Olav A.

In the February issue of Excellence "Readers SalesReports", it lists someone byuying a 1973 914 1.7 for $8,500.00.

It has 85,000 miles, Aubergine in color and the body was stripped down and restored "a year ago". Also, has Webers,fresh brakes, re-sealed tranny, plain street wheels and a set of Fuchs. Foglights and nice bumpers too.

Excellence reports that the value for an excellent example is $7,400 and reader paid a little more than they would allow for this 914. They added that the low milage and unusual color would certainly add to the value.

I think Excellence is a little off the mark in 914 values and they should use the readers reports to udate their value scale.

I know when I got my 914 I paid over what they published but felt is was fair market value based on what I saw when I was buying and now you can't get into a car for what I paid.

This particular car isn't even in the "sweet" spot of 914 in terms of the most sought after models.

Nice to see the cars are getting up in value a little for the nicely sorted examples that have been taken care of.

I'll admit that the values plumet as the condition of the car diminishes though.

So, does anyone else think that the buyer over paid or paid the market value?

Knowing that it costs a fair bit to refurbish a car I'm thinking this buyer just paid in advance.

Jay Gratton

Nice sounding car, but it is still a 1.7, I certainly wouldn't pay that for a 1.7!

skl

Guess it really doesn't matter as I've had mine for 35+ years and my kids will fighting over it in another 35 years... (actually if it's a '73 and rustfree with a side shifter, etc you can mod the engine internally and with the Webers would be a fine car...)

Jay Gratton

No doubt a 1.7 1973 is a fine car. But for $8500 I want a 2.0 ready to go. I actually would like to find a nice 1.7 daily driver to bomb around in. I have spent many days on the track in a 1.7 and I learned more about driving fast in that car then I did in any of my other cars. BRAKES!!!! You don't touch the brakes until you get in the pits!

racer

The plight of the 914. Every seller thinks their car is priceless and every buyer wants one for under 5k. These cars will never appreciate in value if the core buyers remain glued to this $5k indicator. I love 914's (had a 1970 1.7 and my Dad still has the 6 he bought new in 1970) but lets realize...

1) They are disappearing (the good ones are anyway) so their value will only rise (even the "bad ones value will rise)
2) Even at $10k, that is still cheap. Adjusted for inflation, a 914 2.0L "should" cost about $50k. Hmm. thats what a lightly optioned 987 (boxster) sells for. And woa... a 914-6 in todays dollars is about 60K.. or what a Boxster S costs. How much would you pay for a 35 year old Boxster -$5k? (assuming fossil fuels are still available )

So even if someone overpaid for a 1.7, they can be confident that in a scant 5-10 years, they will get all their money back For $8500 I too want a nice "DE" ready 2.0L rather than a 1.7

Rouser

Sorry, but a '73 1.7L "w/carbs" isn't worth $8.5K, I don't care how much so-called stripping the PO did. It only proves one thing, that the buyer didn't do his homework prior to purchase.

There are still a lot of really nice '73/'74 2.0L's w/intact D-Jet FI out there for under $8K that could've been had for what this buyer claims was a good buy. And don't forget that the "low mileage" just means that it only registers 5 digits; it coulda been 185,000 miles.

skl

Yes, but in the big picture after a few years of enjoyment will he care if he paid 7K or 6K or 8K??? I doubt there are a LOT of good 73 2.0's left intact for less than 8K....if so, great! That means more people actually took care of them instead of just using them as a disposable little sports car. I distinctly remember even when mine was only about 10 years old that most 914's I saw looked like ****, saggy springs, rusted rockers, bubbling sail panels, etc...

Edgy01

I paid $5000 for my 914 1.7 in 1974. I really can't see a 1.7 appreciating much when there are still very clean 2.0 cars out there. I see no point in going for a 1.7 when an equal condition car may be available in 2.0 with Appearance Group, etc.,--and maybe a better color. Aubergine,--not my favorite for a 914, although it would have been a Paint To Sample.

Jay Gratton

I just sold my '73 914 2.0 for $8K last december and it was very rust free and very nice. Granted I was looking for a quick sale and I needed to move it to buy my six, but I doubt I would have sold it for much more.