what about 914-4's

[Jim Ratto]

Longtime scrounge of the Porsche sect, seems the 914 4 cylinder cars are now being accepted, if not appreciated by those guys that forever looked down on the poor thing. A good customer/friend of mine, though well aware that the 4 cylinders can be made to go, swears all real 914's have 6's in them.
I've driven a few stock 914's over the years, just little inject 1.7 liter cars, and they were entertaining. Not fast enough to scare anybody used to a well-tuned Volkswagen, but fun to skate sideways around in. My dad had a little, clean and stock 1971 with Pedrini's, an Abarth muffler and Michelin XZX 165's. Fifth gear was a little long for my taste, or at least for stock 1.7, otherwise, it was a fun little ride. I'v always wanted to build a hot rod 914-4, something at least 2.4L, trick 2.0 liter heads, 320 degree cam, 48IDAs, 911 fan, but leave the appearance of the car stock, no flares, no wings...etc. Maybe 5.5" alloys.... 
How far out of the circle of "cal look" stuff do you consider a nicely set up 914-4? Are they still, really the bastard child of the Porsche people? How fun would it be to go tear up some stuffy lateral acceleration type Porsche loon in his 911 in a nice sleepy 914?

Any stories or pics of 914 hot rods?

[sheep]

 

[Jim Ratto]

I was going to work on your motor but the cat was asleep on it so I said "forget it" for now...I don't want to wake him up.

[sheep]

good we know cats need there sleep. and they rarely sleep

[ian c]

cool little car with an interesting history .
an aquired taste in the looks department .

a LOT more popular stateside

[Jim Ratto]

good we know cats need there sleep. and they rarely sleep

not as rarely as I work on your shit.

[Rennsurfer]

I've always considered the 914-4 more of a Porsche than the the first 924 cars. Never cared for the latter. But I've had a lotta fun in the 914-4 cars, though. I realize that people in this country have always looked down upon those for many years. When I was in the P.C.A. they always kicked ass on the track in the turns. Then, of course, they'd get spanked on the straights by the 911 cars. But take a seasoned driver and a 914-6 and they'd give the 911 drivers a run for their money.

I agree, Jim... building a high performance 914-4 would be very fun to drive. Have a huge engine built, headwork, medium cam, 48IDA carbs, balanced, etc. It would only have the Fuchs five spokes or Fuchs 2 liter wheels with the factory finish. Shave the front side markers, add Hella H4 headlights, Euro front signal lenses and rear lenses, and use the early model with the smaller bumpers. Paint them the same color as the body. I've seen the b-pillars and roof painted like that, too. If done right, it looks really nice. I'd have Tiger at A-1 build me a custom merged sidewinder with a 2½" outlet, exiting the factory location. Decent shocks/struts all around, sway bars, too. Slightly lowered, of course. I'd paint it Savannah Beige. Yes, the VW color. Mainly 'cause I've never seen a 914 that color.

Something like this example.


They're great little cars. During the last couple of years, and even more recently... their cost has risen quite a bit. They used to be dirt cheap. But much like VWs, they're becoming more scarce. Many rust buckets out there. Gotta be careful and check all of the usual areas for that. My friend, Jim, in Texas races with his toys; 911, 914-4, 924S, Ducati, and some Japanese market only Honda. I forgot the name. He loves his 914. They're very easy to make go fast.

[Nico86]

That's a pretty cool car, I like it.

[Zach Gomulka]

I like the earlier cars, but they still have a look that's hard to get used to

I hear there are a few guys out there that are stuffing late model air cooled 911 engines in the middle... 3.6 liters, mid engine, light weight. Sounds like a hoot to me!!

[louisb]

We melted the engine in one running it without oil one time. 

Why not go turbo on it. Big 2 liter type 4 like the German look boys use. FI, the works. Drop it as low as you can. Strip it down and make a real Q car out of it. I would run burners on it.

--louis

[Sam K]

914's are awesome cars.  I owned a nice little 1975  for a while. It had a 1.8 with 40 IDF's and a loud ass Bursche exhaust, but my eventual plans were to put a WRX engine in it. Even on a set of marginal 165's, it would hang with a friends hopped up STI through the curves. The some jackass did a hit and run on it and smashed the front up pretty good. I lost interest in in and sold it, but I'm sure I'll get another one someday.


My 914 in better days.

[Stephan S]

Why not go turbo on it. Big 2 liter type 4 like the German look boys use. FI, the works. Drop it as low as you can. Strip it down and make a real Q car out of it. I would run burners on it.

Plenty of space for an intercooler...

