Why did the Porsche 914 have a VW badge?
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- Опубліковано 24 вер 2024
- The Porsche 914 wasn’t really a Porsche at all. Well it was, but it had a bunch of Volkswagen bits in it. But then again, it wasn’t exactly unique in that respect! What was different about the 914 was the Porsche and Volkswagen badge on the back, and the fact that it was sold in Volkswagen dealers, right next to the Type 2 panel van! It was born out of a mutual need for a sports car, but its development would severely damage the close relationship the two companies had shared for decades.
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Erratum: I've probably overplayed how unsafe having a fuel tank ahead of you is. It just seemed a little dangerous to me!
Beetle drivers where used to it :)
Oh, come to think of it, the 914 4cyl engine was not a beetle engine, it was from the Type 3.
000
It was certainly a safer place to accommodate the fuel tank than in the extreme rear of the car, as in the deathtrap Ford Pinto.
@@jamesreynolds2867 That's a "sort of" myth. The US network that did the original "deathtrap pinto fuel tanks" faked parts of the report, and more recent research suggests the Pinto was no worse than its competition, and actually better after a bit of a redesign!
@@VolkerHett no it was not the type 3 suitcase engine it was the Porsche designed Type 4 engine started out in 1968 as a 1.7L, the 914 got the 1.8L version. The engine was a dog. The first 2 versions had mechanical lifters which required checking every 3,000 miles. The 1.7 had a habit of dropping exhaust valves. Not until the 2.0L engine did it get hydraulic lifters. But even with that it had the rotten D Jetronic Bosch fuel injection system.
As I remember, nothing else on the road looked like this car when it first appeared. The looks were controversial. It's certainly aged well.
Aren't you forgetting the (slow but fun) mid engine Fiat X-1/9? I always wondered where the other 8/9ths of it were. lol. They, I believe, were the design inspiration for the Toyota MR2. Mid engine cars are such a pain to work on.
@@manstersr I owned both a 914 and an X1/9. You can't beat German engineering, but ultimately the Fiat was the better engineered of the two. The Porsche was brutally uncomfortable and the large targa area made the interior a wind-tunnel vs. the Fiat's complete calm sans roof. The Porsche had the better engine, but had numerous fatal design flaws, a list of which would take a book.
@@TheBsavage You have a point, the wind issue was probably due to the difference in the windshield angle. I have an E30 BMW convertible and the wind buffeting is terrible vs. an 04 645. I read once that Porsche stuck with a steep windshield for racing, it is supposed to cause less distortion or glare or something. I don't agree with that but that's what they said.
@@manstersr Windshield angle. Interesting. I figured it was the bigger gap between windshield top edge and roll bar behind your head in the 914. The windshields seemed pretty similar in slope, but you could be onto something there. I never stuck either in a wind-tunnel (other than my daily commute), but the Porsche was SIGNIFICANTLY windier in the cabin. EVERY day was a bad hair day with the top removed, and I ALWAYS removed the top (unless it was raining) when I drove either car. And conversations with girls? Forget it. Sure, you can have one. If you're stopped. I only realized later that conversations with girls weren't the best end goal and that other activities were more fulfilling.
@@manstersr more similar to the fiat ,the mr2. the 90´s model is for sure a great car
In the 70s friend of mine has two 914, 80 horses. Was a real flat sportscar with great suspension. Power not to much, but very sporty, you sit low above the ground - a real porsche, even with the 4 zyl. engine.
lmao, even the golf gti was more sporty
@@TopG800 lmfao of your lowlife comment
I'm sorry for this but the 914 was always super dangerous perhaps the most dangerous thing VW Audi group ever created and always spun out around my hometown trying to just keep up with Triumphs and more
The 914 could corner like it was on rails and on the highway could run all day at its top speed. You could drive in the rain with the top off as long as you were moving. It was reliable, economical, easy to tune and extremely fun to drive.
And it would rust and end up like a colander within 3 minutes……🤓
Was the top speed even above the speed limit though?
@@derin111 .that is true of many cars of that era
Lmfao obviously you don't have any experience with an actual sport car like a Lotus or Alpha Romeo
@@marcomuiretta362 .they were a bit faster at that time of course. but also a lot more expensive.
Back in the very early 70’s, when I was in grade school, the 914 was the first ‘sports car’ that I got to take a ride in. It has always held a special spot in my heart.
Recently rebuilt the 'hell hole' on both sides of the 914 I'm restoring. What fun! Even with a completely stripped shell on a rotisserie, it's still a pretty tricky job.
Many 914s around here including mine have moved to battery to the trunk it stops the Hell Hole , it helps to balance it better and you can put the largest battery that you need there
@@oceanhome2023 similar to the 911s.
If you are going that far to restore a 914, I hope you are turning it into a 916/914-6.
Sorry but I hated adjusting the valves so I have a small block Chevy engine in it! It has of course hydraulic lifters . It is what Porscheophiles call a NARP (Not A Real Porsche) it hauls ass and is “Stove Bolt” simple ! I love it , all of the VW parts don’t give me any trouble it’s the Porsche parts that break ! There are many many conversions out there this one is easier and makes the most sense !
Gotta do a video on the Karmann-Ghia...In my opion, one of the most beautiful cars ever made....if much, MUCH slower than it looks!
Those engines are easily made more powerful.
@@johnsmith1474 same with the Supra. Slow when stock
@@johnsmith1474 Or, just go with the flow and whack a 911 engine in there!
@@danielrose881 Now you are talking!
GEX offers 2.2 l 4 bangers as well.
One of those with dual carbs will make quite a bit more power than a stock KG engine.
Yes, but that body work is sublime.
1972 second year in college living in Pasadena, CA, bought my first car ever; a 1970 914/1.7.
The winding “World’s First Freeway,” the Angeles Crest Highway, Hotel California, California Dreamin’... thanks for the memories.
In 1986 I purchased a 914 in San Jose California an drove it back to Baltimore where it was shiped to Germany. I sold her 11 years later. She was one of my most reliable cars ever! Thank you Big Car for this perfect vid!
And it was well worth of that Porsche Badge. What a joy it was, to drive the 914 despite the obvious lack of horse power. The 914 2.0 will always have a special place in my heart.
I know exactly what you mean.
