Building a collection around a theme is certainly one way to make buying decisions easier. This listing for three Porsche 914s is a slice of Americana in a German wrapper, as the cars are red, white and blue. The seller notes these were his father’s and are in varying levels of condition, from very nice project to fully restored. They are being offered for the first time here on eBay as a lot with a Buy-It-Now of $62,000 or best offer.
I once tried to build a collection around cars of a certain type and a certain color; I’m here to tell you it got boring in a hurry. Now, I’m not judging the seller’s father, but personally, I hated limiting myself to a certain car type and color in order to preserve the theme. This Alaska Blue is the “restored” car, and the seller goes on at lengths to explain that you won’t find one better or with more documentation. The previous owner went to great lengths to cosmetically and mechanically over-restore it, so this is clearly the trailer queen of the trio.
Curiously, the seller says they are all “perfect” but the red and white cars are described as 8.5s out of 10. That’s a different sort of math than I’m used to! Regardless, the white car is a claimed Washington state example, and having just ended a vacation along the Oregon and WA coasts, I can attest that vintage cars survive at an extremely high rate out there. The seller notes the Ivory White car needs its brakes bled but otherwise functions as it should.
This Bahia Red car is formerly of California and then of Colorado, sporting one repaint in its original color scheme. I could do without the Panasports but that’s an easy fix. The seller says it includes “maintenance documentation” but doesn’t elaborate what that reveals; a COA is also included. As always, these types of cars are much, much easier to sell on an individual basis, especially vehicles like the blue car that should just be sold on its own merits as a restored 914 that isn’t a 914/6. While I much prefer my cars in original condition even if slightly tatty, these 914s could be a worth a look if you prefer more finished examples.
Nice cars but to me they make up the French flag 🇫🇷;)
Definitely GB 🇬🇧, or maybe 🇦🇺🇨🇿🇨🇰🇨🇷🇨🇺🇨🇱🇩🇴🇫🇷🇭🇷🇰🇵🇮🇸🇱🇷 any of these also?
I’ve loved these ever since I had a newish ’72 in 1973. They are great design, surely a 356 descendant in feel and Porsche design. Very go-kart. I found out the hard way that the front end has a great crumple zone. Loaned it to my father in law and he t-boned a car in a Santa Monica intersection. He was unhurt, the car crumpled as it should, including frame bending. Loved and lost. But soon I’m getting one back. Soon.
BTW, RIP, Bob.
Admittedly this “revolutionary” threesome look quite celebratory in the setting. Myself, I was disappointed in the look of the car when it first came out, and focusing through all the years since has not changed my acceptance level. There is nothing about the exterior of the car that says “Porsche”. I take quarter with Mike, as the 914 is definitely not a descent of the 356. Picture this trio wearing the sheet metal of the 911/912 model from the late 60’s. Yes, now you’ve got it…….Yes that skin would scream Porsche. The 914 doesn’t even murmur any relationship any of the many attractive Porsche’s the company produced. It is in the same category of putting a kit 1940 Ford front end on a VW bug and thinking you have a classic ’40 Ford 2door coupe.
Nice collection of Volkswagens! I never considered a series of Porsches to be true Porsches.
Ever driven a real 914-6? In my youth my dad was in management at Bill Stremmel Volkswagen -Porsche and Audi in Reno. Bill got one of the few in the U.S. I ‘ve always wanted to recreate one after driving that one..Drove 100% better than the 911 in that era.
I have never driven a 914 and never felt the urge to do so I was addressing “straight curb appeal” –esthetics. Some people seem to love them, but I never wanted to kiss a Plain Jane even if she could run faster than the prettier one.
IIRC in Europe these were badged VW-Porsche. Note, VW first, maybe because VW made them.
The 914-6 was another story. They had a genuine Porsche flat-6 engine, 2.0 liter displacement. They made only 3,332 of them, which probably helps explain why a 914-6 usually costs 3 to 5 times what a regular 914 might cost.
Typical elitist response. Drive one. The DNA is there.
I wish more people thought like you, so we could buy these at VW prices.
Come to think of it, I guess these are priced at VW (bus)prices! 😀
How could it be elitist if the manufacturing company branded them as Volkswagens themselves?
A year ago I had a red 2014 Mustang GT, a white 2011 Durango Citadel and a blue 1968 Camaro in my collection. The only cars I owned at the time and totally not intentional but still absolutely the very best I could do for the Big Three.
It was awesome. I had bald eagles circling me everywhere I went, guns were given to me, and I was allowed to say anything I want while I basked in glorious freedom every day for the 3 years they were together.
Didn’t like the styling much at the time, but it’s grown on me.
Why is there not a simple, sporty straightforward car like this built today? Balanced, bare bones and light on technology… would it sell in today’s high-tech world?
Subaru BRZ / Toyota GT86, and you are right, they are not selling well!
Mazda MX-5 Miata has sold pretty well.
Mark – I guess you also consider a 356 a VW?
Experts, please correct me if I am wrong but as I understand it these cars were sold under the VW name in Europe.
