Steve9 Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 Incredibly, this 914 is still on the road as a commuter car. You almost never see their cousins the VW beetle any more. Of course it’s Seattle based on the window sticker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAKerry Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 I have always liked those cars. At one point they couldnt give them away, now they command a pretty good dollar. My dentist has a couple he has built into race cars. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laughing Coyote Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 We have a lot of VW bugs around here. You can always find them on CL here. Heck here is a 914 with an LS-1 engine in it. That would be fun. https://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/d/pearce-1976-porsche-914-gt/7196121590.html 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 Back in the day I almost bought a 914-6, only one I'd consider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenie Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 Finally getting some credit from Porsche collectors. From about 1978 to 1984, I drove a triple black 1973 914 with the optional 2.0L engine. It featured sodium filled exhaust valves and I barely knew what that meant! It handled like a grown up go-kart. I sold it, foolishly, for what I thought was a fortune. Today, the car in the same condition would command serious $$$. I always thought it was beautiful with the targa top off, and ugly with it on! I rarely drove it in the ugly mode. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepher Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 2 hours ago, padgett said: Back in the day I almost bought a 914-6, only one I'd consider. The 914s with the flat 6 will really scoot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bloom Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 My dad was the Superintendent of schools at our rural Indiana town. My car genes didn't come from him. "practical" was the best and most logical thing to look for in a car from dad's point of view. First year teachers were driving Monte Carlos and Grand Prixs, and Cutlasses. My dad the Superintendent was driving a Chevette. You know them, cheapest most awful thing around. Made the Vega look like a quality car in comparison. When I went off to Wabash College as a freshman, he proudly gave me his 8 year old, 49,000 miles, baby red Chevette as a "good car to have in college". I headed off to Crawfordsville Indiana, moved into the fraternity house and two weekends later saw a tired but shiny red 1973 Porsche 914 in a used car lot. I traded the Chevette for it straight up, and didn't tell my dad till I came home for Christmas break in the 914. Periodically you read about a parent murdering their child. In a few rare instances, the parent may be justified..... I sold the 914 to a stripper in Tucson to help fund my wedding. Surely there is something profound in that, but not sure exactly what. Still wish I had that car going through some beautiful fall foliage with the targa top off. If you haven't driven one, don't knock them. When set up and running well, they are a blast considering their anemic horsepower. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 9 hours ago, plymouthcranbrook said: I can remember a friend having a 914-4 and having trouble getting into a spot in the local Porsche Club. Seems many of the members did not consider it a Real Porsche. In England, the were marketed as a "VW-Porsche". Craig 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAKerry Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 John, great ownership story, I wont ask you to elaborate on how you knew the stripper that bought the car to fund your wedding! 😄 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Novak Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 I have a 1974 914, bought it in 2011 and love it. After buying it I dropped it off at a local independent Porsche Shop in York Pa. The local Porsche community recommended. I gave it to them to do a bumper to bumper inspection and fix anything that they would replace or repair if it was theirs. Generally when I buy a collectable ca r I do this. They gave it back to me 3 months later after rebuilding the engine and doing some other minor fixes. I drive it often lots of fun, drives like a go cart, very comfortable and weighs around 2,000lbs, 80HP VW 4 cylinder gets 37 miles to a gallon, heater doesn't work, no A/C, but when you're going in it nothing matters. Only complaint is I can't enter it in AACA Meets because there are mods to the exhaust, and other none correct items such as the newer radio, etc. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossil Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 18 minutes ago, Doug Novak said: I have a 1974 914, bought it in 2011 and love it. Nice car. Guy came into where I worked back in 1972 and wanted to sell me his yellow 914-6 for $3000.00. Probably would have been a fun to drive. Now I just wish I could still get in and out of one. 