Once again, Sir. I am super impressed with the way you edit your videos when it comes to timing, pictures of the right car at the right moment, and finding footage of all of this madness. Hats off my friend :-)
Thank you!
Well said. The vidios have a production quality way above any documentaries on the history channel or any terrestrial programmes. How you manage to get such high quality editing on your own is amazing. Hope your channel becomes huge and financially rewarding for you
@@EFFEZE It's a $60 version of Cyberlink PowerDirector 15. Works great. Try it out for yourself!
I had a prep school classmate who was killed in one of these. As I understand it, the retract spring on the accelerator broke (perhaps due to the problems around the battery?) which meant that the car sped up, making it impossible for her to make the slight jog in the road and putting it into a tree at high speed. Just a few months after graduation.
I had a similar problem with my 914 where the accelerator would go to the floor and the throttle would lock wide open. Rather dangerous to say the least. In my car it was caused by a broken throttle return spring in the engine compartment. A new spring fixed the problem but as an added safety feature, I added a second spring. Porsche could have done a better job...So sad regarding your classmate. Another source of frustration was the parts situation. Though largely Volkswagen based, when it came time to purchase parts, everything suddenly became Made By Porsche -- $$$$! I ended up selling the car due to a constant problem with vapor locking. I really do not understand the attraction to these 'automotive gems'. Particularly the prices these things now command. But it is/was an entry level poor man's Porsche.
power can always be cut, otherwise it would not be legal on roads !!!!
Driver mistake is driver mistake.......
I really like the 914, my cousin owns one that's got a pumped up flat-6 stuffed in it, to say he eats camaros from stoplight to stoplight would be putting it mildly....OMG, I used to own a clean '64 Notchback that was red with white interior! My ex-wife hated it, so I sold it, the guy who bought it, yeah his kid totaled it 3 yrs after I sold it to him....it was lowered, 1776 w/dual port heads, dual Kadron carbs, 5spd Rino transmission, disc conversion up front, I put damn near every dime I made into that car, I NEVER should've sold it....damnit....
I had a 65 Beetle and the 1200 40 horse engine was almost dead. My friend found a 1600 B engine with single port heads to replace it. We didn't go nuts, but it got a bus camshaft, dual port heads, dual Kadrons, extractor exhaust (of course) and big bore 1644 cylinders. It wasn't a high revver, but my farmer father drove it, and thought it would pull stumps. It got a little light on the front end at 90 mph.
Always easier to find a new wife than a really nice car. 🤣
I think the Type III's (Squareback, Fastback & Notchback) were some of the most practical cars VW ever made.
The suitcase engine allowed a lower engine compartment than a beetle.
My fist car was a Squareback.
Never got to drive it legally.
Older brother who gave it to me took it back after I got it running again then ran it out of oil.
Oh well, I learned a lot by working on it.
In the early 80s, my mother had a 2 liter 914, while I was the proud owner of a somewhat beaten up 911S. To tell the shocking truth: the mid-engined 914 was a way better car! Disregard horsepower for a moment. A mid-engined car is so superior in handling that you can't match it easily with sheer power. I distinctively remember one trip on the German Autobahn in winter, snow falling, sludge on the side of wet lanes. My mom was leading, occasionally hitting a patch of snow at 100 mph, short wiggle, correcting swiftly without drama. In the 911, I had my hands full just following her! From this moment on, I borrowed her car frequently.
Mom drives 100 mph on ice, gets speed wobbles, keeps it pegged, lol.
I call BS. First of all, a 911 is superior to a 914 in almost every way. Second, a 914 with 79 hp barely did 100 mph.
@@giggiddy 914 2 liter with 100 hp. 911S with 160 hp. The early 911 were not handling that well. I stand by my description.
@@giggiddy it shows you don´t no much about cars ,even a 1.1 does 100miles/h everyday of the week or the lancia 1.3L from the same year with 89 h.p.and even older cars and 79 h.p(what is the relation ?what do you mean ?even a 45 h.p car does easy the 100miles an hour) barelly.....what??? sorry but....it´s all,you forget he told beaten 911 and older ones are not a match for the vw porshe this in the 80´s ,a porshe not well kept it´s not fast you´re lucky if it runs ,regards
@@janthoelke9634 totally right ,you´re acurate
I once pulled into a parking lot behind a 914 that had a 2.6 badge on the back. So I walked to the owner and said I don't remember any 914s with a 2.6 liter engine. He said oh I am the original owner and I put a 2.6 Carrera engine in it. Thought that was hilarious.
Always liked this minimalistic car. Its like a 911 and a Lotus Elise combined into one….👍🇬🇧🇩🇪
As an independent mechanic back in the mid '80's I took on a red 914-4 as a 'winter project' to work on when other work slowed down. It came with a totally thrashed 1.7 in the car and a 2.0 with twin Webers from a crashed car. The 'Big Bore' motor wasn't right and the cylinder walls looked paper thin...so I built the 1.7 using the Webers and extractor exhaust from the 2.0. According to my thinking on valve/port/intake sizing the intakes were WAY too small....so together with a very talented machinist I literally ground double handfuls of aluminum out of the heads to get things sized correctly for the new valves we made. Small block Ford intakes and Pontiac exhausts were trimmed and mated to new guides and seats and it looked promising! Reworked the Webers and by springtime it was ready to go and ran really well.
The owner was super happy with it and proudly took it to the next local Porsche Meet which included gymkhana racing as well as quarter mile...and he cleaned house. I mean that car dominated all the rest....enough so that he was besieged with questions about HOW this was possible? I'd given him a laminated build sheet detailing all of the work done and he proudly produced that for inspection....and things took an ugly turn. The Meet Organizers were outraged!!! FORD VALVES and all the other bits and bobs I'd thrown together to make it work correctly had them taking back the several trophies he'd won and he was unceremoniously kicked out of the Meet! It seems the Porsche-O-philes demand they remain pure or they want nothing to do with them.
That little car was the very first one I'd driven that actually did handle the way I'd read about for years in the various car mags. The manual steering would load up entering a turn requiring more effort as it cornered harder and harder....but near the limit the effort would lighten so you could really balance it on the edge. Fantastic! We'd tightened up the shifting by welding and reprofiling the mechanism to shorten the throws by about 40% and I'd played with the suspension a little too. Work slowed down in the winter so I put lots of time into that little car and I still think fondly of it. Great video bringing back memories...thank you!
