Starting a 1971 IMSA 914 Restoration, A privateer run 914 with Sebring and Daytona history Options

[FourBlades]

......I think you have a great project there....and properly restored would be a welcome sight in vintage racing, which you would enjoy immensely....side note, I once looked for a formula super vee ( air cooled) which was in original condition., never found one. What you have found in that 914-4 is a diamond in the rough., and may well turn out to be valuable if you restore it properly. I would say that you should not do a "down and dirty" or "cheap" restoration. Take your time and do it properly. It could be way more valuable, restored, than you could imigine.

Murray,

I agree with you completely. Plan to do it right the first time while keeping it
period correct.

Thanks...John

[McMark]

IMHO, just like a 914/6 it comes down to the VIN number. If you've got a proven race history, then I think as long as you rebuild it with the original bodywork, original paint scheme, etc you can't go wrong. There is obviously a lot of value and beauty in a 'survivor', but some cars just aren't in good enough condition to fill that role. For those cars that aren't 'survivors' a restoration is a reasonable solution.

I think you're doing great stuff here, and I can't wait to see the project evolve.

[ME733]

......I think you have a great project there....and properly restored would be a welcome sight in vintage racing, which you would enjoy immensely....side note, I once looked for a formula super vee ( air cooled) which was in original condition., never found one. What you have found in that 914-4 is a diamond in the rough., and may well turn out to be valuable if you restore it properly. I would say that you should not do a "down and dirty" or "cheap" restoration. Take your time and do it properly. It could be way more valuable, restored, than you could imigine.

Murray,

I agree with you completely. Plan to do it right the first time while keeping it
period correct.

Thanks...John

Another thought,...get and collect every possable(historical) period photograph you can...of the car...Photograph all the original sponsors art work , decals, and lettering on the body panels...photograph the restoration. clean and reuse the major bits and pieces..(example)..The fuel cell can be rebuilt as new. I look forward to watching you restoration progress. .....Murray.

[URY914]

This car is more of a preservation not a true restoration. Which is probably the right thing to do.

[ChrisFoley]

If the car had won races or a championship, or was piloted by a notable driver, I would say the only choice would be to do a precise restoration to its former condition as raced.
In this case I think the restoration only needs to be period correct and accurate from an external visual perspective.

A preservation would be to repair/retain as many original components as possible without alteration. I don't see doing it this way as adding value to this car. No one remembers the car except as an also ran.

[carr914]

John, I'm glad your at work on this (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) , can't wait til I see it again.

I wish I could have kept it, but I don't have the Mad Skills that you have, so it is in the right place. I think my friend over in New Smynra still has the Gotti's that I used to have that I know came off a different IMSA 914-6



And yes, the Jewelry store was a sponsor. John has a bunch of pictures ( & Logbook) of the car in period ( Would always like more)

[stownsen914]

Here is some motivation, I finished one of my IMSA GTU cars (the Meaney/ Hendricks 914) and passed tech! I am ready to race it next spring!

Glenn,

Very nice that you have Hendricks' old car. He started racing it when I was a teenager tagging along with my parents at PCA events. I remember when Ray brought that car to a Pocono driver's ed event to shake it down.

Scott

[racerbvd]

If you have trouble with the sway bar, I may have one, I also have a set of era Correct wide Centerlines..

[FourBlades]

Thanks Byron. The bar is kind of rusty, I will post some pictures and see if people
think it is still usable. The arms and ends are good, just the bar.

I think I saw that yellow car on craigslist. I missed those wheels, it looked like
there were few good parts on that car.

I have some period gottis but they are maybe too flashy looking.

John

[racerbvd]

Thanks Byron. The bar is kind of rusty, I will post some pictures and see if people
think it is still usable. The arms and ends are good, just the bar.

I think I saw that yellow car on craigslist. I missed those wheels, it looked like
there were few good parts on that car.

I have some period gottis but they are maybe too flashy looking.

John

I have used those wheels on a few rollers over the years, go back to when I was going to back date another 911 I had but not correct for my 71 Toad Hall (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) ..

I was glad to see it go, as I was ready to have a top welded on (I had an extra) and start looking for 73 RSR body parts..

[carr914]

I have some period gottis but they are maybe too flashy looking.

John

John, those Gotti's you have are more street related and a lot of Corvette owners used them. The "Correct" Racing Gotti's are those that I posted earlier

T.C.

[gms]

Here is the Gottis that my IMSA car came with

[stownsen914]

Here is the Gottis that my IMSA car came with

Those are the wheels I remember from that car (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[gms]

Starting on IMSA 914/6 number 2 (in the background) this winter, hoping to race it in the spring.

[1968Cayman]

The wooden stand will probably get you through the build. I built a wooden dolly for my 911 project just to move it in, out, in and across the garage while the jig was being assembled. Broke the minute before I slid the car onto the jig, but that was only because of the casters.

Keep working. It can't be that hot down there now.

[al weidman]

Any updates John?

Here's an idea to update your Rocking Chair (Termites can be bad)

T.C.

u

Sorry, OT, TC is there a thread on that bus. I have had a bus, buses, in the family since 1966. Still have some. I would like a much longer look at that one. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif)

[carr914]

Any updates John?

Here's an idea to update your Rocking Chair (Termites can be bad)

T.C.

u

Sorry, OT, TC is there a thread on that bus. I have had a bus, buses, in the family since 1966. Still have some. I would like a much longer look at that one. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif)

Al, I grabbed that picture some time ago, I think the thread might have been on Pelican, back when the stories started popping up about the "Race Taxi", this was a similar build.

[gms]

John were the fenders all fiberglass or fiberglass on steel?

[FourBlades]

Glenn,

They are pure fiberglass. They just left 2-3 inches around the edges to glue the
fiberglass to. All the fenders had been damaged and patched with layers of glass
and bondo.

I think we have the same Gottis. Mine have center caps and are painted
differently than yours but they are the same otherwise.

I was thinking of ditching the center caps because you are not allowed to run
them in races now and I am guessing it was the same back then. I was also
going to repaint them in a frosted silver color. Maybe I should paint the centers
gold tone like yours.

What is the history of your other IMSA 914-6?

John

[FourBlades]

Pedal area is well ventilated. This provides needed driver cooling in long races.





Can't wait to fix this. Been jonsing for some real welding.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/chowtime.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chowtime.gif)

Plus I can actually work under a roof. What luxury.

You can see in the background the first patch on this car that welded on
yesterday.

John