914 20,000 dollars on Ebay, Is this worth it Options

[914newguy]

Was looking at 914's on Ebay came across this nice one. I spoke with dealer who said iis going for 20k just wondering if some of you with more knowleadge know if this is a fair price for this car...thanks...This is a 1974 Porsche 914 2.0L with 136,324 miles on the odometer but only 15,000 since completion of an extensive and fully documented, three year restoration. The car is painted Porsche Lapis Blue Metallic with a black vinyl interior and is in perfect condition.

This is one heck of a car that has been completely refurbished, significantly upgraded and meticulously maintained across the board; the photographs tell the story. Look at the extent of the work done and the care that was taken when re-assembling this beautiful 914; nothing was overlooked or left to chance.


Invoices for all work described (and much more) are available. This vintage Porsche has undergone a multi-year restoration. The car was completely disassembled and placed on a rotisserie. The body was striped to bare metal via media blasting with baking soda. The bare shell and all components were then sprayed with a zinc enriched etching primer. All metal work was old school metal shaping - there is no bondo or filler in this body. Finish paint is a modern Porsche Lapis Blue Metallic, three color coats and three clear coats, wet sanded and buffed out. All rubber bits, grommets, seals, etc. are NOS OEM ; exterior passenger side mirror added; fog lights upgraded to Pilot driving lights which are switched independently from headlights; new front and rear bumper pads. All suspension parts were also completely disassembled, sand blasted and then powder coated. All new suspension components - front and rear OEM Porsche anti-sway bars, Koni adjustable sport shocks, Eibach 100 lb. springs, turbo tie rods, Elephant Racing Control Arm Mounts, Elephant Racing Poly Bronze Bearings; all new OEM rubber seals, gaskets and grommets; all brake calipers rebuilt; 911 19mm master brake cylinder; pedal box rebuilt by Eric Shea; all wiring harnesses rebuilt and repaired by Jeff Bowlsby of San Jose, CA; new dash pad (OEM) and new German carpet set from Autos International; engine completely rebuilt and upgraded - block was hot tanked and all new galley plugs installed, crank was ground and brushed; rods rebuilt, new 96mm high compression pistons and cylinders, Jake Raby cam; heads received Super Stock service from Al Hoffman in Atlanta, GA (new guides, seats, valves, HD springs, chromoly retainers, HD rocker studs, HD exhaust studs, ground keepers, etc.) Petronix igniter, new throttle position switch, re-calibrated Manifold Pressure Sensor by Geoff Bartelmes; new alternator, new voltage regulator, Chris Foley jet coated Evo headers into Quiet Can, Chris Foley metal fuel lines from tank to engine.

We have priced this vehicle to provide you the best deal on a car of this caliber. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...984.m1438.l2649

* * * Click Photos to Enlarge * * *

[914newguy]

oops sorry

[Tom_T]

oops sorry

Don't worry, you're in exactly the right place for what you posted. Cevan/Chris either misunderstood, misread or didn't read your initial post.

For what it's worth, here are my IMHO thoughts on it.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

1. Is it really a factory 2.0? Since so many have been upgraded to to 2L motors, you need to see a Certificate of Authenticity from Porsche, or go on their website & call their 800 number and ask them to check what their records show, & what options it originally had on it while your at it. (If you call, then first see the links at Bowlsby's website for model numbers for 1974 2.0 vs. 1.8 914s & have that ready when you call so they can confirm what they have on their "Kardex" record for model number.)

2. What options did it originally have as above? I see a center console with an incorrect Oil Temp Gauge with the wide red band, whereas in 74-76 they went to a +/- 1/2" thin red band type. I also see the non-appearance group center storage box (missing it's cushion/cover BTW), instead of the hinged lid/cushion which should have come with the center console. (see links at bottom for more info on options, eqpt., etc.). (see my note & pix of old ads below on this subject)

3. The instrument pod shows 2 types of gauges, whereas the 74-76 MYs used the black center gauges with a single turn signal indicator light, and the 70-73 used the silver center type with 2 L&R TS lights (some late 73s & early 74's may have had the opposite type - but never mixed like this), so the gauges aren't original to the 914. .....perhaps the restorer's personal preference?

4. The mileage may or may not be correct. Unless there is a continuous, consistent & unbroken chain of service documents/etc. which clearly shows the build-up of miles on any car - especially one with a 5 digit odometer - then assume that it may not be correct (and probably isn't). Seller says there is tons of documents, but not if there are to substantiate that low of a mileage, since at 10k per year it would rack up 380k miles + or - whatever annual miles variances over its 38 years (not that there aren't documented actual low mile 914s, just see the Originality Forum's "The few, the rare...." nailed topic for known examples, my buddy has a true <61k 71 he's owned since new).