Certainly a very accurate and complete presentation of 914 history. It’s refreshing to hear the name Porsche used correctly instead of “Porsch”. The 4 cylinder engine though is a type 4 design used in 411/412’s and later in the bus…not a type 1 or pancake type 3. From my experience working on them through the years, the Bosch injection was very reliable. It got a bad rap by people that did not maintain or really know how to work on the injection. The mid engine was such a neutral handling set up. The removable top was so innovative and fun to use and stored neatly in the rear trunk. The car did not weigh much and I always thought more fun to toss around on the road than a 911. I drove them all back then. Great memories!
Back then, I bought Car Magazine every month - the writing was far superior to anything they're producing today. I was alway looking for the 'what's next' and remember a cover which scooped this - maybe 12 months before it actually went on sale. Big headline suggested it would be a £1000 Porsche. About as wrong as the scoop on the Fiat Ritmo/Strada where they stated that the plastic nose was a disguise and the car would sport a more conventional Fiat face.
Happy to hear I am not the only one who enjoyed CAR for the sheer pleasure of their writing.
CAR was such an incredible magazine!
I still have a library of their issues from the mid-80s through the 90s.
Superior writing, superior photography,
all of the cars I wanted to read about and lusted over as a kid!
I was going to get one as a high school graduation present. I’ve always regretted not going through with it. But I’ve had a huge love affair with British cars. Austin Healy, MG, Triumph and Lotus.
Some of the coolest but also most unreliable cars ever built.
Friend had one in the 80s, nothing but problems, much like the other cars you mentioned, but when it ran we felt pretty dang cool
@@scootergeorge9576 Lucas Electric.
Lotus would have been a lot better off dumping them in favor of ANY other supplied for those parts.
There was one, parked on the dock of a canal at my grandparents’. There was an X1/9 too. Both forgotten, both so important to me as a 4yr old. Nostalgia really hurts sometimes
Wow, Taro! You were really SOMETHING! At FOUR years old, you already got the CAR bug! I had to wait till I was a ripe NINE years old!
@@nygelmiller5293 my mum tells me bus was the first word I said. She was so annoyed :)
I caught the car bug at two years old, when I looked out the window and saw a '32 Ford Roadster in our driveway. It belonged to the man installing our kitchen cabinets, my parents told me later in life. But for a couple of years after seeing it, I looked for it in the driveway everyday, thinking, that it might be there. Of course, it never was. I have that memory from such an early age, because it was re-enforced every time, that I looked out the window for that car.
The X1/9 was always more attractive to me than a 914 when I was a kid, still hasn't changed decades later.
@@sparky6086 WOW! Getting the car bug at TWO, eh? The stories just get better and better!
I love the look of that car...and i hate myself for not getting one when they were still afordable :(
Unfortunately yes. I think it's really timeless
My dad used to own one of these in the 70s
You used to see these everywhere in California but because there was so much trouble with the fuel injection everyone started putting Weber carbs on them and they worked SO much better. Then came California’s Smog laws so if you had anything newer than 1973 you had to put the original Fuel Injection back on , yes the one you threw away, good luck with that . Combine that with the “Hell Hole” and the desire to use them on the track because of their superior handling and that is why they are so rare !
@@oceanhome2023 The California smog laws actually apply to cars from 1976 onwards... 1975 and earlier you can modify a vehicle's engine without any interference from the state.
I loved my 914 i had while stationed in Hawaii! Roof came off and slipped into the trunk. I put an aftermarket performance exhaust as well as 914/6 fender flares on it with wider rims/ tires and it cornered like a rocket on rails! Funny thing was the wiper fluid reservoir was pressurized by the spare tire! It was the best handling car I ever owned.
My uncle had a 914, then stepped up to the 911. He always said that the 914 could easily run away from the 911 in the turns, it just didn't have the ponies to keep up on the straight away.
@@coache1nine Yeah, I worked on and drove a lot of 914s back then and don't remember them having the sway that this one in the video seems to have. Maybe it's just the perspective that makes it look that way but I remember they cornered pretty flat.
Yeah the VW's (at the time) also used the Spare for the Wiper Cleaner too. 914's handled almost as good as the Lotus Europa, I drove both many times (Dad's friends had them), the 914 was much more comfortable and they had way better Paint colors too.
@@coache1nine Every 914 has the "bones" to accept a 911 engine. Most agree the 2.2 or 2.4 liter engine from the early 70s 911 is great powerplant without overpowering the car.
@@jimohara4796 okay, change the engine, while you're at it, change the gearbox, it had it's faults as well. You might as well change the suspension because the added power will need a suspension. You have just changed the entire design of the car. The 914 was built the way it was for a purpose. The car had it's faults, as all cars do, but changing this and that is for us, the hobbyists, not for production vehicles, not matter how much we think we know more than the engineers do.
“Four cylinder from the Beetle” is incorrect, it was a sturdier engine known as the type four and Porsche didn’t make a V8 until the 928 came out, Ferry’s car had a flat 8.
Anyone interested in the earliest days of Porsche and Volkswagen might read “The History of Volkswagen” sorry don’t remember the author but it was written in 1966 it’s a fantastic story
We affectionately called it the "Tuna Boat" motor.
I don't officially know for sure but I think you are correct Craig, it would have been a flat 8...unless they had a time machine and jammed a LS engine in it like they are doing with 914s now. Could you imagine a collaboration between Chevy and Porsche, a virtually maintenance free (listen up Porsche) V8 with four to five times the hp in a 914? Those would have been the days. lol. I wish my 944T had an LS engine in it. I would do that conversion but don't want to destroy the value of it being original, even with all the shortcomings of the stock engine.
@@manstersr ... years ago a friend shoehorned a Corvair flat 6 cylinder into one of these. At 140 hp with more torque it was a hop in the ass to drive compared to the stock 80 hp engine. Had to install a reverse rotation cam shaft to do the swap.
@@manstersr - perhaps a 928 motor would work, easier said than done I know.. m.ua-cam.com/video/fRDQBY9XGfg/v-deo.html
@@shuttlemanjack - called them worse than that when I thought I had the cam gear lash right only to have an annoying rattling sound once warned up.
