Vehicle Description
1974 Porsche 914
• VIN 4742912412
• Karmann Body No. 0319585
• Completed January 1974
Finished in Red over Black leatherette upholstery. The Karmann
paint code confirms that the original color was a special order
from the factory in Marathon Blue Metallic (L96M). The exterior
options include dual horns, rubber bumper guards, chrome bumpers,
fog lights, and Delodur-1 Sekurit glass. The upholstery presents
very well and benefits from the appearance group package which
features a leatherette covered steering wheel, center console,
center armrest with storage compartment, and pile carpet. The light
alloy 5.5" x 15" wheels are fitted to Classic All-Season Radial 165
80 R15 tires.
On April 3, 2019, at 37,040 miles, Accutrack-LLC performed a major
engine service including a valve adjustment, oil and filter change,
replaced fuel hoses, replaced gearbox oil, and replaced shift
coupler bushings. On April 17, 2019, Accutrack-LLC performed a
complete overhaul of the braking system which included new front
pads, rotors, brake hoses, brake fluid, and inner tie rod ends.
Most recently, on March 9, 2021, at 43,052 miles, Foreign Sport
Technician Inc performed an oil service, adjusted the valves,
replaced the CV flange seals, and replaced the starter.
Mechanically powered by a 1.8-liter flat-four engine paired to a
5-speed manual transmission and four-wheel disc braking system.
Complete with jack, spare, and recent service history. An excellent
opportunity to acquire a 914 that is in excellent shape
cosmetically and mechanically.
History
By the late 1960s, inflation and currency issues had forced Porsche
so far upmarket (above the magic $10,000 mark for a highly optioned
911S) that they became desperate for a new four-cylinder
entry-level car. The 912 was ripe for replacement, as it could no
longer be produced cheaply enough to qualify as entry-level, and
the new Datsun 240Z had made a mockery of it on a performance
level. The answer was a collaboration with Volkswagen who would
sell the new car, dubbed the 914, as a VW-Porsche in Europe. In the
U.S. it was known as a Porsche but never carried the Porsche crest
on the hood.
Styling was considered odd in the day and still is, but it avoided
most of the impracticalities of the mid-engined layout with good
outward vision and two large trunks. Performance was modest at
first with base VW-derived engines of 1.7 and 1.8 liters. The
2.0-liter cars gave a more sparkling performance and are the most
desirable of the four-cylinder models today, and they are cheap to
rebuild to boot. Handling is superb with fine brakes and phenomenal
steering. Bright period colors suit the car well.
The 914-6 was produced between 1970-72 and utilized a carbureted
version of Porsche's six-cylinder engine. The suspension was
upgraded to better accommodate the increased output of 110 hp.
Porsche also produced 32 factory-built, race-prepped versions of
the 914-6 GT. Another 455 914-6s were either ordered with the
"Competition Option Group" GT package or were upfitted with a
factory kit.