The Porsche 914 is a great option if you want to experience an air-cooled sports car but aren’t ready to step up to a 911. You sit low to the ground and the engine is right behind your back so it makes for a very unique experience. I’ve loved having this one around but it’s time to move on. This car was purchased from a friend of mine whose health was making it harder to enjoy the car. They had sorted everything though so this thing is ready to enjoy. The car is located in Boise, Idaho, and is listed here on eBay with no reserve!
Being a ’73, this is the best year of 914. It benefits from the lighter body and 1.7-liter engine but with the smoother side-shift transmission. Talking about shifting, the bushings have all been replaced and it goes between gears without any grinding. The engine has been fitted with dual Weber carburetors and they make some very nice sounds. Since there isn’t a choke, you do have to let it warm up a bit but after that, it pulls nice and hard.
The interior is very clean with the exception of a few small tears on the driver’s seat. I figured that was just a good excuse to order a houndstooth or plaid upholstery kit from 914Rubber though. There’s aren’t any cracks in the dash and there’s an old cassette player in the dash. The heater works well too. There isn’t much more to the inside but the simplicity of the 914 is part of its appeal. Reupholster the seats, install a Momo Prototipo steering wheel, add a wooden shift knob (like the ones used in the 917) and it’ll feel like a race car in here!
The previous owner wanted more vitals without having to install a center console so they created this trick multi-gauge using parts from a 911. It works great and is a nice addition if you value space. The interior room is one of my favorite features of these little cars actually. I’m a big guy and the inside of these cars actually feels roomy. That’s not something you can say about many mid-engined sports cars. Drive a Fiat X19 and then hop into one of these. It’ll feel like you’re in a Cadillac!
Anyway, on to the important stuff. The hell-hole is solid and we haven’t found any serious rust anywhere on the car. The original paint color was orange but a previous owner had it resprayed black at some point. The paint isn’t perfect but it presents well and is good enough for a driver. And drive it is what you will want to do! I feel like a race car driver every time I take this out, even if it’s just for a blast around the block. The sound of those Webers and the neutral handling make for a very fun ride. I’d better stop now before I talk myself out of selling this one! I have a clear title in my name and a bunch of paperwork from the previous two owners. Be sure to check out the photo gallery here and let me know if you have any questions.
How many miles does it have on it and how many owners has it had?
Thank you for your prompt reply and kind consideration.
Sincerely,
ken fleck
The odometer is showing 81k and I’m guessing I’m the 4th owner based on the paperwork. Let me know if you have any other questions. This should make a fun Christmas gift for someone.
Jesse, you covered the essence of the fun in driving these cars. Our first of two 914s was a ’72 1.7 that we drove all over the country for several years. Great go to work car, good autocrosser, and lots of room for the crew chief’s groceries. I’ve commented on the ’74 1.8 hot rod we built before but either way they are a lot more fun than most cars on the road. Hope you’ve got a replacement that’s as much fun. That said, happy holidays to all the folks on Barnfinds and may 2021 be a whole lot better than this year. Stay safe out there, we can’t afford to lose you.
Always wanted a 914,but don’t need any more cars
right now.I just hope that,down the road, you won’t regret selling this.
Oh, I’m sure I’ll regret it but there are other cars out there to experience still.
Jesse you are right the 73 was the best year as being the last year for the chrome bumpers and having the side shift transaxle. I still pine over missing the sale of a 73 2.0 in signal green when I was working in CA. Someone beat me to it with $3500 in their hands.
A friend had one of these. Incredible cornering. Amazing we are still alive after some of our banzai runs in that car.
I own a 56 A Outlaw..drive the wife’s lovely 68 912 …but I miss my humble 1970 914 1.7 daily! I really hope you won’t regret selling this..I would love to grab this but don’t have the room. The side shifter is a big plus….plus I like the vinyl free sail panels ( rust traps).Good luck..but you won’t need it..BTW I did way over 110,000 miles in my 914.It went the length and breadth of Fla. It went from Fla to Ca fully loaded without a hitch and then the length and breadth of Ca down into Baja on surf trips…that’s how to enjoy one of these fabulous cars!! Happy holidays.
Jesse, I just sold my ’73 914 in about the same condition for 10K. The guy who bought it was appreciative of his good fortune. I had sorted it out down to the small details with fresh parts. Mine was fuel injected, but whatever. I had too many cars to shuffle around the driveway. These are the best handling cars ever and the 1.7 gets amazing gas milage. Someone will be very happy to get that good deal and drive that fantastic car.
Alphasud… ’74 was the last chrome bumper car with the 1.8 and 2.0 liter engines available. Went ugly after that.
Love these! Nice example, well presented. Good luck with the sale. Shame you will regret it (because you will . . .).
John
FYI jesse – the bf link in the eBay description is broken.
Thanks for the heads up.
This story line is getting a little long, but so many people with fond memories of their 914’s.
Me too, except when it rained and the 1 circuit board on the darn thing shorted out.
Cornered dangerously flat until it pirouetted, usually staying between the lines.
Another happy owner….coming right up!
I have a question for the audience here. In my line of project cars is a similar 1973 914, 1.7. Also in the queue is a 1967 VW bug with factory metal sunroof. In my 71 years I have never driven either a bug nor a 914 more than 50 miles.I might have resources to finish only one of these this year. Which should I aim to make my next favorite? I’m aware the high compression 1.7 engine makes nearly the same HP as the 2.0. Not sure I’d go with carbs or the D-jet. Or even fit it with L-jet from a 1.8? That would be my choice, actually.
Assuming the condition of each car is equivalent and both will be stock and your interest is equal, VW will be less expensive and quicker completion. Are you doing work yourself or contracting out?
You ought to scrub those tires down,& then clean them
again with some SOS pads.I think it would make it look a lot
nicer.
Just trying to be helpful.
I cleaned the tires prior to recording the video, which you can watch above, but didn’t have time to photograph the entire car right then. To get usable photos, you have to take them during the right hours and it’s been a challenge to make that happen, but I’m going to try today once we get a little closer to 5 pm our time. Once I do, we will upload those to the gallery.
Work on the 914 and then enjoy one of the most fun driving cars ever..fix the VW later ( and yes I have had and do have both)
Alan… 1.7 won’t get anywhere near a 2.0 unless you put the 2.0 heads on it. That takes machining and money for new jugs and pistons. The last 914 we built had a 130hp 1.8 with cam upgrade, hydraulic lifters, and a modified 2.0 fuel injection. It was a street/autocross car with AC and turned to 8,000 rpm. The slight suspension mods made a go kart out of it. Lots of fun.