11:56 that looks like a Maserati Boomerang and a DeTomaso Mangusta had a Baby....oh my gosh i friggin LOVE that Design!
I never thought they got it right with the style of the bumpers but now I see that in America they changed these for M.G. style more prominent black bumpers. I agree with our friend who does these reviews, that wad the better idea!
Ferry Porsche was my mum's godfather, and my aunt owned his wife's tricked out 911 when I was a kid in the 70s. That was fun with my dad blasting around the old Solitude racetrack in Stuttgart.
Whatever nazi
I seem to be getting a whiff of steaming horse manure around this comment....
@@EFFEZE nah, it’s the truth. My family were from Vienna, moving to Stuttgart in the early 20th century. My great grandfather was Otto Köhler, who was involved in the management the Silver Arrows racing team in the 30s, before being a Mercedes director in the 50s and dying in an accident on the factory grounds in Stuttgart. He was great friends with the Porsches, hence Ferry being my mum’s godfather.
@@nwga.5327 what the hell is wrong with you? By that logic ur in the kkk
Owned a 73 2.0 914 in 1978. Loved the car. At 6'3" I had to remove the seat cushion and sit in the fiberglass shell of the seat. Actually provided far superior lateral support. Did have a fuel line rupture on the interstate and dump a half tank of fuel onto the hot exhaust without it going up in a fireball.
Your channel is great. Thank you. I remember seeing Sally Struthers pull up to the studio while we were on a tour in 1973 in her 914. She was so tiny with all her long blonde hair going to work on 'All in the Family'. Great memory. If I weren't so tall I'd probably be more inclined to drive sports cars. Sadly they are not meant for gentle giants.
I remember test driving a used 914 in 1974. With being 6' tall I felt like I was driving a go-cart! I like the body style of the car. But I didn't care for the inside of the car. I ended getting a 1972 MGB! It had more leg room and liked the wire wheels.
I had more leg room in my 914 than in an older Buick I'd owned. I actually had to move the seat forward a notch. I'm 6'6'' I really enjoyed that car and drove it coast to coast.
Yes Tom. I remember Sally Struthers’s 914 also. I believe she purchased the 914 at Max Dial Porsche/Audi in Inglewood. I worked at this dealership in 1977. Good memories!
I knew someone in high school that bought a 1973 lime green 914 in 1995 for $3K U.S dollars and it was in nice condition. I hope he kept it because a 914 is worth money now.
Another great video. I recently purchased a 914, and it handles better than my 1980 911 SC. Fun car.
My uncle, who owned the same cars, still says the same thing
I remember in Forza Motorsport 3 for the Xbox 360, they hadn't the license to use Porsche cars, so they used RUFs and this one under the Volkswagen brand ;-D
"Maybe what the 914 needed was more power"
Jeremy Clarkson wholeheartedly agrees. POWER!!!
James Pumphrey approves.
Markus Fuchs, there was a 916 model which was a 914 with a 6 cylinder engine. Very few were imported into America though.
@@sergeantmasson3669
The 916 was a cancelled prototype. The only one of them imported to America is in a museum in Atlanta.
The 914-6 was the production 6 cylinder 914 model.
@@skaldlouiscyphre2453 There is one in North Conway NH. A former co-worker bought it new in 1972 at the VW/Porsche dealer in Manchester CT. I've personally seen/driven the car several times.
I've always liked this car. It looks a bit weird but definitely very cool in my opinion. I don't care if Porsche guys thought it was not a really Porsche. They just are very nice.
"The console tray makes you feel neat." Er ok...
I always had difficulty telling which was the front and which was the back of the 914. This was not helped by the fact that the first one I met in London the late70s was reversing towards me at great speed.
The best (ever) thing to come out Porsche was the baulk-ring synchromesh gearbox used be everybody else ever since.
Of course Ferdinand Porsche did not design the VW "Beetle", he stole the blueprints from his mentor Hans Ledwinka at Tatra. Tatra retaliated by designing something better, but Hitler cancelled that by invading Czechoslovakia. Tatra eventually successfully sued VW many years later.
You are correct about the baulk rings. I'd forgotten that fact.
Thanks, I didn't know that end part of your story. Isn't Tatra in India?
@@dlittlester That's Tata.
@@hansb.8 Tatra is a very different manufacturer than tata. Hasn’t the ladder company only been around for the last 20-ish years anyway?
@@theeoddments960 I checked , thanks. Tata is India, Tatra is Czech.
What's funny is that the same thing happened later when they developed the 924. Volkswagen was going to sell a version of it and backed out at the last minute, instead making the Scirocco.
I didn't realize that VW and Porsche shared common parts until I had to remove the steering wheel to work on my 1990 VW cabriolet. I noticed that my VW had a Porsche branded airbag inside. I did some research, and found a model of Porsche from a similar time period that used an identical steering wheel, other than the branding on the leather. I thought it was really interesting.
What a wonderful video. I was fortunate enough in period to spend considerable time with two 914 2.0 cars and even a lovely type 4 wagon with the 2.0. Wonderful cars at a time when Americans were otherwise enthralled with massive heavy V8s. Few cars of that era had the balance and poise of the 914 when thrown into a twisty section. Like the MX-5s I raced in later the 914 thrived on maintaining momentum. It was no demon on the straightaway but the brake pedal gathered dust.
Often left out of the 914 story is the incredible reliability and its frugality at sipping fuel. On a trip from NY to Pike's Peak we averaged 52mpg. Then new electronic fuel injection made climbing into the mountains effortless while the van with us had to stop and have its carburetor jets changed. We often forget how far we have come.
I loved the 914 and would have one today if my garage weren't already overcrowded and a minor source of domestic... friction.
Thanks for making a video about this lovely piece of history.
BTW, the Piëch family now control VWAG (including VW, Porsche, and all its many sub-brands).
Such a beautiful car, finally the value is going up, 12 years ago my friend bought a 914-6 for around $6k
It's a shit car
@@bumfluffmcregor3730 abslutely, you can say a lot of things, but beautiful it is not
6k?! Is that a joke
@@blue35tuesday do you remember the market then? 2009-2011, when the Delorean was less than $5k and people couldn't sell them, I remember that I went to see a nide detomaso Pantera for $30k....
