914/6 in Australia ... still dreaming ...

I was sorting through some ancient motoring newspapers recently and found this announcement I could share with you.
It came from Australian Motoring News(1969-1974) Sept 10 1969 and enthusiastically proclaims the imminent arrival of the 914/6 in Australia in RHD,no less.
As a $$$ challenged 912 owning youth who aspired to a fully optioned 2.2 S(...in yer dreams kiddo...:D) this announcement caught my eye as well as the attention of my skinny wallet.
This little middie rocket was for me !!
I enquired at the local dealer but nothing to encourage me until the sighting of a red RHD 914/6 in their parking lot some time later on.
This was the last I was to see of a RHD 914/6 here although I believe the car still exists in Melbourne.
About 15 years ago I organised a 356 drive weekend and a local 914 owner was able to tell me what happened to the elusive 914s in Australia.
It appears that Hamiltons(Porsche Cars Australia) brought 2 914/4s and a 914/6 into Australia and had them converted to RHD by Duttons in Melbourne.These were not Crayford UK cars.
Unfortunately this method of the RHD conversion excercise(along with the re valued D-mark in the day)made it far too expensive, so the RHD 914 project was not taken any further here.
This was also in the time frame of Kurt Lodz(VW) who made the 914 project as difficult as possible to Ferry Porsche to sell the 914/6 at a reasonable price worldwide and also in RHD.If Heinz Nordhoff had not died toward the end of the 914 gestation then the 914 would have had a better chance.
The final nail in the 914 coffin was Lodz's successor approving the complete changeover to a front engined watercooled motor lineup in late 1971.
Forward to late 1974 and I made the acquaintance of an American assistant to Jurgen Barth who took me for a very pleasant drive in his orange 914/6 through the countryside just outside Stuttgart.
Even though time had moved on I still thought favourably about the 914/6 and since then I have had a 914/6 firmly included in my 'lotto' garage.
Fast forward again to August last year and while staying with Kent Moore,he took me for a drive in his one owner 65,000ml Gemini blue 914/6 to Cars and Coffee at Irvine.Thanks,Kent !
Only 2 rides in a 914/6 but through the wonders of the internet and digital photography I can still drool the same as the first time I read the press announcement in Sept 1969.
The power of daydreams ... :D
Hugh H - do you have anything to add to this 914 in OZ story ??

Raj,
Thanks for the offer which I would like to take up one day.
The 3 times I have been to America I have don't seem to be able to get past California,for some reason ! ;)

Cheers,
Dennis. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gulf908

I was sorting through some ancient motoring newspapers recently and found this announcement I could share with you.
It came from Australian Motoring News(1969-1974) Sept 10 1969 and enthusiastically proclaims the imminent arrival of the 914/6 in Australia in RHD,no less.
As a $$$ challenged 912 owning youth who aspired to a fully optioned 2.2 S(...in yer dreams kiddo...:D) this announcement caught my eye as well as the attention of my skinny wallet.
This little middie rocket was for me !!
I enquired at the local dealer but nothing to encourage me until the sighting of a red RHD 914/6 in their parking lot some time later on.
This was the last I was to see of a RHD 914/6 here although I believe the car still exists in Melbourne.
About 15 years ago I organised a 356 drive weekend and a local 914 owner was able to tell me what happened to the elusive 914s in Australia.
It appears that Hamiltons(Porsche Cars Australia) brought 2 914/4s and a 914/6 into Australia and had them converted to RHD by Duttons in Melbourne.These were not Crayford UK cars.
Unfortunately this method of the RHD conversion excercise(along with the re valued D-mark in the day)made it far too expensive, so the RHD 914 project was not taken any further here.
This was also in the time frame of Kurt Lodz(VW) who made the 914 project as difficult as possible to Ferry Porsche to sell the 914/6 at a reasonable price worldwide and also in RHD.If Heinz Nordhoff had not died toward the end of the 914 gestation then the 914 would have had a better chance.
The final nail in the 914 coffin was Lodz's successor approving the complete changeover to a front engined watercooled motor lineup in late 1971.
Forward to late 1974 and I made the acquaintance of an American assistant to Jurgen Barth who took me for a very pleasant drive in his orange 914/6 through the countryside just outside Stuttgart.
Even though time had moved on I still thought favourably about the 914/6 and since then I have had a 914/6 firmly included in my 'lotto' garage.
Fast forward again to August last year and while staying with Kent Moore,he took me for a drive in his one owner 65,000ml Gemini blue 914/6 to Cars and Coffee at Irvine.Thanks,Kent !
Only 2 rides in a 914/6 but through the wonders of the internet and digital photography I can still drool the same as the first time I read the press announcement in Sept 1969.
The power of daydreams ... :D
Hugh H - do you have anything to add to this 914 in OZ story ??

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in the late sixes my brother was an articled clerk whilst he completed his law degree, the 914/6 you refer to was purchased new by his employer gabriel lorenz, his business partner at the time was pat burke, well known porsche collector untill his financial demise in the early nineties.i do remember seeing this vehicle in the sydney cbd about 15 years ago.the original owner would be in his late 70's or early 80's by now and quite possibily still in the same family.

peter kaufmann

The last time I drove at the (now closed) Oran Park circuit I got to try out a real 914/6. I was having so much fun I got to about my tenth lap before I noticed the look on the owner's face and decided I should give it back...