Remember when air-cooled Porsche 911s were mostly just weird old sports cars for relatively sensible money? Yeah, things have changed a lot in 15-ish years. Now pre-996 911s are in new car pricing territory, and pricing on 356s left the affordable realm decades ago. So what do you do if you’re an air-cooled dreamer on a reasonable budget? Well, if a water-cooled Porsche just doesn’t do the trick for you, how about a 914?
Alright, it’s not the first Porsche that comes to mind, and its origin story has been the source of many digs, but the Volkswagen influence just means this is an air-cooled sports car for which parts don’t cost an arm and a leg. Plus, the targa-topped body style is fun, and the mid-engined layout is a far bigger story than the engine under that mesh cover. You can still buy a Porsche 914 for sensible coin, and despite being from the ’70s, it’s something you could use every nice weekend.
Now, you certainly won’t get a six-cylinder 914/6 for nice used Miata money, and examples on that end of the spectrum tend to be impact bumper cars in fairweather daily driver condition, but sports cars are meant to be enjoyed. Without further ado, get your driving gloves on, because we’re about to take a dive into the affordable end of the air-cooled pool.
What Are We Looking At?
In the late-1960s, Volkswagen and Porsche each had their own slight problems. Volkswagen’s Karmann Ghia coupe was getting a bit long-in-the-tooth, and Porsche wanted something different than the four-cylinder 912 as an entry level model, likely to add distinction to the then-fairly new 911. In an attempt to kill two birds with one stone, the companies collaborated on project 914, with Ferdinand Piëch—yes, that Ferdinand Piëch—as project lead. At the time, Ralph Nader had drawn new attention to automobile safety and everyone thought convertibles would eventually be banned in America, so the project involved drawing inspiration from the 911 Targa.
The result was a mid-engined targa-topped two-seater that could accommodate both Volkswagen’s Type 4 flat-four engine and Porsche’s air-cooled flat-six, and the plan was to sell the former as a Volkswagen and the latter as a Porsche. Unfortunately, the project hit a bump in the road when in 1968, then-Volkswagen chairman Heinz Nordhoff died. His successor, the board-elected Kurt Lotz, decided to not honor this prior agreement, wanting all 914s to be badged and sold as Volkswagen products.
After much bickering, the solution was a traditional compromise. While Porsche would sell the 914 under its own brand in North America, most European models were sold as the VW-Porsche 914 by a newly formed marketing company, VW-Porsche Vertriebsgesellschaft GmbH. In 1969, customers got their hands on this mid-engined roadster, and it was thoroughly a VW-Porsche.
The standard engine in early 914 sports cars was a 1.7-liter air-cooled flat-four pulled directly out of the Volkswagen 411E, including that car’s Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection system. Pumping out 80 horsepower, it came mated to a 901 five-speed manual gearbox out of a Porsche 911, but with a flipped ring gear to reverse the rotation of drive and play nicely with the mid-engined layout. With longitudinal torsion bars and MacPherson struts up front and a coil-sprung semi-trailing arm setup out back, the result was a sweet handler but a car that would launch right before U.S. emissions standards would seriously impact performance. By 1973, output had fallen to 76 horsepower in 49 states and a mere 69 horsepower in California, and with the rare but expensive 110-horsepower six-cylinder 914/6 getting discontinued, there was a need to fill a gap.
The solution was to punch out the Volkswagen flat-four to two liters of displacement, resulting in 91 horsepower and 109 lb.-ft. of torque. This brought the zero-to-60 mph time down from somewhere in the 13-second range to 10.3 seconds, not that far off from the much later, far more modern first-generation Miata. Add in revised suspension and upgraded interior appointments, and the 914/2, later called the 914 2.0, was born.
At the same time, 1974 saw the base engine rise in displacement to 1.8 liters and gain Bosch L-Jetronic injection, but shrink in output to 74 horsepower in 49-state trim. Two years later, output for the two-liter model would drop to 87 horsepower, but that still isn’t bad for the malaise era, and there’s plenty to celebrate beyond straight-line performance. Although somewhat stiff, later 914s are pretty much vice-free mid-engined cars with simple and easy-to-maintain mechanicals, canyon dancers with serious old-school cool. From the pop-up headlights to the fiberglass targa roof, these are still great vehicles for a Sunday drive, and you can still get into one for reasonable money.
How Much Are We Talking?
