Accordingly, this estimate comes to around 6,000 914s. In North America, there are, roughly, 6,000–8,000 drivable 914s left, in my estimation.
In This Article...
Prepare for an expensive Porsche 914-4.
As you explore the characteristics that Porsche and Ferrari have in common, such as their blazing-fast sports vehicles and unrivaled racing heritage, “stepchildren” ultimately come into view. It was the Dino, a mid-engine model produced by Ferrari from 1967 to 1974 that was powered by a V-6 engine made by Fiat. The Porsche 914, a mid-engine targa-top roadster built in partnership with Volkswagen and powered by an air-cooled VW engine, was produced from 1969 to 1976.
Years after production ceased in both instances, marque purists finally gave their complete approval. As Ferrari fever expanded in recent years, it certainly didn’t surprise too many collectors to see Dino values jump beyond $400,000. However, a few four-cylinder Porsche 914s over $90,000 this past year aroused questions.
A green 1974 914 2.0-liter with only 4934 miles sold for $93,500 at Gooding & Company’s 2018 Amelia Island auction. A yellow 1975 914 1.8-liter from RM Sotheby’s was auctioned off for $93,000 in Monterey the previous August. For both, the like-new kept condition and extremely low original mileage—4934 for the Gooding car and 3200 for RM’s 914—were the main factors driving the extraordinarily high prices.
Nearly 116,000 of the 119,000 914s produced by Karmann were four-cylinder variants, and the bulk of 914s were sold in the United States, where it was Porsche’s best-selling model. 3300 vehicles were produced in the six-cylinder 914-6 form, and the greatest examples now regularly exceed $100,000.
History of the Porsche 914
The Porsche 914 was first envisioned as a cooperative project between Porsche and Volkswagen in the middle of the 1960s. Volkswagen desired a halo vehicle that was significantly distinct from the Beetle, Bus, and Fastback, while Porsche intended to replace its 912 with something less expensive and similar to the 911. At the time, it appeared like a match made in heaven, and the resulting mid-engine two-seater targa was ideal for both marques. Everything was going smoothly until VW Chairman Heinrich Nordhoff passed away in 1968; his replacement, Kurt Lotz, imposed significant revisions to the agreement.
Initially, Volkswagen would sell four-cylinder automobiles while Porsche would sell the 914 with six cylinders. The 914 was required to be sold as a Porsche in the US and a VW-Porsche in Europe under the terms of the new agreement. The 914 would be built by coachbuilder Karmann, with the bodywork of the six-cylinder cars being sent to Porsche for engine installation.
The car that made its debut at the 1969 Frankfurt Auto Show was a real agglomeration, as was intended. The interior combined elements from both manufacturers’ parts bins, while the front suspension borrowed heavily from the 911 and certain VW components. The initial engine choice was a 1.7-liter fuel-injected flat-four from Volkswagen with 80 horsepower, while the 914/6 featured a 2.0-liter flat-six from Porsche with two carburetors and 110 horsepower. (Some modern periodicals falsely claimed that horsepower was 85 and 125, respectively.)
The six-cylinder automobile faltered, whereas the four-cylinder 914 rapidly found its niche. Due to Volkswagen’s agreement with Porsche, the 914/6 was almost as expensive as the base 911 and was discontinued in 1972 after selling only 3,349 units. In its place, the 914 in 1973 received an optional 100-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a smoother-shifting transmission. In 1974, the 1.7-liter engine was replaced by an 85-hp 1.8-liter engine, and all four-cylinder engines in the 914 thereafter came equipped with fuel injection.
As tighter emissions limits went into effect in 1976, the end arrived. Porsche and Volkswagen sold almost 119,000 914s by the time manufacture was over.
The 914 did not fare well over the coming decades, being derided as a glorified Volkswagen by many gearheads (especially Porsche fanatics). However, respect for the 914 has increased recently, not just because of its rarity but also because people are beginning to recognize it for what it is: a distinctively shaped vehicle that is fun to drive and little maintenance, at least by Porsche standards.
Are there any more 914/6s left?
How many of these fantastic automobiles have remained on the road in the nearly 50 years after their debut?
I now have roughly 1800 distinct VINs in my database, very few of which are for wrecked cars.
Depending on the production percentage you pick from the 914/6’s total output, this represents around 53% of all vehicles ever made.
I have only been able to find this information since the late 1990s, when the internet first became widely available.
Between 30 and 40 new VINs appear in commercials and on websites every year.
