By the mid-1960s, the leadership at Porsche was looking into a replacement for the Porsche 912. A worthy successor would be needed within a few years; preferably a Targa-topped, semi-convertible sports car with an air-cooled four cylinder Boxer engine. It had to be affordable for those who wanted a new Porsche but had to work for their money. Oh . . . there was one more thing: it had to outperform the 912, of course!
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The Porsche engineers in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen knew exactly what they had in mind: a mid-engine road rocket, just like Porsche's legendary race cars, such as the 550 Spyder, the RSK, or the 904 GTS!
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In 1969, Porsche unveiled the 914. Being the first mass-produced mid-engine sports car, the 914 represents a milestone in automobile history and is very collectible today. Over 118,000 914s were sold; unfortunately, most were eaten alive by the merciless rust devil. Even in sunny Southern California, it has become very hard to find a rust free survivor.
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Hence, you can imagine our excitement upon finding this fine Guards Red example. Manufactured at Karmann Karosseriewerke in Osnabrück during February of 1973, VIN *4732914990* has been a California resident since day one. Smog exempt in California and most States of the Union, the car has had just 3 owners since new, covering a mere 74,721 actual miles; that's less than 2,100 miles annually, on average!
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The car is still registered to its original, six-digit, blue-and-gold 1973 California license plates, which are irreplaceable and thus a "must have" item for any knowledgeable California enthusiast.
Let's inspect this fine Porsche now, inside and out, top to bottom, starting up front, with the trunk.
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Being a mid-engine car, this Porsche actually has two trunks: one in front, and one in the back. The front trunk is spotlessy clean. There is absolutely no corrosion to be found, not even inside the notoriously fragile hood seal channel or the equally vulnerable area around the headlight buckets. Expensive to replace weatherstripping is "like new."
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Below a partition rests the spare, protected by a neat black cover. Trunk floor looks perfectly rust free as well and still displays its factory finish.
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The car has been repainted once in its original Guards Red, a classic Porsche color, many moons ago. The finish is still very glossy and free of any dings, dents, scratches, or rust bubbles. Upon very close inspection, there are a few imperfections, naturally, but nothing to lose sleep over.
The car's owner had a set of "Special Edition" 8-spoke chromed aluminum rims mounted; they are a nice period touch and remain in perfect condition. Tires are matching radials in the correct size 165 R 15-T all around, with about 75% tread remaining.
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Moving on to the 914's interior, we appreciate the fact that the car offers lots of space for driver and passenger. Even long legged occupants will find a comfortable position. The small cushion and backrest located between the seats actually allow a third person to ride along in a pinch!
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A view of the immaculate, original door pocket and door panel. Door bottoms are flawless.
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Classic 914 dashboard shares many of its design elements with its big brother, the 911.
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Large, round, white-on-black VDO gauges. Appropriate for a true sports car, the big tachometer sits right in the center! Note 150mph speedo. All lights and instruments work as intended, even the--illuminated--fog light switch.
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This 914 has been spared most of the common modifications; it has never been lowered, for example. Note original speaker grilles located in the foot wells. A smaller-than-stock, leather-covered MOMO steering wheel, the leather-covered shift knob and Porsche logo floor mats are the only upgrades and all of them are easily reversible, if so desired. Dash top shows 3 or 4 very fine hairline cracks near the fascia.
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Original, dealer-installed MOTOROLA AM/FM radio works superbly and is proof that this Porsche was always adult-owned: no juvenile caused irreparable damage by installing a bulky sound system.
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Black sport seats appear all original, with nicely preserved, black basketweave inserts.
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Even the interior light works.
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Are you ready for a test drive?
So are we, but let's check out a few very important areas first!
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A narrow flap located between rear window and trunk opens to reveal a toothbrush-clean engine bay. The 914 is motivated by its Volkswagen 411-derived, numbers matching, fuel injected 1.7-liter motor, producing 80 lively horses.
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Every car has an inherent weakness: the 914s' undoubtedly is the battery box area. More often than not, moisture and spilled acid--the battery being subjected to plenty of engine heat--conspired to corrode large swaths of neighboring sheet metal, sometimes even affecting the car's structural integrity. Not so here: everything looks original and unharmed, another desirable trait of a low-mileage Porsche.
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German engineering genius: lightweight Targa top is designed to stow away safely inside the trunk, still leaving quite a bit of space underneath!
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Rear trunk proudly shows off another "PORSCHE" logo mat, matching the ones found up front and in the passenger compartment.
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Three--count them!--layers protect this Porsche's trunk floor!
Notice original tire jack.
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Even underneath all those mats, everything looks clean and dry.
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Down below, the Porsche really shines. Having received quite a bit of attention to engine, suspension, and brakes during the past few years, all mechanical systems are top-notch.
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Our preferred San Fernando Valley exotic car repair facility, United Auto Works in Canoga Park, performed all repairs and maintenance, including an engine-out re-sealing job, and the results speak for themselves.
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The best-preserved floors you'll ever see--living all your life in California has its benefits! Check out the original Guards Red paint peeking through the factory sealer here and there. It may sound redundant: the undercarriage is 100% rust free!
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Wednesday, June 17: another nice day in Southern California. Sunshine and temperatures in the mid-70s provided the perfect reason to go for a topless drive in the 914.
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The 914 starts instantly and sounds like a true sports car. We let it warm up for a minute, then head for our favorite neighborhood to test its mettle.
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Piloting this Porsche is a delight!
914's seating position is low, like that of an Alpine A110, Mini Cooper, or monoposto racer, but visibility is very good, due to the car's compact size. Steering, shifting, brakes: no problems at all to report. The car feels very docile but has enough power to turn every drive into a fun experience. The 5-speed manual transmission--yes, it's the type 901 as found it the 911--assures that even long stints on the freeway don't put undue strain on the drivetrain.
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Even over rough surfaces, the 914 stays rattle-free. Its mid-engine configuration provides very neutral handling characteristics, provided you stay within the limits of adhesion. It's the perfect road and track synthesis!
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Returning home, we are indeed very impressed with this fun ride, and everybody we encountered during our road trip thought highly of this beautiful 914, too, considering the many favorable comments, smiles, and "thumbs ups" we received. Finally being recognized as a very collectible model, a well-preserved 914 is still the most affordable air-cooled Porsche one can buy.
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This particularly appealing 914, being a rust free California native of the preferred 1973 vintage, sporting a highly desirable color combination and very low miles, will most certainly accelerate in value during the coming years, while supplying its proud owner with many miles of unbridled automotive passion.
You are most welcome to inspect this fine automobile at our location in Ventura, by appointment, or have someone inspect it for you.
Please, direct all inquiries to bill@californiaclassix.com or call us at 805-653-5551.
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