This 1972 Porsche 914 is described as being an untouched barn find that’s resided in Texas its whole life. As a result, it’s remarkably solid in all of the places that neglected 914s usually rot from. The color is great, too, a rarely seen shade known as Bahama Blue. The cherry on top is the larger 2.0L powerplant, which many owners tend to swap up to if theirs didn’t come with one. The seller is asking $6,300, and it’s listed here on Facebook Marketplace and sold with a clean Texas title. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Ikey H. for the find.
Now, it’s far from a perfect car and is still in need of complete restoration. As you can see here and in a few other places, the paint is lifting and the exposed metal has started to rust (the driver’s side rear quarter looks particularly troublesome.) I’m not enough of a bodywork expert to know whether factory paint would come off in chunks like that or if the car has been resprayed. Underneath the car, inside the door jambs, and under the hood and trunk lid all show Bahama Blue paint, so if it’s been repainted, it was an extensive make-over.
The interior looks like a Texas car for sure, or any vehicle that’s been left out in a dry but sun-intensive state. The dash is destroyed, along with the steering wheel and the seats. the door panels and carpeting will likely need total replacement or at least lots of love as well. The 914 looks largely undisturbed aside from the sun damage, with no signs of aftermarket radios or speakers cut into the door panels. The 914 doesn’t come with the desirable gauge package, but that can be retrofitted if you can track one down.
The underside is remarkably clean, with no evidence of rot through or pending need for floor replacement. The seller notes other areas that are usually of concern – the rockers, trunk, and nose panel – are also sound and free of rust. The body may look tired based on the flaking paint, and the destroyed interior is never a good look, but there’s a lot to like here for a 914 in a great color with the preferred 2.0L mill mounted behind your ears. Interior parts are easy to find, and there’s always someone parting out a 914 somewhere. Would you restore this one?
Looks like it’s all there but it’s still going to take a lot of money to bring her back. It’s crazy how values shot up on these in the past 10 years. Back in 06 when I was working a job in CA I came across a 73 2.0 in signal green for 3500. Couldn’t get away to go look at it and missed out. Funny how you remember the ones you miss. Worked on a couple over the years as a VW tech. While not the hardest cars to work on they can be PITA at times. Don’t forget the hell hole area under the battery. Even a car that looks like it has little rust that area can be “hell” and costly to repair.
I remember in the mid to late 80’s when these were worthless and you could get really good examples at $1000-1500 with tons of junkers in the $100-500 range.
Those are all gone now, so we’re left with the junkers now fetching four figures.
Guess what? This one is still worthless.
I don’t think the 2.0l came out in ’72. I think this has a replacement engine.
Has that “Who’s the U-Boat Commander” vibe about it.
The thing about cars from Tejas. Major flooding there especially after Harvey but not limited to hurricanes. If a used car looks like this and its from Tejas, chances are it was submerged for a time.
Oh, dear Jeezus, call the paramedics will ya?
Flood victim?
Ad says Amarillo all its life. There have been no floods there that I know of. I’m not sure that’s and accurate statement on the sellers part. I agree it’s been underwater somewhere. Maybe stolen and dumped in a pond.
Well, reality is, we’re stuck with table crumbs now. And if you’re starving, your eating. And with electric, self driving cars on the horizon, time is running out. Bummer.
Another car that looks as if its been lost in some very dirty water for a time. Lifetime Amarillo car? They find this in a swamp? I’d guess the electrics are completely shot and need a full rewire, and that’s just to begin with. Parts only, I think and at $6300. definitely no bargain.
I recently bought a 73, 1.7L for 5k. I had to put a carpet kit in it and repair a bit of harmless tin worm damage. I did some simple cosmetic work and had it hand waxed at my local cal car wash. Then a major tune up and Bilsteins all around and a set of turbo tie rods, and I’m driving an amazingly great handling car that gets positive strokes at stop lights and espresso bars. I’ve got 8k in it, and it may fetch twice that. After all it is an aging Porsche In daily driver condition.
I have a couple of 914’s now, and have been looking to see what’s out there. Considering the cost of rust repair, I think this is a great one to restore. Prices are now up there where you can get decent money for it when its done. If you want a keeper, even better. And this is a pretty nice color for one of these. Maybe a little high on the asking price, but definitely a decent base to work from. Anyway, that’s my take on it.
914 shifter is right. I think the price is too high but if the seller is negotiable and
I had the room I would buy it and use it as a driver.
SS Minnow comes to mind. The problem will be in every single attachment point. All of the fasteners will twist out the threading or their heads will snap off. I’d like to hear one of the door hinges. Pity, it could be a really nice looking little car but it will be a labor of love. There is no profit to be made here.
Wow, values may be up, but this one is way out of line for what it needs. Plus appears to have been in the water. Run forest Run!!!
My dad had a orange ’74 914. My dad had a chance to get a 70 or 71 914/6 but he couldn’t get the loan for it. My great uncle also had 2 ’73 914s he owned both of the at the same time along with 4 other porsche’s. But he sold all of them except for 2 of the cars.
After looking closely at the photos, this is not as bad as it seems if that body is solid. You can buy off the full shelf interior kits and after a damn good high pressure water jet, and assuming the motor will not take too much work, I’d address the rust by just treating it and clear coat the car and keep the look. This is something you can do at home easily and DD it.
Think of it as just a strange beetle but it is no more difficult than working on a beetle. I’ve lived here in Brazil for nearly 30 years, I’ve had type 3s, and I once watched my neighbor drop his beetle engine out and replace the rings and bearings and reinstall it………..all in one day on his own driveway with nothing but a small hydraulic jack, a few basic tolls and some chewing gum. That my lads, is wrenching. This would be a fun cheap DYI project.
I think I’ll be fixing to take a gander! I had on of these-’73 Red also with the 2.0L engine. I still have it and still in use as aWonderful Red Wing Weekend Road Warrior at the local Sonics drive in “Car Shows”. I’ll see it in person and might make an offer. Since Armadillo (LOL) isn’t far away….about 4 hrs. from me. From the pictures minus the look of the engine compartment, it would need another-min. $10k to restore. Since I have some buddies that can handle the body, paint & interior, I handle the grease monkey end….labor’s free just parts only! This would a good project car for my 16 y.o. to do….I figure 3 Texas BBQ and a few cases of beer should enough! $18k for a nicely restored classic is worth the effort!