Missing the sunny rays of summer when you drive your tin-topped collectible? Here’s your remedy in the form of a 1970 Porsche 914 Targa, the lid of which you can remove any time you’ve diligently slathered your dome in sunscreen. You’ll get this chance after you jump in on the bidding, which currently sits at $11,700, though with lots of action at fifty bids registered so far. The auction is no-reserve, and it stretches until Sunday evening. The car resides in Cincinnati, and with the promise made that it’s ready to jump in and drive cross-country, it would appear that you could immediately add to the existing 52,800 miles registered.
The Porsche 914 was a joint venture between VW and Porsche, with the idea being that Volkswagen would sell a four-cylinder version and Porsche a six-cylinder. The history didn’t quite happen like that, as is well detailed here. What did result was a cheap-for-the-day fun little car, which Motor Trend, at least, said had lights-out handling. Speaking of lights, what’s with the white surrounds on the headlights of this car, Porsche people? Is this a sign of an incomplete paint job, a front-end crash, or just poor styling from the manufacturer?
As for condition, there is apparently little to fault. The interior is excellent. The finish of this car looks good in pictures, though the seller, who is marketing the car for an estate, says the paint job is 40 years old. Sounds like a serviceable daily driver/Thursday night burger stand cruiser, but he also asserts that it is “truly investment grade,” so a personal inspection might be needed to really place this one on a value scale. The numbers for this model range, in the seller’s research, go from a low of $15K to a high near $40. However, values increasing by the day, according to Hagerty.
Often scoffed in an earlier day as being “too much VW, not enough Porsche,” these little targa-tops sold surprisingly well for a niche vehicle, with almost 119,000 finding owners during the model run, spanning 1970-76. Now you have the chance to grab one of them for yourself. But don’t lag. Depending on where this auction goes, we’re still talking used Miata money, but here’s betting that a sale won’t happen until a couple of keeners have pushed the price up past thirty thousand bucks. Check it out for yourself, and follow the action, here on ebay.
So, I’ve always wondered, did people that bought these, really like the styling, or the fact it was the cheapest Porsche you could buy? At around $3700, ( a 914-6 was almost $6grand) new, compared to a 911, that was almost 3 times that, it was true. I’m sure they are fun cars in true Porsche form, I just think it looks ridiculous.
Went to the dealer with the idea of buying a new one off the floor when they first came out. Didn’t care for the look at all and wound up buying a ’65 356C off the used car lot. Bought a ’72 in ’77 as I needed a go to work car that would carry my flight gear. Silver with the factory alloy wheels and AC. Looked a bit better than the orange with steel wheels and small hub caps on that dealer floor. By the time I bought the ’74 in the late ’80s we had done several modifications and built some race cars for customers in the shop and thought it would be neat to build one up like Porsche should have done. Accomplished that and had a neat looking, fun car with good power. The blue and yellow race car we built for a customer was what really got me going on the orange.car.
Race car.
Taste is a personal matter, but I myself have always loved the shape, particularly when enhanced with the GT fender flares.
Had a friend in high school who had one that I got to drive once. It always looked so much more purposeful than my 79 MG Midget.
That’s true, some, like me, bend “personal taste” too far sometimes. I think any German car has its merits, they don’t make rejects like we did. I suppose I’m one of those that has the 911 type in mind when a Porsche is mentioned. Bathtubs too, I’m sure neat cars, just not my style. I can’t explain why I like the K-G, always a VW fan, besides, listen to me, a Rambler/AMC fan should talk.
The headlight surrounds came in white or black. Looks good with the white. Had a ’72 & ’75. Sold the ’75 recently after almost 40 years. It sits way too low for me to get out comfortably.
I remember these being around when I was a kid. The driving position was a little different. The pedals were all kind of off set to the right a little from the steering wheel from what I remember. I always wondered how hard it would be to work on these with that tiny little hood opening right by the rear window.
Not a lot to do under there but plugs and oil and they are right below the opening.
Does that mean my Mini Cooper should be a BMW?
Friend of mines father bought one just like this one when I was in high school (class of 1974). His dad let me drive it once. I’m still in love with this car. Fastest go cart I ever drove.
just bid on the six
(unless U have the motor already). These, the X one nine, MR2, fiero, even the smart car they made up, more money?: M1, dozen more.
more fun.
Join SCCA, use as intended.
A lill trailer behind your daily, light lill cars, take all ur pocket cash, fun
weekends, summer gone, that quick…
Balance? with
sail powered ocean racing: fall, winter, spring.
More beautiful places to visit. Ahhh… life on this planet !
I’ve owned a couple of 914’s – 1970 and 1974. May not be entirely Porsche, but superior handling, reliable and fun. I’m not physically able to play any more, but really wish I could:)
Had a ’74 2-liter for years and enjoyed it. This one has the 1.7 liter engine, but apart from a carburetor replacing the original electronic injection, it’s stock as a stove. You don’t find them like this, with original wheels, hubcaps, radio, etc. Look for rust under the battery and at the rear of the trunk. If it’s clean underneath, this could well be a bargain.
I looked at a used one that was very old for $3000.
I was excited,at least until I called my insurance company
that informed me that it would cost me $1000/year,a lot of
money for a teenager back then.
I feel what drives an automobile is what it is.As lovely as a Ferrari Fiat Dino it’s still a Fiat. That mini Cooper may be British but it’s a BMW. So it doesn’t matter if a great sports car was done in collaboration with another great sports car the end product is what counts. I just can’t get myself to call a Chrysler Crossfire a Mercedes.
Man l butchered that comment. I’ve got to do better.
I got the point:)
How to tick off a purist. Local guy has one. Pulled the entire drivetrain and replace it with Rabbit bits. Diesel.