When the 914 arrived in showrooms, Porsche fans were not impressed, but the rest of the car-buying public proved eager to put the new sports car into garages all over the country. In fact, the 914 substantially outsold the 911 during its production run. Its virtues have only become more apparent in an age of commodity transportation: handy, powerful enough, unique looks, flexible both as a daily and on the track. If there’s a knock on the model, it’s that if you are not a DIYer, repairs can be challenging. That’s all the more reason to consider this 1976 2.0-liter car, with many new or rebuilt components, advertised on craigslist. This car lives in the same town where I work – Oregon City, Oregon – so if any of you want me to go see it, ping the owner and let’s set it up! Thanks for the tip, Curvette!
Yeah, it’s cramped in there! Once you start working on a mid-engine car, you may end up augmenting your tool kit with swivel-head and low-profile wrenches. But the seller has rebuilt the five-speed gearbox and replaced the clutch. Most of the brake components are new, as is the exhaust. You won’t face rust issues from the famous “hell hole” either – the battery pan and structures above and below are clean. The engine is original to the car and has travelled 84,000 miles. The 2.0-liter is considered the best of the three engines offered, generating output of 100 hp against roughly 80 hp from the 1.7- and 1.8-liter alternatives. The driving experience is outstanding if you’re a fan of “quick, not fast,” but three things require five minutes of adaptation: the pedals are offset toward the center of the car, the shift linkage is vague, and its pattern has reverse at the top left.
If you are 6’1″ tall, don’t worry – this is a sports car you can drive. It’s low, but once you’re in, leg room is generous. The cabin is wide, too – about 1.5″ wider than a 911. Its wheelbase is longer than its more expensive sibling, but thanks to minimal overhangs front and rear, its overall length is 7″ shorter. With the engine directly behind you, the weight distribution is balanced at 50/50: 914s are renowned for handling like they’re on rails. Drive a 914 through an autocross, and you’ll smile all the way to the podium. The seller notes that all gauges and lights work, and the roof panel is in great condition (which we hope means – no leaks). The trunk is clean and still contains the spare. A COA from Porsche signals that its ownership history includes at least one enthusiast.
After 1974, safety regulations in the US forced car makers to add bench-seat bumpers to formerly lovely bodies. Many a 914 owner has “backdated” to the slender chrome bumpers in use at the beginning of the model’s run from 1970 to 1972. I don’t care for the rubber spoiler on this car, but other than that, this example’s cosmetics are outstanding. Prices for 914s have risen dramatically over the last decade as newly-minted collectors learn that this model ticks a lot of boxes. Early cars and tasteful customs command a premium. This seller’s price is about right, with little room for negotiation given his car’s spiffy condition.
Owned 2, both fun on the street and autocross courses. Nice example here but don’t know why you would put a luggage rack on a car with 2 trunks.
A friend did the luggage rack on his too.
Reasoning when asked?
“When we travel that’s where my stuff goes-she gets all the rest”.
Have to say she always dressed to the nines!
Their best iteration of the model and a fun car to drive, this was another car that could’ve been around a little bit longer had there been a better plan for sales-like what audience it was supposed to be geared towards.
Score one more for Michelle and Curvette!
I agree – they should have used a temporary luggage rack.
I like a luggage rack on these old cars – I think they look cool. Seems they could be very useful at times too.
What about the price bobhess? You would know more than most of us. Good looking car!
Haven’t looked up a whole lot of prices but the non 6 cylinder cars in good condition seem to be in the 8K to 20K in unaltered form. Seems the pre ’75s bring higher numbers, probably due to those godawful rubber things hanging off either end.
The hp/torque numbers between the 2.0 and the 914-6 are awful close.
110/120 in the 6 vs 100/118 with 2.0
Wondering if this was some kind of Porsche engineering/marketing voodoo to offer this after the short run of the 914-6?
Our second 914 had the 1.8 engine that we balanced, “street”cam, 2.0 liter fuel injection and water cooled VW van hydraulic lifers. 140 hp at 8000 rpm and no valve adjusting.
Does the tachometer sit dead center in front of the driver… I love that.
I noticed the tape on the steering wheel, might correspond to sweet spots on that tach.
That’s a visual indicator of the directions the front wheels are pointing. Handy in rally racing and drifting, as the wheels are often pointing a direction that the car is not following!
As for the tach, the racers among us will be familiar with rotating the tach (and other gauges) to have the needle point straight up and down when in the “proper” range, whatever that may be, in the case of the tach, usually near redline or most optimum shift point.
Not tape but a design element of Momo steering wheel
My older brother built a model of a 914 when I was a kid in the 70’s. I thought it was so wild that these have two trunks. My 4 or 5 year old self didn’t wrap my brain around how hard it would be to work on that flat 4 shoehorned in there!!!! Michele hit the nail on the head, you’d need lots of swivel sockets and stubby wrenches and Who knows what else to reach fasteners in there. And Curvette……. You are so on fire!!! Another great find, and Michelle great write up, I’m thinking this one is a great find!!!
Having worked in a Porsche shop in the late 70s, 914s were similar to other air cooled Porsches–easier to drop the motor out than wiggle around for many tasks. I don’t remember how long it took but not long. All that’s needed is a floor jack and two good jack stands.
I wasn’t sure what to think of these cars when they first became available. Too rich for my budget, but it never cost a penny to look and admire. And, if I was to go shopping for a 914, this particular one looks to be very clean and well maintained.
Like you, I thought a 914 would prove too rich for my budget when my new 1975 Audi Fox became so problematic that I became a semi-permanent fixture at my local Porsche-Audi dealership. One of the salesmen, after seeing me so often sitting in the repair department’s waiting room, apparently took pity on me (and surely thought he might advance his own interest). He approached me one day and tried to persuade me into a 914. I declined, thinking I couldn’t afford it. Yet, as it turned out, that damned Audi ultimately cost me far more.
I was going to bid on one of these on a popular auction site (EBY) and the seller asked me how tall I was. I told him I was 6’4″ and he told me not to bid because I wouldn’t fit.
It literally must have just sold. When I started reading the article, I clicked on the link and it was there. Then halfway through the comments I clicked to reopen it (wanted to see the tape on the steering wheel) and the item was deleted from CL.
Well written as usual Michelle. When i entered the University in Greece my best friend did the same in Romania. I bought the Fiat Bertone X1/9 he the VW-Porsche (EU) or 914 (USA). Comparison? I’m sorry to say, X1/9 won. Better stability in speed above 100km/hour, better environment above the same speed for the driver (ugly streams of air in 914, quiet with no rain inside for the X1/9 at any speed). Pedals positioned straight ahead for the X1/9 not so for the 914. Road holding the same above average, engine output the same considering easily available camsaft, Webber carbs and Abart exhaust for the Bertone Fiat car.
Note: Although i’m sure that the educated BF readers suspected it, the streams of air and the rain mentioned in my aforementioned comment are consistent with the open roof mode in both cars.
You are right! I do remember the water (somewhere between dripping pouring) in during the rain. And the floaty front end above 70mph was scary to say the least. But, I got used to it. It wasn’t fireproof, either.(LOL)
”This posting has been deleted.”
I owned a 1971 914, same color with the 1.7. Definitely not fast (or even quick) but it felt like those brakes could out stop anything on the road. Like tossing an anchor out the window.
One day, the car was running rough while I was in town. On my way over to a German car shop I noticed it was particularly wavy looking out the back window through the rear view mirror. Never made it to the shop and when I popped the “hood” behind the window to inspect, the flames just shot out. Whatever wasn’t destroyed by the fire was soaked in foam. I sold it for $350 to a guy who was going to rebuild it.