914 at Le Mans

[jay castriotta]

I like my 911 (a mildly hotted up 911 SC), but having driven my 914/6 right after driving the 911 it made me wonder why Porsche never did more with it in terms of racing. What an awesomely responsive car. I never realized they did in anything in racing with it until I read the article in Classic and Sports car this month on 914's. A 1970 GT class win and 6th overall at Le Mans? Seventh overall and another class win at Daytona in 71 along with a number of IMSA wins that year. Tied for third at the Monte Carlo Rally in 1971. Maybe it was too good. Imagine if Porsche had developed the 914 like they did the 911.

[DonNewton]

Rent a copy of "LeMans" and watch for the Sonnato 914 (it's white, and pretty d*mned quick). That's the one that has the class win at LeMans. BTW, it now resides in CA with it's current owner. . .

[jay castriotta]

Awesome, I can't wait!

[Kevin Powers]

imagine if porsche had galvanised the bodys at the factory and figured out something different with the battery.remember entry level car,my understanding is the 6 was about $500 less than the 911.there was a big uproar over the production cost increase of the bodies. for you youngsters out there, in the 70's the 914 was derided as a vw with porsche emblems.when i was stationed in germany the cast script on the back and letters on the engine cover read"vw porsche".

[rich]

Only real race cars have the motor in the middle.

[Bleyseng]

Yup, for only $500 more you could get a 911 over a 914/6. Those '70 911's were alot more plush too than the 2 seater! That's why they sat at the local Porsche dealer while the 911's and 914's sold. Even though they had that 411 motor my crowd never thought of them as a VW cuz they were way too cool. Maybe more of a chick car like a Miata.
I have only seen one real 914/6 GT so far, a real mans car, lots of copies though.
Geoff

[Ron Meier]

Rich is right!!!!

And for Bleyseng, that 914 looked like a Mercedes Benz Limo when compared to my '61 Frogeye and it said PORSCHE. AND your statement of non-acceptance is why I'm 56 and never joined the POA, but that's another story.

[Bleyseng]

Most of my friends bought 240Z's,Roadrunners, MG's I only knew girls that had t914's in 1970-71.
I drove a bug and would have loved to have the words Porsche on the back of my car.
Geoff

[Paul_Heery]

If it were not for a serious illness and a combination of other unfortunate circumstances, the 914 could have taken its rightful place on the Porsche podium. Imagine what could have been if Heinz Nordhoff had survived.

Here is a good article on the history:

http://www.findarticles.com/m0BUX/1_31/58046002/p1/article.jhtml