How did you get into 914's? Options

[tat2dphreak]

mine was a combo of "Love at first sight" and "Interest in or ownership of other VW/Porsche"

I'd never seen a 914, but I'd driven a couple of 944s and 924s, and always loved the 911s, and lusted after them. a really good friend had bugs and ghias, which I also loved!

so when I was looking for a fun car I saw an ad for a 914. I loved it, but I had made a poor choice in buying that one... terminal rust and other issues. but it gave me a taste for them. I love the little bastards.

I still wouldn't mind getting a nice 911(3.0+) or a REALLY nice Ghia, but I don't think I can stop owning a 914.

[ghuff]

Watched them race and win a lot in various scca events for years.

Loved them at first sight design wise as well.

[Todd Enlund]

I still wouldn't mind getting a nice 911(3.0+) or a REALLY nice Ghia, but I don't think I can stop owning a 914.

I used to want a long hood long wheelbase 911... still do, in fact... but now I look at 911s and think "donor".

[jt914-6]

A friend of mine ("Skip" Page -RIP) had one and I had a Chevelle SS. Rode with him in his on a trip and was amazed at the gas milage and the handling. Got my first one, a '73 1.7 shortly after that. He taught me how to tune it up and many more things. I even worked at the local Porsche dealer as a mechanic for a while to learn more about my 914. I learned more about working on Audi's more than 914's, but did learn about Porsches too. Bought an orignal 914-6 and sold the 1.7 to my girlfriend. If had to had over 100,000 miles on it and she put lots of miles on it too. Started autocrossing in the first 914 and the six, then started doing DE's. Loved the DE's and have instructed at three tracks. Wore out the six's chassis and sold the chassis and bought a '74 for a DE project car. While working on the project car, bought a '75 2.0 because I missed driving a 914. Project car finished now and sold the '75 a couple years ago. Once had three adults and one golden retriever in mine and drove to the store and back. Maybe a "stuffing a 914" record??? Have been a 914 owner for 34 years.

[Porcharu]

I got into 914's after carefully thinking about what 'fun car' I wanted to have. Since I am stuck in the peoples republic of Kalifornia the most important issue was being exempt from the evil smog check nazis. Then from past experience I knew that I must be able to buy replacement parts (just try getting a windshield gasket for a 75' Scirocco or any rubber parts for that car.) It had to handle well or be able to be made to handle well. Must be rear wheel drive. This narrowed the field down to 240Z's, 510's and 914's all of these cars have huge owner support and lots of parts. I like Z's but I have never liked that big long hood, 510's have that goofy rear suspension and all 3 rust like crazy.
In college I fixed a fellow sports car club members battery box (my introduction to the hell hole!) and he let my auto-x (burgandy 73' 2 liter with webers) it for several events. He got tired of me beating him every race so that ended.
I found my car only 20 minutes from my house on the old club site and bought it as soon as I saw it - almost no rust at all and good paint, ran OK and the transmission needed work. I can't wait to drive it with it's new Subaru drivetrain.
Steve

[Jkids914]

I worked at Automobile Atlanta from 1982-1984, started as a shop rat and evolved into a master 914 cut-man and parts expert as we parted out car after car after car after car. Loved them then, love them now.

[drive-ability]

I started with one beer and just led to this

[etcmss]

Got my first one as a new 72 tangerine orange and after the family needs forced me to be practical I went dormant for 30 years. It's refreshing to drive and have the performance that other little cars don't have. It's a great hobby and satisfaction.

[tat2dphreak]

that is a VERY clean looking car etcmss... very nice! I'd like to see more of it! not in a take it out on a date kinda way(long distance and all) just more pics in a creepy internet porn lust sort of way (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) not that creepy tho, I mean, me and the car are the same age and all...

welcome!

[914four]

In 1976 I had a '74 Super Beetle as my first car and I thought it was a sports car. One day I was driving as fast as I could down a winding road and had a car sticking to my rear end like glue. When the car finally had an opportunity to pass me I saw that it was a really cool 914 Bumblebee. It took about ten years but I finally got a 914 and have been in one ever since.

[helios]

I was actually looking for a pre 67 bug at the time. Saw a Signal Orange "GT-4" in an issue of Excellence, and fell in love w/ the car. After looking at a couple of examples that were either way to rusty or a complete pile of non running parts (only had a budget of about $3k), I had pretty much given up and went back to looking for a bug project again. A few months later I still hadn't located a suitable project (the search may have waned a bit too) and went to a Seattle area VW show (mostly mk1 & mk2 VWs). A few old air-cooleds showed up and rekindled my interest. I found a nice looking ghia prospect, but when I called the car had been sold that day. Back to the drawing board. Still I was not turning up a car. Then I remembered the 914 again, figured it was a long shot, but did a search on craigslist anyway. Found one in Seattle on Mother's Day, though it was stretching the budget a bit. Drove down w/ cash in hand to look at the car (w/ no way to get it home if I did buy it). Turning out to be a fairly solid running project. Paid for the car and made arangements to pick up the next day.

