Dr. Tyson might want it.
Star Power: Carl Sagan’s 1970 Porsche 914 (2016)
11–20 of 21 posts
Re: Star Power: Carl Sagan’s 1970 Porsche 914 (2016)
#12I would argue "no" on Sagan's effect on the car's provenance. Not an expert, but years of watching Barrett-Jackson and Mecum auctions (along with their commentary) leads me to conclude the following will generate interest: 1) Cars owned by famous racers 2) Cars owned by other famous people who like to race, e.g. Paul Newman 3) Cars involved in a well-known incident, e.g. Bonnie and Clyde http://www.weirdca.com/locati…
As a counter example: the ordinary VW Golf IV of Pope Benedikt XVI sold for 190k EUR back in 2005
Re: Star Power: Carl Sagan’s 1970 Porsche 914 (2016)
#13I would argue "no" on Sagan's effect on the car's provenance. Not an expert, but years of watching Barrett-Jackson and Mecum auctions (along with their commentary) leads me to conclude the following will generate interest: 1) Cars owned by famous racers 2) Cars owned by other famous people who like to race, e.g. Paul Newman 3) Cars involved in a well-known incident, e.g. Bonnie and Clyde http://www.weirdca.com/locati…
I would agree with your general theory, but your scale is way off. The cars you mention are going already be worth tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, except for 3), which would be a once in a lifetime incident and thus even more rare. This car was for $1600 with 7 days left. Let's just say it went for $3200. Even an intermediate home mechanical could put maybe $5000 into it and sell it. Then do a few sly reddi…
> great old Porsche
is not, its a 914/4
Re: Star Power: Carl Sagan’s 1970 Porsche 914 (2016)
#14TIL Carl Sagan didn't have particularly good taste in sports cars.
914 is a really nice car, mid engined and as small as that engine is it is a hoot to drive. It was also quite cheap at the time.
Re: Star Power: Carl Sagan’s 1970 Porsche 914 (2016)
#15I would argue "no" on Sagan's effect on the car's provenance. Not an expert, but years of watching Barrett-Jackson and Mecum auctions (along with their commentary) leads me to conclude the following will generate interest: 1) Cars owned by famous racers 2) Cars owned by other famous people who like to race, e.g. Paul Newman 3) Cars involved in a well-known incident, e.g. Bonnie and Clyde http://www.weirdca.com/locati…
Carl Sagan also owned a 911 in orange, this adds to the man being a Porsche fan. This 914 has been unlucky in that it has not been loved since the man passed on. It has been loved but not made it to be a devoted project. I think that it deserves to be fully restored and shown. It would do well if it was in Europe, at events such as Goodwood, not on the track, as an exhibit. Heritage is really important with the Goodw…
I'm more of a Formula 1 fan but even I've heard of Jeff Gordon. Not everyone know him though as this test drive shows.
Re: Star Power: Carl Sagan’s 1970 Porsche 914 (2016)
#16Earlier quoted context omitted.
I would agree with your general theory, but your scale is way off. The cars you mention are going already be worth tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, except for 3), which would be a once in a lifetime incident and thus even more rare. This car was for $1600 with 7 days left. Let's just say it went for $3200. Even an intermediate home mechanical could put maybe $5000 into it and sell it. Then do a few sly reddi…
> great old Porsche is not, its a 914/4
I'd have bought it on the spot if it were on my side of the Atlantic ocean, even if it's a 914/4. This is a small piece of history that deserves to be preserved. Then again I'm the perfect target for that since I'm both a car enthusiast and appreciative of Sagan.
Re: Star Power: Carl Sagan’s 1970 Porsche 914 (2016)
#17Earlier quoted context omitted.
I would agree with your general theory, but your scale is way off. The cars you mention are going already be worth tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, except for 3), which would be a once in a lifetime incident and thus even more rare. This car was for $1600 with 7 days left. Let's just say it went for $3200. Even an intermediate home mechanical could put maybe $5000 into it and sell it. Then do a few sly reddi…
> great old Porsche is not, its a 914/4
True, at 0-100km/hr in 13.3 sec a 1.7L 914/4 could only be a nostalgia piece. A 1985 turbo VW Golf diesel that I keep as a 'nostalgia' piece could probably match it - but may have to be going downhill and with the wind :)
for reference https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_914
Re: Star Power: Carl Sagan’s 1970 Porsche 914 (2016)
#18Re: Star Power: Carl Sagan’s 1970 Porsche 914 (2016)
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
914 is a really nice car, mid engined and as small as that engine is it is a hoot to drive. It was also quite cheap at the time.
No, it is not. It's a poor implementation of a great concept.
I've driven one for a bit and I thought it was quite ok given the time it was developed in. A 911 from the same era would park you backwards in traffic if you tried the sort of thing with it that a 914 would be happy to do. Especially the /6 are neat (but unfortunately very rare). The main drawback they have is that they are super unsafe, but this goes for almost all cars from that era.
Re: Star Power: Carl Sagan’s 1970 Porsche 914 (2016)
#20Earlier quoted context omitted.
> great old Porsche is not, its a 914/4
I'd have bought it on the spot if it were on my side of the Atlantic ocean, even if it's a 914/4. This is a small piece of history that deserves to be preserved. Then again I'm the perfect target for that since I'm both a car enthusiast and appreciative of Sagan.
Porsche collectors wont touch it, because to them its a worthless vw. Volkswagen collectors rather have a bug, or Ghia. Thus due to being ugly fake Porsche its worth even less than Karmann Ghia or even nice Beetle.