How did you get into 914's? Options

[HarveyH]

Got on a 6 month wait list (w/money down) for a red '71 240Z. When "my" car came in, it was orange (Datsun made an ugly orange).

Many years ago I knew a guy who waited 6+months for a silver-gray 240Z. He had it for abour 1-1/2 hours and rolled it.. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

My 914 story: 1973, looking to replace my tired 1969 triumph GT-6. A friend told me to go look at the 914's. Went to the closest (25+ miles of urban/suburban streets) dealer and took a test drive. Loved the car, but the distance to the dealer and the price wouldn't let me do it. Fast forward 20+ years, looking to replace my 50 Studebaker Champion with a slightly more sporty toy car. Found a slightly worked 74 2.0 just a few miles from home. Bought the car, paid more than I should, found problems, still trying to bring it up to the level I would like it to be. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) whenever I can.
Harvey

[Quebecer]

I've always been a car nut ever since I was like 5 years old, therefore around 1972.

Was always curious about 914s, always thought they looked cool and fast (even standing still).
A Porsche, small, targa, and affordable, what more could you want?
My dad was always critical of the air cooled VW engine, high potential for rust, but still in the back of my mind, 914s always remained present.

In 1973, I fell in love with Corvettes after seeing a green 1968 big block at a local used car dealer. That passion is still with me today.

In 1995, at 28 and just out of school, I finally made my dream come true and I bought the best Corvette I could afford, a 1988 Convertible with 4+3 transmission, red on red with white top.
A real gem that still lives in my garage to this day.

Many years past, worked hard, bought a house with a double garage, many girlfriends came and went, and I found myself looking for a project.

I looked for an old Corvette, but they were rather expensive.
Then I came upon a 914 project in a local small adds web site.
I printed the add and let it sit for a few weeks before I decided to give the guy a call.
I checked it out with a friend of mine who knows a lot about old VWs.
It seemed like a good idea at the time, some rust, but still mostly solid or so I thought. It was a 1973, 1.7L car and it came with two engines (1.7L), two transmissions, several bumpers (fiberglass and metal) and other extras.
At $2000, it seemed like a good deal, so I bought it on the spot.

I was finally realizing my dream of having both a Corvette and a Porsche in my garage.

Well that was back in late 2002, since then I met the woman of my life, got married, sold both our houses and built a new one by myself, got a son, and got a heart transplant (at age 38!?).

So as I write this, 4 years later my little 914 is still in deconstruction stage in my garage sitting pretty beside my old faithful Corvette.

My problem is time, but rest assured I will certainly finish it one day.
You guys at 914World.com have me really hooked, more like obsessed.

Long live the 914! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[carr914]

I could have answered ALL Of The Above. I've owned 12 Porsches (8 914s & 6s, a bunch of VWs (waterpumpers, mostly) and I love the looks of the 914. I just bought a copy of Porsche Past & Present by Denis Jenkinson. I always respected him til I got this book. "Porsche have not many mistakes during their 34 years as automobile manufactors, but one that seem to miss the boat was the 914" & " The 914 from some angles reminded me of a frog ready to leap, rather than a high-performance car about to drive off" What an A@#HOLE. I'm burning the book.
T.C.

[KELTY360]

Long live the 914! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif)

[1970 Neun vierzehn]

How did you get into 914s?........from the top of course

[steveaz]

Warning - Noob Delurking

In 1988 I was 18 years old and I was driving a 69 Mustang. Got rear ended and the car was totaled. My dad and our neighbor used to race a Formula Vee SCCA car and my dad also had a VW Ghia so I started focusing on air cooled cars. I learned about 914's by chance while looking at VW's and old 911's. I purchased a '70 1.7 for too much $$$ from a shady dealer and drove it halfway home. Halfway because there was no alternator (surprise!) in the car and I ran the battery down.

Replaced the alternator, drove the car another 4 months and after getting stranded a few times, decided to rebuild the motor with my dad and put a 96mm big bore kit and a pair of webers on it. Drove it reliably for another year and a half and then blew an aluminum plug out of the motor case and out went the oil. I was crushed because I loved that car. Long story short, parked it at my parents house, bought a Toyota truck and went to college to become an enginerd.

