history of the 914
Is the 914 / 4 a true Porche? Or a Volkswagen?
Dear No_Bull_88-- The Porsche 914 was developed by Porsche under an agreement with Volkswagen. The intent was to sell the four cylinder version as a Volkswagen and the six cylinder as a Porsche. The six-cylinder had Porsche upgrades to the suspension and brakes, while the four had Volkswagen components. They were sold in Europe under both company names, but for marketing reasons in the U.S. market both versions were called Porsche and sold by the joint Porsche-Volkswagen venture called Volkswagen of America. I hope this helps. Good luck from Bovan.
indeed.... lol. Another thing you will find is some of the early european 914-6's have a rear badge that says "914-6(VW)PORSCHE" All in one. The fours were built, someone correct me if im wrong, at the VW plant. Then the bodies of the Sixes were transported down the road to the Porsche plant, where they were the assembly was finished. Thus the reason for Porsche parts on the sixes that are not on the fours, such as the affore mentioned engine (obviously), suspension, etc. To further on the engine, the 2.0 liter flat six in the Sixes was a 69 911T motor (again corrections if im wrong) The big differences were also felt in the cost to buy one of these. Because Porsche put so much extra effort into the sixes, they had to sell them for way more than the fours. In fact, they were so much more expensive, that at a Porsche dealer, you could spend only like idk, maybe $2,000 more, and get a 911. So, needless to say, they did not sell very well (914-6) and thus the only 2 year run on them.
The production of the 914s and 914-6s is soo screwy it get too hard to follow accurately. The rolling chassis was supposed to be built at a Karmann plant (tooled by VW) and then either kept in house for the 4's or sent off for the 6's... However, rolling chassis usually means suspension too, so I think that may have been installed at the Karmann plant? It wouldn't be the only part they put on different for the 6's. If I remember they have the key on the left side of the column and some other subtle changes as well. (I know the VIN is either raised or indented depending on if it's a 4 or a 6(Can't remember which goes to which). As far as if it's a VW or Porsche... It was a collaboration that went to hell fast. Starting with the cost of tooling which became a topic of debate after a management change at VW, or so I've been told. I know Porsche bought out VW's stake towards the end. Late 75 I think? So in my opinion all the ones sold after that are Porsche's with parts/Assembly outsourced to VW/Karmann, since the collaboration was dead by that point. But that's my bias as an owner of a '76... And if you consider it a VW because of the type 4, then wouldn't the 912E also be part VW? Funny some Porsche enthusiast will claim the 914 isn't a Porsche because of the Type 4 but will NEVER claim a 912 isn't a full bred Porsche?
hahaha touche about the 912 lol. yes, you are correct about the ignition, because porsche always tries to have their ignition on the left. This tradition was started because, back until the 1970 (confirmation?) LeMans, the drivers would line up across the main straight across from their cars, and they would have to run to the car, jump in, start it up, and take off, and whoever could get this done the fastest would get off first. So, porsche came up with the idea that if the ignition is on the left, the drivers could be turning the ignition, while jumping in the car, and thus gain some valuable time. There are definately differences between the two cars, but they should both be respected, as like you stated, a collaboration (nice word btw) of VW and Porsche, and anyone that tells you otherwise, just punch em. Although, those are probably the people that put small blocks in the 914s (blasphemy) Good addition to the article adam.
A lot of details are differ from a 914-6 to a -4. Only the shell (in some 914's, not the 914GT or the 916) is the same. Suspension, wheels, brakes, interior dash, serial #'s (914-6 start with 914...). I agree the 914-4 should be called a VW, since the body (look at the VW seal stamped in glasses), wheels and engine are VW. The only VW thing the latter 912 had was the engine.
yeah thats true too about all the suspension pieces and brakes and all that. My dad put 911S brakes on his 914-6 as well as a 911S front suspension, in order to fit those bigger brakes. Yes, as well, the serial numbers are different, i forgot about that. I guess you could sum it up to this.... the relation is very similar to what Porsche and RUF have. RUF gets car bodies from porsche, but put their own stuff in them. However, it was a joint effort in the first place, so i don't think it can ever be said that a 914-4 is absolutely either a true Porsche or a true VW, however, the 914-6 are definitely closer to a 911 than a Karmann Ghia.
yea the 914-6 was a true porsche but the 914-4 was a electronically injected vw even the same 4 cylinder engine was used in some vw busses they even offered vw designed outomatic transmission to some of them as the same used in some beetles the vw ones was built in charmancia body factorys but they all had a g-track transmissions as other porsces built at that time all due the entrance of the gear stick rod was at the back in early models but due to some shifting problems they corrected the situation by carrying it to the left side of the huge transmission box
Gee, I don't remember any gripping when ALL Porsche engines were VW. How things have changed.
