Ok, so a 1972 Porsche 914 is maybe not a “true” Porsche for aficionados. The 914 was originally planned as a mid-engined car to be jointly developed by Porsche and VW, with VW getting a four cylinder version and Porsche a more powerful flat six. But, over the years during which the car was being developed, much changed, and both the four and six cylinder versions ended up being marketed and sold as Porsches.
In fact, during its run, the 914 in four cylinder configuration was by far the best selling model in the Porsche line. I owned a 1971 in the late 1970’s and had a lot of fun with it. The 1.7 liter engine is not all that powerful, but these cars are light so they are still a lot of fun to drive.
Buying any Porsche for $1,000 these days is pretty difficult. So, even though this is not the most desirable of P-cars, this looks like a great deal. And the seller is even throwing in a second car for parts. He’s got a 1971 model that is missing its engine. Find the package deal here on craigslist in Tucson, Arizona.
One possible problem – the seller is missing the title for the 1972 car – it belonged to his mother-in-law, who passed away in 2005. Seller will provide a notarized bill of sale, however.
This car is said to be in fair condition, and will need some repair to use as a daily driver. The engine turns but has not been started in several years.
The kicker here is a second Porsche – the 1971 Porsche 914 that you can use for spare parts. Note the 1971 does not have an engine, but is titled.
Tucson is very dry, so this car may not have the rust problems from which so many Porsches suffer. While this is clearly an ambitious project, parts for these cars are relatively abundant and they are relatively easy to work on. I think this looks like a great deal. What do you think?
I enjoyed a 914 for a couple years. Was the second Porsche I owned, first was a 924. The 914 was a fun driver, easy to maintain and I gladly have another one if the right one came along. This one Is hard to resist at a grand. As mentioned if its been in Tucson for a while then hopefully its not rusty. The one I had lived in CA its whole life until it moved to Florida for 3 years so it was truly rust free. If I were closer to this I would be all over it
They were only marketed and sold as Porsches in the US. In Europe they were VW’s, sold by VW dealers……….not that there is anything wrong with a VW sports car.
Having a 1972 with the 1.7 eng was a lot of fun for the power it returned to you. But the real advantage was mileage with large fuel tank. During 1973 gas crunch I travel from Cresent City Cal to Chehalis Wa before I found a station that was open something over five hundred miles.
Cool, a Porsche with a realistic price.
The 914 is actually one of the most desireable Porsches if you know your history.
Do tell abought this history please
Story goes…before the 928 the engineers were asked for a supercar design & out the back door rolled a monster 914.
The 914 was a product of the German Auto Confederation, like Audi…..when all the German companies (except BMW) got together as more or less one company. They were built in the VW Woolfburg factory with the VW 411 engine except the 914-6 that had a 2 liter dry sump Porsche 6 cylinder. The 914 was designed as an entry level german sports car for people that could not afford a 911. They were fun cars that in the 914-6 version would out run a 911 on the racetrack. The years they were produced were dark years for the auto industry with new smog laws and safety restrictions that ended the muscle car era and did no favors for the 914. A smog less high compression 411 engine is quite potent but the low compression smog engines struggled to be efficient or powerful. We spent a couple of days in Zuffenhausen. The Porsche factory and Museum. As few models as Porsche produced, there was very little mention of the 914. They were really not considered a Porsche in there home country. Porsche has always been a design company……..even before they built there own cars. The rumor is they designed the AMC Pacer among others. The 914 was considered more of a Porsche design than an actual Porsche. Prices have been stagnant on them nearly since the beginning but have recently shown signs of improving. Much to the enthusiasts delight, many were left to languish and rust in disrepair while the values were low. Those cars will reappear on the market now that interest is increasing.
2 porsche for $ 1000, someone located close to these should buy them. the title on the one, and if you can get a title to the other, have to worth something. very low cost way into the aircooled Porsche club! interesting find.
2 years ago I bought not one but 2 Porsches for $1000, which I saw on this very website – a 924 and a 944. It was an impulse buy and I figured I could work out what to do with them when I got them home,
As so often happens, life got in the way and they sat waiting for my attention.
Life continues to evolve and now I find myself wanting to drastically reduce my 20+ car fleet. So I would be happy to give one of you nice folks the chance to have 2 P-cars on your driveway for the same $1000. 😁
What years? Where? Thanks
The cars are in Ben Lomond, California (in the Santa Cruz Mountains). I’m not actually sure of the years – there is no documentation with either of them. They are relatively early examples of each, though.
The cars were being sold by the daughter of the owner, who had died ten years earlier and the cars just sat at his house. She knew nothing about them. If the registration stickers can be relied on, the 944 was last on the road in 2000 and the 924 about ten years before that.
Realistically, these cars are probably best suited for parts or for conversion to track cars. They are solid and straight but the mechanicals are an unknown quantity.
I tried putting a battery in each of them, and there was no response to the ignition key – no lights, no clicks, nothing. That’s about as far as I got.
Here is the original Barnfinds story on these:
http://barnfinds.com/estate-sale-porsches-1k/
They are in basically the same condition as they were at that time. They don’t look as good as the pictures though – they would need a good wash and wax!
Fortunately – for my wallet and marriage – these are left coast-ish and I am right coast-ish :)
A 944 AND a 924 you say..very interested..I’m in CA..shoot me an email jay@rolandsands.com
I’d rather have “TG’s” 924 and 944 than a 240-280Z. Especially if rust is not an issue. The 924-944 series is not common here. But it is a long way from CA to PA to bring two cars. Especially when Punxy Phil sees his shadow through the snow clouds.
The bodies of the 914 are not galvanized, so they just rust! I have a 914, 928, 911, and 958. Love them all but the 914 makes thirty five miles an hour positively thrilling and it corners with out breaking.
I just found this web site! I think I need to rethink the size of the garage!
I am positive hubby will block this site from all of my devices by tomorrow!