@@Bentsi2002 i never remember a period of Ds going for that little...the average price for a running one was 15-20k
I had a 1972, 914 for many years. it was the most fun car to drive back in the day. It's extremely low center of gravity and balance it was like driving a go-cart. Later I built the motor up and it was a scream. My brother had a 911 and he even thought the 914 was more fun to drive.
Leave it to Giorgetto Giugiaro to absolutely deliver on the "914 chassis redesign challenge!" 😂❤️🔥
It looks like a prototype of a Lamborghini
When it comes to styling, the Italians are the *boss!*
That's not to say others can't complete however....
Such a nice little Friday surprise!
I always LOVED the 914 when other people made fun of them. Now, they command huge dollars. Very cool cars and handling is unparalleled.
11:53 is just gorgeous ! 15:24 The 916 , 15:56 the 914 2.0 ,17:39.
The reason I do not like the car is because they put a Porsche name on what is effectively a Volkswagen. This car should have been marketed as a replacement for the Karmen Ghia. The rare 914-6 almost qualifies for Porsche status.
Yes, I've always thought they were cool, and looked really good. Don't car about the Porsche/VW debate. They car is just cool.
@@AxLWake - Cool looking but not worthy of the name Porsche with the sole exception being the 914-6. Back in the seventies I owed a VW Beetle that was faster than the typical 914. A '68 Euro bug with 1600, dual port heads 2 Solex 40P11 (Porsche 912 parts) carbs, crane cam, and competition header (no heater boxes.)
@@scootergeorge9576 Like I said, I really don't care about the name and the badge on the car.
That being said, early Porsches had 4 cylinders engines and were not that fast either... (356, 912).
Love the white, green, orange, or black color ones
Watching this from the driver’s seat of my 1982 Porsche 944 (parked in downtown Stuttgart ;) ) Great Video as always!
After having restored several 914's over the years,, I would like to point out that the 4 cylinder cars were NOT Volkswagen engines, not the same at AT ALL. The Porsche engine was Aluminum cylinder block and the Volkswagen was magnesium, the cylinder heads were very much different in design as well. The obvious is the cooling system where there were shared parts from the Bus engines of that era. Many differences, some parts interchange but not major components.
the type 4 1.7/1.8 and 2.0L engine was in the vw type2 transporters and type4 cars. it was a VW engine. The 914 just got different spec heads and cam.
Wrong
John… wrong
@@notyodaddy1499 prove it
I agree with you. I am 29 14-4 is now. And I've owned them for 30 years. The two liter was a Porsche engine. Now if you got an automatic and a type three I think it was then they would use this 2 L. Now the smaller engines I think they're Volkswagens but I would not swear to it. It's amazing what people are paying for these cars nowadays. Even as builders.
I purchased a new 1975 914, 1.8 at a Porche dealer. I loved that car. It was slow but it felt like it was fast and it could bring a smile when cornering. Thank you for the story. I did follow up by buying a new 1979 Scirocco, another really fun car.
The Giugaro looks great! Silver and orange inside - nice
Excellently done and very informative video, thank you!
I would like to point out the irony of the commentary at 0:34, because here in America, those Volkswagen Type 2 vans, sold so cheaply at the same dealer as a 914, are now selling for about 3 times the price of a 914.
And the best part is you don't have to explain to everyone what it is.
My father owned one of these with a chalon body kit. He ended up putting a small block Chevy V8 in it and then sold it a year or two later. It was a cool car!
My girlfriend at the time got a used one as graduation present/college commuter. It had some unappreciated qualities in that the light weight, aerodynamic design, the long-legged fifth gear, the fuel injection and the larger fuel tank made it a very fuel-efficient commuter with tremendous range. It certainly beat a standard beetle in all these categories. Plus any VW garage was able to work on it.
The two-trunk lay-out gave it a lot of storage capacity, as long as your items were numerous and smaller, and not one large bulky item. The removable hardtop made it fun to drive without a lot of wind buffering.
An aftermarket company even offered a transparent top that offered the best of both worlds, protection from the elements and a great view.
Drawbacks also only came to notice with extended ownership. The steering wheel was offset from the driver. A tight turn of the wheel always meant having to move your right thigh out of the way. The stereo was waayyyyy over there and always required quite a stretch. Both were annoyances the owner could enjoy every day anew.
Buying the car in the summer meant not finding out about an air-cooled VW flaw until winter six months later: the heater exchange box had probably rusted out and had been removed entirely. A stainless steel replacement would have cost several hundred dollars. Expensive too was a 70,- replacement window regulator from a junk yard. An out-of-specs caster setting made any parking attempt a chore and needed to be corrected. The torsion bar suspension that the car was sitting on broke - twice.
Watching this video sure brings back memories. But every time I'm about to succumb to nostalgia, I remind myself that certain memories are best left in the past. Trying to find a 914 today would do nothing to bring back those days.
The "Secretary Porsche" would be another story as well. This was a common nickname for the Karmann Ghia because many were driven by better situated women who had their own income. And secretary back then in a much gender orientated society was probably the best earning common women's job.
Excellent video, great job. Two corrections are needed: 1) There is nothing wrong (or unsafe) about having a fuel tank ahead of the passenger compartment( 21 million air cooled VW Bugs and 1 million Porsche 911's would attest to that); 2) The Type IV engine never came in a Bug. Keep up the great work on these well-researched videos -
The type IV engine was, to my knowledge, derived from the Type I engine (which is what I said). But fair enough about the fuel tank - it just seemed a little unsafe to me.
Back in the 80's, our German building engineer had one of the 6 cylinder 914's, and he absolutely loved it!
Great piece as ever. Imagine how the 914 might have evolved if Porsche had committed to it in the way they did with the 911.
Would end up evolving into Boxster maybe
@@klj2382 boxster was a re-make of the car james dean died (don´t remenber the number maybe a 355 )and when it came out was my favorite car to drive, it´s perfect
As far as I can recall, Karmann Ghias were built on the Type 1 (Beetle) platform (as well as the vehicle known as The Thing, Safari and Trekker; the modern Kubelwagen). Type 34s were known as "der Grosser Ghia" (the larger Ghia), which shared its platform with the Fastback, Notchback and Squareback.
The Plattform from the Typ 14 wasn't the same from the Typ 1 Käfer.
It shared it with the VW 181, which was signifilly wider.
