Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Hail
Since we are off on a Porsche tangent today and Chris has been courteous to share some rare Porsche's I might as well chime in:
Another rare (really really rare P-Car) is the 914/8. What makes this car so special? How about a 908 3.0 Liter Flat 8 stuffed in the mid-section.
Funny thing about the 914. The factory really didnt push its potential being it was a joint venture between VW and Porsche (body by Karmann). It had more important interests at the time namely developement of the 911. Like all manufacturers they limit the lessor models as to not compete with its flagships.
Purest's never excepted the 914 as a real Porsche. The fact is a 914/6 of the same year as the 911 , both with 2.0 engines will out excellerate, out brake, and handle better than its brethren with the correct setup. Why? Because its mass is in the middle not the rear and its 400 pounds lighter. Then we have the 916GT which came with either the 2.4 or 2.7 liter motor from the Carrera. Only 11 prototypes of the 916GT were built.
The 914 was replaced in the lineup by the 924 which we will not discuss here (ever).
|
I think it's important to remember that in Europe the 914 had the words Volkswagen 914 on the back and were produced at the Volkswagen plant. The VW marque was deleted on the 914 for the American market so as to increase its value. With the exception of the 914-6, the 916, and the 914-8, all 914's are basically VW's. There is nothing wrong with that. Dr. Porsche is the father of Volkswagen and all his cars, including VW's are superior in quality to almost anything else. In my opinion Volkswagen is almost as famous as Porsche, just look at how they changed the world, made little indestructable cars and trucks, covered the globe, and made dune buggys, baja bugs, sand rails, and so much more. I remember when every other car was a VW, or so it seemed in the 60,s.
The "peoples car" or "Volkswagen" in German was commisioned by Adolph Hitler. This may not be very popular. However the cornerstone of the new Volkswagen plant was laid by Hitler on May 26, 1938. On the eve of World War II, Dr. Porsche presented the Volkswagen to Hitler as a birthday gift. Remember Hitler wanted to rule the world and his plans were for everyone to drive one of these "peoples car". Luckily for the world, he lost the war, but the VW and Porsche marque lived on and still lives today thank goodness. Porsche and Volkswagen may be the only positive things that we got from that terrible era in German history.
Note: Please no one be offended by these facts of history, that's all they are.
Here is Dr. Porsche presenting the Volkswagen to Adolph Hitler in 1938.