Fast forward to 2006. Married, two kids, driving an F150 but never forgot about 914's. Had some heart problems totally out of the blue this year at age 36! Got them fixed but realized life is short and decided to get back into 914's. Found an original owner '74 1.8 car that my dad bought last month. I drove it and I got bit hard (again).

I just bought a '72 with Mahles and chrome bumpers that suffered an engine fire and I'm trying to decide if I want to combine it with my rusty old '70 and start a huge project or just part out both cars and save up a little more cash for a running 914. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Sorry for babbling. I love these cars.

[dagdal1967]

I had never been a "gear head" of any description, but had always been from a mechanical family. Both of my brothers restored at lest 2 old cars and I watched this process as I grew up.

Then I cot to college and one of the teachers there had a yellow 914. It was love at first sight.

I knew it would be a while before I could own one so I started studying them.... Learning about them.. What to look for when buying, what to look for when maintaining, what was good, what was bad... What was stock, what people did to them....

By the time I was able to own one, I knew exactly what I wanted, exactly what I was looking for and exactly what I could and would pay for one..

The rest is history!

Doug

[TravisNeff]

Welcome to the club Steve, another one in the AZ contingent.

I got into 914's when i was working in a car stereo shop back in 1989. The first install we did was on a 914, we built a custom backpad to stuff a bunch of speakers in it. Anyhow the owner of this car ended up working at the stereo shop with me later. A few rides in that car and I was hooked.

1991 and I was driving a newer mustang GT, my parents were giving me a free ride on insurance and told me that I was on my own - a car like the mustang and being 21 with a few bad tickets on my record - I was on the hunt for a different car. So I went and bought a hotrodded 1971 914.

So 4 914s to date with a dry spell in the mid 90s (still have 2, well 1.5)

[E-Man]

First car: 1972 Mercury Capri (The SEXY European) Made in Germany
2nd: Parts car for the above (later put in hot Pinto engine bought from a 4WD Willys racer and added 350 Holley w/Walsh Racing kit) too hot, drove it to every Lime Rock event I could for 4 years, wrecked during a suprise summer thunderstorm at night, we all lived to tell the story.

Next: 1966 Volvo 122S. Slow but got me everywhere until I saw the DREAM.
OK. I bought another 122 that was an automatic another parts car. How fast do you have to tow an automatic 122 before you put it in gear? Apparently 35-40 mph I learned. It worked! I drove it from Wales, MA to Enfield, CT that day.
Before the DREAM, I bought a '89 VWScirocco (sp?) Sold it; too bad; never diagnosed issues.

Have you ever seen a 1972 BMW 3.0CSi? Ever see the CSL race? Well I did. That is when the DREAM was born. Must have been 1972. Yes, I was just out of sixth-grade in Garden Grove (OC to some) in 1969 when the 'rents needed to move us 9 kids to CT. The CAR went by me at age 12. (Oh yes, one day I WILL have one of those, I thought)

Yadd-yadda-got one, rebuilt it, drove it for a long time, donated it to charity, bought a 1972 914 from (The Holy Hand-Grenade) of Antioch, CA. Came with a crankcase full of 93 octane.

That was June 1999.

The rest of the story later. Come to Chris Foley's alignment gig on 11/4 (my birthday) and get the "rest of the story'. OK, the new dream is the 914 but the CSi was a rocket.

[Pat Garvey]

My first 3 or 4 cars were Corvairs, including a '63 Spyder convertible and a '65 Corsa 140. You see, I'm an old fart. Trouble with the Corvairs was, my newest one was about 12 years old, and when I tinkered with it on the weekend, I never got to do a job right, because I had to button it up by Sunday night so I could drive it to work on Monday morning. And then there was the rust. And having to park it outside year 'round at my apartment complex.

So I finally got a new, reliable car, but always missed my Corvairs. They kind of got under my skin, being an engineer and all. Finally, I got enough bucks to own a toy car on the side, but I still wanted newer and more reliable. So I picked Alpha Romeo Spyder, Fiat Twin Cam Spyder, and 914, and said that the first one to come along with low miles, well maintained, and in decent shape I'd buy.

