Strudelwagon Build Thread (74' -2.0), From Beige to Green Options

[Strudelwagon]

I've been a member here for a couple of years. I've asked alot of questions, got alot of answers and learned more about these cars than I thought would be possible. The 914World community rocks and I figured I would post my journey so other nubies could get some encouragement as I have the past few years.

It all started with a magazine wy wife brought me while I was in the hospital with my second broken hip (ya, Ouch).I'm not Old I just fall off bikes sometimes. I saw this artical on a 914 restoration and figured I would rekindle my love of 2 seater sports cars.

So the hunt was on in British Columbia for a project 914. I already knew I wanted a 73-74 2.0 but finding one was not easy. I looked, but everything I saw was in the final stages of oxidation. I literally could put my hand through most of the outer panels. At the $1000-2000 price range it was hopeless, at the $3000 range where cars with much welding required and no running engines or running 1.7s.

Then I was surfing this site and I saw what was advertised as a 73' 2.0 for $3500USD but in BC about an hour away. Turns out it was a car I had called on but the guy wanted $6000CDN for it. It was a little out of my $$ range. I emailed him and because the US doller was killing us at the time he said it would be $4000CDN.

I ripped up to Squamish and fell in love....and it also was running (bonus)

[Strudelwagon]

I started with ICBC (local Government monopoly insurance ) and they would not register the car until I had a correct title in hand. I was getting worried that I had just bought a $4000 parts car. The PO agreed to help out with the cost of fixing the problem but the task of fixing it was mine.
Note: If this hadn't been such a solid car I would have walked but after looking at 15+/- cars , this one wasn't getting away.

I began with the DOL in Olympia, WA. the center of the Title world for Washington state. They told me the the title I had was no longer valid (no Kidding). My car is 6991 and the title was 6691 so whenever the real 6691 got sold both our titles would change. Long story short, they wanted the car back in Washington for a VIN inspection. There's a whole lot more to this but I would just rather forget it happened. I did it and now she's mine!

The good part was I did alot of investigation and found 3 of the owners from the US. Google rocks! Three owners before , it was owned by an autocrosser who lived in Seattle that belonged to the lotus club. I got his email from a club news letter from the 80's. He was the one who crashed the car and it was when he bought the car from Gary (SixGT) that the VIN was transposed in the early 90's. (new information 11/6/12)