Porsche · 1969–1976

Porsche 914

The Porsche 914 or VW-Porsche 914 is a mid-engined sports car designed, manufactured and marketed collaboratively by Volkswagen and Porsche from 1969 to 1976. Available as a targa-topped two-seat roadster, across a single generation, the 914 was powered by either a flat-4 or flat-six engine.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Porsche 912 · Successor: Porsche 924

All Porsche 914 data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

History

=== Pre-development === By the late 1960s, both Volkswagen and Porsche were in need of new models; Porsche was looking for a replacement for their entry-level 912, and Volkswagen wanted a new range-topping sports coupé to replace the Volkswagen Type 34 Karmann Ghia coupé. At the time the majority of Volkswagen's development work was handled by Porsche as part of an agreement that dated back to Porsche's founding. Volkswagen needed to contract out one last project to Porsche to fulfill the contract, and decided to make the 914 that project. Ferdinand Piëch, who was in charge of research and development at Porsche, was put in charge of the 914 project. In 1966 and 1967, German company Gugelot Design GmbH began showing a proposed design for a sports coupe built with technology developed in partnership with Bayer to several major car builders, including Volkswagen and Porsche. Some sources have suggested that the Gugelot proposal, suitably adapted, was the origin of the design of the 914. The rationale is that an outside design would be able to please both Volkswagen and Porsche without appearing too similar to either of the partners' existing products. Later sources have rejected this idea. While acknowledging that Porsche was aware of the Gugelot design, they assert that the 914 design was done in-house at Porsche, and is primarily the work of body engineer Heinrich Klie. Joint venture. Originally intending to sell the vehicle with a flat four-cylinder engine as a Volkswagen and with a flat six-cylinder engine as a Porsche, Porsche decided during development that having Volkswagen and Porsche models sharing the same body would be risky for business in the American market, and convinced Volkswagen to allow them to sell both versions as Porsches in North America.On March 1

Features

Volkswagen versions originally featured the fuel-injected 1.7 L VW Type 4 flat-four engine producing 80 bhp (60 kW; 81 PS). Porsche's 914/6 variant featured the 2.0 L air-cooled Type 901/3 flat-six engine from the 1967–1969 911T model. This was the least powerful flat-six in Porsche's lineup. This engine had revised pistons that reduced the compression ratio to 8.6:1. The cylinder barrels were entirely made of iron, in contrast to the iron and aluminum "Biral" barrels in the engines in the 911S and 911L. New camshafts had less lift, and relaxed timing characteristics. The venturis in the Weber 40IDT3C carburetors were 27 mm (1.1 in), smaller than the other 911 engines, and the exhaust pipe diameter was also reduced in size. Power output was 110 bhp (82 kW; 112 PS). When the 911T got a 2.2 L engine in 1970, the engine in the 914/6 remained at 2.0 L. All engines were placed amidships in front of a version of the 1969 911's "901" gearbox configured for a mid-engined sports car. Karmann manufactured the rolling chassis at their plant, completing Volkswagen production in-house or delivering versions to Porsche for their final assembly. The 914/6 models featured both a higher power output and higher curb weight than the 4-cylinder models. They came with lower gear ratios, larger brakes, five-lug wheels and an ignition on the left side of the steering wheel. Suspension and handling were otherwise mostly the same. A Volkswagen-Porsche joint venture, Volkswagen of America, handled export to the U.S., where both versions were badged and sold as Porsches. The four-cylinder cars were sold as Volkswagen-Porsches at European Volkswagen dealerships. For 1973, the discontinued 914/6 was replaced in the lineup by a variant powered by a new 100 bhp (75 kW; 101 PS) 2.0 L, fuel-injected ve

Technical summaries

=== Technical specifications of the standard versions === The Porsche 914 was produced from 1969 to 1976 in the following models: 914 road car timeline. === Chassis numbers ===

Concept cars, prototypes, and factory specials

=== Porsche 914/6 GT, 914/6 R === On 1 March 1970 the 914/6 was homologated by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) for Group 4, Special Grand Touring cars. That same month two cars were sent to the Targa Florio for testing, not as competitors. These were the first two 914/6 GT cars built. Externally the cars were distinguished by squared fender flares that were the full 2 in (51 mm) depth permitted by FIA rules. The chassis was reinforced with three welded plates on each side. For rally applications, a stone guard protected the power-train and a stone shield did the same for the front of the car. The GT cars received stronger lower front A-arms, and anti-roll bars were fitted front and rear. Ground clearance was reduced to 4 in (102 mm). Brakes front and rear were upgraded to the same components used on the racing 911S model. Fiberglass panels for the front and rear bumpers, front and rear deck lids, and left and right rocker panels replaced the original steel parts. The rear air intake grille was doubled in size. An inlet in the front bumper admitted air to a new supplementary oil cooler in the nose. The car's nose compartment was nearly filled by a 100 L (26.4 US gal) fuel tank. The car weighed 1,980 lb (898.1 kg) ready to race. The engine remained at 2.0 litres displacement with Weber Carburetor induction, but was extensively upgraded otherwise. New cylinder heads with larger valves topped aluminum cylinder barrels with chrome-plated bores. A dual-ignition system fired two spark plugs per cylinder. High compression pistons and forged steel piston rods were borrowed from the 911S. A special crankshaft was added. Camshafts and rocker arms came from the 901/20 in the Carrera 6. Power output was up to 210 PS (154.5 kW; 207.1 hp) at 8000 rpm. Although th

Motorsport

A 914/6 GT driven by Frenchmen Claude Ballot-Léna and Guy Chasseuil won the GTS class and finished sixth overall at the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans. Brian Redman used a 914/6 to scout the course in practice runs for the 1970 Targa Florio. F1 safety car. The Porsche 914 is renowned for having been Formula One's first safety car following its deployment at the 1973 Canadian Grand Prix to help manage the race, which had seen various incidents due to treacherous weather conditions.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Porsche 914
Manufacturer: Porsche (Type 914/6), Karmann (Type 914/4)
aka: VW-Porsche 914
Production: 1969–1976, 118,978 produced, 914/4: 115,646, 914/6: 3,332, 914/8: 2
Assembly: West Germany: Stuttgart, Zuffenhausen, West Germany: Osnabrück (VW-Porsche)
Predecessor: Porsche 912, Volkswagen Type 34 Karmann Ghia
Successor: Porsche 924
Class: Sports car
Body style: 2-door targa
Layout: Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
Engine: 1.7 L Volkswagen Type 4 F4, 1.8 L Volkswagen Type 4 F4, 2.0 L Volkswagen Type 4 F4, 2.0 L Type 901/36 F6 (914/6)
Transmission: 5-speed manual, 4-speed semi-automatic transmission (Sportomatic)
Wheelbase: 2450 mm
Length: 3985 mm
Width: 1650 mm
Kerb weight: 940 -
Related: Porsche 914-6 GT, Porsche Tapiro
Designer: Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, Heinrich Klie

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1347004CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_914CC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1377106417 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:VW-Porsche_914_am_17.06.2007.jpgCC BY-SA 2.0 de · Photo: see file page · retrieved 2026-10-01
Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.