We love seeing what exciting projects our customers are currently working on. Every month we would like to showcase a couple of cars in whatever state they are in - on the road or on the rack.
This month's customer car story comes from Ryan Jones. Ryan has a very unique 1973 2.0L which was his first car back in 2005.
Per the original window sticker, it was imported through Chicago and made its way a few hours south to Howard Hembrough Porsche+Audi in Springfield, Ill. Originally a Delphi Green Metallic car, the gentleman who bought it new off the lot had it repainted in 1976 as you currently see it above. While it’s certainly not a factory color, it’s definitely period correct.
By 1980, that same owner gave the car to his brother-in-law who lived in Canton, Mo. He was a dentist, and the car lived in his garage for the better part of 25 years, mostly as a grocery-getter or occasional weekend driver, racking up only 53,000 miles by the time Ryan picked it up in 2005.
But the first time Ryan saw the car — or any 914, for that matter — was in 1999 when he was 10 years old. His uncle was a mechanic in Canton and got to know the car and its owner over the years. His uncle took him to see the 914 and they were allowed to go for a short drive, it was love at first sight.
From that point on Ryan began to save all the cash he could get from birthdays, Christmas, and mowing lawns for a car. His parents saw how serious he was and made a deal that if he saved up a majority of the cash for a vehicle purchase, they’d help cover up to a small difference when he turned 16. Whenever they would ask him what car he was going to get, his mind would always come back to the 914.
Ryan later found out that not long after that first drive with his uncle, his parents had worked with him to help find a 914 to surprise Ryan with on his 16th birthday. His uncle initially found a ’74 1.8L in decent shape and he began restoring it. The car had just come out of the paint booth when the body shop, and everything inside it, was destroyed by a tornado.
A few months later, the dentist friend had contacted Ryan's uncle to say he was looking to sell the ’73. Fast-forward a year or two later, Ryan's parents sent him on a scavenger hunt around the house on his 16th birthday that ultimately led him to the keys of the 914 he has today. Aside from the paint and side mirrors, the car has remained mostly untouched, original motor, interior, upholstery, etc., and now has about 67,500 miles on the clock.
This was a fantastic story with some beautiful images of a one-of-a-kind car. Thank you for the submission Ryan and we hope that every tick of that odometer brings you joy for years to come!
Please submit your image and a brief summary to blake@914rubber.com. If we select your photo for the newsletter you will win a $15 914Rubber gift card!