5. Proper restoration, refurb, care & detailing is lacking for a 914 at this price, e.g.: the Fuchs 2L wheels look just cleaned but not nicely maintained nor restored, the seats are torn & either it is a passenger seat on the left or the seat shell is tweaked out of position, the undercarriage/engine/suspension has either rusted & deteriorated since it's 2006+/- restoration - or were not done in the first place & then what else wasn't properly done as noted above?

6. It's a mildly modified 914 - most of which is either not a deal killer for those who buy original 914s at top dollar prices (e.g.: the 2056 with stock EFI would pass with all but the most strict CWs), or else can be easily restored to original - such as: finding a proper radio & installing it (rather than that bad blank-out of bulging dash vinyl), anodizing or painting the rear badges back to satin black, & putting the proper F & R bumper guards ("tits") on those 74 chrome bumpers.

7. However,

8. Also, the color change from stock OE color (whatever that was) in the 2006+/- resto would require another full resto to take it back to the original paint color at great cost. If someone really-really likes a certain color, then more power to them if they repaint it to non-original, but they cannot expect that the marketplace & CWs to pay for it on resale. I researched pricing/values on color changed 914 resto's, faced with a similar dilemma for my resto of my 73 2L which was originally L80E Light Ivory (white), while I would've ordered one new in either Alaska, Marathon or a Porsche or custom match Metallic blue from the factory. My informal survey in `09-`10 came up with roughly a 40-60% value loss if I repainted mine to a blue instead of original white! If you like the color as much as this guy (or any color changed 914), then it's your choice - just make sure you're not paying concours prices for the 914.

9. A number of other things have been changed - which if all added up for the parts alone will exceed the sales price in all probability (assuming they aren't in boxes & sold with the car). One of the members here more or less correctly stated elsewhere something like: '....the only way to get a 914 worth $20k is to spend $50k!"

10. This is a resto completed in Oct. 2006 after 40 months of work, so that's around early 2003 it was started; & it was then used by the seller for about 5+ years up to now (good for him BTW! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) ) - so it's bound to have some condition issues which will need to be addressed by the buyer in the next few years, including perhaps some paint chipping, etc. (SoCal sun will be harsher on paint than his MA summers). Who knows what else that was or was not done in 03-06 will need to be done soon too.

Bottom line IMHO - this is not a $20k 914 - even if it proves out to be an original 74 914-2.0 per Porsche/PCNA COA. More like a $10-15k nice 6-8 point car in the low to mid-range of the NADA & Excellence values below.

http://www.excellence-mag.com/resources/bu...guide/856880138

http://www.nadaguides.com/Classic-Cars/197...arga-2-0/Values

Unfortunately this group sells on consignment and IIRC does not negotiate much if at all on price, so you may have to continue your search.

Also to check on what was supposed to be original on various MY's 914s - use this website' Originality & History Forum, the one at 914club.com and....

p914.com

http://bowlsby.net/914/Classic/

http://bowlsby.net/914/CanAm/

... and Jeff Bowlsby's (or one he found) condition assessment form here:

http://bowlsby.net/914/Classic/zTN_Gen_914CAF.pdf

> NOTE: Most of the 73 MY 914-2.0's - and probably all of the USA's early 73 MY sold from Aug. 72 up to about Jan-March 73 - would have come "loaded" with all of the options for the Appearance (Comfort) Group (chrome bumpers with driving/fog lights, dual tone horns [2 horns L & R], vinyl & chrome trim on the sails & rollbar, center console with clock/OT/voltmeter, center storage box with hinged lid/cushion/seat, leather covered steering wheel & shifter boot, loop pile carpets), and Performance (Sport) Group options (a full set of 5 Fuchs 2 Liter forged lightweight aluminum alloy wheels, front & rear anti-sway bars).

Starting in 74 MY through 76 these all became extra cost options & groups, except that most often 76 MY 2.0s were loaded to get rid of parts, jack up the price & get the few 4,000 of them sold off, and except that some 2nd half MY 73 2.0s were "de-contented" to offer at a lower "teaser price" since the DM was escalating so fast against the dollar that the early loaded 914-2.0s ("914 S") started at $5299 West Coast POE in Aug/Sept 72, and had risen to the $7600 range by June 73 (dlkawashima above has a late 73 MY without the full options - the orange one in his avatar pic).

Compare the text on options/equipment included these early 73 MY "914 S" vs. 74 MY "914 2.0" ads:



Hope this helps.

Happy Hunting! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
///////