53 Years of the Porsche 914

An eye-catching original turns 53: with the 914, Porsche was the first German manufacturer to bring to market a production mid-engined sports car in 1969.

The twelve spectacular exhibits featured in the special show will cover the breadth of the 914 and the creations it inspired. They will include the 914/4 and 914/6 production models with VW four-cylinder engine and Porsche six-cylinder engine respectively. Also on display will be the first 914 ever built and one of the two Porsche prototypes with eight-cylinder racing engine. Another exhibit will be the 914/6 GT. It was made available to the ONS (Obersten Nationalen Sportbehörde (Supreme National Sports Authority)) in 1972 as the first safety car in the world – equipped with new safety systems and a modern fire extinguishing system. Also appearing will be a privately-owned reconstruction project with a 350 PS V8 engine from a 928 GTS as well as a 916. The VW Porsche also inspired the renowned car designer Albrecht Graf von Goertz and the French coachbuilder Heuliez to design their own 914 sports car creations, which will also be on display. 

“50 Years of the 914”: second sports car series for younger Porsche customers

In the mid-1960s, Porsche was striving to expand its position in the market with a sports car in the promising segment beneath the 911. However, such a project would not have been viable for the small company on its own. The Zuffenhausen-based car manufacturer found a partner in Volkswagen, since at the time VW was looking for a successor to its then rather outdated Type 34 sports coupé, better known as the Karmann Ghia. Ferry Porsche and VW Director Heinrich Nordhoff shook hands on a joint project in the mid-1960s. When Nordhoff unexpectedly died in 1968, the project was in danger of collapsing. Ferry Porsche worked out a solution with the new Managing Director of VW, Kurt Lotz: the two companies established the VW-Porsche sales company. It marketed the project on the European market as the VW-Porsche. It was available in two versions: the 914 with a four-cylinder engine from Volkswagen and the 914/6 with a six-cylinder engine from Porsche. In the USA, both variants were sold under the Porsche marque.

The 914 factory car’s biggest success is a triple victory in the Marathon de la Route held at the Nürburgring in 1970. Many victories were also achieved in customer motor sports. The six-cylinder version had a successful start in the USA in various racing series and achieved several class victories. A 914/6 GT from Team Sonauto won the GT class at Le Mans in Europe in 1970.

Pure sports car: high power output, low weight and mid-engine

The VW engine was a completely new design and marked the first production injection engine offered by the marque. The 1.7-litre four-cylinder model developed 80 PS at 4,900 rpm, meaning it could reach 100 km/h in 13 seconds and topped out at 177 km/h. In contrast, the Porsche six-cylinder engine came from the 911 T and was designed for maximum sports performance with its overhead camshafts, triple carburettors and high-performance capacitor ignition. The two-litre boxer offered 110 PS at 5,800 rpm, making it both much more powerful and more rev-happy than its VW counterpart. With a dry weight of 900 kilograms, or 940 kilograms for the six-cylinder variant, the 914 boasted a truly exceptional power-to-weight ratio.

914 S: Two one-off models with an eight-cylinder racing engine

Last but not least, two legendary special models helped to cement the two-seater’s outstanding reputation: the 914 S with eight cylinders. The three-litre boxer engine from the Porsche 908 racing car, which dominated circuits throughout the 1970s, sat in front of the rear axle. Thanks to its injection system, the first vehicle produced around 300 PS and was handed over to Ferdinand Piëch, the head of development at the time, as a test vehicle. In the second vehicle, the eight-cylinder engine with carburettors achieved 260 PS. It was a road-registered car presented to Ferry Porsche to celebrate his 60th birthday. Both 914 S models had a top speed of around 250 km/h, and served as the basis for a short run of high-performance 914 models in 1971.

Eleven vehicles were equipped with six-cylinder engines from what were then the most powerful models: the 911 S and Carrera 911 RS with 190 PS and 210 PS. They were then optimised for motor-sport purposes and christened the 916.

Market success

The distinctive two-seater with its characteristic Targa roof was aimed mainly at younger buyers. With an initial basic price of 11,955 Deutschmarks, the Porsche 914 model series became an absolute sales hit. Between 1969 and 1975, 115,631 four-cylinder 914 vehicles were built. Most of the vehicles were exported to the USA, where the 914 was marketed exclusively as a Porsche without the VW suffix. As a result, it is one of the best-selling sports cars in the world. In the USA, the 914 was voted the “Import Car of the Year” in 1970. By contrast, the 914/6 was a rarer beast: exactly 3,338 units were produced between 1969 and 1972. It also recorded a number of race wins.

Porsche 914 Specs Summary

The VW van engine in Porsche’s mid-engined 914 didn’t inspire enthusiasts like other Porsche models. Its humble roots divided the Porsche faithful who couldn’t agree on the 914’s purpose. While the performance numbers weren't spectacular, the Porsche was fun and a true Porsche in nature.

Article republished from Porsche Newsroom.