[Stephan S]

914's are awesome cars.  I owned a nice little 1975  for a while. It had a 1.8 with 40 IDF's and a loud ass Bursche exhaust, but my eventual plans were to put a WRX engine in it. Even on a set of marginal 165's, it would hang with a friends hopped up STI through the curves. The some jackass did a hit and run on it and smashed the front up pretty good. I lost interest in in and sold it, but I'm sure I'll get another one someday.

914 with WRX powaaa!

[Jim Ratto]

anybody have a pic of Ferdinand Piech's 914/8 (with full on race 908 motor)?

I think the hot rodded 4 cyl cars are very cool...sure the 6's are too, but a nice grunty T4 sure would go fine.

[Jim Ratto]

I've always considered the 914-4 more of a Porsche than the the first 924 cars. Never cared for the latter. But I've had a lotta fun in the 914-4 cars, though. I realize that people in this country have always looked down upon those for many years. When I was in the P.C.A. they always kicked ass on the track in the turns. Then, of course, they'd get spanked on the straights by the 911 cars. But take a seasoned driver and a 914-6 and they'd give the 911 drivers a run for their money.

I agree, Jim... building a high performance 914-4 would be very fun to drive. Have a huge engine built, headwork, medium cam, 48IDA carbs, balanced, etc. It would only have the Fuchs five spokes or Fuchs 2 liter wheels with the factory finish. Shave the front side markers, add Hella H4 headlights, Euro front signal lenses and rear lenses, and use the early model with the smaller bumpers. Paint them the same color as the body. I've seen the b-pillars and roof painted like that, too. If done right, it looks really nice. I'd have Tiger at A-1 build me a custom merged sidewinder with a 2½" outlet, exiting the factory location. Decent shocks/struts all around, sway bars, too. Slightly lowered, of course. I'd paint it Savannah Beige. Yes, the VW color. Mainly 'cause I've never seen a 914 that color.

Something like this example.


They're great little cars. During the last couple of years, and even more recently... their cost has risen quite a bit. They used to be dirt cheap. But much like VWs, they're becoming more scarce. Many rust buckets out there. Gotta be careful and check all of the usual areas for that. My friend, Jim, in Texas races with his toys; 911, 914-4, 924S, Ducati, and some Japanese market only Honda. I forgot the name. He loves his 914. They're very easy to make go fast.

you know.... Zenith Blue would fit a 914 with 911 Fuchs alloys just fine too....

[Rennsurfer]

you know.... Zenith Blue would fit a 914 with 911 Fuchs alloys just fine too....

Ooo, that would be NICE. I think that pic I posted is actually a die-cast model/toy car. Either way, it would be cool to use those VW colors on a car that rarely ever sees that treatment.

In my opinion, there were a few cars that came off of the showroom with the ability to basically take to the track and have instant fun. In no particular order:

Porsche 914-4 (or 6, obviously)
Porsche 944 ('86 & later only)
Volkswagen Rabbit GTI ('84 & later)
BMW 2002 (especially the earlier ones and the turbo and f.i. variants)
Austin Cooper Mini (the original English built ones... I haven't driven the BMW ones, yet)

The point being; even Porsche's entry level air-cooled car was good handling car right outta the factory. With a few modifications, they were even better. Gotta hand it to the engineers (which I rarely do) on their efforts.

Recently spotted at Cars & Coffee in Irvine, So Cal. Quite a nice looking car, yes?

[Jim Ratto]

you know.... Zenith Blue would fit a 914 with 911 Fuchs alloys just fine too....

Ooo, that would be NICE. I think that pic I posted is actually a die-cast model/toy car. Either way, it would be cool to use those VW colors on a car that rarely ever sees that treatment.

In my opinion, there were a few cars that came off of the showroom with the ability to basically take to the track and have instant fun. In no particular order:

Porsche 914-4 or 6, obviously
Volkswagen Rabbit GTI
BMW 2002
Austin Cooper Mini (the original English built ones... I haven't driven the BMW ones, yet)

The point being; even Porsche's entry level air-cooled car was good handling car right outta the factory. With a few modifications, they were even better. Gotta hand it to the engineers (which I rarely do) on their efforts.

Recently spotted at Cars & Coffee in Irvine, So Cal. Quite a nice looking car, yes?

Yeah that is a good looking car... not much for that shiny muffler though....

[Rennsurfer]

Yeah that is a good looking car... not much for that shiny muffler though....

Sorry, I was referring to the car, itself. I didn't care for the huge wheels and blinged out muffler, either. That muffler painted silver and some factory finished Fuchs wheels (four or five lug) would be awesome on that car. Since it already has the the flares, five lug would have to do... like 6s and 7s. I personally never cared for the flares, unless the car came from the factory as such.

