The IMSA 914 Options

[gms]

After the comment I was reading in the “914-6/904 project begins” thread I felt the need to inform some of the members of this board about the 914s in IMSA or the 914 GTU. I am currently involved in research to write a book about this very subject so I will share some of my findings.

Between 1971 and 1987 there were forty-two 914s built and entered in IMSA sanctioned events in North America. In 1971 and 1972 the cars sported the factory M491 option package or their equivalent built by the privateer. The extensive use of fiberglass in the hood, rear deck lid, bumpers and rocker panels lightened the car while the 911 engine upgrades gave the horsepower to make this car competitive against all racers.

Starting in 1973 the cars had started to evolve into homegrown and sometimes innovative thoroughbred built by Americans with that “can do” attitude. It was not that Porsche didn’t do a great job converting the 914 into a race car it was just that the development done in 1970 was becoming outdated.

Wheels and tires were getting wider and this would drastically affect its shape as the fenders became wider and body panels were constructed of fiberglass. The Porsche factory never constructed a tail or developed any aerodynamic aids for the rear of a 914.so this would become the area of most diversity.

The 914 competed in the IMSA GTU class which allowed a 911 engine starting at a two liter displacement and expanding all the way up to three liters by the end of its eligibility.
There were also some 914/4s that competed; they were allotted a chassis weigh savings for their lack of displacement and two cylinders.

As the handling, acceleration and speed of the 914 were enhanced by these advancements the chassis required more strength, this was accomplished by the extensive use of tube framing and suspension reinforcement. In some cases suspension components were borrowed from the 911 RSR and 935.

Once the cars became firm and fast they needed improvements in their braking capability. As has always been the case the 914 borrowed calipers and master cylinders from its Porsche siblings, a few examples even used aircraft brake calipers.

[Unobtanium-inc]

I want to clear up a large mis-conception. It's not that I don't have reverence for the history of this car, I do. I can truly appreciate the significance of it's long history on the track. I even had a very nice conversation with Bob Garretson about the car the other day.
But I'm in the same quandry as everyone else who appreciates this car, while the heart yearns for it to stay true, the wallet can't be hurt. Had anyone really thought this car was valuable as an ex-IMSA car it would have sold sometime in the last 8 years, or at the very least someone would have stepped up and bought it from me. Considering 914/6 conversions running and driving are now in the $25,000-50,000 range this car with the successful conversion and the racing history should command somewhere in the middle of that range. But alas, the market has spoken, while interesting and in some ways fascinating, the history of this car does not in fact add value to the car, and I'm not able to accept having to sell this car for low money and having to pay high money for a 914/6 conversion, the wallet cannot be overtaken by the heart. And apparently, I'm not the only one who feels this way, because there have been no other wallets speaking or opening.

[ConeDodger]

I want to clear up a large mis-conception. It's not that I don't have reverence for the history of this car, I do. I can truly appreciate the significance of it's long history on the track. I even had a very nice conversation with Bob Garretson about the car the other day.
But I'm in the same quandry as everyone else who appreciates this car, while the heart yearns for it to stay true, the wallet can't be hurt. Had anyone really thought this car was valuable as an ex-IMSA car it would have sold sometime in the last 8 years, or at the very least someone would have stepped up and bought it from me. Considering 914/6 conversions running and driving are now in the $25,000-50,000 range this car with the successful conversion and the racing history should command somewhere in the middle of that range. But alas, the market has spoken, while interesting and in some ways fascinating, the history of this car does not in fact add value to the car, and I'm not able to accept having to sell this car for low money and having to pay high money for a 914/6 conversion, the wallet cannot be overtaken by the heart. And apparently, I'm not the only one who feels this way, because there have been no other wallets speaking or opening.

Adam,
I don't think it really is a matter of the wallet over the heart or the reverse. For me, it's more of a do-the-right-thing situation. If you truly as you say have some reverence for the history, and the history is bigger than just the car, it's also the legacy of the three who built it and the memories of those who grew up with and loved the IMSA cars - you shouldn't have bought it in the first place. You should have recognized that this is not a car you should use as a cut-up for your project.
I have accepted that you really won't do the right thing so I have pretty much bowed out of this discussion.
As far as Adam not posting here, I think it is alright from the point of view that Glenn is getting lots of quotes for his manuscript as far as explaining what happened to this car.
As far as posting the unrelated article? That's just salve for your self-image. We get it. You think you're pretty cool...

[Unobtanium-inc]

I want to clear up a large mis-conception. It's not that I don't have reverence for the history of this car, I do. I can truly appreciate the significance of it's long history on the track. I even had a very nice conversation with Bob Garretson about the car the other day.
But I'm in the same quandry as everyone else who appreciates this car, while the heart yearns for it to stay true, the wallet can't be hurt. Had anyone really thought this car was valuable as an ex-IMSA car it would have sold sometime in the last 8 years, or at the very least someone would have stepped up and bought it from me. Considering 914/6 conversions running and driving are now in the $25,000-50,000 range this car with the successful conversion and the racing history should command somewhere in the middle of that range. But alas, the market has spoken, while interesting and in some ways fascinating, the history of this car does not in fact add value to the car, and I'm not able to accept having to sell this car for low money and having to pay high money for a 914/6 conversion, the wallet cannot be overtaken by the heart. And apparently, I'm not the only one who feels this way, because there have been no other wallets speaking or opening.

