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Phoenix Red Survivor: 1973 Porsche 914 2.0

Now, don’t get too excited: this 914 wasn’t completely restored, but the seller highlights that it’s been gone through mechanically with the original paint cleaned up. The ad reads slightly wonky, but the gist of it is that this is a well-optioned 914 survivor that comes with the preferred 2.0L engine and “side shifter” transmission linkage. The seller claims it spent the last nine months with a mechanic who has gone through the mechanical bits, and it’s now listed here on eBay with bidding to $7,900 and the reserve unmet.

While it’s hard for me to get hot and bothered about a 914, there’s no doubt that nice ones are going for strong money. The seller reports that his has always been a California survivor, and that its distinctive “Phoenix Red” paint is all original. The interior looks quite nice with minty bucket seats, and you can see that the 914 came from the factory with the desirable auxiliary gauge package nestled in the center stack. The seller claims the combination of the upgraded transmission and 2.0L mill makes a ’73 model the one to buy.

The engine bay is perhaps the most impressive part of the car, appearing to be incredibly well presented and neat as a pin. While the seller goes on about the 914 having spent the last nine months with one of the most foremost Porsche experts in the country, he doesn’t elaborate as to what was done. Certainly, the presentation of the engine suggests someone has been under the hood recently, but it’d be helpful to get a full recounting of what the last nine months of work got the seller in return.

The 914 is also equipped with the chrome front bumper with integrated fog lamps and Fuchs wheels. While the options list for a 914 wasn’t exactly generous, it’s apparent that the original owner of this example checked all the boxes that they could. If I’m spending anything over $20K for a 914, it’s for a downpayment on a 914-6; but if you want to avoid being in hoc to a bank, the nicest 2.0L 914 you can find is likely a sensible buy.

Comments

  1. Avatar alphasud Member

    I would have to agree with the seller. 73 2.0 914 is the best year and model IMHO. This one looks real nice and I’m happy to see they kept the efi instead of pulling it for a carburetor which is what most did back then. The 2.0 has Bosch D-jetronic and when set up properly they are strong runners.

    Like 4
  2. Avatar bobhess Member

    Having owned 2 and built race cars out of several more for customers I too say this is one of the best combinations of a 914 put out. alphasud is spot on about the fuel injection. The 130 hp 1.8 we built used the 2.0 ltr fuel injection which gave good gas mileage and obviously good power. Love this car.

    Like 4
  3. Avatar BlisterEm Member

    Seems the salvage title should have been addressed. Something expensive occurred.

    Like 4
    • Avatar Charles Sawka

      Not necessarily. In California it could be for something as simple as a windshield break or an engine swap.

      Like 0
    • Avatar Charles Sawka

      California is strange about that. If a stolen car is recovered it has to be re licensed with salvage title. Even a minor damage claim can sometimes result in a salvage title.

      Like 1
  4. Avatar Ralph

    The title thing is an issue for certain. Wonder what the deal is on that. Nice looking one here for sure.

    Like 1
  5. Avatar Steve Clinton

    Buy the sweater, get the 914 for free!
    (Seriously, why wouldn’t the seller remove the rag from the trunk lid?)

    Like 3
  6. Avatar Terrry

    Kind of a funny ad, but the bids are up to 10k now, reserve hasn’t been met. Price is nearing 914-6 in good condition territory.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Mike

      How much do you think a 914-6 in good condition is? $11-15k? Those models have gone through the roof lately. Try tripling that number for starters.

      Like 10
  7. Avatar jokacz

    I like the fact that the vinyl has been removed from the sides of the roof, but the thin chrome trim strips remain. It would be nice if the roof panel was sanded smooth and painted to match the body. Salvage titles aren’t always as bad as they sound; like a theft recovery. But this one demands more inspection.

    Like 1
  8. Avatar Howie Mueler

    $11,100 now, reserve not met.

    Like 0
  9. Avatar Russ Ashley

    I worked with a guy who had one of those just like that. He was not a car guy and didn’t know a thing about how a car works, but he loved that car and kept it in perfect condition and always extremely clean. If anything needed to be done to it he only let the mechanics at the Porsche dealer touch it. He had the brakes redone and they turned the rotors to just clean them up and restore the friction surface. He wasn’t happy and told me that the brake pedal went lower than before and thought it was because the rotors were thinner after being turned. I tried to explain how disk brakes work but he insisted that he was going to have new rotors installed. I don’t know if he ever did as I transferred out of that office soon after that.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar chrlsful

    RA: U remind me of all the bronk sellers, bidders (’66’77) over on the other channel.

    This here car? can’t name defficiencies (but the need for the extra .3). Not clear this is the two oh from the write up. The 6 is a totally different car from what I hear~

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Robin Douglas

    Am I the only one seeing how badly the bonnet is fitting on the right side? Seems pushed upward perhaps?

    Like 0
  12. Avatar Howie Mueler

    $19,100 Reserve Not Met!!

    Like 0
  13. Avatar bobhess Member

    Russ.. What you said about the coworker’s brakes tells me that the master cylinder should have been replaced along with turning the rotors. The master cylinders have plenty of travel to compensate for thinner rotors but old age and wear will be a factor.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Russ Ashley

      Bob, I disagree with your assessment of the situation but don’t like to type so won’t get into a discussion about how disc brakes work.

      Like 0
    • Avatar Ralph

      Great point Bob. Another thought, you would not believe the number of so called mechanics who do a brake job, and never check the brake fluid level after pad, shoe replacement. We had a couple of those guys at the PORSCHE dealer I did a couple of stints at. Since I was the last guy to touch a car before the service customer received it, once I discovered this issue it seemed like 75% of the cars were taken back to the mechanic to have fluid topped off. The waste of time, and lack of concern about doing a job right and providing a “safe” repair to the owner drove me nuts…lost track of owners who would return after a brake job and report it either does not stop better, or the pedal went to the floor on first attempt to brake. Very sad to have to deal with incompetent mechanics, even sadder to show them the factory repair manuals and realize that they could not read. YMMV.

      Like 1
  14. Avatar PRA4SNW

    The paint designer of the 914 must have opened a package of Chiclets one day and decided that these would be the colors.

    Like 0

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