Will you be looking at the Porsche 924/944? I’ve bought a 1982 944 and I absolutely love it, amazing to have my own classic car at the age of 25!
Probably, eventually!
Back in 1974 I test drove this, it was too V W ish. I bought a FIAT 124 spider instead. Good episode.
All rear-engine Volkswagens had the gas tank in the passengers' laps, so putting there was pretty much SOP, not some compromise against safety.
The gas tank was over both the driver and the passenger's lap. They all had VW gas caps...the ones that threaded on. Seen on a 53, 63,70,73SuperBeetle. 10 imp gallon tank.(45L) up until they ended production of the air cooled engine in ' 75. I got 35MPG using ImpGal. in 1973SB 1600 carbureted engine..stock everything.
I had a 1975 Type 4 Station Wagon with US Specs. It had a 914 engine, I found out about while working on it. It was my brother in law’s and he brought it to Germany when my sister who was in the US Air Force was stationed in Wiesbaden and I was stationed in Hanau with the US Army, in the mid 1980’s. I traded a microwave and $50 for it because he couldn’t get it to start after leaving it parked under a tree for a while and his landlord wanted it gone. So I got a battery, starting fluid spray and got it started and registered in my name. I kept it until I left Germany and sold it for $5,000 to a German who loved it. It was in great shape and low mileage as my brother in law bought it from its original owner and he rarely drove it, keeping it garaged most of the time. Best deal I ever made. I fell in love with VW’s and Porsche’s as a young man and have had several VW’s and currently have a 2001 Porsche 911 with only 40,900 miles and in awesome condition. I hope to keep it for a very long time as I’m the second owner. Awesome cars but I only drive it on weekends or short trips. I did take it on a long trip once from Miami, FL to Augusta, GA and back, to visit my brother. We took the side roads because it’s more fun to drive on curves than on straight aways.
5:10 Why would the fuel tank be unsafe where it was? I cannot recall a single story of a 914 going up in flames. And even the 911, where the fuel tank is in front of the front axle, and as such part of the crumple zone is not known as a molotov cocktail...
9:55 flat 8 not V8. (nitpicking, I know)
Nicely done video. Where did you pick up all of the 914 clips? The scenes from early 70's Germany took me right back to my childhood :-p
My grandparents had one and it was so fun. Wish they still had it. I was under it working on it when the floor jack hydraulics went out, luckily I had jack stands for safety. It was a change your underwear moment. My grandfather was pretty upset too. He is 96 and still remembers that day.
Yet another great automotive chronicle, looking forward to the 924/944 story and it's 'van engine'
there were no "Van" in these days, teir were Delivery Trucks or "Boxcars"....
@@FRITZI999 In the U.S. they were called vans or busses and some converted (Westphalia) to "campers". Where were you talking about? Just curious.
@@manstersr Vans or Buses are nfor People, Right? THIS Engine is from a Delivery "Van".... whatever... just Terminology. ;-)
These Words wehre nt even created when thes Vehicles were built, just like Crossover / SUV / and so on.... just saying. Ask an Old Fart like I am.
@@FRITZI999 I just thought you had never heard those U.S. names because you live or lived in another country. Delivery Truck or Boxcar sounds like a name you'd hear in the U.K. or Australia. My friend and co-mechanic's father drove one and we called him Van Man.
@@manstersr i lived about 5 years in the US a few Years ago...
AND also spent some time in the UK 20 Years ago.
I trying to explain it in relation to the time Period where certain Terminologies were nit even created.
Might be a regional thing that you and others don´t know them, cause you spent your entire Life on one Place?
In Australia noe one says Van, they are called People Mover Down Under when they carry Passengers.
As a kid growing up in a small Dutch town with a Porsche dealer nontheless.... 😄
Always looked at a yellow 916 in the showroom, such a oddity between those 911's
Honestly , my favorite auto site right now...( sorry Harry)
Through all the adversity, it was objectively a success. Good story.
It was always an interesting car and I remember seeing quite a few in Germany in the 70s. As a kid, it confused me to see the Porsche badge on what I thought was a squashed Karmann Ghia. Another top video mate. Keep em coming!
My neighbor had a 914 that also had the rare 6 cylinder engine with the triple/double Weber's. It was lightning fast compared to the 4 banger. I believe he was the 2nd owner buying from original owner and it had very low mileage for a 40+ y.old car(around 30k in11'-12') had clean paint and interior and ran as if brand new.
Yet another gem of a video ! "That's another story" with reference to the 924 leaves me hoping your going to cover the 924/928/944/968 ! Please please please - As for the 914 I just happened to get close to one last weekend - what a beautiful car they are - they are like a roof chopped square Boxter but a lot nicer with its angular lines - they got it right in fairness!
I'm sure I will, but a lot of this is based on viewer interest. If a video bombs then it's going to be hard to me to recoup the time I've invested in making a video. So far this one seems to be doing well, so maybe so!
I call them 'Granfather to the Boxster/Cayman'.
My dad had a late 914 with the pushrod engine. Not a lot of power, but buckets of torque and only a long, crazy down hill could get you fast enough to put run the handling on 90s tires. The car performed amazing in the snow and had a truly shocking amount of storage. One time the Dodge pickup failed to start for a camping trip, and he managed to put everything in the full 6.5ft truck bed into the 914 along with another dude. It looked like the Bavarian Hillbillies, but it did the job. Great cars. Unfortunately like so many, that particular example fell to rust.
Make an iconic sports car. Then offer a smaller, lighter entry level car, but try to keep it slower and less desirable than the icon. 914, 924, Boxster, Cayman.
Market saturation.
Works every time since 1969!
I'm not a hardcore Porsche guy but I personally love these cars - they were sporty, handled well, open topped and quite roomy and comfortable save the hard, uncomfortable seats - they cornered flat, stopped reasonably well and were relatively easy and reasonable to repair and maintain. A later production model in Guards Red or black over black are quite attractive. Back in the day, these cars turned heads when they pulled up, minus the VW snickering that almost always accompanied them. A pristine, restomodded 914/6 in Indigo Blue with a tan leather interior? Yes, please!
Beautiful car with so much stories linked. I wish I had that car.
I owned a 1970 914 which I loved. It was bought from a guy in Brooklyn, NY and eventually the salt used to melt snow rotted out the suspension so I junked it. It had great handling and pretty quick.
