A Porsche 914 with the 2.0L engine is generally thought as a desirable vehicle. After all, the later and larger motor gave the VW/Porsche hybrid a reasonable amount of power out of the gate, and certainly was equipped to move the lightweight chassis around without too much straining. There’s always room for improvement, however, and the so-called “Renegade” conversion that involves stuffing a Chevrolet V8 behind the rear seats will certainly lead to a transformative experience. That’s what we’re working with in the case of this 1973 model listed here on craigslist for $29,000, and it appears to have been well done.
The seller paints an enticing picture of this car, one that seemingly focuses on the individuals behind the build rather than the parts themselves. Let’s hover on that for a minute: in the California car scene, the “right” people can make a significant difference in the value of a car, especially if your potential buyer pool knows those same people. I once helped broker the sale of a ’69 Camaro that had the hands of various SoCal hot rod builders all over it, and in the eyes of the seller, that was almost more significant than the car itself. Knowing it was restored by people who set the gold standard at the time in muscle car building was a significant driver of value in the seller’s mind.
That’s the case here as well, with the seller noting that the gentleman he purchased the car from after three years of light begging was a former aircraft mechanic. This individual had the 350 engine professionally built at the time by another individual who supposedly specialized in assembling engines for drag racers. The listing notes the engine build cost $2,700 in 1981, which when you account for inflation, is over $10,000 today. That’s nuts, frankly, because even in today’s overpriced environment, $10K will get you a decent build for something that isn’t super exotic (and even as someone who monitors the cost to reseal a leaky Porsche engine, $10K will get you pretty close to buttoned up in that world, too.) I’m not sure how you can prove that investment, but it’s massive if so.
The performance offered by these Renegade conversions is captivating if you’ve been living with the speed and sound of a flat-four. While the 914/6, in my opinion, is the ideal blend of increased performance while also paying homage to classic Porsche DNA, I can also see why the V8 is so tempting. The only detail that lets this car down slightly is the standard bodywork, as it’s almost expected that a car with such outrageous performance would be enhanced in some way with a deep front chin spoiler, lower offset wheels, flared arches, or even a set of Recaro seats. I do like the sleeper aspect of this, but a set of staggered Fuchs would look killer here. All in all, not a bad way to spend $29,000. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Tony Primo for the find.
The jig is up the news is out they finally found me in Renegade we had it made the truth’s all around me
Sorry couldn’t resist 😂🤷♂️
You are my favorite crazy person
You’re a wanted man…
Nice car but why not put the driving lights and grills back into the front bumper?
Maybe those are now the air intakes for a radiator?
More likely that’s why there is no front valance. Light housings and horns aren’t going to let a lot of air through.
Lot of rough edges and missing parts for the asking price.
Looks like they solved that problem leaving the front valance off. Did the same in back along with the bumper trim. Lot of rough edges for the asking price.
I agree. Rusty looking for light housings really detract from the overall car’s condition.
First they go and then they come back. BF going weird here. Must be Friday.
This car has a radiator size AC condenser in the nose that only takes up 1/3 of the space. Have seen good transplants use the same setup. Might be good to see just how good the work was on this car.
That is a great looking 914…
This car has been listed for sale for years. Seller doesn’t seem interested in lowering price to meet what the market will offer.
Thus car has been for sale for a VERY long time.
23 photos, and only 1 engine photo. It looks like a beater to me.
…Oh Mama I’m in fear of my life
from the long arm of the law.
Lawmen have put and end to my
runnin and I’m so far from my home. Hang man is comin down from the gallows and it won’t be very long…
Interesting find. For something a little different…the Mecum Klairmont Collection Auction has a Fitch style racing Corvair going across the block today/Sunday.
A lot of work for very little effect if you ask me. Let me guess the engine is now in front and you have a trans axle in the back? I’d rather have the flat six in back with a turbocharger. Didn’t VW make one of those? Body looks nice though.
Fitch cars had factory running gear placement as per SCCA rules. Lot of suspension tuning along with legal engine mods too. Only V8 cars I’ve seen put the engine in the back seat area and the transmission behind it where the engine used to be. Texas company is still making the conversion kit.
They could have at least vacuumed the interior.
In the early 70’s we were in our 20’s and a few of us bought sports cars to fix up. I bought an MGA…. my married friends bought one of these with significant rust issues. They had it painted and drove it until the doors wouldn’t open… and kept driving it by climbing in over the closed doors until it bent in half. End of story…
Should of left the top on. Would have given them a little more time to drive it.
Had a Renegade with the Chalon body kit. Wider front and rear fenders and a slope nose. 350 Chevy. Sold it because I wanted to be alive to see my grandkids grow up. Stupid fast!! 3k RPM and 90MPH. Still had 3500 RPM left in it.
I agree. Rusty looking for light housings really detract from the overall car’s condition. I have wanted one like this since I saw one at a Reno autocross. Handled well and flew on the straights. Overall time was not real fast and a conversation with the owner verified that he was still learning how to drive it fast. Later on, a friend had one with the V8 conversion and it took awhile to find the right gearbox that would handle the horsepower / torque of the engine. I would really like to drive one of these!
You would love to drive this autocross car.
Fiberglass lids front and back, glass front spoiler, glass rocker covers, all to make it light for the 135 hp 2.5 ltr high revving 4 cylinder.
“behind the rear seats”?
C’mon, you know better than that.
Anyway, this will certainly have the Porschephiles screaming .
Was commenting on the Corvair.
Yes, there is room behind the seats and in front of the gearbox. (Just where the original engine sat. )
Whoever worked on it, this car has a really unfinished look, as if corners were cut. My major concern, though, would be the transmission. The stock 914 unit cannot handle the torque of a Chevy V8. A friend who did a similar conversion ended up springing for a $$$Hewland!
This appears to be just a DIY V8 conversion on a 914, not a true “Renegade Hybrid 914” conversion. Renegade Hybrids is a Las Vegas company that engineered a 914 V8 package, front to back, that most here agree, wonder why those things aren’t on this car. Probably explains why the seller can’t unload it for what he wants for it. Frankly, a true “Renegade Hybrid” is probably worth more.
I can’t even imagine how fast this thing would come around on you if you hit an unexpected wet spot on the cloverleaf.
It’s not tail happy with it being mid-engine. It’s not like the weight is hanging out the back/aft of the rear axle.
I was thinking the same. I drive an X1/9 for almost half a century. When they say mid-mounted means the center of gravity of the engine is above and slightly ahead of the rear axis. Highly likely that it will behave like a rear engine car in difficult conditions, like a 911 but without the fine tuning and electronic systems of a 911 suspension.
You don’t have to get exotic with the suspension on these. Stiffer rear springs and adjustable shocks on all 4 corners will do it. Also, there is a lot of suspension information out there to help handling of street and race cars.
I still want one of these. It has to be a blast to drive. Sounds like the perfect track day car!