However, there have recently been a lot of people from Europe and other parts of the world as well.
This could indicate that there are still 914/6s available somewhere between 2016 and 2346.
How numerous are Porsche 916?
Although it has its supporters and is a lot of fun to drive, the Porsche 914 will never be a 911. Porsche was mostly recognized for producing the legendary Porsche 911 for a very long time. The 911 evolved become the standard by which other manufacturers judge the skill of their sporting automobiles.
Porsche stopped producing the 914 when?
Like with anything else, the price you pay for a vintage 914 will vary depending on its condition or specifications. Some, both in four-cylinder and six-cylinder form, are currently on the market for as little as $14,000. However, at that price, anticipate one that might need a little work.
How much is a Porsche 914 worth?
According to those figures and the fact that 165/1000 (USA-only) LE cars are known to exist (0.165%), it is possible that there are still 13,700 914s in existence. Since the LE automobiles were manufactured in 1974, the earlier models might have a higher loss rate. So a reasonable estimate of 12–15,000 existing 914 vehicles may be.
Are 914s authentic Porsches?
The 914 had two engines available at the time of its debut. A 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 100 horsepower based on the 1.7-liter engine and a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 85 horsepower in the model year 1974 came next.
A Porsche 912 is what?
The 918 Spyder was the most expensive Porsche production vehicle ever with a basic MSRP of $845,000 and an options list that included the $84,000 Weissach Package.
A Porsche 916 is what?
Review of the 2015 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS PDK But Porsche won’t employ any other VW Group engines save the V6 in the Cayenne. According to Macht, “engine development is a key value for Porsche.”
What is the value of a 1973 Porsche 914?
The Porsche 914, also known as the VW-Porsche 914, is a mid-engined sports car that Volkswagen and Porsche jointly developed, produced, and marketed from 1969 to 1976.
Who was the Porsche 914’s designer?
Porsche 914 convertible from 1972 The 914 was a sales success when it was first introduced in 1969 as a cheaper 911 brother. This was especially true in America, where a new generation of sports car enthusiasts fell in love with the 914’s stylish targa style and mid-engined design.
How many horsepower is a Porsche 914 equipped with?
Only eleven 916 cars were produced; the first prototype was based on the 914/6 from the 1971 model year, while the remaining models were from 1972. Below is a list of those prototypes’ chassis numbers.
What’s the weight of a 1973 Porsche 914?
Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany created the Porsche 912 sports car for the 1965 through 1969 model years. It was a base model of the 911 and was also available in small 2+2 Coupe and Targa body types.
Are driving Porsche 914 enjoyable?
According to Hagerty research, the average price for a 914 now is $32,000 for a vehicle in good condition and $8,200 for one in fair condition. Earlier last month, a fantastic 1973 914 2.0 sold for $58,420 in Scottsdale; several great examples get around $10,000 on Bring a Trailer.
What’s the weight of a 1975 Porsche 914?
The 914 will be offered for sale as a Porsche in the USA and a VW-Porsche in Europe as per the agreement. The 1.7L 4-cylinder Volkswagen 411E engine with Bosch electronic fuel injection was installed in the 914/4, and the entire vehicle was manufactured at the Karmann plant in Osnabruck.
How many 914s are currently in use?
Between 1970 and 1976, Porsche produced about 119,000 of its mid-engine 914 vehicles. However, they are remarkably uncommon on the market for a type that is frequently made. The 914s were affordable to begin with, and their price dropped progressively as they grew older, remaining outside the mainstream of Porsche 911 fervor.
The Porsche 914 Safari was created when?
The Porsche 914/6 was a joint project between Porsche and Volkswagen that was unveiled in September 1969. Only 3360 instances were made between 1970 and 1972, making them short-lived. The 914/6’s suspension, which has an extremely low ride height, combines a 911-style torsion bar front suspension with a coil spring rear suspension.
Are VW engines used in Porsches?
The 914 was created by Ferdinand Alexander Porsche and his design team. Heinrich Klie, one of his most crucial employees, created the final design that was used for the series. a man that Ferry Porsche’s eldest son relied on when he assumed control of design at the family business
What does a 918 Spyder cost?
“The 914-6 GT cars inspired the development of the 916, which features larger 2.4- and 2.7-liter engines. Suddenly, Porsche had a mid-engine vehicle based on the base model that outperformed the most potent 911.” Louise Piech, Ferdinand Piech’s sister, once possessed this 916.