Always liked this car from the day I first saw it. It's interesting to compare this to the Porsche 924, basically an Audi with a Porsche badge.
No as a 944 owner I’d say a 924 is an Audi with a VW van engine and a Porsche badge and a 944 is an Audi with a Mitsubishi engine.and a Porsche badge ;)
While in the Army in Germany in 1979 I bought a 72 914 from a serviceman for $600 US. I did extensive work to it and drove that car all over Germany. It was an excellent handling car and I wish now I had brought it home.
I've always preferred the 914 over the 911. Much sexier styling!
Always wanted a 914 in college.
Graduated in '72, got a job, saved up enough to order one from the dealer.
Discussing with a co-worker; he said, Don't buy the sports car, buy a house instead.
Used the car money for a down payment.
Still have the house.
I remember seeing this car when I was about 10 years old. Our neighbor had one. Though it was the coolest thing ever. I still like the lines of this car.
A friend of mine had one back in the early 2000s. It handled like it was on rails! Amazing handling! But we counted a 0-60 of 12 seconds! It was about the same as the 4cyl 2000 4runner I had at the time.
Awesome video! One of my favorite cars of all time. Fun, mid engined, quick, sporty. An awesome weekend or track day car.
This video is so good again and I often wonder where you gte the info, the pics, the vids. Big fan of your channel!
25 years ago I was dreaming of buildin a 9014 kit car with a 914 as a donor.. Hard to think of them as donor cars today with the prices they are beeing sold for now.
my 914 is old and crusty but still garners an unbelievable amount of attention. Most people have no idea what it is, Despite its performance issues it is still a really fun car to drive
This was my first car. I loved it, but my girlfriend(s) hated it. I put Pirellis, Dellorto carburetors and Koni shocks on it. It was great. I’m looking to buy another one as soon as I can find a one here on Germany.
Most of them are in the States. Your best bet is to get one from there. Hurry though, prices are skyrocketing!
I always liked the 914, it was different than the 911 and the Targa top made it great for summer cruising
VW Karmann Ghia is the most beautiful car ever made.
I don't care how fast it is, I like the old beetle to begin with.
I absolutely love VWs having owned a 73 Super Beetle as my 1st car and naturally, that rear-engine experience grew towards the Porsche 911, my childhood dream. It allowed me to learn auto mechanics which I have developed into a true passion. I also got a '73 914 along the way that I still own. I'm currently in the process of 'merging' (restomodding) old VW/Porsche tech with modern Porsche watercooled powerplant from a 996 and trans and brakes from a Boxster S. Needless to say, I'm a VW/Porsche enthusiast but far, far from a purist. 20 yrs ago I got my current daily driver, an 03 Carrera 4S in Seal Grey so, I start and end my day with a smile on my face, regardless on how bad the day was. Still, I'm looking to reaquire an orange 73 Superbeetle some day. These two companies have always belong together. Thank you @Big Car for this wonderful video! A definite go-to source for 914 history. Cheers from Puerto Rico.
I’m surprised that VW could afford to develop any cars shortly after buying NSU and honouring the RO 80 engine warranty claims that many customers had. I know that it got the k70 out of the deal which was very much like a later Passat and it killed off the prinz which was a strong rival to the beetle.
i had a NSU, had a singles player(vinil7")with a back window opener on the back it was a nice car as my other first cars i bought it in a junkyard,maybe cost me what today is 7€
Another good one! Back then, I lived in Turkey and followed motoring news through Car and Driver, an American publication. So I did not realize these were sold as VW-Porsche in Europe. There were so few of them, if any, in Turkey that I never saw the VW-Porsche moniker in person.
all were sold as 914 VW porshe with 2.0L VW engine,only later they released it with porshe 914/6
This was the only car I ever wanted when I was young, apart from a Hillman Hunter GLS. To me this is such a timeless beautiful design, superior even to that Hunter.Thats saying something.
Picked up one of these for 1976 $500USD and stuck a Honda Accord NSX engine in it, love the fact the car is all metal and no plastics, easy to work on. Modern Tech has fixed all the issues from factory, the hellhole is well just that, and finding one without a hole in the frame is hard to do, due to that design error, but I stuck my battery in the front and have a fuel Lambo type fuel cell in rear.
Q: Why did this Porsche have a VW badge?
A: As a portent of things to come.
While the silhouette of the 911 remains timeless, the 914 absolutely screams late 1960's. I was aware of its existence, but never saw one on the road. No wonder that bloke from that Volkswagen Australia stand looked so forlorn, waiting in vain for someone to show interest in a RWD 914.
