Collaborative efforts are not a new phenomenon in the automotive world. Sometimes these can be between a car company and an external supplier. However, given their close ties, it is unsurprising that Volkswagen and Porsche worked closely on the 914 range. Buyers could choose between a four-cylinder version and a six-cylinder variant. Our featured 1970 Porsche 914-6 falls into the latter category, presenting well as a turnkey proposition. It isn’t cheap, but the marque’s reputation for reliability means it should ply our roads for decades. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Curvette for spotting the Porsche listed here on eBay in Austin, Texas. The seller set their price at $85,000 with the option to make an offer.
I have never considered the 914 as the most elegant vehicle to wear the Porsche badge. However, it is distinctive, and its low-slung stance is extremely aerodynamic. The seller indicates that a previous owner repainted the car in its original shade of Gemini Blue. It is a striking color, and the shine it retains suggests that the shop performed the work to a high standard. The panels are straight, and penetrating rust appears to be confined to a small spot on the lower front fender on the driver’s side. Underside shots reveal areas of surface corrosion, but it appears that this Porsche is structurally sound. The top is in good condition, and the beautiful 14″ Fuchs wheels are spotless.
Porsche marketed the 914 as its most affordable model, although a dispute between Porsche and Volkswagen meant that the 914-6 was more expensive than originally envisaged. However, by bolting in the mid-mounted 2.0-liter six-cylinder motor that had previously seen action in the 911T and fitting a five-speed manual transaxle, the 914-6 represented a significant step up from the four-cylinder variant. With a curb weight of only 2,070 lbs, the engine’s power and torque figures of 125hp and 131 ft/lbs delivered fairly impressive performance. Although brutal acceleration wasn’t its forte, Porsche confirmed that the 914-6 could hit 125mph on the open road. The seller believes that this Porsche is numbers-matching. They indicate that it runs and drives well, ready to provide the buyer with immediate classic motoring pleasure.
Apart from the new carpet, this Porsche’s interior is believed to be original. Its condition is impressive if the claim is accurate. Trimmed in Black leatherette, there is no appreciable wear or evidence of abuse. The wheel is in good condition, and the gauges feature clear lenses and crisp markings. It isn’t perfect because the pad sports a pretty large crack above the heater controls. That’s disappointing for a car within this price range, but with replacements retailing for under $750, addressing this fault should be relatively straightforward. Someone installed an aftermarket radio/cassette, but since they haven’t cut the dash, replacing it with a factory radio should be easy to return the interior to its original form.
The seller emphasizes the rarity of the 1970 Porsche 914-6, and they are right to a certain extent. Only 2,760 of these classics rolled off the line that year. However, it is also worth noting that it was the badge’s most successful model year. The tally slumped to 306 cars in 1971 and 237 in 1972. Porsche effectively retired the 914-6 at the end of that year, although one final car rolled off the line in 1975. Apart from the repaint, this 914-6 presents nicely as a survivor-grade classic. It isn’t a cheap proposition, but the seller’s price looks realistic when compared to recent successful sales. The listing statistics are modest, but it is worth noting that this Porsche has only been on the market for a few days. Do you think it will find a home at $85,000, or will the seller have to consider lower offers?
Beautiful car and an excellent write up! I’ve been following these for years and have owned several including a 914/6 and have watched the rise in prices of these cars over the last 10 years. This car – with the flaws listed – is $10-15k above market value based on recent sales. That’s not to say they won’t get it based on the car’s color alone but rust has always been an issue with these “go-karts” and this has some. Recent sales of “pristine” models on BAT are right around $70-80 – and yes we are talking 914/6.
The best part of this car is watching 911 enthusiasts get upset at how much these cars have appreciated for such a small investment!
Yeah, they’ve come way up, 30 years ago you couldn’t give these rust buckets away.
I drove my ’74 just after the buyer put a 2 liter 6 in it. Only thing I could say after that was Wow!
