Ready to Rebuild: 1971 Porsche 914

There’s a quiet dejection baked into some listings, as if acknowledging that a project didn’t our quite as expected (I’ve written a few of these sorts of ads in my day.) Then there are the tell-tale signs that someone had big plans for a vehicle before deciding it was too much to deal with, such as the sharp Enkei wheels and fresh rubber on this 1971 Porsche 914 listed here on eBay. It’s hard to tell for sure but it looks like a large musical instrument of some kind tossed on the front seat and allowed to fit thanks to the removable targa top. The seller notes it needs engine work or a potential replacement, and the listing has one bid to $7,500.

Thanks to Barn Finds reader Curvette for the find. The seller added fresh rubber and those sweet Enkei wheels before apparently realizing that cylinder 4 has low compression. Engine replacement on the 914 is hardly uncommon, but the question becomes whether to rebuild the current 1.7L engine or find a replacement like a larger 2.0L unit. There’s also the opportunity to build a mild hot rod, or your own version of a 914/6. The possibilities are numerous, but there’s a lot to be said for building an engine that the chassis can handle. In that case, a mildly upgraded 2.0L is the direction I’d go, as a bored over 2.0L can push out as much as 155 horsepower and 160 lb.-ft. of torque.

The 914 in its current form, however, is a long ways from a custom engine build. The seller notes the presence of rust in several areas, including beneath the windshield seal and in the rocker panels. The windshield work will require a glass-out repair, but replacement panels for the rockers are likely available. The interior appears to be in good shape with black carpets and seats. The dashboard doesn’t appear to be cracked. The black-on-black scheme is quite sharp, and the exterior with its gold wheels and decals looks the business. My goal would be to get the rockers squared away without hopefully having to touch the main bodywork.

The 914, like so many others, sports an aftermarket exhaust system. When it was new, the 2.0 cars were decently quick for the day, reaching 60 miles per hour in about 10 seconds. The exhaust was a popular upgrade on these cars, and while I doubt it adds significant power, it likely was easy to sell someone on the idea that their sporty German coupe might reach 60 in under 10 seconds with the right mods. The fact that a 914 needing a potential engine rebuild and that has rust is already sitting at $7,500 is surprising to me, but perhaps this is a sign of the direction the long undervalued 914 market is moving in.