Let's talk about "being stock" vs "having the car you want" Options

[ScoopLV]

When I was a kid I had a 914. I wanted 5-lug Fuchs, the Porsche rear reflector, the front badge. And quite frankly, if I could have done one of those ridiculous Beach Boys body kits (the kind that makes a 914 look like a Ferrari) I probably would have.

I was on a parts website, buying some side lenses, when I saw a sale on the rear reflector and put one in my cart. Then I took it out of the cart.

Why? I have a basically unmodified teener -- 99% stock. It's almost like I feel I have a responsibility to keep it stock. I'm going to upgrade the fuel lines, and the shift linkage. One's a safety issue and the other is an invisible upgrade. But I'm going to keep all the old parts so that I could "put it back to stock" if I ever wanted.

I never really liked the look of the vinyl sail. I prefer the B column to be the same color as the rest of the body. My car doesn't have sails. Obviously a previous owner agreed with me on that point. But I'm seriously thinking about putting sails back on, because, hey, that's the only thing that isn't stock on the car.

I always liked the look of having a front badge. To me, the car looks nude without a badge on the front. But that would require drilling two holes into a perfectly good hood. Sure, I could fill the holes if I ever wanted. But that's one less hood out there that's never been mucked with.

I don't really know where I'm going with this post, or even if there's a point to it. But I'd like to hear from people about the validity of "turning your car into YOUR car" vs. "there aren't many unmodified cars out there anymore, so keep it stock."

Where do you fall in that spectrum?

[peteinjp]

I think I’m striking a good balance with the car I choose. It was a super rusty 1.7 that was fully restored body wise and had all kinds or trick mods but all within period stuff more or less. No flares so switch out the seats, steering wheel, put on the gas burners and stock shifter and it sits looks like a stock car. Throw back in the GTS Watkins Glens seats, 370mm ST steering wheel, Ats classic wheels with 205 sticky rubber, and rennshift and with the 2.7mfi and close ratio transaxle its ready to fly down the mountain roads.

I feel a 3.0 would have crossed a certain line…… The 7r case somehow seems to fit the spirit of the early 914 body.

I think the thing is about how you want to use the car- or if you want to use it for driving. or just have it and drive it. I choose the 914 because I wanted to experience the mid engine handling/layout in a light weight car. I already have an 964 and so the 914 meant less of a learning curve in terms of maintenance and workshop tools/nomenclature than, say a lotus (which i could never fit into anyway.) And I’m just can’t stand modern interiors and wanted to stay simple so the heavier Cayman/boxster were out.

Anyhooo yeah- drivers should make the car do what they want. Builders should build the car the think represent the spirit of the car. Collectors should keep it stock. Those of us inbetween have to find our own individual balance and it’s not always easy.

Pete