Purchase
So I started reading up online (914world is a great resource) and browsing cars for sale, I decided I wanted a 73 or later for the improved sideshift transmission and was really looking for a solid chassis. Looking back I should have looked for longer (how many first time buyers say that I wonder) but I saw one for sale at a reputable 914 outfit and thought that would de-risk the whole experience.
I drove the 400 miles and checked the car out and it looked pretty good, someone had spend a boat load of cash on maintenance but as it turns out should have spent it somewhere else. After I got the car home I started to to strip the interior and it just got worse.
One issue with the 914 is that it rusts from the inside out so you can say there are always surprises but I should have been more diligent.
Some pictures of the car on the trailer on the way home and in the garage.
Basically this was a classis case of hell hole, the battery leaking had caused corrosion into the passenger side longitudinal. And it is nasty, to repair is a LOT of work and not for the novice.
Underneath, the first clue.
After prodding with a screwdriver this one just got uglier, the crack on the left is the longitudinal and the reason for the passenger door being tight at the top.
Inside you can see the longitudinal is completely rusted all along the bottom side.
After discussing the issue with the seller we came to an agreement on a roller he had, coincidently it turned out this was the same year and color as the first one. So I took my daughter with me this time and we made a fun trip out of it and I came home with car number 2.
If only I had bought this one first ... oh well. It is far from perfect but just fine for what I want, I also picked up some chrome bumpers to replace those god awful rubber ones.
Car number 1 was driven to a friends garage for storage where its fate awaits, maybe after this one I will have the skills and enthusiasm to fix it.
Now the owner of 2 914's.