PORSCHE

914

By the late 1960s both Volkswagen and Porsche needed new models: Porsche wanted a successor to its entry-level 912, while Volkswagen sought a range-topping sports car to replace the ageing Karmann Ghia. The two joined forces, and the result was the Porsche 914, launched in 1969 as a modern, mid-engined targa-topped roadster with pop-up headlamps and a removable roof panel that stowed in the rear boot. Sold as the VW-Porsche 914 in much of Europe and as a Porsche in North America, the Porsche 914 brought genuine mid-engine balance to a wide audience. Most cars, the 914/4, used air-cooled Volkswagen flat-four engines of 1.7, 1.8 and finally 2.0 litres, giving lively, nimble handling rather than outright speed. For buyers wanting more, Porsche offered the 914/6, fitted with the 2.0-litre air-cooled flat-six from the 911T; fast but expensive, it sold slowly and was dropped after 1972, making it the rarest and most collectable version today. The bodies were built by Karmann, and the Porsche 914 became a sales success with 118,978 examples produced before it gave way to the 924 in 1976. Long overlooked, the Porsche 914 has been steadily rediscovered by enthusiasts who prize its lightweight, mid-engined character and 1970s charm.