Why aren't 914's worth more $$$? Options

[74porsche914]

Just been wondering why 914's aren't worth more moolah. In my opinion there a lot more practical then british sport cars and other sports cars from the period. Is it because there always in the shadow of the 911? Really I'm grateful there affordable or I would not own one!

[1970 Neun vierzehn]

[quote name='74porsche914' date='Mar 10 2012, 06:37 PM' post='1643245']
Just been wondering why 914's aren't worth more moolah.

The fact that many 914 owners themselves show so little regard for the "as-built" configuration of the car certainly does not help matters. A person looking to expand a modest "collection" would see so many seriously modified from OEM 914s that he would think that there must not be anything of serious value to the car. Our dispassionate "collector" would see Subie and all manner of other engines replacing the OEM item. Stock, narrow body chassis' have come under a significant assortment of modifications, from subtle to moderate to outrageous. If our would-be "investor", "collector", or nostalga driven baby boomer was going to spend some significant dollars, why would he think a 914 would be worthwhile when he has seen so many, so modified, so heavily. And before the counterpoint of "people really like my car", remember, our theoretical "collector" doesn't recall 914s looking the way your car does, "back in the day".

Our 914s are not 289 Cobras, '63 split-windows, Tri-power GTOs, E-types, and of course decent examples of cars like that are not being modified.

But when nice, original MG-As, A-H 3000s, TR-4/6s are bringing some crazy money, our hypothetical "collector" may turn his nose up at our 914s, thinking to himself "Those cars can't be worth much, everybodys' swapping engines and cutting the bodywork up"

Paul

[DBCooper]

Stock, narrow body chassis' have come under a significant assortment of modifications, from subtle to moderate to outrageous.

But when nice, original MG-As, A-H 3000s, TR-4/6s are bringing some crazy money, our hypothetical "collector" may turn his nose up at our 914s, thinking to himself "Those cars can't be worth much, everybodys' swapping engines and cutting the bodywork up"

Yeah, but that's a specious argument. People modify 914's because they respond well to the modifications and they're cheap, so nothing lost. If they were fetching XKE or MGA prices the're be less modifying going on, but they're not fetching those prices.

The original question was why 914's aren't worth more. The answer is that they're worth what they're worth. If they were worth more people would pay more, but they don't. What you're doing is confusing appreciation with value. The zen observation is what they're worth to other people is irrelevant, what is it worth to you? And from the materialistic point of view I'd add that you didn't pay much for it when you bought it, so is it really a problem that you don't get much for it when you sell it? And in between screw it, go drive it and congratulate yourself for the fine decision you made and the great deal you got.