[ghuff]

I was actually looking for a pre 67 bug at the time. Saw a Signal Orange "GT-4" in an issue of Excellence, and fell in love w/ the car. After looking at a couple of examples that were either way to rusty or a complete pile of non running parts (only had a budget of about $3k), I had pretty much given up and went back to looking for a bug project again. A few months later I still hadn't located a suitable project (the search may have waned a bit too) and went to a Seattle area VW show (mostly mk1 & mk2 VWs). A few old air-cooleds showed up and rekindled my interest. I found a nice looking ghia prospect, but when I called the car had been sold that day. Back to the drawing board. Still I was not turning up a car. Then I remembered the 914 again, figured it was a long shot, but did a search on craigslist anyway. Found one in Seattle on Mother's Day, though it was stretching the budget a bit. Drove down w/ cash in hand to look at the car (w/ no way to get it home if I did buy it). Turning out to be a fairly solid running project. Paid for the car and made arangements to pick up the next day.

Please let me know if you ever want to sell your helios GLi.

I would go west for a clean one. Just had to add that, those are such gorgeous cars.

[ArtechnikA]

Stoddard had a killer deal on Fuchs - something like $350 for a set of 4, so I bought them intending to put them on my '65 912. The deeper I got i got into that car the more I realized it needed more rust repair than I had the resources to address, and I wanted to drive, not restore a car. Sold the 912, went looking for another car I could mount the Fuchs on. Came across a Euro 914.6 in Pano and bought it ...

[raw1298]

Read a Hot Rod article about a v-8 porsche 914 in the 80's and loved the look of the car. Was looking for a car to rebuild 3 years ago and after giving up on affording a muscle car I decided to look for a porsche. I had forgotten about the article until I saw the actual car that was in the article for sale on ebay. I had never seen a 914 in person until I found the 72 that is in my garage right now. I grew up in a small town in Kansas. What can I say? Love that car more than the Lemans I was looking for!

[Joe Bob]

I got screwed by Brad..... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)

[rebelmdot]

Love at first sight literally. I was 4 years old and we were driving in our town in Miami Florida. I saw two of my lifelong loves at the same intersection. A white 914 and people playing soccer in the background. It has been my favorite car ever since and I bought my first one, oddly enough during my first pro season in soccer(they do not pay Americans much!). I drove it back and forth to practice for 2 solid years 4000 miles per month at least.

[TravisG]

I have always wanted an aircooled 911, but started life with a 1979 mg midget. I progressed through a couple of mgs, then 2 years ago I got a 73 vw thing, loved the simplicity of the aircooled. Then january of this year I got a 73 superbeetle love it, then in february I came across the 73 914 (see a trend here) Not only being a bigger VW but a Porsche to boot (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)



79 MG Midget Original owner
73 MGBGT
73 VW Thing Under construction
73 VW Super Beetle beater car
79 914 2.0 work in progress

[Ian Stott]

I was a young Private in the Air Force back in 1973 with enough money for a milkshake and a movie, but had a 69 VW Fastback. I went to the VW dealership in Barrie Ontario to get a part and they had a 914 on the showroom floor, wanted one ever since, got my first one a few years ago that was just too far gone to restore and got my 73 2.0 last year from a fellow Air Force guy who had got it from California, so no rusties! I am a bit nostalgic about my 73 as that was the year I wanted, and it just kinda fell in my lap so I consider myself very lucky as they are getting kinda rare.

Ian Stott
Moncton
Canada

[gothspeed]

I had an old 1955 vw bug, fell in love with the engine ........... I always loved 'race cars' and watching racing of all sorts ........... so to put it quickly ........ I thought the flat four was an awesome engine ....... and all 'race cars' had their engines in 'mid-position' ......... so the only car that had that combo, in my price range, was the 914 ........ the great looks was just icing on the cake (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)!!!!!

[Rod]

914's are rarer over here in the UK than they are on your side of the pond. I have never passed another 914 driving mine!

I got into them by falling in love when I was 18 or so - It was the first time I saw one, sitting in a car park, rusting away in yellow. Hadn't moved for years. I thought it was the best looking car ever..

As I investigated them further, so many things just made perfect sense. Mid engined, low, two trunks, capacious inside - I just had to have one.

So I joined a couple of boards in the UK and kept an eye on what was for sale, when the car I bought did surprisingly come up for sale, I jumped on a plane, flew to the other end of the country parted with a small envelope full of cash and drove it 800 miles home (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

That was the best drive of my life so far...and I still smile everytime I open the garage door (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Since then I found you guys here, and I'm glad to see the disease is normal (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

(IMG:http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h106/rodericdavies/IMG_4127.jpg)