1973 Sahara Beige 2.0 914
Owned by Steve Gaglione

Sahara Beige 1973 914 2.0 in the History of Porsche Cars Display at Rennsport Reunion III - Daytona 2007.

 

48th Porsche Parade - Tampa Florida 2003
Preservation Group Division Winner

Steve Gaglione went into the 2003 Parade Concours d'Elegance Preservation Group knowing he had very little chance of winning overall. When Steve purchased his '73 914 2.0 in 1999 from the original owner, it had 21,000 original miles, beautiful original color to sample paint, original interior and all the original rubber stripping. It also had the original shocks, heater boxes and vacuum lines. The only things Steve has since replaced are the muffler, tires, battery, fuel lines and the fan belt. Although Steve has put over 1300 miles on the car, the emphasis in the Preservation Group is on utilization. They want the car to be used as an everyday driver.

To make this car an everyday driver just to have a chance to win overall in Parade Concours would be totally insane. This car is such a special find that it needs to be preserved in its present form. It just doesn't make any sense to expose this amazingly beautiful original 30 year old 914 to anything but tender loving care. Steve exercises the car on selected weekends to keep it mechanically sound and never lets it sit longer than a month. But you will never see this car in an autocross or a driver's ed. Besides, Steve campaigns a beautiful original light ivory '70 914-6 in the PCA Club Racing program. He also has another beautiful original blood orange '70 914-6 that he has owned for over 25 years. So it's not like he rarely gets the chance to enjoy driving a 914. In fact, between his three 914s, the smile that driving them puts on his face never has a chance to dissipate.

When the Sahara Beige 914 won the 914 division at this year's Parade, that immediately put the car in the running for overall along with the other three division winners (356, 911/912, and 924/944/968). In Preservation Group, the cars must be 1993 or older and must have the original paint, interior and trim. Steve knew that if he was truthful with the judges about how he utilized the car, his chances of winning overall would be slim to none. Steve stuck with nothing but the facts. He proudly told the judges the story of the car and how he exercises the car on selected weekends. Sure enough, the judges selected a 1991 928 with over 140,000 miles that is driven everyday as the overall winner.

On the score sheets for the Sahara Beige 914, the judges had written, "Too clean with no signs of utilization." The judges told Steve that he needs to drive the car more. They said to autocross it, do some driver's ed's and drive it to work. "I can't think of any reason to change the utilization of this car now," said Steve. "This car is probably in the top one percent in the world for 914s and to keep it that way, it can not be driven daily in Tampa, Florida. Driving it everyday or to work or at a driver's ed would do nothing but deteriorate this very special car."

We at Automobile Atlanta are proud to recognize Steve and Jane Gaglione from Tampa, Florida for proudly owning, maintaining and displaying their prize Sahara Beige 1973 914 2.0.

What makes a person take a week vacation from work and spend it on their back, underneath a car with a bottle of 409 cleaner and a toothbrush, scrubbing and cleaning every square inch of the floor pan? It's the same person who spent all their spare time over the last four years detailing the wheel wells, suspension, trunk compartments, exterior, interior, engine and transmission of his prize Porsche 914. It's a sickness that can overcome even the most stable of people. And when it hits you, it hits you hard.

1973 sahara beige 1973 914 2.0 at the Suncoast Florida Region and Gold Coast Region annual Zonefest Concours May 25th 2002. Paint Code: 98; Color to sample: Sahara Beige; Interior: Brown Leatherette; 22,000 original miles with the original paint. October 1973 suggested retail: $5,800.00; Dealer installed options: air conditioning: $495.00; AM/FM stereo: $146.90; passenger side mirror: $50.00; Factory options: color to sample paint: $330.00; tinted glass, all around: $100.00; Retail including all options: $7,071.40

Back in April 1998, I received a call from George Hussey. George proceeded to tell me about a 21,000 mile, original owner 914 that was painted in color to sample: sahara beige. Since I live in Florida and this car was a few hours south, I agreed to take a day trip and check it out. My wife and I are searching for the owners home in Punta Gorda by looking at mailbox numbers and for a 914 that was to be sitting in the driveway. All of a sudden my wife says, "There it is and it's beautiful". As I look in her direction I see this 914 in a color that I have never seen before. It didn't look right because 914's always came in crayon box colors and this was different. As I get out of our car and approach the 914, I was very skeptical of the color being original because it was in unbelievable condition. As I look around the car, I notice that it still has the original muffler and heater boxes. Even the front and rear bumper beads were the originals. After about an hour of crawling around the car and asking the owner questions, I realize this car is very special and it is going to be a great addition to Automobile Atlanta's 914 museum.

On our way back to Tampa, my wife and I are talking and she said, "I want that car." I said, "We can't buy the car because George is going to want it." We talked about it all the way home. By the time we got home I realized that I wanted the car too but I didn't know how to tell George. After a couple of hours, I decided to just be honest and tell him that I wasn't comfortable negotiating a deal for him when in fact I really wanted the car for myself. I gritted my teeth and waited for his reply. To my amazement, George said, "Great, if you want it, buy it. As long as either you or I get it and it doesn't end up in New York or somewhere else, I'll be happy." I couldn't believe my ears. I immediately felt the stress leave my body. A week later, the car was in my garage.

The handful of people that have seen this car over the years have convinced me that this car is very special and it needs to be taken to the next level and entered in the Porsche Club of America, Parade concours. So for the last four years my entire focus is winning the Parade preservation class concours which will be held June 2003 in Tampa. The good news is that the car is pretty much ready. There isn't much left I can do because over-cleaning can actually count against you. Preservation class is unique in that originality is paramount. If a part didn't shine when it left the factory, it shouldn't shine when it's being judged. Also the judges like to know that the car is being used and not just a garage queen. So I make sure I exercise the car at least once every six weeks.

I urge everyone to concour their 914 at least once during ownership. Not only do you end up with your car looking great, it ends up taking it back in time, almost to the point when it was new and your 914 will have a much better chance of surviving for another 30 years.