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In
1969 Porsche produced its first mid-engine road car the 914/4, powered
by a Volkswagen 1.7 liter flat four air cooled engine. The 914/6 had the
2 liter flat six Porsche engine producing 110 bhp and 120 mph.
The Porsche 914 was an automobile built collaboratively by Volkswagen
and Porsche from 1969 through 1976. VW/Porsche originally intended it
to be sold in four cylinder trim as a Volkswagen, to be the top-spec VW
sports car, and in six cylinder trim as a Porsche, to be Porsche's entry
level car, replacing the 912. However, Porsche decided during development
that having VW and Porsche models sharing the same body would be risky
for business in the U.S. market, and convinced VW to allow them to sell
both versions as Porsches in North America.
Volkswagen versions originally came with a fuel-injected 1.7 litre flat-4
engine based on the unit that powered the 411 and 412 saloon cars, although
1.8 and 2.0 litre engines became avaliable as time went on. Porsche's
914/6 variant came with a carburated 2.0 litre flat six cylinder engine,
taken from the 911S. VW manufactured the rolling chassis at their own
plant, then either sent them to Porsche for fitment of the Porsche suspension
and flat-six engine or kept them in house for their own hardware. Karmann
manufactured the bodies, including the targa-top system.
Porsche handled export to the U.S., where both versions were badged and
sold as Porsches. Many enthusiasts regard this as having been a big mistake
on Porsche's part. 914 production ended in 1976, two years prior to the
introduction of it's eventual replacment, the 924. Porsche reused the
912, in an updated form called 912E, to fill the gap.
The 914 was
Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year for 1970.
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...the
Porsche 914 was the first
car built jointly with VW.
Produced between 1969 and 1976.
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So what is this "-4" or "1.8" or "/6"
designation, then?
When it was introduced in 1969 (1970?), there were two types available.
The 914/4 used a fuel-injected 1.7 liter "pancake" four-cylinder
engine derived from that used in the VW 411. The 914/6 came with a carbeurated
2.0 liter engine derived from that used by the 1969 911T. The /6 did not
sell very well, and was dropped after the 1972 model year. The 1972 914/6
is pretty rare--only about 240 were made--and was never officially exported
to the US.
In
1973, Porsche introduced a 2.0 liter four-cylinder model. Early information
labeled it as the "914 S", but this designation was dropped
shortly before the model became available in the US. The two versions
were labeled by their displacement--the 914/1.7 and the 914/2.0.
For
1974, the 1.7 was replaced by a 1.8, which used a different type of fuel
injection system in the US, and carburators elsewhere. Power on the US
version was lower than the earlier 1.7s, due primarily to a lower compression
ratio.
What Options came with the 914 ?
Much confusion
has occurred over the so-called appearance group offered as a 914 option.
Packages were as follows:
1. Appearance group package '70-'72 and '73 1.7 models: side vinyl,
loop carpeting, chrome bumpers, leather wrapped wheel and shift knob,
center deposit box, dual horns, driving lights and pedrinni alloy wheels
2. Appearance group '73 914 2.0 "S": center console with
gauges, armrest, storage box, loop carpeting, dual horns, chrome bumpers,
fuchs alloy wheels, driving lights, front and rear sway bars, leather
wrapped wheel and shift boot.
3. Appearance group '74-'76 models: center console with gauges,
leather wrapped wheel and shift boot, side vinyl, dual horns, loop carpeting,
armrest and storage box
To keep the price lower in the later years, most equipment became optional.
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