Ok, so it's ok for other to post about my car, crack jokes about me and my car, but not ok for me to clear up a mis-conception about what people are saying about me and my car?
Also, when I bought the car I didn't know the IMSA history, the last owner didn't know anything about the car, except he got it from Automotive Archelogy, who had raced it in the 2000's in the mid-west. It wasn't until after I bought it, had it shipped here, and starting pouring money into it that I learned of it's IMSA history.
See this thread is full of assumptions about me.

Adam,
I don't think it really is a matter of the wallet over the heart or the reverse. For me, it's more of a do-the-right-thing situation. If you truly as you say have some reverence for the history, and the history is bigger than just the car, it's also the legacy of the three who built it and the memories of those who grew up with and loved the IMSA cars - you shouldn't have bought it in the first place. You should have recognized that this is not a car you should use as a cut-up for your project.
I have accepted that you really won't do the right thing so I have pretty much bowed out of this discussion.
As far as Adam not posting here, I think it is alright from the point of view that Glenn is getting lots of quotes for his manuscript as far as explaining what happened to this car.
As far as posting the unrelated article? That's just salve for your self-image. We get it. You think you're pretty cool...

Ok, so it's ok for others to post about my car, crack jokes about me and my car, but not ok for me to clear up a mis-conception about what people are saying about me and my car?
Also, when I bought the car I didn't know the IMSA history, the last owner didn't know anything about the car, except he got it from Automotive Archelogy, who had raced it in the 2000's in the mid-west. It wasn't until after I bought it, had it shipped here, and starting pouring money into it that I learned of it's IMSA history.
See this thread is full of assumptions about me.

[ConeDodger]

I want to clear up a large mis-conception. It's not that I don't have reverence for the history of this car, I do. I can truly appreciate the significance of it's long history on the track. I even had a very nice conversation with Bob Garretson about the car the other day.
But I'm in the same quandry as everyone else who appreciates this car, while the heart yearns for it to stay true, the wallet can't be hurt. Had anyone really thought this car was valuable as an ex-IMSA car it would have sold sometime in the last 8 years, or at the very least someone would have stepped up and bought it from me. Considering 914/6 conversions running and driving are now in the $25,000-50,000 range this car with the successful conversion and the racing history should command somewhere in the middle of that range. But alas, the market has spoken, while interesting and in some ways fascinating, the history of this car does not in fact add value to the car, and I'm not able to accept having to sell this car for low money and having to pay high money for a 914/6 conversion, the wallet cannot be overtaken by the heart. And apparently, I'm not the only one who feels this way, because there have been no other wallets speaking or opening.

Ok, so it's ok for other to post about my car, crack jokes about me and my car, but not ok for me to clear up a mis-conception about what people are saying about me and my car?
Also, when I bought the car I didn't know the IMSA history, the last owner didn't know anything about the car, except he got it from Automotive Archelogy, who had raced it in the 2000's in the mid-west. It wasn't until after I bought it, had it shipped here, and starting pouring money into it that I learned of it's IMSA history.
See this thread is full of assumptions about me.

Adam,
I don't think it really is a matter of the wallet over the heart or the reverse. For me, it's more of a do-the-right-thing situation. If you truly as you say have some reverence for the history, and the history is bigger than just the car, it's also the legacy of the three who built it and the memories of those who grew up with and loved the IMSA cars - you shouldn't have bought it in the first place. You should have recognized that this is not a car you should use as a cut-up for your project.
I have accepted that you really won't do the right thing so I have pretty much bowed out of this discussion.
As far as Adam not posting here, I think it is alright from the point of view that Glenn is getting lots of quotes for his manuscript as far as explaining what happened to this car.
As far as posting the unrelated article? That's just salve for your self-image. We get it. You think you're pretty cool...

Ok, so it's ok for others to post about my car, crack jokes about me and my car, but not ok for me to clear up a mis-conception about what people are saying about me and my car?
Also, when I bought the car I didn't know the IMSA history, the last owner didn't know anything about the car, except he got it from Automotive Archelogy, who had raced it in the 2000's in the mid-west. It wasn't until after I bought it, had it shipped here, and starting pouring money into it that I learned of it's IMSA history.
See this thread is full of assumptions about me.

I get how you see the situation. If it is true that you didn't know, I understand that as well. However, if it had been me, and I discovered that I had stumbled into an IMSA car with race winning history, I would have felt like I had just found some good fortune. That car is worth far more restored to its former racing glory. In fact, if you want to completely turn around what people here are saying about you, restore it. You clearly have the skills. Use your powers for good Batman!

What if I found James Dean's 550 in a garage, mangled and just as it was the day he died. Do I pull that 4 cam and put it in my sand rail? Or, do I send it off to the Peterson Museum or the Porsche Museum? One makes me an ass deserving of whatever people say, the other? Be the hero Adam. You can always find another car for the 904 project. In fact, I would personally help you find another car.