BUYING GUIDE
Unfairly criticised for its looks and Volkswagen connection, the 914 is still the most affordable way into air-cooled Porsche ownership. Read on to see how to bag a good one
Buying a Porsche is often ( jokingly) associated with having a mid-life crisis, but if ever a car was a victim of an identity crisis it’s the little Porsche 914.
The 914 was a sure-fire winner on paper. Porsche and Volkswagen have a long and well-documented history of working together, and when the former wanted an affordable, entry-level model to replace the 912 and the he latter something to enliven its range of regular-Joe people’s cars, thelate-Sixties team-up made perfect sense.
Sadly, the marketing strategy didn’t. The mid-engined, two-seater Targa was branded as a Porsche in the USA and as a VW-Porsche in Europe. While appealing to the average VW customer looking to make a step up the food chain, the average Porsche ‘aficionado’ looked down their nose at what they considered to be the poor man’s Porsche. It didn’t help matters that the 914 was also expensive (if you were used to buying air-cooled Volkswagens) and the push-me pull-you styling an acquired taste. However, a 914 makes for an interesting, alternative buy if you can look beyond all that and view the VW part numbers as an affordable plus point.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Anyone who knows about 914s will use the term ‘hell hole’ at some point. It’s the engine bay, which being in the middle of the car, beneath a tiny air-vent/cover is a swine to do anything inside. You’ll also find the battery tray there. Or rather you won’t, because they’re famed for rotting out in 914s and causing other issues. Repairing this area and a poorly engine/clutch means dropping the engine out. On a 914 it comes out from beneath the car, which means that you will need a ramp, or access to one, or know a masoch
