Last of the Breed: 1976 Porsche 914 2.0
In 1970, Porsche debuted a mid-engined road car that was wildly revolutionary. Unfortunately, lukewarm styling and a pedestrian powerplant provided by partner Volkswagen threw a wet blanket on sales. When the 914 finally went out of production, it had evolved into a very capable road car. If you would like to own the most refined version of Porsche’s most maligned model, then have a close look at this 1976 Porsche 914 outfitted with the desirable 2.0 liter flat four engine and fuel injection for sale on eBay out of Newport, New Hampshire.
The sad story of the 914 has been told many times both in the media and on Barn Finds. A Reader’s Digest summary would be that Porsche and Volkswagen jointly developed a mid engine sports car that was to sell for less than Porsche’s other offerings and was to be a replacement for the Karman Ghia. This was a, believe it or not, handshake agreement until one of the hand shakers ended up passing away unexpectedly. This unfortunate event led to issues between the two companies that muddied the waters on wheter the car was actually a Porsche or if it was a glorified Volkswagen.
The 914 ended up being badged as a Porsche in the United States, and a version powered by Porsche’s famous flat six did hit showrooms for roughly the first two years. In Europe, the car was badged as a VW-Porsche. This fact, and the fact that the lesser cars had, at first, 1.7 liter Volkswagen flat four engines put a cloud over the car in the United States. Also factor in that Porsche loyalists looked down their noses upon it. That didn’t help much. Making matters worse were teething issues with the shifter and that the passenger seat was fixed in place to save money. All of these issues lumped together helped to handicap the car from the start.
Regardless of these issues, the car was a masterpiece of engineering considering that nearly all of the mid engined cars produced to that point were exotics with low production numbers. The handling was excellent, and racing versions soon showed their boxy tails to 911s on tracks across Europe and the United States. When the proper horsepower was added, these little beasts were giant killers. One of the Porsche family even had one outfitted with a flat eight racing engine as his personal car. Other developments by both Porsche, privateers, and the aftermarket (even long after production ended) demonstrated exactly what could have been if development had progressed.
Running changes increased displacement of the base engine to 1.8 liters, and the flat six gave way to an optional 2.0 liter version of the flat four. This 2.0 liter engine produced almost as much power as the six cylinder and was very reliable. The shifter was refined, the passenger seat was given the proper respect, and the US mandated front and rear rubber bumpers added in 1975 made the car more aesthetically pleasing. None of this mattered in the end. VW and Porsche had grown tired of the relationship, sales were slow, and a car line that had incredible potential just died on the vine. Just imagine if Porsche had developed the mid engine car from the 550 Spyder all the way into the present…
The 914 you see in the pictures above has a lot of things going for it. It certainly appears to be roadworthy, presentable, and it is a 2.0 liter version of the final year of the car with the desirable Fuchs wheels. The bugs had been largely worked out by then, but it was too late. The car is said to run and drive very well and all of the bits and pieces except for a noisy speedometer are functional. A small spot of rust on the drivers side rocker is all the corrosion that is mentioned.
That last statement is one that should make any prospective buyers insist on an in-person or third party inspection. The numerous pictures of the car are mainly of the outside. 914s are known for rust in the battery tray, in the rear strut tower nearest the battery tray, and especially in the floor pans. Add to that the fact that it is being sold in New Hampshire. There is no reason not to trust the seller, who has a positive feedback rating of 100%. Still, in the collector car market at least, the words “trust but verify” should be everyone’s mantra.
In all, this has the potential to be a bargain if it sells for anywhere near the current bid. 914 prices are on the rise. This is mainly due to skyrocketing Porsche prices that are even inflating the value of early 924s. It is also due to a newfound respect that enthusiasts are developing for this malingned but fundamentally gifted sports car.
Have any of you owned a 914? What was your experience like?
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Comments
In the early ’70’s I found a 914 for sale for $3000,which was
a decent price for one then.I was really excited about it,until I
called my insurance company,who told me that it’d be $1000/yr
to cover it.That was a lot of money back when $1.65 was minimum
wage.
Don’t know where the “rubber bumpers made them more aesthetically pleasing” came from but in my 22 years in PCA I never met anyone who liked the look of them. Most of the folks I know and knew then switched back to the chrome bumpers. The ’73s were the one that kicked off the “better versions” of the car with the introduction of the 2.0 liter engines and improved shift linkage. Don’t fully understand why they put the 1.8 in the ’74s but it wasn’t difficult to get more hp out of them than the stock 2.0 liter units as we built a streetable 130 hp one for our ’74. This is a nice ’76 but if I bought it the bumpers wouldn’t last a week.
Agree; it’s hard to think of any car which was improved by the addition of the battering-ram era bumpers. Maybe rear of the Pantera which with a full-width bar looked more balanced than with the dainty bumperettes.
You can thank the US DOT for the ugly bumpers.