Hey! My Dad's Old Car, the Volks Porsche, the 914, built as a cheaper alternative to the 912 and as a VW alternative to the Khama Ghia using the same motor as the VW bus, sadly he bought one on the word of the car and driver, who called it their car of the year for 1969 and it was....... not, and wasnt really sorted until 72/73, 5 years in
like the design was great, but the car was rushed and it seems they had an issue with some sort of vapor lock, caused by a poorly designed pre heat system ment for german cold weather where the baffles for the engine would stay shut to help warm up the car and the engine, but would stay that way when they were suppose to warm up and open to let air back in
and cut off the oxygen to the motor, which left him stranded multiple times, and actually one of the german autoclub guys just pulled up, popped his hood and took a blow torch to it and got it running in seconds when it got stranded on the autobahn that way
and also hence why I think leno said that he used to see them on the side of the road alot too in california, a naturally hot climate like that and they moved the fuel pump from the back of the car to the front as well I found out, possibly to help with that same issue, or maybe fuel evaportation caused by the heat of the engine plus the shift linkage was very imprecise and vague, like a typical beetle, which is what it came from, like that same crappy feel where you cant find the gear with
and changed for 1972/1973 along with the fuel pump placement, like his 1969 model was so bad they stopped honoring the warranty with how often it came in with problems when he brought it back to the states, and started leaking oil
and also if you've ever seen the episode of top gear where they had the episode with the lime green miura, with jay kay and the like, that whole bit with hammond where he goes where's your window and jay kay goes, i went to shut the door, and crack! glass everywhere, you mad impetious rockstar you! now that's rock and roll
that happened TWICE to him in germany, that wasnt just a lamborghini thing, that was a general problem with early curved early glass like that
the most ironic thing, the fiat 124 spider he had from aviano italy before it that he traded in on it
it had a little trouble keeping a tune, as locktight didnt exist back then, and that was it
but overall, it was the porsche that was the piece of junk, like what is italian for fix it again ferdinand? lol plus the fiat was in production from like 66 to 82, not 69 to 75' which should tell you how good that car was
also that 20 seconds to 60 for the ghia, for abit of reference, a 3.4 liter Jaguar Mark II, not even the big 3.8, 11 seconds, so a mark II jag from the early, EARLY 60's, back before the muscle car era that was I think just 1250 pounds, the money not the weight, maybe abit more for a 3.4 just based on that ad I found, as I'm an inspector morse fan
beat the kharman ghia that badly, and that 4 banger was on par with it with two less bangers, not bad for a car like that,
like we think of zero to 60's in way too quick a time now thanks to the electric menace, when back in that era, that was about average to good, as anything under 10 was fast
and the general top end of the 914 is about 95 100 mph, with that 90 horsepower engine, more than enough, and about what that 318 4 banger BMW sedan was that we rented in germany back in the late 90's
also that back end thing with the 911, the main thing is its not a matter of it changing direction faster or slower, its that the tires back then were weak and the swing axel is rigged up in such a way that the way you drive a porsche is slow in, fast out or it overloads it and can cause axel hop
and around bends at about 80 mph the tires reach the edge of grip and the back end starts to shift and go out, like my dad looked at a 911, took it on a test drive and said the car was stable, planted like a rock, with damn good brakes, then suddenly it almost hopped slightly around the long autobahn bend he was going around at that 80 mph mark, which scared him off of the thing and caused him to slow down in shock, understandably so
and another guy he was working with ended up in the hospital for 6 months when he took one for a test drive in the german forest with the salesman with him, hence why despite having the cash for it, and missing out on a 911 S targa, which is now worth like a 130 grand
as he had to go to a meeting and the car was sold when he got back, he ended up going with the 914 over it, as the tires and the grip, and those swing axels, not a good combination with that weight having over the back like a pendjulium at speed around a corner if you dont know how to handle it
hence why when you read into it, porsche put front spoilers on the things to give them more downforce in the front, and then widened the rear track, put huge tires, and not those stupid donut 195's either on it to help counter all of that, which did help, but its why the 911 is not a novices car, if you dont have respect for the rules of the car, its worse than a 427 cobra on full tilt in the wrong hands
great fun, but dont be near a tree or something solid when you go nuts with it
and if theirs one common constant you always see with porsche, its that they always tried to replace the 911, and with good reason, its a great idea, with all that extra space in the front and you dont have to worry about the engine coming back at you in a crash, but its just hard to balance it as your always fighting against gravity with it around corners, hence why if you ever get the chance, look up that press photo someone did of a new 911 right next to an old 195 sectioned one like he looked at back then
its like a dwarf mobile next to the new one, as the engines far further north, the track is consierably widened, and its basically damn near midengined now
still though the 914 is a wonderful failure, atleast for my dad, like even after all that he still would like to get a sorted one, which evidently I'm looking for a 2 liter 1973 model now judging by all the stuff you just told me
and this is also why I have the 5 year rule engrained in my head, always wait 3 to 5 for a new design to have all its kinks worked out of it
I really like how the 914 looks. A new version would be cool
Excellent production on this video, and nice tie into Audi Volkswagen and Porsche
The title should really be "Why did some of these Porsches have VW badges?", and I say that as someone who's had two Beetles and a 914. Also USDM versions had Audi seatbelts in 1974 and 1975.
I did originally, but someone else suggested I change it!
@@BigCar2 I'm a huge VW/Porsche fan, and also flat engines in general (currently building a Subaru Impreza WRX from an Impreza RS), and I get why it's titled this way, but in my eyes the 914 will always be more of a Porsche than a VW. I've had two Beetles, the second of which was a fully built street-legal race car (1776cc bore, Greddy turbo, weighted short throw shifter with a rev limiter between gears, Recaro bucket seats, rear suspension overhaul, front suspension from a Porsche, mostly stripped interior, etc.) and it's currently sitting under a cover due to some body damage it took, I plan on doing a 356 replica kit on it's chassis, most likely. However, even with all of the Porsche parts in that Beetle, my bone-stock 914 just feels more like a Porsche to me, and mine's a 2.0 so it's not even the Porsche engine. I think I want to say it feels much more refined than a Beetle or Ghia. In a lot of ways I prefer the 914 to the (classic) 901 chassis, that perfect weight balance is so, so good. At some point I want to put a 930 motor in one, as it is, they out corner the 911 already, imagine a 930 powerplant behind it, it would have every edge over the 911 (i've also considered the forbidden Subaru EJ swap as I have the stock motor from my Impreza still).
Anyway the title is probably better off this way, even though it's not as accurate, because a lot of people (in my country, anyway) still think they're an obscure Volkswagen of some kind and have no idea about the Porsche connection (we got them badged as both, mine's badged as a Porsche, but one of the parts donor cars I had was badged as a VW). As for the fuel tank thing, the most dangerous thing about it, in my experience, is if you have something like a 911 or a Beetle, once the tank is below half, the rear end of the car wants to kick out constantly, if you're going to drive one of them (especially the Beetle) in any sort of spirited driving, you absolutely NEED that tank to be as full as possible, because like you said, the engine hanging behind the rear axle makes cornering extremely dicey if it's not balanced out. My Beetle was making almost 150HP, so I could afford the tradeoff to make a very heavy front bumper from scratch along with weighing the front down from inside the front cover. The risk I see the most often isn't a fire in a crash, it's the rear end of the car kicking out.
wow that tipero concept looked strikingly like a delorian
Some of the bodybuilders' incarnations looked very exciting compared to the 'official' one...
I learned to drive in a '74 Orange and White VW van powered by a 2.0L 914 Porsche engine left over from this program. Was like a really, really tall sports car.
Another excellent video, thanks!
I had a 1976 914 modified with a 3.6l flathead V6 with stainless exhaust, and 13 inch rotors. I also added Bilstein struts, and strut tower braces, as well as BBS Magnesium alloys. To further stability, and torsional strength, I welded steel plates to the undercarriage. I loved the wraparound bumpers, and center stack gages, best handling car I ever had! I regret selling it years ago...