914 LE on e bay, only 20,000 original miles!!! Options

[rgalla9146]

I see nothing that says the car or the price is a joke.
The presentation is short on facts and the pics are not sufficent for sure.
Correspondence and a visit might make this a good deal.
If it has an OE front spoiler thats 2Gs right there.
People are paying 20 grand for silver 2.0s

[mepstein]

Especially when someone not familiar with these cars might not notice that they roll over at 100k.

Personally, I’m tired of seeing 5 digit ODOs represented as original miles “shown”

At what point does it become fair game to buy such an low miles car and then turn around and sue for misrepresentation and/or title fraud if signed off at 20k original miles? Maybe a way to get the car and a 50% refund (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

Obviously I’m being sarcastic but at some point doesn’t the seller bear some liability? I know, I know, buyer beware. It just seems like there is always someone trying to scam via 5 digit odo.

Every BAT ad has the same guarded words. As shown, as stated, seller reports, blah blah blah. Like the guy who “allegedly” robs the bank in front of 20 witnesses and writes the demand on the back of his driver license.

On the other hand, when a buyer buys a car, sight unseen, because the seller said it’s a rust free car….well, you know.

[wonkipop]

if i lived anywhere near townsend washington i'd be driving over to look at that car.

i'm with mr. b on it. its more than worth setting eyeballs on.

but since i live in north antarctica i can just offer "cheap" comment.
but i think it might be close to the real deal in some respects.
given half a century has passed since it was made.
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[914werke]

We have members IN & around Port Townsend.

[dr914@autoatlanta.com]

you are being WAY too kind about this car Jeff (as you are usually always too kind!!!)

The carbs are easy to explain. Car sits for years does not start. Someone unfamiliar with the FI bolts on carbs as a quick fix. Reversible.

No real LEs had targa vinyl originally, but some owners added it later.

What red overspray? i dont see any. Just the rattle can on the wheels

[Johny Blackstain]

If it has an OE front spoiler thats 2Gs right there.

Holy (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stromberg.gif) are they really that expensive?

[KELTY360]

I live in Pt Townsend and have sent a message to the seller to see if I can take a look.

[scottsilvertt]

Kelty,
If you can, take many more photos.
I’m intrigued by historical black 1974 & also LE photos.
Scott.

And, in a few places, it seems like marathon blue metallic under the black.
As seen in these photos.

[burton73]

Kelty,
If you can, take many more photos.
I’m intrigued by historical black 1974 & also LE photos.
Scott.

And, in a few places, it seems like marathon blue metallic under the black.
As seen in these photos.

My guess is that is por-15 in silver. Look at the brush stroke edge. Yes someone needs to put eyes on this car. I think this is a factory Bk car. Marathon blue metallic is my favorite color by the way

Bob B

[JamesM]

Someone should go put eyes on this car before forming too many armchair opinions. It could actually be the low mileage advertised. Looks like it could clean up nicely. Really bad photo presentation from the seller, doubt he knows these cars. Look at how clean the dashknob inserts are.

I would agree except how does one explain that engine? FI stripped and replaced by Webers, rust everywhere. Red overspray that looks suspiciously like the apparent rattle can treatment the Mahles received. All this in the first 20K miles (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

I'll repeat, if it is 20K original miles, those were some hard miles. I think it is a nice car and might very well have high value, I'm just skeptical of the low miles. Especially when someone not familiar with these cars might not notice that they roll over at 100k.

I would guess 120k as well, but to Jeffs point, the interior looks pretty clean. Pulling of the FI for minor issues was common back in the day. based on the engine number of my LE and the engine number on this one I would assume the engine case to be original to the car, ie numbers matching.

The sail vinyl is odd but i am starting to suspect that not all bees rolled off the line exactly the same or that dealers made some mods before selling them.

For a 914, yeah it needs some cleanup, but for a bumblebee that might sell for 50k+ once sorted, it seems like a solid place to start.

[JamesM]

If it has an OE front spoiler thats 2Gs right there.

Holy (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stromberg.gif) are they really that expensive?

Who knows, haven't seen one for sale in a long time.

If you had one for sale though I suspect you would have a bidding war on it in short order.

[Root_Werks]

Met up with Marc to look at this over the weekend. I do believe the 20k mileage claim is correct.

Most of the 914 is unmolested, the carb conversion being the main unoriginal part.

LF fender is a repaint, there is a little bit of bent metal around the left headlight bucket. Very minor.

Front spoiler is true LE.

It does run and drive, carbs need cleaned. Didn't smoke or smell. Suspension was nice and tight, no rattles or squeaks.

Marc took some pictures and might post them here.

[KELTY360]

The car is as described in the auction description. Dan and his much better half, Michelle, flew over to PT to check out the car with me. IMO it's sits on the fulcrum between preservation and restoration. The front of the car and LF fender are the most challenged cosmetically with some areas definitely needing respray. Beyond that a talented detailer may be able to preserve it's survivor status. From the fuel log, I'm convinced the mileage claim is accurate.

I took a few pics to highlight some areas. I did not extensively photograph the whole car.

Front end:






Mileage log:






Mahles:


Misc.:






Thanks to Dan and Michelle for coming over to lend additional eyes to the car.


In short, this appears to be an honest car that would be a satisfying project for an LE aficionado. Good luck to the winner.

[JeffBowlsby]

Any engine bay, hell hole, rear trunk, Dr side long photos?

[KELTY360]

Any engine bay, hell hole, rear trunk, Dr side long photos?

No engine bay pic that shows more than in auction listing, same with rear trunk. Dan brought his horoscope to look at hell hole - it was solid with light surface rust. No pics of longs but jack receivers were clean and solid. Original rivets still in place on rockers.

[wonkipop]

original paint (or mostly) and original drop out decals.
not too many of those.

def worth preservation rather than "restoration" .
for cosmetic items.
in a funny way the carb conversion is sort of legit, as a time piece and as an "in-era" mod?

[Root_Werks]

Marc and I kicked around ideas what someone might do with the car. Leaving most of it as preservation, maybe fixing the front fender and headlight covers.

Or do you take the whole thing apart for paint and remove the sail vinyl?

The interior is in amazing shape. Very dirty, I couldn't find a crack or popped seam anywhere. A solid detailing would go a long way on this 914.

That said, it's a project.

I didn't see any dirt piled up around jackstand posts. Ran a borescope as far as I could down the pass long. Everything looked very solid

Fun trip and good to see Marc.

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[scallyk9]

eBay bidding ended early this evening at around 6:30 PDT and listing says "Sold" with a final bid of $21,000.00 and only 4 bids made. Did anyone on this forum manage to win it at a great price?

Correction: $20,100.00 Thanks, Root Werks.

[kerensky]

Since we had a couple of members look it over, perhaps a quick message to the seller giving them the forum information to pass along to the new owner would be appropriate.

[Root_Werks]

I think it sold for $20,100.

Yes, would be curious myself to know if SOMEONE from here bought it.

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