Porsche 914s are handsome cars, but you don’t see many of them because rust was their mortal enemy. The fact that this car has penetrating rust “only” on the driver door and rust spots elsewhere, plus its interior flaws, tells me the asking price is way too high. This car will need a body off restoration for the rust you don’t see, and starting a project for $85k is ridiculous, despite the fact it’s the rare six cylinder model.
No “body off” with this car. One solid piece of steel with everything else bolted on.
For 85k, it better be matching numbers!
Don’t most people see these as more Volkswagen than Porsche?
Only the uninformed. There’s more 911 DNA in the 914 than most people are aware of. Being Mid-engine required changes but one of the more popular upgrades is bolting a 911SC front suspension onto a 914. Four cylinder engines were Type 4 engines refined by Porsche for the 914. The 6 cylinder came from the 911T. Bob Hess can probably attest to that and I’ve owned 3 – one built int a competition car.
These became a boomer mid-life crisis car after about 2000, and they climbed up the price chart for their unique looks and the fact that is says it’s a Porsche.
I owned a 4 banger back in the 1980s when they were $3000 in decent shape. I am astounded at the prices being asked and (sometimes) paid even for the 4s.
And yeah, the 6 is a big difference, but $84k? Fantasyland.
Again, I think that the demand for these is headed south very quickly. There is real evidence of that in the more mundane listings for 914s. They are already crashing hard.
They only appeal to boomers who wanted one but never had one and that jones has already been met and done.
$85K!?… I guess the 914 has grown out of its “red headed step child” days…
Hey, it says: P – O – R – S – C – H – E
Recent listings for the 4s shows that the craze has abated. Decent examples for 4s are back down in the $20k range or less. At least for sellers who want to sell them.
I have owned and built and rebuilt more than a half a dozen 914-6s (to factory) and same with 914s, except I rebuilt with 2.4 to 3.0 motors and upgraded transmissions, suspensions, and brakes. Rear bumper on this one is wrong, should be straight cutoff at bottom each side of the license plate inset. I know that they factory did on occasion let one of these rounded ones (the generic ones) get by on a 6, but so be it. It is also possible that the original one was replaced with the rounded one during build or after accident. The straight cut bumper is much rarer, and make the 914-6 correct and complete to this 914-6 driver collector. I’d say this one is priced about 25k too much.
Makes sense. Why would someone put the “PORSCHE” reflector on the rear panel and delete the “914-6” badge? Rear damage?
That PORSCHE reflector panel was a very popular aftermarket “upgrade” back in the day. It was a 911 part but fit that area on the 914. I never put one on my cars but always looked at them then decided to put the money into stuff for performance. All 3 of mine were ’73s, the first one was the same color as the feature car here. I bought it in 1978 for $4200 because I couldn’t afford the $9000 the dealer wanted for the 74 911S sitting next to it on the lot! If I only knew then….
I noticed that too, but did not want to rag on this too much, as it is still cool, and reminds of my favorite 1973 914 that I built, that was similar in color (I painted mine Intense Blue Pearl Metallic, a Dodge color ) and I also added the 6 inch deepdish Porsche heart rims to mine (super rare)! Still 25k too much.
It’s no surprise I agree with the author on a great many things. I never saw the attraction in these, down right corny for such a prestigious car name. This car wasn’t cheap by any means. I read, a 1970 914-6 cost almost $6GRAND, or about the same as a 911T. Almost TWICE the cost of a regular 914,($3600) or,,almost a grand more than a Corvette( $5300) and quite frankly, unmodified, they weren’t that much faster than the 4 cylinders. 0-60 times of about 9.5 seconds, compared to about 11 seconds for the 4 cylinder, IDK, man, I was surprised to learn, the 914-4 was the most popular Porsche sold with over 118,000 cars. Just not many 6 cylinders. I firmly believe the only reason so many were sold, despite its styling, it was simply the cheapest Porsche one could buy. I do imagine, a Porsche, ANY Porsche, is a hoot to drive.
Pretty nice 914-6!! These are nice looking also!!
I cannot comment on price or further restoration. But today Barnfinds featured many very interesting “vehicles”. But the truth is that a Porsche 914-6 is the most fun and interesting car they included today.
