For Sale at Auction: 1971 Porsche 914 in Monterey, California

Chassis No. 4712915713
Engine No. W0124411
Transmission No. 0029006

For 17 years, every Porsche sold was powered by a four-cylinder engine-a tradition that spanned nearly half a century. From the company's founding until 1996, Porsche consistently offered four-cylinder models, including the 912 and the 914. These cars, successors to the original 356, embodied core Porsche values: lightweight construction, balanced performance, and technical precision.

By the mid-1960s, Porsche and Volkswagen found themselves aligned on a similar project, albeit for different purposes. Porsche aimed to develop a mid-engine, four-cylinder sports car to replace the 912, while Volkswagen sought a successor to its stylish Karmann-Ghia. The two companies partnered, with Porsche handling design and engineering and Volkswagen contributing manufacturing capacity. The collaboration proved a major success-Porsche gained a popular new entry-level model, and Volkswagen enhanced its sporty image through its close association with Porsche.

This 1971 Porsche 914, chassis number 4712915713, is an excellent example of that long-lived relationship between Porsche and Volkswagen. According to its original Porsche / Audi window sticker, this 914 was selected in Willow Green with a single option of a center armrest console. Before the car was sold, Rushmore Volkswagen of Rapid City, South Dakota added $65 in pre-delivery servicing and undercoating for a total of $3,776.50. The original Porsche-supplied Maintenance Record, dealer vehicle order form, and 1972 South Dakota vehicle registration, reveal the original owner was Helen Palmer, located in Pierre, the capital city of The Mount Rushmore State. Official Porsche dealer service stamps show that Palmer was an enthusiastic driver of her 1.7-liter five-speed 914 adding 19,947 miles to the car by the 24th of August 1976. A Quaker Stake oil change sticker in driver's door jamb shows 21,842 recorded miles by May of 1980.

By at least 2000, the 914 was under the ownership of Jeff Hill. Hill brought the car to Import Service of Rapid City, SD in September of that year for an engine tune and valve adjustment with the odometer reading noted on the paperwork as 24,411 miles. It must be said that due to a number of important characteristics of the car it is believed that this 914 covered just 2,569 additional miles in the preceding 20 years. In 2006, Karl Simonyak also based in South Dakota purchased the car, owning it for the next 13 years. Michael Butkus of Omaha, Nebraska acquired the car in 2019, retaining it for three years before selling it to Matthew Kolton based in Tennessee-likely the first time the 914 left the Great Plains region of the United States.

While under Kolton's care, a Porsche Classic Technical Certificate was applied for. Hennessey Porsche conducted the inspection, which yielded glowing results-most notably, confirmation that the engine and transmission numbers match the factory's records. Furthermore, in 2021, Kolton had the fuel system gone through replacing the fuel lines, pump, filter, and injector seals. At the same time, the engine received an oil change and the shift linkage received new bushings. In 2023, Kolton had the undercarriage, engine compartment, and wheel wells of the 914 dry ice cleaned. The car also spent time with Auto Atlanta between June and August 2023 with numerous items replaced or attended to, with invoices totaling $14,500 in that span.

In June 2025, the car was inspected by Broad Arrow Auctions and found to retain its original coat of Willow Green with paint meter sheets revealing a paint thickness of 2.5 - 4.5 mils across the exterior of the car. It should be noted that, at a point, Porsche side stripe decals were added to the car and when later removed a "ghosted" effect remained. The 914's Brown interior remains exceptionally original, as does the original removable hard top and both the front and rear trunks. It must be said that this 914 exists in rarified air as a four-cylinder example that exudes originality with its matching numbers status, original finishes, and low mileage.