🥺 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pfeil Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 (edited) 13 hours ago, plymouthcranbrook said: I can remember a friend having a 914-4 and having trouble getting into a spot in the local Porsche Club. Seems many of the members did not consider it a Real Porsche. Yes, many so called Porsche people don't consider this a Porsche either; Wonder what these two guys would say about that. Edited October 1, 2020 by Pfeil (see edit history) 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Novak Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 I'm six feet tall and no problem getting in. The seat can be adjusted slightly, but the biggest thing I did to make it easier was to switch to a smaller diameter steering wheel. Still have the larger original tucked away. Also, if the roof is on it lets you put a hand hold on it to help lower you in, but with the roof off it is very easy to just slip in and and with the door swung open getting out to exit is easy to do even with the car being only 4 inches off the ground. The 914-6's are worth a lot of money today, if you can find one. The 914-4 is going higher in resale these days, great investments. I belonged to PCA in Pa. and the Porsche 914 has a great following in PCA. We have a Hershey Porsche only Swap meet each year and a concourse show that the 914 owners gather to show there. I've met several 911 owns who have, or want a 914 to add to their collections. The President of the PCA in the York Pa. area has a 914 modified for track days. So the Black Sheep Porsche 914 is now highly regarted. 13 hours ago, plymouthcranbrook said: I can remember a friend having a 914-4 and having trouble getting into a spot in the local Porsche Club. Seems many of the members did not consider it a Real Porsche. 49 minutes ago, Fossil said: Nice car. Guy came into where I worked back in 1972 and wanted to sell me his yellow 914-6 for $3000.00. Probably would have been a fun to drive. Now I just wish I could still get in and out of one. 🥺 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laughing Coyote Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 Here is a real nice one. https://phoenix.craigslist.org/nph/ctd/d/phoenix-1975-porsche-k-miles-documented/7199723989.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RansomEli Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 As I recall, the cost of upgrading to a 914-6 wasn't that far off from just purchasing a 911. That's why 914-6s are rare. 914s are to 911 Porsches as Dinos are to "real" Ferraris. It's just a snobbery thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepher Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 7 hours ago, 8E45E said: In England, the were marketed as a "VW-Porsche". Craig So what, prey tell, did they call the 356? Because that was far more VW than a 914. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Novak Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 (edited) Actually, the 914-4 cylinders were designed by Porsche, BUT was build in the VW Karman plant as a replacement for the discontinued VW Kaman Geah. Porsche needed it to fill the void of the discontinued Porsche 912. The 914 -6 cylinders were build in the Porsche plant. Edited October 1, 2020 by Doug Novak added info (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pfeil Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 1 hour ago, RansomEli said: As I recall, the cost of upgrading to a 914-6 wasn't that far off from just purchasing a 911. That's why 914-6s are rare. 914s are to 911 Porsches as Dinos are to "real" Ferraris. It's just a snobbery thing. Correct on the 911T and the 914-6 Now here is a real rub. the 914 -4 uses the same Engine architecture as the VW Type 4, a engine Porsche developed with VW. Porsche loyalist said this was a VW engine ( not exactly true) and the 914 in their eyes wasn't a Porsche. The 914 replaces the old 912 which had the old 356 engine. In 1976 the 914 is replaced by the one year only new 912 and that ever beautiful 9 series body the new 1976 912 has the Type 4 VW engine. The loyalist tried to call that car a non Porsche too.😉 To me everything the House of Porsche had a hand in is a Porsche. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC38dls Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 Does the watch run as fast as the car? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pfeil Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 7 minutes ago, SC38DLS said: Does the watch run as fast as the car? No, about as fast as the Tiger tank. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 1 hour ago, Pfeil said: To me everything the House of Porsche had a hand in is a Porsche. Even Studebaker!! https://studebaker-info.org/studeporsche/stude-porsche08.html Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 Kubelwagen ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcarfudd Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 Weren't some Mooney aircraft built with Porsche engines? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Luddy Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 I do like the 914's. But prefer the Karmann Ghia's purely for the body style. There's so few cars available at their price point that are so lightweight and a hoot to drive. Both are slow, yes but if you drive them in the spirit of the intended sports car mode, so much fun! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pfeil Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 1 hour ago, padgett said: Kubelwagen ? Most definitely and it's brother schwimmwagen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pfeil Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 (edited) 14 minutes ago, Ed Luddy said: I do like the 914's. But prefer the Karmann Ghia's purely for the body style. There's so few cars available at their price point that are so lightweight and a hoot to drive. Both are slow, yes but if you drive them in the spirit of the intended sports car mode, so much fun! Which Ghia? the one the 914 replaced on the VW side of the business? You see the 914 was built to replace two cars. On the VW side it was made to replace the Type 34 Ghia. On the Porsche side the 912. Type 34 Ghia; Porsche 912; Personally I think VW should have replaced the Type 34 Ghia with the SP2 Edited October 2, 2020 by Pfeil (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Luddy Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 Although the Type 