I got into Triumphs after two years of searching (from age 12 to 14) for a Porsche 914 that I could a) afford and b) wasn’t a complete piece of junk. It never happened. After seeing pictures of this 914, some of those old urges came back with a vengance! It’s listed for sale here on eBay, bidding has just passed $7,000 (reserve not met yet) and it’s located in Vancouver, Washington.
I love these wheels on 914s, and while white isn’t normally my color, somehow this combo just works. I’m sure a lot of cosmetic work has been done to make the car look this nice as it actually has 105,000 miles — kudos to the seller for not trying to pass it off as a low-mileage car. We’re told the car has been garage-kept since new and is rust-free. Honestly, I’m not sure if I have ever seen a truly rust-free 914 — ever.
I’m sure there are some of you wishing that this were an early car without the rubber bumpers. I’m sure I’m in the minority, but I actually prefer these and think they integrate well into the overall shape of the car. Compare these with what Ford was doing at the time with its existing models and you’ll see why I both admire and like the VW-Porsche solution. That’s right, remember that in the rest of the world, this car was branded jointly between VW and Porsche.
While the underside does look nice, I have to wonder why the two black “stripes” are there. Anyone hazard a guess?
And now, the amazing interior! Unbelievably (although I’m sure this is a re-upholstery job) this is one of the factory interiors offered. Wow! Not only that, but someone liked it enough that they had some matching panels attached to some luggage! I went looking for the fabric online and found some here, but the price floored me at $139.50 per yard! You’ve got to really like it to buy enough for matching luggage, at least on my budget!
For those that have tried to work on a 914 engine, you understand this picture all too well. It’s one thing to find the room in a design to have a true mid-engine car. It’s a whole different thing to make it accessible to work on! Somewhere down in that hole is a 1.8 liter, fuel-injected flat four with dealer installed air conditioning to slow it down even further. No, 914s were not known for their acceleration. However, if you want the type of handling that can only be experienced by putting most of the weight in the middle of a car, classic looks and that red interior, you can’t go wrong with a car like this!
This is catnip to anyone with even a remote interest in a 914 when compared to the trashed 914 models normally presented. This should be gone fairly quickly.
Anyone that does not know a lot about these cars, check out the Wheeler Dealer episode where Ed really went over one. You will learn a lot.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5pxbz9
Ahh, the 914…the Volkswagen that even Audi didn’t want. I know, lets call it a Porsche !!!!!!!! Yeah, those guys will buy anything if we put a big enough price tag on it!!
Looks like the underside was repainted while on a scissor lift. The black stripes look like the unpainted “shadow” from the support beams.
Chalon body kit is the only respectable way to be seen in one of these.
https://www.google.com/search?q=914+chalon+body+kit&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwihuIiLwrraAhVL74MKHaMbBJEQ_AUICigB&biw=1338&bih=563
I thought the story was the German Porsche dealers refused to sell these, so they had to be badged and sold as Volkswagens?
Sold as Volkswagens everywhere else, and as Porsche’s here in the States, if I remember correctly. Great find Jamie ! I remember loving these when I first got the car bug too, back in the early 80’s. This one looks really nice, and I love the plaid interior! The bumpers are totally fine by me, as I also agree they work well with the body style. And those wheels are my favorite. The only mid-engine car I’ve owned was a 86 Bertone (Fiat) X-19. Again, not fast per say, but being that close to the ground sure makes it feel like it is. And corners great! I’d still love to have one of these….
Nice 914.
There is some bubbling behind the sail panel joints and the use of duct tape on the engine bay hose is troubling. But there aren’t many good examples left.
Wheels are Pacific Italia Carrera Rivera II. Had them on ‘72 2.0 w/appearnce group. Roller skate wih an attitude until the rust won.
Looks like a really clean example. Like most of the Porsches on the lower end of the scale they were used up, hacked up and allowed to rust away. Now their time is coming and prices are rising on clean examples. I always liked the mid-engine layout of these and their go-kart like quality but engine accessibility caused me to go the 944 route. Engine in front, gas tank in back seems safer to me too.
Has anyone ever put a Subaru wrx motor in one of these? It would be epic!
Already at 19k . Certainly is a clean 914 . My guess at the paint along the pans is over spray from repainting the rockers , if you look at the distance from the bottom most black part of the rocker then inboard to where the paint resumes , sure resembles the width of masking paper .
Just my guess , although a clean 914 .
Ah yes, those trick Rivera wheels, fairly common on the 914 and a definite upgrade from the godawful ugly standard “Styled” steel wheels. They were aluminum as I recall. I was looked at one back in the day and the salesman went on and on about these “alloy” wheels, as if they were made out of magnesium or something. I held my breath as I was not sure that aluminum qualified as “alloys” or not. That being said, the 914 handled like a go-kart on rails and even tho it had not a lot of power, a lot of big inch cars got left behind sliding and skidding in tight corners when driving on tight and numerous curvy mountain roads where handling came first and horsepower second. Looks to be a nice example. Plus you could push start them if you had too. About the most numerous or common rust area was the battery tray before sealed batteries came along. Working on the motor was kinda difficult, I used to remove the rain guard underneath the mesh air vent as the guard totally cut off escaping hot air from the motor and got in the way of an already limited access. Ran cooler that way too. Just had to remember to put it back on before a wash or in rainy season.
As a long time, nearly lifetime member of Porsche Club of America, I can remember when these 914’s first came out there was very serious national discussion among PCA members if we should even allow these into PCA. And, on top of that there was also very serious and sometimes heated discussions as to whether or not 914 drivers even deserved a wave from other Porsche drivers, a practice extremely common at that time. I just couldn’t believe that and called it a very childish attitude, much to the chagrin to many fellow PCAers. Oh, the Humanity!!
He must of sold it outside of eBay. Ad concluded.
Jamie, I know what you are saying re the bumpers. They started to grow on me as to my 76 nepal orange. Then a friend gave me the two chrome bumpers off a parts car. When I changed them out the removal of weight alone was astounding!! Driving proved to be extremely more nimble, plus the 76 looks more like a bro to my silver 73.