Time to sell my long time friend ('74 914)

david914 · 07-26-2006, 05:36 PM

After over 20 years of ownership, I've finally reached the decision that the 914 needs a new home. I am the second owner, purchased it from my uncle (the original owner) back in 1985. I started rebuilding her about 10 years ago, and due to alot of other stuff going on, I never finished.

The car was completely stripped down to bare metal and had genuine steel factory GT flares welded on. There's almost too much to list here, but I'll list the highlights;

Complete strip and repaint in Dupont base/clear Guards Red
Genuine Factory GT steel flares welded on
Custom made rocker panels (factory steel with 'glass flares)
Rear steel factory valence flared to match fender flares
'Glass front GT valence
Top refinished and painted
Weltmeister chassis stiffening welded on
100 lb. rear springs
Bilstein shocks/struts
Carrera struts and brakes
New ball joints
914-6 rear hubs
7 & 8 x 15" Fuchs refinished by Robert Wood
New Dunlop D40's
New Factory lug nuts and locks
New Windshield
Most trim is new
Most hardware replaced with stainless steel
Engine is stock 1.8 (I know, I know...) with dual Weber 40 IDF's, Jacobs electronic ignition and wires, 009 distributor, SSI stainless heat exchangers, Bursch exhaust.
Tranny gone through, w/ syncros and dog teeth replaced

Like I said, there's so much to list. I personally stripped this car, took it to the body shop where it lived for almost a year, brought it back and reassembled it. It is about 90% done and just needs a little more work to make it perfect. I know every last millimeter of this car and it pains me to sell it, but I don't have the time or money to finish her. With the exception of the dash being recovered and a new (not installed) carpet set, the interior is untouched, but in decent shape.

Look at the pics and tell me what you think I should ask for her. It hasn't been driven other than moving it a few times in the past ten years. The Fuchs need a mild cleaning to make them look new again, so please ignore the poor photos.

anthony · 07-26-2006, 05:56 PM

I would install the carpet and get the center cushion recovered or replaced. IMO, those little defects really turn buyers off.

Putting a price on it is tough. People usually won't pay a premium for a 914 with a 1.7 or 1.8L engine. I would try for $12K hoping to find someone looking for a six conversion candidate and who would appreciate the restoration work and flares. I think that would be shooting a little high but my guess is that it would sell more quickly in the $8K to 10K range.

david914 · 07-27-2006, 05:10 PM

I agree that the interior looks "unfinished", but I haven't done anything on the car that was hurried or "slapdash", and the interior would be no exception. Unfortunately, I don't have the time to do it "right", and I would hope a buyer that appreciates what has been done so far would rather finish it with care than have me do a rush job on it. Speaking of which, I've got a couple of totes containing all the parts you don't see (trim, A/C, console, etc.)

I agree about the engine

. The car NEEDS a nice six to make it into an ultimate 914. I was hoping to eventually put a 3.2 into her. The chassis just begs for more power!

As far as price goes, like you, I'm thinking $12K is probably optimistic. It's painful since I know I've got over $20K invested in her, but I did so with no intent of ever selling, so I never gave "investment" a second thought.

Anyone else got some input?

anthony · 07-27-2006, 05:50 PM

How long would it take to install the carpet? A couple hours? I'd just remove the center deposit and put it in the box with the other stuff.

$12K may be a stetch but it doesn't hurt to try. It just depends on how fast you need to sell.

The car appears to be very well done. I'd do whatever you could to keep it.

david914 · 08-01-2006, 04:07 AM

The car was a labor of love. I hate to part with it, but I'm getting married in a few months, need to buy a house, etc. It's been waiting to be finished for about 10 years and it's just not looking like it will happen anywhere in the near future, so....

Since no one else has offered any suggestions, I'm going to post it over on the "For Sale" board and see what happens. Hopefully, someone will give it a good home!

david914 · 08-01-2006, 06:17 PM

Well, she's over in the for sale section. Wish me luck!