Good buy or not?, Looking for advice on whether or not this is too much of a project Options

[webbpinner]

I got the opportunity to buy a '74 1.8L. The car has only had two owners (my father bought it new, sold it to the neighbor after 14 years). Mechanically it looks great and the current owner always had it serviced at the "good" VW/Porsche shop in the area.

The car is 99% original, it still has the Bosch FI, the engine was rebuilt 12k miles ago. The car has not been on the road in 2 years but is started and run around the block every 2 months. It has spent all of it's life in VA, outside and was stored under a cover for only the last 10 years. It was a daily driver for 25+ years.

Mechanically I believe the car to be in good shape but I know to have it checked out before making any purchase.

Cosmetically I consider the car to be just below average as the paint will need a serious buffing job and the seats needs all new vinyl. (the dash, door panels and capet look good) 75% of the chrome trim and ALL of the rubber needs to be replaced.

My main concern is the body. It's got some rot. Multiple 1/8" and smaller holes in the bottom seams of both doors, the battery tray is all-but-gone, the left rear suspension mount (below the battery tray) has rusted through in spots but is still structurally sound. Big (3") rust damage behind passenger door latch striker plate, will require cutting out and replacement. 1" rust spot where passenger side roll bar meets door opening. Rear trunk has minor surface rust, front trunk has even less. There are a few bubbles thoughout the car, all appear to be surface rust and nothing I would call major.

There are two 2" diameter holes in the passenger floor pan and most of the seams under the car show moderate bleeding rust/minor rot. Overall the entire underside of the car could use some TLC but with the exception of the two holes mentioned earlier I believe the car is solid. Didn't notice the "run-for-your-lives body flex" mentioned on some sites as the 914 kiss of death.

The price: $3700.

There's obviously sentimental attachment as I was raised in the floor boards of this car. The car has had a good life (~275k miles) and concerdering it spent most of it's life as a daily driver I think it has faired remarkably well. The real question is: is it worth saving this car or trying to find a better example. My budget for the car including purchase price is 10k. I've seen some really nice cars in the classifed ads for 12-15k which make me wonder if I should pay the extra money and avoid the trouble of saving "dad's little green car" but then again, I am a bit of a hopeless romantic and I've always had a soft spot for these little targas.

I'm looking for those devil's advocates and realists to respond. I'm hoping to get some real world stories on what I might be in for. How hard will it be to locate replacement sheet metal, new rubber and trim? Do the problems I listed hint at larger problems? Is it better to buy a 914 with a clean body vs working running gear? All advice/warnings welcomed and appreciated.

- W

[Tom_T]

W - first ..... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)

Next, think of me as "your Dad" in your scenario, as I've owned my 73 914-2.0 since I bought it used in 12/75, drove it as my DD until 5/85, then stored it until now. I'm starting to do repairs & resto, which will cost way more than in sane to get it back to "as new" condition. I'd spent $6500+ in 80-83 ($20k+ in today's dollars) to do a "rolling resto" - including: body/rustoration/repaint, engine & transaxle overhaul, replace susp. bushings & 4 new Koni shocks, etc., so that it was sound while I went back to grad school in 84-86. However, it got whacked while parked in the UCLA parking structure, and I stored it in good condition excepting the F&R accident damage (the ditzy gal "forgot to turn left & go up the ramp" - her words, & pushed it 2 ft. into the concrete column/wall getting both ends, for another $6500 to repair. Due to it being the start of finals/MBA papers, getting remarried that Aug., running my business, etc. - I had to get another car immediately with the insurance, leaving the future repair costs on my tab - so it sat while I raised a family 25+ years.

Although it went in my dry SoCal garage clean & rust free, it managed to rot some anyway, and now my repair/rustoration costs surely exceed what a sane person would put into it. But I have the emotional attachment to it, and am pressing ahead, finding the parts, money, time, etc. to get her back to nice & drivable condition. My personal rust-bucket comes to me free" - the costs long ago being "sunk costs" - as opposed to your "personal project" costing you $3700. If I were buying my 914 for that price - with no other emotional attachments & knowing what I did put into it already (as far as those old repairs are still viable) - then I would probably walk away. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

I can just about guaranty you that every one of those small rust bubbles on your Dad's old 914 will end up being major areas of rust rot needing to be cut out & replaced once you get down to bare metal - in addition to the major holes you've noted. This may run into anything from small patches to full replacement panels, depending on the full damage at these spots (ScottyB on here is in VA with a body shop doing 914s etc., & can look it over for you).

IMHO - if you want to take it on as a personal quest to restore your Dad's old 914 (talk to RobW on here about his Dad's 914), then you need to get that car for FREE or very little, because it will easily cost you far more than it's worth to repair it. I'd guess that you could spend $10-15k+ on bodywork, and another $5-10k on the paint job, plus misc. on bits for the body, interior, running gear, etc. - so $3700 does not sound justified, as your Dad's neighbor/seller will soon discover trying to sell a car kept outdoors in the roughest of weather for decades & with high mileage.

Otherwise, you're better off getting a better 914 - preferably a 73-74 2.0 or 914-6 without all the body problems, but still plan to spend some coin over the coming years on even the "seemingly best" 914 you can find for your budget.

You'll need to realistically assess your time, budget (then double or triple it), interests, perseverance & what you really want out of a 914, and whether you really want to "redux" your Dad's 914. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)