1st post - help?! Options

[desmo900rider]

Hi all, I've been lurking for a bit and finally joined! Hoping some of you can help me out with a question. I've been looking at 70's 911s for a year or 2 now, and have decided that what I want will cost me more than I can spend right now, so I started to look at 914s. From everything I've read, they sound like great cars, so I think it may be a good "transition" Porsche for me until I can someday buy one of the old Targas that I love. I'm looking for a car that will be a Sunday/nice weather driver, and maybe allow me to do an occasional track day or 2. My main concern is the car holding it's value though, I don't need to make money, I just need to not lose much, if any. I found locally what I think is a pretty good deal, and I'm going to look at and drive the car this weekend. Of course if I make an offer, I'll be getting a PPI first. I would love to hear everyone's opinion on the value, because I can't for the life of me figure out how 914 values work. 911 values make sense to me, but I'm still trying to figure out ow they work on 914s.

I'm looking at a 74 914 1.8L, with 48K org miles. Car is stock, and the current owner says no accidents, original miles, etc. Still has original L-jet, and he says it runs well, and he has replaced some small things, brake lines, push rod seals, some wiring, etc. No structural rust, some very minor bubbling in 2 spots on one door and the trunk lid. He is asking $4k. Assuming I don't have to put much into the car, does that sound like a good price?

Thanks in advance for the advice,


Mike

[desmo900rider]

So I had the PPI done, and all check out pretty well.

Good things: Engine is strong and he said the transmission shifts flawlessly. He actually said it is one of the better shifting 914s he has driven. No structural rust, although he did see a few small spots of what he said were "very early signs of the beginnings of some corrosion". He said that if I keep it out of the rain and snow, I should have zero problems with rust and that the car is very solid. Based on the condition of the car and the very few records that are there, he also has no reason to think that the car as any more than the 48K that it is showing. Interior is in GREAT shape with beautiful chocolate leather (or leatherette?) seats, and only one crack in the dash, right above the ashtray, carpets look good, and need a good shampoo.

Bad things: the repaint. Car color was originally Signal Orange, and the body was painted a slightly redder version of that color. The door jambs, trunk interior, etc, are still the original color. Windshield is pitted, original steel wheels are not in great shape, some corrosion and scratches, the steel portion of the bumpers are showing some signs of corrosion, and the rubber portions have some nicks and cracks. The rest are small mechanical things like the muffler bolts are hitting the rear valance in one spot (aftermarket dual exhaust, not sure on brand, just needs some tweaking), a loose thermostat cable, a fuel filter that is wrong for the car and should be replaced, a front brake flex line that has a small leak, wiring harness that goes to nothing (maybe cold start injector?), missing fuse cover (anybody have one?) and it looks like the battery hold down may be missing a bolt. And the lower chin spoiler/front valance thing is missing.

I have an great inexpensive powdercoat guy that I can probably have do the wheels and bumpers for me, and any other metal bits that could use a refinish.

Fast forward to today, after talking to as many local 914 guys that would take my call, and hearing that it sounds like a great price at $3500-$4000, I got the car for $3000.

How did I do, and what should I do next, other than enjoy the hell out of it?