I'm not talking about a race but I knew the title would get you looking. Man these cars are fun! I just purchased a 74 914 1.7L from second owner with 67K original miles (full service history down to the oil changes). If you have ever thought of getting one I highly suggest it. They are a blast to drive and much quicker than people/specs say. I love the mid-engine layout and you can throw this car around. It is of course night and day between this and the 944 but the contrast is exciting - raw versus refined. I like driving a favorite road in one car and then going down it in the other and noticing the differences. I don't care what anyone says about it's partial VW heritage it has great lines and is just a blast to drive. Go drive one and see what I'm talking about!

 

I've haven't driven one yet, but a 914 is high on my list of cars to test drive. Last summer I’m still kicking myself for not going to look at a very nice 74' 914 2.0 that was nearly mint with low miles, the real kicker was that they were only asking $2200 for it. It was in the country and they couldn't give it away out there.

The prices of 914s has really gone through the roof. I remember five or ten years ago when you could pick a nice one up for a song, these days one is descent condition is going for at least four or five grand minimum. If I had to guess, I’d say we're going to see the same effect happen with the 924/944/926 series. I think the values of the 924s an 944s have slowly began to creep up, when I first started to look for an entry level Porsche a few years ago, good 944s in the $2000 dollar range were a dime a dozen, for that same price today you'll be getting a rough car that needs lots of work and money.

 

Don't know what tires are in the 914, but a set of 215's really liven a 914 up. Porsche was about 15 degrees of timing and 30 mm of tire from one terrific sports car.

 

My dad had a 914 2.0 when he was courting my mom. Ever since a young age ive always been annoyed he didnt keep it in storage for me, it was sold when I was born

 

As long as your dad isn't more bitter about it than you are....

 

I would love to drive one just to see how the mid-engine layout feels. How much torque do these things put down???

IMHO, they are one of the ugliest cars out there. But a hell of a track car.

 

Year(s) Model Size (type) Weight HP Torque Pound/HP Speed Class Class
1970-1972 914 1.7 47 1984 80 99.5 24.8 108 4 2
1973 914 1.7 47 2138 72 87 29.7 104 2 1
1973 914 2.0 47 2138 95 105 22.5 114 4 3
1973 914 2.0 47 2138 100 119 21.4 116 4 3
1974 914 1.8 47 2138 76 91 28.1 106 2 1
1974 914 1.8 47 2138 85 106 25.2 110 3 2
1974 914 2.0 47 2138 95 105 22.5 114 4 3
1974 914 2.0 47 2138 100 119 21.4 116 4 3
1975 914 1.8 47 2205 76 91 29.0 106 2 1
1975 914 1.8 47 2205 85 106 25.9 110 3 2
1975 914 2.0 47 2205 88 103 25.1 111 3 2
1975 914 2.0 47 2205 100 119 22.1 116 4 3
1976 914 1.8 47 2205 85 106 25.9 110 3 2
1976 914 2.0 47 2205 88 103 25.1 111 3 2
1976 914 2.0 47 2205 100 119 22.1 116 4 3

 

You could prolly find out how they feel by driving a Toyota MR2 MK1, theyre prolly nearly identical.

 

Hes never seemed bitter about it, and hes only driven my car once, prolly much to his annoyance

I think once ive moved out and my bro is done college/etc hes prolly gonna want another 914, or some other varity of Porsche. He'll need something to do, and he'll have an empty garage once MY car is outta there

 

OK..... While it's not really a 1.7 - it was my track car for years that I built out to what I wanted... And yes - that is a 951 behind me. It pretty well stayed "behind me".. In fact - it got behinder me as the session proceeded (and I can say that as a previous 951 owner - so DO NOT FLAME ME!!! )

 

This is true and in fact my wife made me sell my MK1 when I bought my 944 but I missed that mid-engine feel so I set my sights on a 914. The MK1 has almost 40 more horsies then my new 914 but somehow these 914's still feel very quick. It helps having the bursch exhasut I guess but it's still only putting out ~80HP.

I'm so green to 914's I got my own signature wrong - I actually have the 1.8. Which BTW when I did my research people say stay away from because of the L-Jet but this is not true as long as the car and it's vacuum hoses have been maintained. Mine runs like a top!

 

true, the 914 and 944(or in my case 924s) is a nite and day drive. After you get used to the wierd shift pattern and the offset pedals, they are a blast to drive. Cant wait to get mine back together with my new motor this winter, fresh paint and 110hp, nothing better in a 1900lb car!

 

I just remember a 914 pulling from my 87 225hp mustang Gt going up the twisties at Big Bear mountains until I couldn't see him anymore.

 

A 914 doesn't feel like an MR2 to me at all. The MR2 has a tranverse front-drive drivetrain that's been put in the rear. The engine's center of gravity is way up high and almost over the rear axles, which makes it tail-happy. The 914 engine is much lower and in a north-south layout, which places weight forward of the rear axles and makes it feel much more stable. I went from a Fiat X-1/9 (same layout as MR2) to a 914, and I really noticed the difference.

 

Go John Go! It's tough to outrun a 951 in a 914 unless there are some serious modifications to the 914...You must've known how to drive it well, and really had it setup nicely!

My dad had 914's back before I was born. He had one that he managed to spin (I have no clue how) and it ended up ***-end into a pole. totalled. His second he kept until after my sister was born. finally sold it when my mom convinced him that though it was a fine automobile, (she loved to drive it too) that it just wasn't practical having the baby seat in the pasenger seat, while she had to ride on the center console.

Another reason my dad sold it, was he lived atop a canyon road...after a couple months of owning it, the cops would just wait...I beleive he told me he had 4 tickets in 5 days just because he was hauling *** down the canyon. He got to know the cop by name. it was great!