It was only in the US did they wear the Porsche badge.
So I don’t think Mark is far off.
Miguel – You are correct !
Various Porsche, Volkswagen and some Mercedes components were made on the same mfg line only labeled at the end. I saved money on certain parts for my 190SL and 1969 911T from a VW sources because they are the same part, just cheaper. So I guess they kind of are
Porsche and Volkswagens share many parts because they are part of the same corporate organization. Mercedes on the other hand isn’t part of that group, the similarity was it with them is that all three are German companies. At various points in time many different automobile companies share parts in one way or another.
Whoa! You ‘could do without the Panasports’?!? The wheels on the first one are fair, the wheels on the second one are disgusting, and the Panasports are by far the best! Neat cars, but I wouldn’t want three, and there would be a flat 6 going into the one I bought, plus a slant nose kit, and some fender flares, and some 911 wheels, and….
Especially in the late 50’s and the sixties. Even though VW/Porsche and Mercedes were different companies they had shared manufacturing lines ran by VW for suspension and brake parts in particular. I used to have a notebook that showed compatible parts.
The blue one is the one to get. Great color, 2.0, Fuchs and the right year. Not sure the seller’s statement of “a patriotic collectors dream” will really sell it. Read the seller’s description. It’s pretty blow-hardy.
These are fun cars to drive. Way more than simply a “VW,” these handled like go karts. This particular trio is interesting…the seller might have hit the cusp with the price given the condition of the cars and the rising prices for nice examples, especially with one of them being a 2.0
The eventual buyer will definitely want garage space for these…not a car to be left out in the elements. What will likely happen is the two 1.7’s will be sold off and the 2.0 will be kept. At least that would be my m.o. if I were to get on the wagon for these
How much different do these drive from a Karmann Ghia?
I’ve driven both, having had girlfriends in the 80’s who owned them. From memory, the Porsche had snappier handling in the canyons and more comfortable to drive as well. The Ghia just felt VW-ish in its fit and build, though it definitely held its own in the corners, just not like the 914
Not much comparison to a Karmann Ghia.
The 914 uses the front suspension of the Porsche 911 and has much more direct and responsive steering than the archaic VW platform.
The mid-engine 914 design allows sportier, more rapid left/right transitions than in the KG, which has the engine hanging behind the rear axle.
The 1.7 engine was a bad mistake on Porsche’s part and is nothing to write home about. The later 2.0 4 cyl has nice free-breathing cylinder heads and a responsive fuel injection set-up. Later cars have an improved gearshift system. The ’73-’74 2.0 is the sweet spot; a 1.7 or 1.8 will probably be a disappointment.
Unfortunately, Porschefiles rejected the 914 and no one else could afford them at a time when Triumphs and MGs were common and much cheaper.
Most of the comments about 914s on this site come from people who have never sat in, owned, or driven one.
* They were initially developed as part of a joint venture with VW. VW management changed and evidently price commitments were not kept to Porsche. Wikipedia has a pretty good write up. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_914 ). The four cylinders were initially to be a replacement to the long in the tooth Karmann Ghia for VW. The six cylinders were to be an entry price point car for Porsche but with VW increased transfer pricing, they ended up being just under the price of the 911T . . . and didn’t sell well. The 914 1.7/1.8/2.0 sold very well. They were Porsche’s biggest sellers at the time.
* Porsche advertised them as an advanced design, particularly w/ their mid engine with directed references to their 904/906 race cars.
* Much of the front suspension is interchangeable with the 911/930. The rear suspension for look awfully familiar to 911 fan boys too.
* The 914-6 was rated at 108HP, the 914 2.0l 4 was rated at 99HP fwiw.
* Any discussions of great handling Porsche sports cars usually involves 944s and 914s.
. . . ok, on with the 914 = VW “informed” comments.
With all the concerns about the “hell hole” below the battery box, why do owners continue to put in unsealed batteries? The blue car is described as a concourse-level of restoration, award-winner, etc. Yet there’s that Sears Die-Hard ready to leak all over the place.
It has to be hard selling a collection of “any” marque of vehicles that belonged to one’s late father, especially when a son helped in the acquisition. Pure speculation on my part, however, I’m guessing the photos were professionally done and that is the Seller shown standing beside the garage in one of the photos. I can just imagine what is running through his mind.
I know nothing about these cars other than what I’ve learned here and when I was a kid the boyfriend of a girl next door drove a 4 cylinder lime green looking one that was very dependable.
doors forward, super cool car, then you walk around to the back….
The 914 was actually intended by VW to be the replacement for the Karmann Ghia. For some reason few seem to know this, perhaps because it is a whole different look and layout than a Ghia. But as a replacement for a Karmann Ghia, the 914 makes sense. I had a lovely red 1976 914 2.0 and it said Karmann Coachworks or something like that on a plate on the door sill.
Some 911 fans hate the 914, but that’s likely because they know that if you take a 911 engine and put it into a 914 of the same year, the 914 will generally be a faster and better-handling car than the 911. It’s lighter and a better layout. So there :)