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

[damesandhotrods]

The 914 was expensive, it was always saddled with the I want the -6 for the -4 price. There were plenty of MGBs TR-4s et-al available on the used market, so there were more I had one, my uncle had one and all of that. I think what hurt the value was the 240-260-280z series. The other way to increase used car value is having it in a movie or tv show, which wasn’t a success either.

[unpolire]

Well said and I fully agree. Values will climb as more and more cars are sacrificed to repair others. Rust has taken its toll as well. Most cars are heading to Holland and Germany where their long-term collectibility due to their relative rarity is recognized. If they had all been 6-cylinders, the stigma would have been gone. It's a great "modern" design with outstanding balance lacking only 100-200 hp to be superlative. Disclaimer: I am a serious collector with tens of marques from Italy, the US, and Germany, and the 914 is the lowest-powered of the group, but I appreciate its neat concept and acceptance of modern upgrades in powerplants and chassis refinements. Thanks, Porsche!

Many of these cars are driver quality. They are nice but used. Many of the cars we see in our classifieds are nice maintained drivers. The top quality cars with nicer than average paint, clean, clean interiors and solid no rust cars (maybe had surface rust that was properly repaired) are commanding good prices. The 6's will always from here on bring top dollar but I think the cream of the crop 4's are doing well. If you want to sell any car for top dollar you need to make it stand out from the rest.

[porschefile2010]

I agree unpolire. There is a little bit of magic with the 914. I'm no collector, but I have a 930LE and a daily drive 944S2. But the 914 I can do all the work myself. It has technology I can understand and deal with in my own garage. I enjoy the journey working on the 914 as much as the destination.
I would like to think that in ten years time the 914 will become a cult car like the Beetle. Looking at the various forums the process is well under way and will accelerate as more are scrapped and more are brought up to driven and well maintained standard.

[davesprinkle]

" the PCA 911 crowd still mostly looks askance at us"

This is bullshit and its time for folks on this forum to put this one in the dustbin.

I can't speak for the legitimacy of the alleged PCA bias against 914s, but Heckmann-Thiemann service in Portland, OR wouldn't put a wrench on my car. "We don't work on 914s," the guy said. When I pointed out that it had the same suspension as the long-nose 911 on one side of it and the same engine as the bus on the other side, he asked me to leave.

First time I'd ever seen first-hand evidence of the rumored anti-914 prejudice. Surprised the hell out of me.

The BMW shop down the road had no such reservations, though...

[MikeSpraggi]

That is a good question. For me, I went into this not caring about if or when they appreciate. It was very affordable fun, and still is. Not planning on selling mine, but I agree the VW stigma may always hold the value down compared to what 914 enthusiasts think it should be. Also, they were mass produced as an entry level car with "anemic performance" I believe it was said in a car magazine's review.

I had parked my teener in front of the door to one of the rest stops on I-95 between DC and New York. Two late twenty early thirtyish guys were coming out of the door and saw my car. One says to the other "That's Volkswagen's idea of what a Porsche should be". There's the stigma, after all of these years! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

I think that if you compair the resale cost difference between a 914-4 verses a 914-6 the VW Stigma appears to be directed more towards the flat 4 engine then the car it's self. Personally I don't care I'm having too much fun just driving mine to worry about what it's worth.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

Point is, the average person doesn't even know about the existence of the 914/6 to distunguish it from it's /4 sibling. Then you will find "some" car enthusiasts that may know about the /4's vs. the /6's. Those that do know understand the pricing and thus dictate how much these cars will actually be purchased for.

Again for me, it's not about the value or perceived value. I just like these cars. I like that people have to ask what is it, that they are "underdogs" on the track, that they are quirky looking, that they have a parentage "issue" and any other thing that makes these cars what they are.

By the way, I had a bunch of wise cracks (all in fun) made about my /4 when I started PCA DE events .... not one wise crack since I've had the /6 at the events, in fact many, many compliments. So /4 or /6, the 911 crowd knows this is family and is not going away.

[DBCooper]

DISCLOSURE - I own ... a Manx

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/thumb3d.gif)

.

[RickS]

" the PCA 911 crowd still mostly looks askance at us"

This is bullshit and its time for folks on this forum to put this one in the dustbin.

I can't speak for the legitimacy of the alleged PCA bias against 914s, but Heckmann-Thiemann service in Portland, OR wouldn't put a wrench on my car. "We don't work on 914s," the guy said. When I pointed out that it had the same suspension as the long-nose 911 on one side of it and the same engine as the bus on the other side, he asked me to leave.

First time I'd ever seen first-hand evidence of the rumored anti-914 prejudice. Surprised the hell out of me.

The BMW shop down the road had no such reservations, though...

Don't feel bad about the dealership not working on 914s, they won't touch air cooled 911s either. The techs don't know or understand the technology, or where to plug in the diagnositic.

[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

[EdwardBlume]

The early 70s was an odd time for cars. Even for 911s.

The 914 continues to have an odd following. I don't get why a 914/6 as rare as it is goes for $35M+. Have you driven a stock 2.0 914/6?

You look at a 2002 911 today and get a ton of technology for $25-30M. Its hard to think a /4 will ever get there, but I could be very wrong.

The fact is, every 914 owner I meet loves to drive. Period. I could care less about the value... my widow can figure that out.

[shuie]

Worth more than what?

It's all relative.

[damesandhotrods]

" the PCA 911 crowd still mostly looks askance at us"

This is bullshit and its time for folks on this forum to put this one in the dustbin.

I can't speak for the legitimacy of the alleged PCA bias against 914s, but Heckmann-Thiemann service in Portland, OR wouldn't put a wrench on my car. "We don't work on 914s," the guy said. When I pointed out that it had the same suspension as the long-nose 911 on one side of it and the same engine as the bus on the other side, he asked me to leave.