[Jim Ratto]

Yeah that is a good looking car... not much for that shiny muffler though....

Sorry, I was referring to the car, itself. I didn't care for the huge wheels and blinged out muffler, either. That muffler painted silver and some factory finished Fuchs wheels (four or five lug) would be awesome on that car. Since it already has the the flares, five lug would have to do... like 6s and 7s. I personally never cared for the flares, unless the car came from the factory as such.

.....stock factory Rally muffler, flat grey.... 

[Harry/FDK]

I didn't like them back then, now.....(Too Late). In Germany they are reeeally scarse. The left-overs are beyond repair, rust, body-"modifications" ...There was an article in Oldtimer Praxis about a guy that did manage to restore one on astronomic prices.
If the ruine is not complete, forget it.

[Rennsurfer]

.....stock factory Rally muffler, flat grey.... 

Great catch, Jim. What WAS I thinkin'? You're right. Gray is much more correct. I was gonna do my tips on my A-1 gray, but opted for silver 1200º heat paint at the last minute. Ended up using the gray on my big heater boxes, instead.

Harry, I can only imagine how much more scarce those cars must be in Germany and most of Europe. Especially with the much more strict vehicle inspections, over there. There are a few of 'em over here on the road, still. Every now & then, we'll see one that's very clean and well taken care of. Not as often as 20 years ago, of course.

[Fastbrit]

I owned an original, unrestored 914-6 for about three or four years. Totally stock apart from 6 and 7in Fuchs. Fantastic car and wish I'd not sold it. It went back to Germany (I found it in Paris). Very underated and a bundle of fun on twisty country roads.
Me saying a sad farewell...

[Rennsurfer]

Sad farewell, indeed. That's one nice car, Keith.

[kev d]

Brilliant little cars & under-rated!
I had a very early car, possible pre production I was told - chassis number 269, under powered but handled great
It had been imported from France & was a press test car when new.
Unfortunatley got wrecked

[Rennsurfer]

under powered but handled great

Yessir! One of the best handling cars of all time, I think. Sadly, underpowered, too. Another fine example were/are the '86 & later 944 cars and their variants. I've always heard nightmare stories about those but I had great luck with mine. Ran strong, handled like a 914, was VERY fun to drive, and had tons of fun whompping riceboy wannabe racers around my area. GOOD TIMES and lotsa grins as I left 'em in my rearview mirror on the cloverleafs during freeway driving.

[LuftsickTero]

I would run burners on it.

Me too  I have bit mixed feelings about 914, but along with 356/912/911 it's more Porsche than 924/944, probably because it's air-cooled. I like 928 though for some reason..

Two of my buddies has/had them:



Kirkkis' 914 with early 7x15" Fuchs



Mika's 914

Oh yeah, both of them were upgraded to 6-cylinder..

[sheep]

I like Miatas

[Zach Gomulka]

I have bit mixed feelings about 914, but along with 356/912/911 it's more Porsche than 924/944, probably because it's air-cooled.

And the engine isn't in the front!!

[Rennsurfer]

The black car looks great with the matching early bumpers. Good stuff.

[Jim Ratto]

A good friend and customer of mine is a Porsche specialist up north, near Vallejo, CA. He's the shop that chassis-dynoed the 3.0 RSR Jaegermeister Carrera back in July...
Anyway, he's a 914 guy. Growing up under his father, a Porsche specialist himself, and machinist, paved the way....  in high school my friend had a bright yellow 71 914 he converted to 6 cyl, and built it with 2.8 RSR pistons, 46IDA3C, GE80 cams, factory headers, and rally-sport muffler. can you imagine being a high school maniac with a ~300hp 914?

 

His wife has a very clean '75 914, modded to 2.2L, with Weber 44's and (ick) hydraulic conversion. He regrets that cam move big time. But the car is a blast, I've driven it up thru Mulholland, Los Virgenes, Malibu and Decker Canyons... not super fast (cam) but spritely, and loads of grip. It's yellow with 911 Fuchs

And his "baby"
1972 914 4 he has converted to 914-6 GT specs. All steel flares, 7" alloys in front, 9" alloys in rear, very spartan interior, subtle roll hoop, painted a deep Ferrari "barchetta rosso" (looks like red wine to me), and the motor...oh man....
3.8L "mahle Motorsport" conversion
Pauter rods
RSR "sprint" cams
heavily modified twin plug RSR heads
50mm PMO carbs
Electromotive ignition
self fabbed muffler on SS headers (no heat)

can you say " "