If you’re in the market for a Porsche 914, this example is worth consideration. It’s presented by a seller who knows enough to pull the battery and show us the pan. He’s installed a heavy-duty kill switch. He’s using the car as a daily driver, which means he’s accustomed to keeping its foibles fixed. The color suits this chipper car, and it was options with the Appearance Group, including center console gauges and front fog lights. Find it here on craigslist for $16,500. The car is located in Salem, Oregon, and the tip comes to us courtesy of Scott – thanks!

The 914 was a collaboration between Porsche and Volkswagen. Launched in 1969 and powered by a 1.7 liter VW-sourced, air-cooled, flat-four, the car horrified dyed-in-the-wool Porschephiles, who viewed the liaison with VW as an abomination. But the company’s plan for the new car didn’t include sales to that august group – instead, the aim was to attract new customers, the kind who had not yet darkened Porsche’s door. And in that, the company succeeded. The entry-level sports car outsold the 911 handily. This engine is a replacement 1.7 liter, good for 80 hp in factory trim but hiding under that huge chrome air cleaner assembly are dual Webers so no doubt there’s a couple extra ponies in the equation. The car also sports an Abarth exhaust. A notchy five-speed manual handles gear changes. I shift our ’72 like I’m pushing or pulling on an egg; somehow that eases the transitions up and down.

No complaints about this interior – it’s in great condition. In cash you’re wondering, there’s plenty of room in here for tall drivers, and if you need more, pop the targa top! Just kidding – but unless you’re LeBron James, you can probably fit under the weather protection. I don’t care for the after market steering wheel, but I could live with it. Both trunks are almost clean enough for Cars ‘N Coffee. That set of extra gauges includes a clock, volt meter, and oil temperature. The seller notes that the odometer has quit, so the total mileage is unknown.

Spoilers are a personal preference – unless the car arrived from the factory with whatever’s on its rear, I tend to dislike add-ons. But when a car is this tidy, perhaps I can forgive a few transgressions… For years, these cars suffered the fate of relatively inexpensive sports cars that cost a lot to fix: deferred maintenance. But in the past decade, the 914 has been “discovered” and prices have shot up. Many a well-heeled owner has cured many a 914 in return for the sheer joy of driving it. A few years ago, this example would have been a four-figure car, but here we are, basically feeling lucky that we can approach a running, driving 914 for less than $20k.