Right out of the gate, it’s a good idea to temper expectations. A two-liter 914 will be hard to find for cheap, so you’re likely looking at a 1.7-liter or 1.8-liter car, possibly with some flaws. Something like this 1972 model that sold on Bring A Trailer last year for $13,914, or about the price of a well-kept stock 1.6-liter NA Miata with a hardtop these days. This 914 has some light patination to its Saturn Yellow paint, the sort of dings and scratches normally accumulated over 50-plus years of driving, but it’s already received new upholstery and some minor rust repair, its floors look pretty great, and it seems like a really nice summer toy.
More often, you might find something like this 1971 Porsche 914, which hammered on Hemmings Auctions for $11,460 last year. It’s been repainted, and it has some rust on the battery tray, but it’s also an early car with the original D-Jetronic fuel injection, and was made before tightening emissions standards could really constrain output. It’s definitely a little bit of a project, but it seems like a fair driver for the money and doesn’t appear to need much welding.
Looking for more of a project? How about something like this California-based 1972 model listed on Craigslist for $7,000? Alright, so there’s some light surface corrosion on the interior floor and in the engine bay, along with some fairly thorough-looking surface rust on the battery tray, but for a 53-year-old car, that’s not bad. Plus, it runs and drives, the seller claims to have tended to the weatherstripping which is fiddly work, and it’s a pre-smog car for those living in the Golden state. Considering $7,000 doesn’t buy you a perfect Miata anymore either, this thing might be worth a gander.
What Can Go Wrong On A Porsche 914?
As this is a car from the ’70s, you really do need to watch out for rust. Battery tray corrosion is common enough that the area underneath the tray has earned the nickname the “hell hole,” and is normally the first sign of rot requiring serious welding. So long as it hasn’t made it past the tray, repair isn’t too hard, but much more extensive fab work is needed if the ledge beneath the battery tray is a bit soft. From there, check the gussets, the tunnel, the attachment points for the front suspension arms and surrounding panels, and the front corners of the engine bay. Proper rust repair is seriously expensive because it typically requires cutting out the rot and welding in fresh metal.
Beyond that, check for patch panels, make sure the engine runs nicely and still features its original fuel injection system, make sure the serial numbers are all good and the transmissions shifts okay. You know, fairly basic classic car stuff. There isn’t really anything fancy about a Porsche 914, but that helps make it one of the easiest Porsches to own.
Should You Buy A Porsche 914 For Used Miata Money?
While the Porsche 914 isn’t a modern sports car, that’s a huge part of its charm. It’s old enough to feel really classic, but its fuel injected, mechanically simple, and generally quite reliable. If you’re looking for something of that era and have always wanted an air-cooled car, a decent 914 is absolutely worth a look. It’ll feel leagues more sophisticated than an MGB or a Triumph Spitfire, and parts are much easier to source than those for a Fiat X/19.
Top graphic credit: Bring A Trailer
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I knew someone who managed to wedge a Mazda 3-rotor into one of these – problem was you couldn’t put wide enough wheels on the thing to get that power to the ground. The car would spin the wheels enough through the first three gears they could never really get a good idea of how quick it actually was.
Always had an irrational love for 914’s.
Also, a 16.4 gallon gas tank?? dang!
Always were, and always will be a Volkswagen. Like the Thing, these were just an uninteresting novelty. Still are.
My only memory of a 914 was the time my Uncle Tom visited from Wisconsin and parked his on our angled driveway in the Chicago burbs. Bored and curious, I wandered outside, opened the door, sat down…and released the parking brake (I was around 5 years old and, unsurprisingly, knew jack shit about what a parking brake was).
The car rolled backwards into the street, at which point I exited the vehicle and left it there. Luckily, it was a quiet street and I didn’t cause any damage.
Uncle Tom, Mom and Dad were rather displeased with my behavior, however.
How he survived Wisconsin winters without a heater in his 914 always perplexed me.
I think the 914 will appreciate far more than the Miata however the Miata might be more reliable, but either is a good choice.
I had a friend with one of these he bought new. It was the ultimate ‘slow car that can feel really fast’ rides. Unfortunately he let me drive it on many occasions witch made me complicit in it rusting faster. Even on warm dry summer days. So sad how the elements took these away.
I’ve been a 914 owner for 20 years. It’s been a great car. Reliable, good looking (in my opinion) and just fun. Not the easiest thing to work on, especially if you have broad shoulders, because the engine compartment access isn’t great. But compared to something like an MG, these are roomy, sophisticated sports cars with good build quality and so many options for upgrades and engine swaps, if you’re so inclined.
Worth the money, simply because the engine is in the right place.
(moved)
Apparently the headline’s subtitle is in small font and white text:
But why would you?
