The Beginning

There I was on a Sunday, reading the paper and browsing through the ads just like every other week.  I always check the "Antiques and Classics" section of the classifieds for something interesting, to dream about something I could work on in the shop.
Ahh nothing much here as usual...hold on: "1972 Porsche 914, 1.7 liter.  Good exterior.  $3650..."
Hold the phone!  I had been fantasizing for the past six months about getting a 914 as cheaply as possible and resto-modding it.  They usually disappear as quickly as they appear in ads.  To get one in the $3K range, even one of the less desirable 1.7L '72 models,  meant that it was gonna be pretty rough.  Real easy to get in over your head on one like that, especially because these cars are famous for their common rust spots.  I wasn't concerned about engine size though because I had plans.  And it had the early bumpers before the "less attractive" mid-70's rubber noses.
I called on it and arranged to see it Monday before the big snowstorm arrived on Tuesday.  I ended up being the first to look at it, as he had just put in the ad on Saturday.  From the first look it was obvious the car was just as I expected.  Rust bubbles by the side sails and along the bottom sides.  Former battery acid spill had eaten a large hole in the bodywork in the engine bay.  Ohh what's this - hit in the right rear, really obvious from the respray in the trunk and the bondo on the rear 1/4 panel.  Heck, respray everywhere.  Smarter people than me would have walked away.  Still...there was not "too much" rust.  And they make replacement pieces for everything I was looking at that needed replacing.  You can almost build one from scratch they sell so many reproduction parts. Knowing people in the bodywork business probably gave me too much confidence that I could get some help replacing things.  I don't really know when something is too far gone to repair.
But when the seller dropped the price to $3,000 even...well I needed a project didn't I?

I paid for the car later that day after a trip to the bank and got the title in hand.  He only lived about 15 miles south of me so we would drive it home on the back roads, Angel following me in her car to keep me safe in case lights didn't work or people wanted to get too close.   It was a scary ride - the lights were about the only things that did work!  The brakes are soft, the shifter is nebulous, and it had been converted from factory 70s fuel injection to a single carburetor, badly tuned.  Stalled it a couple of times - especially when I was in 3rd and not first.  Murphy's law in full effect I usually stalled it when an impatient SUV was trying to go through the same intersection.  Trying to drive a little car slow in the country when people are trying to get home from work is like wearing a white jumpsuit and red cape in Pamplona.  I felt like I was diving to the side so I would not get run over as I was being passed.  This only encouraged me to wave my red hankerchief at the bulls, and as I started to get used to the gearbox I pushed it a little more, and I got used to braking 50 yards before the next stop sign.  We made it home, just before full dark and just before I had a mini nervous breakdown.

This blog won't always be so wordy.  It won't be timely - due to budget constraints it might be a couple of years in the making.  But it should be fun and it will definitely have pictures.  I will document what I can of this restoration and modification, I will keep track of costs if not control them, and hopefully if you are thinking of doing something like this or find this page you can avoid some of the mistakes I'm about to make.  Or perhaps be inspired to try it yourself.

They don't make them like this anymore - minimal electronics; simple controls; light weight; no airbags.  None of the weight of today's safety devices and bracing either!
But - 4 wheel disc brakes, manual transmission, mid-engine design, 50-50 weight balance, targa top, 70's styling (I'm marking this as a plus in this case because of the vinyl/chrome combo ;-) ), and maybe most important of all a strong aftermarket parts supply and community.  I will not be alone. 

I've got plans for this thing, and only my budget can slow me down now!  My initial budget - roughly $0 for now.  Aside from some books for reference and some sanding and bodywork stuff this will be a low budget affair until I'm ready to re-assemble.  And then, watch out!

So on to some pics as promised.  Here she was when I first met her.  Looks pretty good from a few feet away!  Get closer and you see some wrinkles.

The next post will have some more pics, immediately following this one.