll be happy to give you 500% of the purchase price just for the wheels.