34 is a great car I still prefer the original K-G with the Virgil Exner "D'Elegance" influenced roof and rear haunches. Commonly referred to as "The World's Slowest Sports Car" back then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Luddy Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pfeil Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 27 minutes ago, Ed Luddy said: Although the Type 34 is a great car I still prefer the original K-G with the Virgil Exner "D'Elegance" influenced roof and rear haunches. Commonly referred to as "The World's Slowest Sports Car" back then. Yes, and a almost all hand built body that is a monocoque...you can't just unbolt a fender to replace one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank DuVal Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 22 hours ago, plymouthcranbrook said: Seems many of the members did not consider it a Real Porsche. The data plate clearly says Volkswagen! It does not say Porsche. Here is a replacement plate: https://www.aasesales.com/collections/porsche-914-badges-crests/products/da7b-b150-1450d-10d-113783 34 minutes ago, Pfeil said: Yes, and a almost all hand built body that is a monocoque...you can't just unbolt a fender to replace one. Just like the Corvair! Maybe not the hand built part, until the 1969 models....😉 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank DuVal Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 My favorite 914 story was back before we carried phones with us. In the early 80s, I was driving near Mcguire Hospital in Richmond and saw a 914 being towed. The front half was up on the hoist, the back half was parallel with the ground! And the doors were open, with the dome light (on the dashboard) was on, so it had just happened. I always wondered if the doors came open and it folded while being supported by the hoist of the wrecker.🤔 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 "few cars available at their price point" Pontiac Fiero with V6 and 5 speed manual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pfeil Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 39 minutes ago, Frank DuVal said: The data plate clearly says Volkswagen! It does not say Porsche. Here is a replacement plate: https://www.aasesales.com/collections/porsche-914-badges-crests/products/da7b-b150-1450d-10d-113783 Just like the Corvair! Maybe not the hand built part, until the 1969 models....😉 And 56-57 Continental and 55-57 TBird Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pfeil Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 40 minutes ago, Frank DuVal said: The data plate clearly says Volkswagen! It does not say Porsche. Here is a replacement plate: https://www.aasesales.com/collections/porsche-914-badges-crests/products/da7b-b150-1450d-10d-113783 Just like the Corvair! Maybe not the hand built part, until the 1969 models....😉 The name Porsche and VW will always be intertwined. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pfeil Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 45 minutes ago, Frank DuVal said: The data plate clearly says Volkswagen! It does not say Porsche. Here is a replacement plate: https://www.aasesales.com/collections/porsche-914-badges-crests/products/da7b-b150-1450d-10d-113783 Just like the Corvair! Maybe not the hand built part, until the 1969 models....😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pfeil Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 (edited) 3 minutes ago, Pfeil said: Not quite, remember I said the 914 replaced the type 34 VW Ghia and the Porsche 912? The above is the replacement 914 6 data plate. Edited October 2, 2020 by Pfeil (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 14 minutes ago, Pfeil said: Not quite, remember I said the 914 replaced the type 34 VW Ghia and the Porsche 912? The above is the replacement 914 6 data plate. That reproduction is NOT correct. There was still a 'West' Germany when those cars were in production, and it should say either 'Made in W. Germany', or 'Made in West Germany' on it. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pfeil Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 (edited) 19 minutes ago, 8E45E said: That reproduction is NOT correct. There was still a 'West' Germany when those cars were in production, and it should say either 'Made in W. Germany', or 'Made in West Germany' on it. Craig That is a Legal replacement Porsche 914 Six data plate that says made in Germany and replaces a damaged data plate that may say made in West Germany. The issue is 914 Six is called a Porsche. Here is another one that is original to the car; Edited October 2, 2020 by Pfeil (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank DuVal Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 Right, the 4 banger was Volkswagen on the data plate and the 6 was Porsche. I couldn't find an original data plate picture to post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepher Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 On the VW/Porsche debate, many years ago a guy that worked in one of our field offices just happen to own a very well known Porsche restoration shop in So Cal. He had at least a dozen 356's and he said Porsche snobs would get angry with him all the time when he called the 356 a glorified VW. Whenever I see a 356 I wonder what ever happened to the vary rare ones he had. It's been at least 10 years, maybe longer, since he passed away after selling his business and retiring to Arizona probably 10 years before that. Amazingly, a quick search turned up a page in the 356 registry where someone is dedicating their restoration to Mr. Rusty Bottoms, himself. https://porsche356registry.org/cars/102 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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