NEW TUBS in the UK

[Hi_Fi_Guy]

I know people have been asking about new tubs and I have found out a bit more.

This information is culled from back issues and the current issue of Classic & Sports Cars magazine from the UK.

There is a company in the UK called British Motor Heritage that builds "limited edition" runs of new tubs for classic cars. Their best selling effort to date was the MGB tubs wich sold out a few years back.

Their new tub is for the classic Austin Mini. 1995pounds (approx $3,100) for a new tub (no doors or lids) , 2495pounds (approx $3,900) for a tub with doors, bonnet lid, & boot lid attached.

Now if someone could provide 914 Tubs at similar prices I think there would be a lot of buyers and a lot of resto shops would want them as well.

Here is a link to BMH: http://www.bmh-ltd.co.uk/pb001706.html

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

...Don't hold your breath...

A lot of the original tooling was destroyed by Porsche. For some reason, they got rather peeved at their VW partners when VW drastically restructured the 914 project unilaterally... Or at least, that's what Anderson says.

Tough to repop the bodies without original bucks to form them on.

--DD

[Jeroen]

Maybe we should all just flood them with requests...
Their email is: info@bmh-ltd.com

Cheers,

Jeroen

[Hi_Fi_Guy]

Originally posted by Dave at Pelican Parts
...Don't hold your breath...

Tough to repop the bodies without original bucks to form them on.

--DD

Have you seen, A CAR IS REBORN? These english guys can remake anything from scratch. I think the English & Italians were born to shape metal

[anthony]

>>Now if someone could provide 914 Tubs at similar prices I think >>there would be a lot of buyers and a lot of resto shops would >>want them as well.


Hi-Fi guy, I think you over estimate the demand for a 914 tubs at $4000.

Why would anyone buy one when you can get a whole running/driving rust free California car for $4000?

I've seen people giving away rust free tubs and even east coasters don't seem willing to pay $800 to have the car shipped.

[kellzey]

I think a NEW tub, with some improvements made, utilizing galvanized steel, would definitely be worth the $$$$$.

I'm sorry, no 914 is truly rust free. Even after 25 to 30 years, these cars are structurally weaker because of settling, cracks in the welds, stress and strain on the structural elements of the car.

I have managed to find some really minor rust in my "rust free" Arizona desert cart. Truly just a little, but rust indeed!

Who says the new tub has to be EXACTLY the same in every detail. Why couldn' t you make a 914 chassis that was 98% true in every detail, but fixed the troublesome areas.... battery box over the suspension console, rust prone longitudinals, poor sealing that leads to floorplan or rear trunk rot.

Or, forget the guys in England.... Why not start a campaign to flood Porsche with requests for a NEW, low-cost, mid-engined roadster like the 914. Heck they could bring back the 6-cylinder air-cooled engine and drop it in there.

I'd love a 914-like body, with a 3.2 or 3.4L aircooled, injected engine, mid-engine design, but more modern brakes, electronics, interior, A/C, etc. Yes, Yes, I know about the Boxster, I own one. But it's not the same as my 914.

Someone posted a few weeks ago the concept drawing of a possible new entry-level 914. It looked a lot like a Z3 coupe hatchback... pretty ugly.

Ho hummm... I guess I'll just spend my bucks making my 914 into a modern version of itself.

Later!

[odie]

Porsche already did that...

It's called the Boxter. cheaper than the 911, or whatever they are calling it these days.

I think the Boxter is everthing the 914 would be today if they kept with it. Of course, you will never heard Porsche make any reference to the 914 when discussing the Boxter. Damn snobs.

oops, I see you already have one. SLap a 914 badge on it and enjoy

[derek_sf]

sorry, but the boxster is not a 914 in the least. a 993 has far more the feel of a 914 compared to the newest gen of water cooled porsches. not saying the boxster is bad, but there is a reason every girl in the marina (SF) drives one.

[3D914]

OK, I have to agree with Karl on this one.