I drove an Alpha Romeo, but it was old and beat so no-go. The next car to come up was a '76 914 2.0 with appearance group, new paint (Porsche platinum metallic over original light ivory), all receipts, and 43000 miles. So I bought it. Paid premium- $6000 in 1983, but I haven't looked back. Still got it. Still no rust. Thanks to my lucky stars neither of the other cars came along first!

That's the story. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

Jim

What! You had that many Corvairs & no Yenko version?

[PinetreePorsche]

A gradual infatuation: As a poor man, I liked the idea of the poor man's Porsche way back when, AND didn't think it was ugly (and it now looks more 'early 90s than 70s!). About 5 years ago I saw one for sale at a gas station, far from my house. Took the phone no., but no one ever answered. About 2 years later I saw one in the library parking lot three times in a month (a real rust bucket). Then in the summer of '05, looking around on eBay, I started thinking about it. Drove 250 miles to check out a "bargain" that turned out to be a rust-bucket/parts car. A week later, within a mile of my house (destiny!), I came on a very nice '73 2.0--almost a show car. Actually, it is, sort of a show car: It was featured in the "ack to the past car column" in the Fri. auto section of the local DC paper: google Chris Hager, Wash. Times, and Porsche 914 together and you'll see the article. And the paper has an annual fall show for its featured cars to which I take it every Sept., as un-restored (doesn't need much) and non-original (slightly). And now I have one of George Hussey's RARE 9014s--the silver one w/blackpinstriping (anyone know where more of these are?)!

[Mugs914]

I was always a car guy. (At age three I could tell the tell the difference between the Porsche, Ford GT 40, Ferrari, and Lola Matchbox cars) Even then it was always about racing to me. Drags, stock cars (remember when they were called that?), Bonneville, sports cars, it didn't matter as long as there was a number on the door. When I was about 9 I started paying more attention to road racing, after all it was 1972 and the Can Am was in full swing! I think that was when I started being a Porsche fan as well.

A few years down the road there was a lady at our church that had a Signal Orange '73 2.0 with the negative Porsche stripe and Rivieras that I had seen many times but hadn't paid that much attention to up 'till then (No number on the door... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)). One day I sat on the curb next to the thing and started to notice; "Wow that thing is LOW... Kinda cool looking... check out those brakes, they look like the ones on a Can Am car...(Cut me some slack, I was 12...) The engine's in the MIDDLE..." Wow.

When I was in high school I had a Ford Pinto that I gradually built up into a pretty neat canyon racer. but I was by now a full-fledged Porschophile and told anyone who was intersted that if I had my way I'd be driving a 914 with the (then current) 3.0 911SC engine. That was my dream car. Well, ROAD car anyway... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

Jump forward yo 1999 and I'm still building and racing Fords, only now they are Merkur XR4Ti turbos. One of my Merkur buddies also had a 1.8 914 in his shop that he was rebuilding/using as a shelf. He knew I was interested in 914s and when one of his buddies had a '73 2.0 for sale I was the first guy he called. I paid $1k for the thing and drove it home. I re-built the engine, added a cheap paint job and a set of tires and drove the wheels off the thing. In 2000 I autocrossed and time trialed it in PCA C/Ss and won my class for the year. I still have it - its now the turbo race car (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) .

There have been a couple of more 914s between then and now, acouple of 2.0, one with five lug and 911 brakes, all a lot of fun. My current road car is a - Ta da!! - '73 914 with a 3.0 911 SC engine!

It was my dream car back then and it is now.

I'll never sell it...

[Steve Thacker]

I was riding down the street on a bicycle in 2000 and this lil bitch was sitt'in in the weeds. I should have kept peddling. Now I just open up the garage door from time to time and throw another wad of cash at it to keep it happy.

I'm a sick person I tell ya! I can't frigg'in stop !!!!! Somebody help me !!!!!

[Brew]

Great stories guys!!