I like that you used the word “reliability” in the same paragraph as “914”. My dad bought one new in 1974, and I have two very clear memories from when he got the car, when I was about 5 years old:
1. My dad being super excited, and giving me the sales brochure with a zippy red 914 on it, and
2. The next day, my mom telling me “Stay away from dad today, the 914 won’t start…”
Comment number 2, made my day!!!!.
I’d love to have one, but Porsche insanity is still with us-
I’m not sure why there is so much negativity about these cars now.
People bought these cars because they liked them, not because they couldn’t afford a 911. And no one cared what their money could have bought (Corvette, etc), they bought what they wanted. They had a very unique look to them and, yes, the Porsche name helped to sell them.
These were quite popular in my area and were owned by a diverse segment of the population.
The 914s are lower, wider, lighter, midengined with a longer wheelbase and shorter overhangs than the same era 911 and if they had the same motors on a circuit, the 911 would see nothing but taillights.
Which is evidenced by the 1970 914/6 GT class win at the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans. The little 914/6 even held it’s own in the rain and was faster in some parts of the race in the heavy rain than the mighty 917K overall race winner. It’s called “The David and Goliath story” in Le Mans racing history.
We went to the ’68 Daytona 12 hour race and watched the Brumos Porsches 911 and 914-6 run away from the other cars in their classes. The 914 was obviously faster in the corners but the 911 really cooked on the oval.
In the Porsche world “0 to 60” is meaningless. But unless you’ve actively driven Porsches on tracks, that’s all many people equate with a car being fast. Driving a 4 mile, 14 turn track with elevation changes and being consistent in your time is what’s fast in the road racing world. The 914 is lighter and the mid-engine gave it better balance so you could go into turns faster, brake later make your turn and be back on the gas sooner than the bigger engine cars. I don’t pretend that I could ever out run any of them on the long straits at Road America, but it used to shock them when the road got twisty, there I right on their tail. The balance I had is what helped me win back to back Milwaukee Region Autocross Championships in ’09 and ’10 – with my 4 cylinder, 140 hp 914. Bob knows what I mean.
Lovely car. I find this way more attractive than the Porsche 911.
I find this car way more attractive than the Porsche 911. It’s too bad it wasn’t on the US market for very long before Porsche pulled the plug on the car. I could be wrong of course, but I would think that a mid-engine car would’ve been easier to drive than a rear-engine car.
If I bought an old school Porsche, I’d upgrade the car by having a water-cooled boxer engine engine, similar to either later Porsche cars, or possibly a Subaru engine.
Then you need to check out Renegade Hybrids in NV. They are best known for their LS conversions of 914s, but also have a full kit using the Subaru engine. Nobody does it better than them.
A 320 hp STi engine in this would be a wicked beast.
I knew there had to be “someone” doing stuff like that! Their IG page is pretty tight with the work they have completed including 914 work and looks legit.
I for one love the 914. I wish I had the foresight to have acquired one before they jumped way up in price, just a nice 4cyl would suite me, but If I had been psychic, and tried to get a 914/6 ages ago, well I would now be very happy ….oh well.
Having owned a 73′ 914 with a 2.0 4 cylinder with a few upgrades,that car could wake up the Devil. It could roll up a hill like nothing else. Engine wasn’t even struggling. Passing everything else until a Pantera put me in my place. But heading down the road a few miles,officer Johnny Law had him pulled over on the shoulder writing the driver a ticket. The 914 was the greatest all around driving car I’ve ever owned.
I had a 914, a 911, and a Subaru WRX. And a few other boy racers along the way
The Subaru engineers knew exactly what they were doing and what traditions they had to beat. They produced an affordable car that was light years better in virtually every aspect. A rock that ran.
And it wasn’t even an Sti.
I miss that car and hope you might get to experience a WRX someday.
i love these cars so much, i like the unique look that sets them apart from anything else. Do I love them to the tune of 85,000 bones for an example with frame corrosion and rust on the front fender? I feel I’d have to settle for a regular old 914 with a 4 cylinder that was in top shape and have my moneys worth of fun out of it lol.