Porsche sold well over 100,000 examples of the 914 in both 4- and 6-cylinder guise during its six-year production window in the early 70s.
And while an ever-dwindling few might complain of its shortcomings, its redeeming characteristics now make it an attractive and - more importantly - affordable proposition.
Great handling, unorthodox looks and inexpensive to live with aren’t the only reasons to consider a 914. As well as being agile, they also offer great driver feedback, have two luggage compartments and are more reliable than rivals of that era.
What’s more, the Targa roof like the 914-4 offered here means it’s a convertible in a jiffy.
This authentic left hand-drive 1976 Porsche 914-4 came off the lines at Karmann’s Osnabrück facility during December, 1975.
Porsche production records tell us that the last ever batch of 914 chassis numbers ended at ‘4762904100’. With its chassis #4762903955, this car is the 145th-last to be made.
The car was destined for California in the United States and according to the warranty commencement date, received its first registration to a resident of La Mesa near San Diego in August 1976.
Its second owner (also a resident of La Mesa) acquired the car in June, 1977 with 15,000 miles on the clock. The original service book is stamped up to 30,000 miles.
After that, very little is known of the fortunes of the car other than it being stored away for around 12 years in San Diego prior to making its way to Colorado in 2010.
The car was imported from Colorado in early 2014 by The VW Camper Company Ltd of Banbury, Oxfordshire and was its first UK keeper from February, 2014.
The current keeper acquired the car a few weeks later on 21st March, 2014 and has enjoyed many happy miles in the car in the intervening years. The car is currently enjoyed as a semi-daily drive.
In 2015, the family and pooch pootled off to the annual ‘Simply Porsche’ event held at Beaulieu. While enjoying a picnic, they were surprised to find the car had won the ‘People’s Choice Award’.
The occasion made the cover of the August/September issue of ‘All Torque’, the magazine of the Porsche Enthusiasts Club. The win was highlighted in promotion posters for the 2016 event (see image gallery).
Accompanying the sale of the car will be the V5 certificate in the current keeper’s name, an expansive file of invoices detailing maintenance work carried out in recent years, the original Owner’s Manual / Maintenance Service Record book and two sets of keys.DSC03104.JPG1.9 MB
The Interior
Fully original throughout
Furniture swathed in tan leatherette
Condition is commensurate with age and mileage
The interior of this automotive gem presents in very good condition, to the extent that our writer frequently had to remind himself that this is a 46-year-old West German classic.
Fitted out in 70’s trim, the interior is swathed in elegant tan leatherette. The dashboard and door cards present remarkably well for their age, as do the carpets and one piece targa-top roof usually stored in the rear luggage compartment.
There are signs of wear to the seat upholstery as pictured and the rear view mirror recently parted ways with the windscreen. There is a small tear to the centre armrest, also pictured.
Mirroring the condition of the cabin, both the front and rear storage compartments are very tidy and clean. When enjoying the open air, the removable roof is stored in the rear compartment along with the fire extinguisher.
Unfortunately, both of the rooftop retaining clips in the boot have broken (a known weak area), but a new pair of clips as pictured is to accompany the car.
Overall, the 914 fully original interior reflects the car’s ‘lovingly used’ condition and promises to be a delightful place in which to spend some immersive road time.
Presented in original ’76 Sunflower Yellow (1976 paint code L-13K)
Original 15-inch Fuchs forged-alloy wheels
Wears its surface imperfections well
Handsomely presented in its original Sunflower Yellow (1976 paint code L-13K), this well-loved Porsche 914-4 is in very good condition for its 46 years and 100k+ mileage.
The paintwork shines to a good standard and both ‘Porsche’ decals remain in good condition. The front and rear lights are clear and all electrics are said to be in working order and both undersides of the boot lid and bonnet are in excellent condition.
As evidenced in the gallery, there are numerous small chips and blemishes to the paintwork around the car but these are fully commensurate with the car’s age, mileage and current semi-daily use.
A glance along each flank shows no evidence of collision damage and the front number plate and valance remain blemish-free. The front and rear sills of the car are in good order as are each of the door under-sills.
The original factory-fitted 15-inch Fuchs forged alloy wheels are in good condition but would benefit from refurbishment. They are shod with a good set of Continental ‘ContiProContact’ tyres all round.
Currently used as a semi-daily to ‘keep it active’
2.0-litre flat four boxer engine pulls well
At the photo location, the Porsche 914-4 was repositioned to obtain the best of changeable light.
The 2.0-litre VW Type 4 boxer engine started confidently and settled into a steady idle. The manual five-speed gearbox connected smoothly and the clutch engaged with little drama, requiring just a light feathering of the revs to get underway.
Having invested much in maintaining the mechanicals to a good, reliable standard, the custodian reports the vehicle to be in healthy mechanical condition with steering, brakes, engine, drivetrain and running gear performing as well as their respective West German engineers surely intended over 50 years ago.
The underside is clean and tidy and presents in very good order.
A raft of service, repairs and maintenance invoices acquired in recent years attest to the good mechanical condition of the car. The more important of those documents are pictured in the gallery below.
Essentially, three options appear open to the next keeper of OBA 210P…
Afford this classic 70’s Porsche a full ‘body-off’, nut-and-bolt’ restoration inside and out and proudly drive or trailer it to regional car shows.
Alternatively, invest in some light TLC of the minor identified issues to further elevate its standard.
Or, simply leave it as it is in its ‘lovingly used’ condition, maintain the mechanicals to the current reliable standard (treating it to an annual ‘peace-of-mind’ MoT) and continue to enjoy the road less travelled. And not just on Sundays.
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