While I do wonder when we’ll see fewer and fewer true barn finds being discovered, stories like that of this 1975 Porsche 914 remind you that the world is a big place and any number of circumstances can lead to a car being forever preserved. This 914 was a gift from the original owner to this then-girlfriend, a gal who preferred driving his truck instead of the gifted 914. The Porsche was parked with 1,200 miles and only recently removed from four decades of storage. Find it here on RM Sotheby’s website with pre-auction estimates predicting a sales price range of $40,000-$60,000.
The 914 sports original Nepal Orange paint and was found largely preserved, thanks to the forgiving New Mexico climate it was hidden in. The 914 shows no obvious flaws and has been sympathetically detailed to preserve its original condition. The original owner that re-discovered the 914 bought the car for his then-partner after launching a successful business. Though they went their separate ways, he (smartly) held onto the 914 and didn’t do much with it once it entered storage.
The 914 will check a lot of boxes for Porsche enthusiasts, as it has the larger 2.0 motor and, of the few options available, the desirable features 914 followers will want. The listing notes the 914 was “…optioned with tinted glass, an intermittent windshield wiper, and the appearance group, which consisted of a leatherette steering wheel, fog lights, dual-tone horn, center storage box with an armrest, leatherette boot for the gearshift, and center console with clock, oil temperature gauge, and a voltage meter.”
The seller notes the bottle of Nepal Orange touch-up paint has never been opened and is included with the car (nice to see the seller and his beau parted ways amicably, otherwise we might see an opened bottle that’s half-empty.) While the 914 has never been the auction superstar that its siblings the 911 and 356 have been, perfect specimens like this will not only draw a crowd but likely a high sale result as well. Find a better one!
So, when you take the top off and half the original rotten rubber seal goes with it, then what? Maybe you hire a specialist to do it? Cars like this are fantastic and I’m happy they exist, but this is a museum piece, no one would drive it.
I would drive it as long ago I had the same vehicle although mine didn’t have the 2L engine. As for the roof seals, the whole top doesn’t come off, only the targa part, so replacing the seals shouldn’t be too difficult.
If you’re storing it with only 1200 miles, why remove the original radio?
I can’t understand waiting so long to sell it, if it clearly wasn’t going to be driven. Why not buy something you’d rather drive, rather than a brand new vehicle sitting unused?
Maybe the seller had to wait for the former girlfriend to pass away? Morbid, I know, but there has to be a reason he hung onto it for so long.
I’m sure there’s a complicated math formula for it, but basically as long as time and auto production and human beings continue to exist, someone will put something away, and we will always have some sort of barn finds.
Well and humorously put!
I just cant put cool cars in setting that never allows them to be driven. its car, drive it and dont park it next to morons
As long as women walk the Earth, there will be stupid men doing totally illogical things to try to impress, cajole, or satisfy them. Is there really any better explanation?
Spot on Vance. Been there done that. What we (men) will do for women goes back to day one. It defies everything that makes sense, but we continue do it.
no man. 100% correct
As Aerosmith stated it well …
Dream on
Dream until your dreams come true
Dream on
Dream on
Dream on
Dream until your dreams come true
Dream on
Dream on
Dream on
Dream on
Dream on
Once you drive it you have a ten thousand dollar car …….
With all the performance of a $5000 Miata.
Classic Steel – You have no idea what you’re talking about. With 100,000 miles, this is easily a $22,000 car.
When you drive it the car deprecates and needs repairs with mileage and at 100 k as you suggest it will be less value and not 20k. Unless your hypothesis is twenty more years ..a car that sits undriven gets mechanical issues ..seals..circuits ..pumps etc.
Does this 11000 count or do you need more ..
This has had some after items added but again is 85k on clock.. new seals as this sat in barn undriven …hmm new carbs ..
sure I could find lower and higher but here is a 2.0
https://www.cardealfinder.com/autos/porsche/1975-porsche-914-2-0-zambezi-green-49282.html
Agreed.That green one is sweet! And rebuilt!
Why replace the tires? I would hope they come with it. Why has the radio been removed? Where is the cabin light between the seats? If they are really going for museum status here, they need the radio re-installed, cabin light re-installed and the original tires on the car. You also need some bullet-proof provenance. Otherwise this story is just a that, a story.
where is the other one? I thought roller skates came in pairs!
The engine is going to leak so bad that it will need an IV!
Classic Steel – The green example you sight is apples to oranges. That one is carbureted, non original no paint, motor has enlarged displacement, etc. Hagerty values an original 75, even a number two (very good) at $31,000. Mileage means little except in extreme cases.
No way is that car worth 40k maybe 4k. Its a glorified VW.
Michael, so to you, a Lexus is a Toyota, a Ferrari is a Fiat, and that Apple phone you’re using is a Hon Hai Precision phone, right? Brilliant mind.