You write “for used Miata money” like I’m gonna say “well I might as well buy this instead so I don’t have to “settle” and get a Miata.” Compare it to a boring car. A more appropriate headline would be “for used Corolla money” or something like that.
It’s my 411’s baby brother! <3
I love these so much. I vote “hell yeah, do it.” Good VW-by-parsh.
Hey, here’s a 914 near Seattle that’s a Lemons-friendly $500! What should go in the engine bay?
LS-series V8.
VW 4 bangerwith a roots blower. Either eaton m45 or one of the aisin units.
Hey, here’s a 914 near Seattle that’s a Lemons-friendly $500! What should go in the engine bay?
I’ve driven 914s and just never really had the love for them. I helped a friend put together a 2270 stroker Type 4 for his ’63 Beetle (which was insanely fast) and then he sold the car, kept the engine, and we put it into a 914 with a “flattened” nose. It was, indeed, fast and fun. However, it was still weird looking and not very endearing.
On my end, my ’69 912 has a seriously built 2056cc Type 4 that started life as a 914 1.7L. That makes it fairly fast, but it looks like a 911 and will outperform all but the mighty 911S of the era. That car is WAY more fun than the 914 was and with the classic long-hood Porsche 911/912 body it’s a car that’s worth love.
I’ve also owned NA and NB Miatas. The Miata is more fun than a 914. IMHO
These rotted away around here years ago and nobody missed the ugly things. There’s a reason they never really went up in value even when collectors who grew up with them were overpaying for everything else from their time. The hipsters who bought junk like this for ironic value have grown up and, as demographics within the collector market changes, it’s unlikely these are going to appreciate much as they predate the younger buyers in a market that sells much on nostalgia. Even with the large numbers of them made, IMO, that comparison Miata is the better buy unless you just really like these cars and intend to keep it.
No.
I love the look of these, and the Volkswagen-ness doesn’t really bug me personally. They came in incredible colors and have that 70s surfer vibe in spades. They’re not going to blow you away with performance, but at the end of the day you’re getting a mid engined Porsche for just a bit more than fuck it money and you’re going to be very popular at Cars and Coffee because people just adore 914s now.
Which is funny because they’ve spent long periods being absolutely hated…but now there’s absolutely nothing with a Porsche badge that isn’t worth something. Anyway I’d consider owning one. They’re also popular candidates for EV swapping, and if you’re into that sort of thing I don’t think it’s the worst idea ever because it’s not like you’re throwing out a flat 6…you’re throwing out a wheezy economy car engine.
Still my favorite Porsche. Never owned one, but got to drive one (and a Meyers Manx) for a whole summer in the late 70s. Best summer of my life.
I must be showing my age because not only do I remember these being old and slow, I also grew up thinking they were not very good. I still think that. Would not buy for sure. I’d much rather buy a boxster if I was into the idea of a small cabriolet porsche.
These slow cars are plenty fun to drive “fast”, and reasonably forgiving with the mid-engine layout. [1973 914 2.0 VW-Porsche]
When I was in high school, people couldn’t give these away. I had a Fiat Spider that I chose instead of a 914. The Porsche was in great condition, needed nothing, and they wanted $1,500 for it.
The thing was, at the time, nobody would have understood why you bought a 914. People thought they were ugly, they weren’t real Porsches, they just didn’t get them at all. And I didn’t either.
Now that I’m old enough to know just how great a 914 can be, they’re regularly selling in the $40,000 range and the appeal of a cheap fun sports car is just not there anymore.
I went and poked around at listings after reading this article and you can still get pretty nice driver’s examples in the low 20s. I think they’re a decent buy at that point if you’re in to Porsches and understand what these are and aren’t. If you don’t really give a shit about stuff from Stuttgart and just want a fun weekend car a Miata would serve you better.
I’m a Porschephile though and these definitely appeal to me.
For 4 seconds I was excited by the idea of a plate that says “P-PHILE.”
This is the first “You could buy….” that makes any fiscal sense.
Before the first Dot-Bomb, these were quite popular amongst the Baby-Tech-Bros in San Francisco as a “starter” Porsche. After a while they tended to trade them for vintage 911s.
I knew a guy, IT consultant, that I met racing bicycles. I needed a new place to live, he had an empty guest house. Deal. I then found out the fun stuff wasn’t in the garage attached to his house, or in the other garage under the guest house I was staying in, but in the *other* garage down the hill. He had 5 914/6, I believe all had wide body kits and race slicks. He would also instruct high performance days out at Laguna seca and smoke just about everything else out on the track. It’s a very valid platform for going fast… especially with good rubber, good skills, and the extra 2 cylinders.