It's too weird to be a Porsche sports car

The Falling Star As we all knew that the Porsche AG, one of the German automotive manufacturers had been launched many great sports cars, and among the many models, only a few are worthy of being called as the true super sports cars until today. And one of them is named the Porsche 959 which had recorded in the automotive history as the "Über-Porsche".

Porsche 914 is appeared with a targa roofed roadster style, and available in two versions namely Porsche 914/4 and Porsche 914/6. (Picture from: Wikipedia)

Vise versa, it turns out there is also the Porsche's model that is criticized and called less powerful in terms of performance, has an expensive price tags for that time, while in terms of appearance, it doesn't look like the Porsche in general. It could be said, the car is too weird to be a Porsche sports car.

Porsche 914 at right and the car it replaced at the top of VW's line, the Type 34 Karmann Ghia, at left. (Picture from: Wikipedia)

It could be seen in the figure of the Porsche 914, it is a model of a mid-mounted sports car designed, produced, and is marketed collaboratively by Volkswagen and Porsche from 1969 to 1976. The car appeared with a targa roofed roadster style, and available in two versions namely Porsche 914/4 and Porsche 914/6.

This car story began, when in the late 1960s, both Volkswagen and Porsche needed new models; Porsche is looking for a replacement model for their entry-level 912, while Volkswagen wants a new sports coupe car to replace the Karmann-Ghia model. 

Porsche 914/4 is powered by a F4 engine with a capacity of 1,679 cc, which is capable of spewing out 80 hp (60 kw). (Picture from: ClassicPark)

At that time, most of the Volkswagen development work was handled by Porsche, it was such like an unwritten agreement that has existed since the Porsche's establishment. And the person whose appointed to be responsible for the 914 project is Ferdinand Piëch, which at that time knew as the Porsche's R&D head. In short, on March 1, 1968, the Porsche 914 prototype was complete and was introduced for the first time.

Porsche 914/4 can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 9.2 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 110 mph or 177 kph. (Picture from: ClassicPark)

However, after Chairman of Volkswagen, Heinz Nordhoff passed away on April 12, 1968, the project development became complicated. And his successor, Kurt Lotz wants to be more independent in the car development and releases the company's dependence on Porsche, that's made the previous unwritten agreement between Volkswagen and Porsche should be ended.

The car has an iconic designs, where the Porsche 914/4 carries a F4 engine with a capacity of 1,679 cc, which is capable of spewing out 80 hp (60 kw). Meanwhile, on the 914/6 is powered by a F6 engine with a capacity of 1,991 cc, and capable producing power of 110 hp (82 kw). And in both of the 914 versions, the machine is placed in the middle.

For the performance, Posche 914/4 can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 9.2 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 110 mph or 177 kph. Meanwhile, version 914/6 is capable of darting from 0-60 mph within 8.3 seconds, with a maximum speed of 125 mph or 201 kph.

Porsche 914/6 is powered by a F6 engine with a capacity of 1,991 cc, and capable producing power of 110 hp (82 kw). (Picture from: Carscoops)

The production both of Porsche 914 versions ended in 1976, with a total production of 118,978 units. And the Porsche 914 had managed to get the title of 'The Import Car of the Year' in the 1970 from the Motortrend magazine. Indeed, that's likes some kind an irony, if one of the best sales Porsche's models also seen by several circles as one of the major failures of the German manufacturer.

However, the Porsche 914 look was indeed made to be like that as the company marketing strategies, because the designers wanted to disguise cooperation between Porsche and Volkswagen which occurred some time before.

Porsche 914/6 is capable of darting from 0-60 mph within 8.3 seconds, with a maximum speed of 125 mph or 201 kph. (Picture from: Road And Track)

And vice versa, this look can at the same time make fans curious about Porsche's future styling at that time. Over time, the unique appearance and reliable performance made the Porsche 914 more and more popular. And from this model, the one-off model named the Porsche 914 Goertz Prototype and the Porsche 916 were born in 1970s.

Although some people used to think it was underpowered and disproportionate, over time the Porsche 914 has become one of the most sought after Porsche cars by collectors! Now, the Porsche 914 no longer to be a 'forgotten treasure', with more and more fans and collectors wanting it in various parts of the world. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | PORSCHE | WIKIPEDIA | CLASSICPARK | CARSCOOPS | ROADANDTRACK | ID.MOTOR1 | CURVES-MAGAZIN | CLASSICDRIVE ]

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