The Boxster is about as far form the 914 as you can get - other than they both have mid-engines. Have these guys ever seen one next a 914 or driven one?

The car is much larger for one - even bigger than a 911. Secondly it packs about 500-700 more pounds, and even feels bigger.

If I had the metal-working skills of someone like Brad or John Kelly, I'd be working on the mods for a 2000 914 design that would maintain the classic look, yet give that updated look, similar to what was done for the Mini Cooper and the Jaguar S type. Many of the fiberglass 914 kits out there have done a decent (not ideal) job of this, but it really needs to be done in metal. And that doesn't begin to address things like the interior, gauges, steering, suspension, etc. So each of us is left to do this ourselves.

Just my $0.02

[Zeke]

Well, I have one of each and they are not the same car in the least. They might occupy the same niche in the Porcshe marketing scheme, though.

Originally posted by derek_sf
sorry, but the boxster is not a 914 in the least. a 993 has far more the feel of a 914 compared to the newest gen of water cooled porsches. not saying the boxster is bad, but there is a reason every girl in the marina (SF) drives one.

And what reason would that be? Or maybe you'd like to take this over to the Boxster Haven with a new thread, "The Reason Every Girl in the SF Marina Drives a Boxster."

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Gerard, try more like 1000 lbs. The Boxster is perilously close to 3000 lbs, I do believe. It is a heavy mother for a two-seater.

If you want a modern 914, try an MR-2 Spyder. The styling is controversial, it's reasonably light, and it is a mid-engine'd convertible. It also uses the drivetrain parts from some more common cars, as the 914 did. (Camry or Corolla in this case instead of 411 or Bus.)

IMHO, Porsche is not gonna build another 914, no matter how much we ask. I don't see them building anything any more for less than $50K. I had hope for the Boxster, back when it was a rumor, and even some when they announced that they were going to "try" to keep the price in the $30K's. ... And then I saw it.

If you're looking for an "improved 914" chassis, I suggest you give Beck a call. Their Spyder is the closest thing I can think of right now, and it is truly neat. You can even whomp a Type IV and side-shifter in there and go play.

And I really think people are overestimating the demand for $5000 bare 914 shells (new) or $10K "improved 914" shells. How much do you think it would cost to make a run of those? And how many do you think would actually sell? If you can talk 100 people into getting them, I'd bet the price would be in the $10K-20K range. And why bother, when you can get a nice running 914 from CA for $5K? Or an MR-2 Spyder for ~$25K?

--DD

[Hi_Fi_Guy]

Originally posted by Dave at Pelican Parts
Gerard, try more like 1000 lbs. The Boxster is perilously close to 3000 lbs, I do believe. It is a heavy mother for a two-seater.

And I really think people are overestimating the demand for $5000 bare 914 shells (new) or $10K "improved 914" shells. How much do you think it would cost to make a run of those? And how many do you think would actually sell? If you can talk 100 people into getting them, I'd bet the price would be in the $10K-20K range. And why bother, when you can get a nice running 914 from CA for $5K? Or an MR-2 Spyder for ~$25K?

--DD

I own a Boxster and while it is an amazing car to drive, like others have stated it is simply not a 914. Maybe it is the size/weight issue or the fact that it is a roadster and not a Targa or maybe it is just too refined.

This is my take on body shells after talking to a few MG guys. If you have a car and you are going to take out the drivetrain for repair/restoration, take out the interior for repair/restoration, take off the suspension for repair/restoration, then you wil most likely be left with a shell.

Unless your shell is in perfect shape why not simply re-assemble your car on a brand new shell? No body work, no rust repair, and the body can be protected and painted to a modern degree if so desired.

Obviously not all MGB & Mini owners choose this route but enough do to justify the cost. I am sure lots of 914 owners have spent well over $4k in rust repair once al of the chemicals, equipenet, supplies, and labor are added up.

The body shells might only appeal to certain people but for those people it would be a great option to have. It might also atract new people to the 914 who might otherwise be afraid of the work involved to bring one back from the dead.