I think the holy grail of ugly Federal Safety battering rams is presented on the S3 E-Types…..on an otherwise wonderful design.
🧐
“The bugs had been largely worked out by then,..” good play on words, Jeff!
RE: driving a 914; i was about 22 and stopped by to see my folks when one of my moms younger friends from the ladies bowling league showed up. Attractive brunette, she wheeled her just-bought black 914 2.0 into the drive. As I stood there in awe admiring the car she asked if I’d like to drive it to which I all but jumped into the car. We went out on the local highway then up a more than few twisty canyons. Upon returning to my folks house it was tough to get out of the car-egress was no problem but it was hard to just walk away, longing to replay the experience time and again.
My older brother had a ‘67 911 and I drove it once, but that 15 minute drive on their Florida highway didn’t even measure to the short time in the seat of that 914.
Later years a ‘76 911T Targa (with a transplanted motor from a ‘78) adorned my driveway via payment for a large unrepaid debt to someone mistakenly thought to be trustworthy. Enjoyed the car but the memory of that drive in the 914 never was trumped..
Was going to comment on bumpers but that ship has already sailed.
We bought a ’76 914 new and loved it. I still regret trading it in for a ’78 BMW 320i, one of the worst cars we ever owned.
Yes, the bumpers are dreadful. As Bob said, the 73 2.0 was the premium 914/4. Also, for California folks, you have to smog a 76. I don’t think the 76’s sell much in CA.
I have owned two 914’s and I am selling my ’76, as much as I’ve loved it. Nothing handles like these and, despite their rust issues, they are very well-made automobiles, as one would expect from a Karmann product. I don’t see a photo of the door sticker but, given its VIN, this car fell about midway in the mere 4100 914’s produced for the final year, the last produced in January ’76.Potential buyers will want to survey as many rust-prone areas as possible, including the hell hole and rockers. This one looks like it will need some repair but, if it stays cheap, could be a great opportunity.
Check out some of the sellers other vehicles listed, oh my!! This ends today.
well my first 914 was a black 73 2.0…my dad bought it for me new when i was 16 and boy what a awesome car it was…won à lot of canyon races with it TR6 240z whatever. that was 1973 i was a sophomore in high school. in my senior year my 2 yo younger sister in 10th grade got a 74 2.0 too. Another awesome car. ten years later my youngest sister in 10th grade got a 75 1.8. it was cool but after i put in a rebuilt engine had it painted n put new fuchs on it. unfortunately all 3 of them ended up totalled each with their own story..but ill say this…the 2.0s got totalled beyond recognition n their was nothing left of them but the passenger compartments. that alone saved both of our lives. had we been in a japanese car we would of died no question about it. i also had a 74 2.0 bumblebee i stumbled across n restored n upgraded it n it was a great car too..no it wasnt wrecked…divorce took its toll on that one n i had to sell it quickly. i now drive a 83 944 black na in great condition.. .it hamdles very well but not quite as good as the 914s.
I had a yellow 2,0 ‘75 in ‘85 at CU. Unreliable but a blast to drive in the mountain roads above Boulder. I had the engine bored out and a straight pipe put in the exhaust, and it still passed SoCal emissions!
I agree the larger mandated bumpers made the car look better and more sleek.
Lukewarm styling…it’s just a squared off original 356 with some more hp & crazy thing back to VW parts. A freaking go-cart.
I purchased one of the first 914 brought in country, about $ 3800.
First problem was the clutch cable, then something leaking from the gas tank,that all happened before I drove across country to SF. Pennsylvania cop stopped for speeding down those long hills,I explained that was the only way I could get up the other side! He let me go.
In Ohio it stalled, wouldn’t start, pushed it into a gas station, finally banging on starter got it to start.
Had to do that, with the tire iron,all the way. Running thru the desert in Utah smelled gas but beening young and stupid just kept going.
Got to SLCity an pulled into the Porsche dealership. Seems the battery acid had spilled down on the injection lines,nothing like pressured gas pissing on a hot air cooled engine in the desert!
Sold that dog within weeks & bought a beautiful ’69 911E targa.
Don’t I wish still had that.
Sold $12,900.
I’ve owned two 70s, one 71 and a 75. They made a lot less if the 76s so most later ones are 75s. VERY reliable mechanically but typical Karmann rust. I had a 70 that was only a few years old in Pennsylvania literally break in half from rust. My 20-year-old 71 in LA was rust free. ONLY buy 914s from Southern California or Arizona. Rockers were VERY rust-prone. If this car is in New Hampshire and already showing rust on a rocker panel the inside is Swiss cheese.
Just sold (April 2021) a 1972 with the gold lettering for 5k. I bought it in 1978 as a senior in high school. Cried when they hauled it off but the tears didn’t last long…i took delivery of a panamera 4s a week later. Owned for 43 years!
I had a 74 2.0 that had been through a lot and had a rusty hell hole. It was my daily driver and autocross car. Totaled while parked,probably hit by a drunk. I loved that car!