912e value

[wgerow]

What are these things worth?
Driver quality, no price premium for color, 160K miles
know of one that supposedly needs some engine work but don't know what exactly. Is this a VW or Porsche engine? Are these easier/cheaper to work on in comparison to a 3.0?
Cosmetically supposed to be real nice driver quality.
will post photos when I see some.

[Matt Monson]

VW engine. Type IV engine as used in 914 with updated injection. Great gas mileage. Low horsepower. Easier and cheaper to work on than a 3.0l, but potentially less reliable.

Doug can tell you what he just sold his for, but he was asking $10k. Nice ones with lower miles are in the teens. Rough ones or ones that need some mechanical or cosmetic work will be $5-6k cars.

[msort81]

Always an interesting car the 912E. Lots of one year only parts, some of which are very difficult to source FI parts, accelerator and possibly clutch cable. FI is different to 914, and also engine tin is very unique, and OEM mufflers are non existent. Also a slow car, has about 85HP when new so after 160k I wouldn't expect to get your hair blown back.
Positives : easy to work on, great gas milage, low numbers produced, racers like the gearing, again tranny is unique to the model, they have a following. Prices seem to be comprable to a mid year on fair condition

Drive it like a mid engined momentum car and you will enjoy it. Just don't expect 78 onwards 911 performance. It would probably keep up with a a stock MY 911 though. There is a site 912bbs.org which has some great examples of the 912E. Jake Raby builds some monster motors for them, not cheap but they have been known to crush 911's at the track.
The think i could never get past with the 912E is the sound. I saw a beautiful Mexico blue one at the last C&C down here which looked spectacular, The owner was very proud of his new Stebro (they make Ferrari mufflers) system but when he started it up TBH it sounded like a VW bug.
YMMV

[Patrick3000]

Sold one earlier this year for $12,500. The engine was rebuilt about three years ago for $1,800.00 plus parts. The only unique items on the car are the throttle cable, one of the engine tins and the heat exchangers. Those items can be sourced with some leg work everything else is readily available. In fact I found a set of NOS Mahle Euro pistons and cylinders from our host.

Good luck with your search

[monovich]

Prices are up on these. You can still find an ignorant seller and get a deal but I see more and more in the 15k range and special ones go way higher.

The appeal of the car isn't that it is an alternative to a 911. 911s are of course great, but if you want a simpler more genteel machine the E is a good choice. It is lighter and handles better than a stock 911 from the same year because of better weight distribution due to lighter engine. It won't blow your hair back but it is fantastic for cruising.

[Bristol]

Originally Posted by monovich

It won't blow your hair back but it is fantastic for cruising.

Exactly, some people just don't understand that power is not everything. I LOVE driving my 914 (same engine). It's not fast, but it is a real pleasure to drive slow!

My 17 yr old daughter just bought a '72 VW Beetle and I picked it up tonight for her, driving it home 40 miles. Gawd that thing is slow, only 60 HP! But I think I'll be grinning all week because of that drive, what a pleasure to cruise in. Sometimes ya just gotta slow down and enjoy the little chugga chugga sound of a VW mill.

Kirk

[Jrboulder]

Originally Posted by wgerow

What are these things worth?
Driver quality, no price premium for color, 160K miles 8-11k
know of one that supposedly needs some engine work but don't know what exactly. 5-8k Is this a VW or Porsche engine? VW overall design with some areas reworked by Porsche (heads) Are these easier/cheaper to work on in comparison to a 3.0? much easier, a valve adjustment takes 20 minutes, an oil change takes 15, ect
Cosmetically supposed to be real nice driver quality.
will post photos when I see some.

...

[vracer]

I can't help with price, but I will say, "Don't be worried about lack of power". Many years ago I got a ride in one from SF to Tahoe. It was mostly a fast cruise, but when he wanted to accelerate, the car obliged. Don't forget, the 911s from that era didn't snap any necks either.

[wgerow]

As a data point the car I was considering sold in a few days (3-4)
I did not view the car personally but here is what I know
Asking price was $7500
912e with 160k on the clock
Driver seat needed the houndstooth cloth replaced, remainder of interior looked very nice
Non factory steering wheel, non factory shifter
Paint looked good
Claimed to have records, including window sticker from new
Claimed one cylinder has low compression (as in 15%)
Car was being sold by a young guy and his stepfather who bought it as a project car to share but did not have time for it....so I have every reason to believe what he told me about the car. I talked to the kid

Now there is one listed in the classifieds for $20k

[Matt Monson]

Sounds about right. Sold mine about 2 years ago. Mechanically very solid but had an exhaust leak from a rusty thermal reactor. Interior was a 7 out of 10. Sunroof worked perfectly, gearbox shifted like butter, on original injection, and 14" Fuchs. 150K+/-mi Needed paint. Got $7k for it.

[CountD]

Originally Posted by vracer

Don't forget, the 911s from that era didn't snap any necks either.

This is true.