First time I'd ever seen first-hand evidence of the rumored anti-914 prejudice. Surprised the hell out of me.

The BMW shop down the road had no such reservations, though...

After my Type 3 VW experiences with Heckmann and Thiemann, you and your 914 might be better off.

When I needed a new alternator, Marque Motors wouldn’t touch a 914 either.

[EdwardBlume]

" the PCA 911 crowd still mostly looks askance at us"

This is bullshit and its time for folks on this forum to put this one in the dustbin.

I can't speak for the legitimacy of the alleged PCA bias against 914s, but Heckmann-Thiemann service in Portland, OR wouldn't put a wrench on my car. "We don't work on 914s," the guy said. When I pointed out that it had the same suspension as the long-nose 911 on one side of it and the same engine as the bus on the other side, he asked me to leave.

First time I'd ever seen first-hand evidence of the rumored anti-914 prejudice. Surprised the hell out of me.

The BMW shop down the road had no such reservations, though...

I used to get the same at local Pca events. Turned it around. If the didn't like 914s I would have nothing in common. Even when they liked my 993.

[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.

[Nozzle]

I remember reading some time ago in a Hemmings article IIRC that as a general rule, cars that were loved in their day are usually just as loved as collector cars and command prices accordingly. I can't think of too many exceptions to that rule. 914s had mixed reactions in their day and I think still do. Just read the comments on bringatrailer.com when a 914 is posted.

I'm thinking that most folks on this forum that were around when they were new probably feel the same way today about 914s as they did back in the day. I know I do. The 914 plastic model I built when I was twelve was red, the one in my garage is yellow and I'm proud of them both. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[carr914]

[quote name='1970 Neun vierzehn' date='Mar 11 2012, 09:55 PM' post='1643817']
[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
[/quote]

I don't know about you, but when I was growing up in the 70's, every single car I saw was modified, especially Corvettes. American Iron was being jacked-up high as a kite in the Rear end and don't get me going on 911's - how many hack slope-noses, extended rear flare, blinged-out cars P-Cars


[quote name='RobW' date='Mar 11 2012, 10:04 PM' post='1643830']
The early 70s was an odd time for cars. Even for 911s.

The 914 continues to have an odd following. I don't get why a 914/6 as rare as it is goes for $35M+. Have you driven a stock 2.0 914/6?

You look at a 2002 911 today and get a ton of technology for $25-30M. Its hard to think a /4 will ever get there, but I could be very wrong.
[/quote]

The reason a 2002 911 is so cheap ( & I have seen a bunch way below your price) is the IMS Failures & accompanning engine failures. Even the cars with the Raby IMS fix can't shake the stigma of a Bad Design

[flippa]

The 914 continues to have an odd following.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) that must be why there are a bunch of odd people around here. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[reharvey]

These cars have been my hobby for 20 + years. I've scraped 2 and rebuilt 5. The low price for these cars and the parts to rebuild them is what got me started in this hobby. Now I wish they were worth a little more because it's getting time to sell of my heard but it's been a lot of fun having these cars around. Seems to me the prices have risen in the last few years. Maybe there's still hope.

[mrholland2]

Sooo, "they" don't like the 4 cyl 914 but "they" do like the butt-ass ugly 4 cyl 912? (Sorry, I just think that early 911/912 body style is horrid).

I am baffled at the "VW" stigma since REAL Porsches and VWs are air cooled. (Yes, I think all the water cooled cars are fake VWs and fake Porsches).

I drove mine Saturday (it was nice and my car isn't ready for below 50 degree weather with me behind the wheel yet) and it flat out can SCOOT. Some dippy kid in a fairly new BMW couldn't keep up in a straight, much less a curvy, road. Maybe I just know how to drive and he doesn't?

I bought my car last summer and I've seen prices creep up since then. I think we are on the cusp.

[billh1963]

When I first bought mine car (and subsequent cars) I also thought we were on the cusp. Now, I'm not so sure.

I think really nice cars will continue to see normal appreciation (don't forget that true inflation is 8%); however, there will not be meteoric rise in appreciation. In all honesty, there is no driving force behind it.

Few, if any, aspired to a 914. If you lusted for a Porsche, it was a 911 you coveted. Cars that have skyrocketed were the ones people wanted but couldn't afford.

The high cost of gas, parts prices, etc. will continue to be a drag on the bottom end of the collector car market....which is where these cars sit.

I'm not saying that they aren't worth fixing...because they are. They certainly aren't depreciating. The idea that you will buy one and do a quick "cleanup" and flip it for big bucks just isn't realistic. Your best best is to buy one for the long term. You will never get rich off of it; however, you will get driving pleasure from it while you have it and will hold your own when you sell it later.

[rjames]

" the PCA 911 crowd still mostly looks askance at us"

This is bullshit and its time for folks on this forum to put this one in the dustbin.

I can't speak for the legitimacy of the alleged PCA bias against 914s, but Heckmann-Thiemann service in Portland, OR wouldn't put a wrench on my car. "We don't work on 914s," the guy said. When I pointed out that it had the same suspension as the long-nose 911 on one side of it and the same engine as the bus on the other side, he asked me to leave.

First time I'd ever seen first-hand evidence of the rumored anti-914 prejudice. Surprised the hell out of me.

The BMW shop down the road had no such reservations, though...

Before realizing I could do most if not all of the work on my 914 myself, I also heard the "We don't work on these cars" from both a privately owned Porsche garage and a VW dealership. The work I had requested was simply to check the fuel pressure. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

I used to like the look of the Miatas, that is until they were as common as Camrys. At 6'2" I can't even fit into one unless I want to position my kneecaps somewhere near my molars. In my 914 I have to move the seat up a notch and my head still clears the roof by a couple of inches. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)