Delphi Green Driver: 1973 Porsche 914

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Among the legions of 914s we’ve featured over the years, this is the first one wearing a shade of paint called Delphi Green that I can recall. It’s an excellent 70s color and remains in very nice condition on this example that has been parked for 30 years. The 914 is a survivor, and wears some nice OEM options. Find it here on eBay with bidding over $12K and no reserve.

The rear badge is a reminder that this was indeed a joint venture between Volkswagen and Porsche, and is also a small detail that seems to go missing on most project-grade 914s. This was appears a few steps above that, as the body looks dang near perfect and there’s no obvious deviations from stock. I also dig the period accessory wheels, although chrome bumpers would look far better than black plastic.

The interior remains in excellent condition, with low-slung buckets in excellent nick and the rare and desirable center-stack accessory gauge cluster sitting just ahead of the shifter. The seller says this 914 belonged to a Vietnam veteran who parked it at his mother’s house and never returned following a PTSD diagnosis. Despite the unfortunate circumstances, the 914 evidently was stored carefully on his mom’s property.

When you see details like a near perfect trunk mat, it’s hard to deny the originality on display. That and the perfectly matched paint under the deck lid, which is better than I’d expect for a car with over 70,000 miles. The 914 wears great colors, some desirable options and impressive, survivor-grade condition. There’s a lot to like here, and I’m not surprised to see bidding as active as it already is.

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Comments

  1. RoKo

    It’s odd that the inner door panels don’t match. Which one would have been original?

    Like 2
    • bck7

      Door pockets are correct, the driver’s had storage and the passenger did not

      Like 0
  2. Big Len

    Rear bumper off a 75-76. No shots of hell hole, chassis, or longs. Needs a PPI before I would bid. Great color. The VW/Porsche emblems are only on European models, but the tail lights are red on US models, indicating something was changed along with that bumper.

    Like 9
    • Mike

      Yeah, that’s weird with the rear bumper. Lots of personalized touches. The VW/Porsche emblem was probably just added to be different along with the oversized D sticker. Don’t know why the NW chapter Porsche club badge is sideways or the P O R S C H E letters were remove off the engine lid. It’s a nice example (except for the Riv’s), and not much of a problem to switch back to stock.

      Like 1
  3. Big Len

    @RoKo – They match. The driver’s door has the map compartment, the passenger side does not.

    Like 5
  4. Redwagon

    That paint color makes it look like an oversized HotWheel.

    Like 1
  5. Cman

    Seller says it’s recently repainted. I asked for hell hole pics but nothing yet. Underbody looks clean.

    Like 0
  6. classic Steel

    Nice VW !

    I thought at its vintage it would grown into a Porsche by now!

    Like 2
  7. Steve A

    Always thought that these looked rediculace. You’d have to pay me to drive one. Nevermind, I don’t own a rubber nose or a bottle of seltzer water. 🤡

    Like 0
    • Bob B

      To each his own!

      Like 2
  8. Wolfgang Gullich

    I dig the Empi Riviera wheels… Nice period accessory.

    Like 2
    • bck7

      Pacific Italia Carrera Rivera II – big name for a wheel. Had them on a ’70 1.7.

      Like 0
  9. canadainmarkseh

    I don’t which is uglier these Porsches of the triumph tr 8’s I wouldn’t want either of them.

    Like 0
  10. graham line

    The angle is poor but the valance under the front bumper looks like it might be from a ’74 Limited Edition. They also had the three-gauge cluster in the console. If an LE, the Mahle wheels are missing.
    Not sure why the “rediculace” and “uglier” people need to comment. I’d wager they have not lived with a 914 for any length of time.
    Nice to see one that has not been carburetted. Rear valance is missing and tires are not the best profile. Not much help in the posting.

    Like 2
  11. Jack Quantrill

    Color is reminiscent of Vacation’s Family Truckster “ Metallic Pea”!

    Like 0
  12. Keruth

    Love this color, so ’70’s. @14k+ closing in on max money w/5days left, whew!
    Always wanted one, never did get it, drove one once, toss able like my Spit’s, and just as low.
    Wonder if I could get into/out of these now? Takes real talent in the Spit, (only w/the top down) lol!

    Like 0
  13. John C Cargill

    Between myself, my brother and two friends we had 4 of these, Never saw a single VW emblem.

    Like 1
  14. Eric

    Adult Go -Kart

    Like 0

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