Back in 1984, I was looking for a new car to drive my senior year in HS. I was mostly looking at GTOs (that's me standing next to Pops 68 in my avatar) when I saw an ad in our local paper for a 1973 Porsche 914!! Being in love with 911s at the time, I had to go look. Started easy, ran good, and looked different than any other car in our HS parking lot. So, it's between the 73 2.0, a red 68 GTO convertible (d'oh! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/slap.gif) ), and a real nice 71 GTO hardtop. Well, the 68 didn't have the GTO engine in it, but the sales moron tried to convince me otherwise. Next car please. The 71 was real nice, like I said, but not only does the top come off the 914, it's a PORSCHE!!!!! In retrospect, I shoulda bought the Goat, but I loved the teener nonetheless.

FFWD 21 years later, my Pontiac is pissing me off, gas prices are going thru the roof, and I need a fun, economical car to drive around. So I says to myself; "Oh yeah, that 914 I had in HS was a blast!! And look!!! They're the same price today as they were 20 years ago!!"

And here I am.

[Sammy]

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[Dion]

I was detailing cars as a teenager,developing a passion for the car hobby,one day after school i opened the garage door and here is a Porsche! Cool I get to detail this? As I looked above the car there is a sign hanging. Clean it up,it's yours.
Happy belated birthday! Love Dad. What a moment. I was 17 yrs old. Had the car ever since. It was a stock 73' 1.7. Now it's a bit different. Even with all their inherent problems I love it. Cheers,Dion

[wbergtho]

When I graduated high school in 1981, a lady classmate bought a 74 2.0 and drove it over to my house to show it off. It's handling and quirky styling immediately made a positive impression on me. Fast forward to 1986...I bought the Oct 86 copy of VW/Porsche and it featured a Renegade Hybrids V-8 914 conversion on the cover with an extensive write-up. I fell in love with the idea of a nimble lightweight two seat sports car with V-8 power. Fast forward to 1997...I bought a 74 roller from Andy Leany (former owner of Renegade Hybrids) in Redlands, CA for $500 and built my own V-8 car over the past few years featuring an LS1 and ultimately the LS6 powered 500HP beast that lurks in my garage. I also owned a 1971 2.0 sideshifter before completing the V-8 project. I am in love with the 914...whether it is bone stock, six conversion or GT conversion...and obviously enjoy the V-8 cars alot!

[Scott Carlberg]

Sports Illustrated used to have a picture of a 914 on the Inside Front Cover.

I used to tear them out of my dad's SI and tape them to the inside of my bedroom door.

Years later when trying to decide what to buy after selling my '69 Firebird, my dad said, "why don't you buy one of 'those'?".

so I did.

[N14]

I fell in and couldn't get out (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[ClayPerrine]

My adventures in 914 ownership started in 1985. I had a friend whos parents were really into SCCA road racing, and he talked me into watching an SCCA Autocross. Well, the 1969 Pontiac Firebird that I had was a great 12 second quarter miler, but it didn't turn worth a (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stromberg.gif) So I started shopping for a "Sports Car". I was looking for a 240Z, but I stumbled across a 1979 Porsche 924 in the apartments where he lived. I bought it thinking that I would be able to AX it.

On November 17, 1985, I went to an SCCA Autocross at Fair Park in Dallas. My friend was too hung over to go with me. So after registration, I start walking around the pit area, and I see this bright Orange little car. I start looking at it, and it turns out to be a Porsche, one that I had never seen. So I start talking to the owner, who turns out to be a girl!!! She tells me its a 914,and that she has not had it very long. I spend the rest of the AX bugging her, and at before we leave, I ask her out on a date.

Our first date consited of me driving 42 miles to her house. She offers to drive me around because I don't know the area. So I spent the evening riding in the passenger seat of her 914 in winter, and only the driver's side heater box was hooked up. So all I could see was the fogged over right hand side of the windshield. The date went very well, and I started working on her car with her. We fixed the one cylinder that wasn't firing (clogged screen in the injector), we added sway bars (burned myself in a very "sensitive" place), and put low profile BF Goodrich tires on it. She started really being a threat in SCCA AX, so much that we later found out that the guys in her class were cheating to stay in front of her!!!

The first time I drove her car, I was hooked. I had to have one. Then I found out that they came with a 911 six, I really wanted one with a six. It took 20 years, but I finally got what I wanted.


BTW.. the 924 was sold shortly after we married in 1988. It is one of the few cars that I don't miss.....


So, you can blame Betty for my 914 addiction. ( and I am a lucky man....)