Porsche 914/6 collectability

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Originally Posted by Bernie B

To my discouragement they were an overnight “must have car” Porsche had discontinued them and many of us realized how rare of a car they were / are.

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I think I should expand on this statement just a bit. Obviously the 914-6 had a poor sales record at best. Priced just $400.00 below the entry level 911T and almost twice as much as the 240Z or TR6 it was a tough sell at best. For a while it seemed like they could not give a 914-6 away I even recall a factory promotion with a free round trip to Germany, a discounted price on a 914-6 and free shipping back to the States, I gave it some thought but didn’t pull the trigger. A few months later I was kicking myself, It seemed when Porsche discontinued the car it was in demand. I recall several PCA Golden Gate Region members on the lookout for and acquiring a 914-6 myself included. They were very popular and dominating Auto-X and Time Trial cars, when the So Cal Boys came up north for an event you'll never guess what their weapon of choice was? (While we are on that subject how in the hell did you guys get a 7" wheel under the stock rear fender?) Tom & Marj Green Founders of Automotion even took a 914-6 and made it their Demo project car to show off their performance parts and accessories for Porsche’s. As we all know the value of a 914-6 has been up and down ever since and currently is on the upswing which I for one am glad to see that it’s finally getting the recognition it deserves. I read somewhere recently that the 914-6 is potentially the new speedster, I’m not going to disagree…

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Originally Posted by Frank Beck

It seems as though well over half of the 6 production was Tangerine? What's with that?

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I think you are confusing Tangerine with Signal Orange. I have owned my car since Feb. of 1972, every time I see another "6" I take notice and it seems to me that every other "6" is Signal Orange including most of the Factory GT's. Silver seems to be a very popular color as well, just my observation.

Interesting as to how opinions and perspectives can differ. Bernie, owning a Tangerine car I would love to think that it's not the most predominate color but my observation is that it just may be.

Raj, that's easy: 911 engine, a good car is a blast to drive, and considering one can join a fairly elite group of collectors, are a bargain right now... even at 40+.

In the long run (from a collectors standpoint), I think the guys modifying their cars may regret it, unless of course they simply built a stronger motor using the original case. These cars should have been built with 160+hp from the factory. They're pretty boring stock.

I first saw a 914 at Circle Motors in long beach Ca....o-yea I was just in high school and was really into the VW thing, even though my sister had a 356...it was all VW _hit for me!

Seems 2,700.00 u.s. dollars would have got me a sweet 70' plain jane 914 with painted bumpers and all! I had a job at a Taco stand and was making a whopping 1.15 an hour bending Taco's and saved 100 bucks the summer of 69'.

"Hey Mom could you loan me 26 hundred dollars to buy a new Porsche....errr ahhh, I mean VW"! Boy was I dreaming because my mother didn't make that much money all year. (dad died and mom supported 6 kids, me being the last) so.................no 914 for me!

Next thing I find out is, one of my rich friends dad bought him a 914 (econo) Porsche. Well Ricky Carpenter invites me to go cruzing with him down Bellflower blvd and then up to Harvey's Broiler (in Downey) then on to Tweedy and Whittier Blvd. Man we were sooooo cool, I thought to my self, I will have a 914 some day.

Some day a million years later, a buddy sold me his "Prized" 914-6 and I had finally died and I'm now in 914 Heaven!
It was Tangerine w/alloys and had a plastic front splitter. Best of all it was a gift from Porsche and Vasek Polak for winning the "Pedro Rodriguez" award for being the most aggressive driver in the Can Am season, his name was Milt Minter.

I now have a 1970 Silver plane jane 914-4 that is exactly like the one Ricky had (thanks Phil) and have had 2 other 914-6's and still have my "Troutman" truck.

I like em all any color, any engine, any-way. Rusty, crashed, stolen, borrowed, street-ed, race-ed.... hell, you could make one that floats (not a bad idea ehh) and I would love that one too.

I'm 58 years old and still love the 914 whether they are worth a lot or a little, they might be made by VW but some day I will come clean on some of my VW's, so be nice you guys.

O yea Mr. Beck, my Truck was a "SPORTO" and i'm thinkin about putting that back in..................thoughts!

KJ

Put the Sporto back in!! That motor with a Sporto would be a hoot to drive.

VW DNA guy, of course you should do a Sportoration on the TT. Trucks are supposed to have automatics.

Milt... Great memories. He was The Working Man's driver. Had the chance to dance with him a few years ago. Even though he was about 97 years old at the time he was still faaaast. Total Jeckyll and Hyde- Pussy cat off the track but get him behind the wheel and he was a mad man. Great times I will never forget.

Raj, I can see 6's being 70k in a few years. Currently a great bargain in Porschedom.

So now VW's have a social disease?????

Hey Bernie,

Where did the car-toon come from...must be some publication from Cali.

In the early dayz (so.cal) of the 914, there was definitely a line in the pavement...one side: kids with their 914's and the other side: respected gentleman that bought a 6 (not knowing they had a bigger engine because they only bought for the Alloy wheels):) and ended up being pretty cool! Still not cool enough to even be in the 911 "T" club though...."not that there's anything wrong with 911 "T's"

In California it seemed to be Ritchie that got things really going for the "Locals" (LA-OC-SF dudes) thinking the 914-6 was a pretty damn good race car. The 911 racer's never talked about loosing their race but you can bet....the didn't even breath a word that they were beat by a 914 of any denomination....then we introduce.... Wayne Baker.

Wayne Baker was from San Diego and everybody else (california racers) was on the other side of Camp Pendelton, right up to Jerry Woods (Garretson) country! Wayne seemed to be able to beat up on anybody with his FOUR CYLINDER 914. Then everybody started racing 914's (4 or 6) some of which went on to win Championship after Championship. I really don't know how the 914-4 was raced in Europe. The 914-6 in GT trim did what we already know tho.

Was it because it was so ezzie to drive? Was it sooo affordable? Was it ezzie to work on? Was it now ezzie to be a winner? .......HELL YES!

VW's do rule disease or not!

Gumby

Wayne's car (Ron Mitzak now) was definitley ahead of its time. But... it doesn't hold a candle to our current vintage 914's. And it shouldn't.

You're right, Frank.

It's pretty hard to beat one of your 275hp 2.0 liter 914's.
Here's a photo of current, but retro....meaning, remember when we got the 917 shoved up our butts to convince us that a mid-engine 914 was just like it's big brother. This 914 is Lee G's new 914...don't know that he's seen it yet. It is in good company with Christian Zugel's 917.

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