Vehicle Description
The Porsche 914 was a great example of the right car at the wrong
time. Porsche faithful weren't ready for a mid-engined entry-level
Porsche, but the passage of time proves that cars like this 1976
Porsche 914 are a very affordable way to have an air-cooled Porsche
on a budget, and it's one that doesn't turn around and bite you in
the corners!
This bright yellow Porsche looks like it should cost a lot more
than it does. You can lay some of the blame on the fact that 914s
haven't caught on with collectors in a meaningful way, and maybe
some on the fact that it was designed from the start to be
relatively affordable. But I think that does this neat little
mid-engined sports car a real disservice, because even at a glance
it looks like a party on wheels. The bright yellow paint isn't
subtle, but if you have a Porsche sports car do you really want to
stay anonymous? Panel fit is good and these were well-built cars
with Porsche's traditionally high standards of build quality, and
time does nothing to diminish that fact. The paint is older but
shines up nicely and for a machine that you're going to want to use
regularly, it's more than presentable. The black details, including
the big bumper up front and the targa roof, look excellent against
the yellow paint and show very little evidence of UV damage or
fading. Lenses, stainless trim, and the luggage rack out back all
attest to the fact that someone has really cared for this car.
The interior is highlighted by the funky plaid seats, which were
part of the package in 1976 and make this Porsche an awesome trip
back in time. The thin-shell buckets are featherweight and
comfortable, and the driving position is arguably better than that
of an early 911. Big, round dials with the tach in the center will
look familiar to anyone who has been in an air-cooled Porsche in
the past, with secondary controls that are sensibly, if a little
cryptically laid out. There's a newer Blaupunkt AM/FM/CD stereo in
the center of the dash and we have to admit that the green carpets
work rather well in the yellow car with plaid seats. The roof lifts
off easily and stows in the surprisingly spacious trunk, making
this a true open-air cruiser. And with both front and rear trunks,
there's a great deal of storage space.
The engine is an air-cooled 2.0 liter flat-four, a machine familiar
to those of you who also may have driven a 912. The car is
mid-engined, meaning that the engine lives right behind the
passenger compartment and ahead of the rear axle, which is a direct
contrast to the rear-engined 911, whose tail-happy antics are well
documented. Service access is actually decent since it was designed
to be accessed from below, but we'll admit it's not as easy as just
lifting the hood (just ask Boxter owners how they like it). It
starts with a familiar flat-four bark from the dual exhaust and
idles like it's eager to get on with it. The 4-speed manual
transmission snaps through the gears neatly, with shift feel
somewhere between a Beetle and a 911, and the all-independent
suspension is competent. In fact, this car is an awesome example of
the idea that it's far more fun to drive a slow car fast than a
fast car slow. Not that this is a terribly slow car, but thanks to
its high cornering limits and benign road manners, there's more
suspension than the engine can use, and that means FUN. Powerful
disc brakes are there to bail you out and it sits on 14-inch alloy
wheels with recent Dunlop radials.
With a stack of service receipts, this neat little 914 delivers big
fun, great looks, and a lot of charisma for not a lot of cash. Hard
to go wrong here! Call today!