1972 Porsche 914

There seems to be no end to the rise in air-cooled Porsche prices, but one of those cars that has lagged behind the crowd is the 914. This car was a joint venture between Porsche and Volkswagen, meant to be a halo car for Volkswagen to success the Karmann Ghia and to replace the 912 as the base model in the Porsche lineup. Throughout the years, Porsche has seemed to be a bit confused on what to field as an “entry level” car, as they went from a four cylinder 911, to this 914, then to the front-engined, water-cooled 924 and finally, the mid-engine Boxster that debuted in the late 1990s. The 914 would last for eight years, from 1969 through 1976, available in both four and six cylinder form. This 1972 example for sale in Idaho was originally a California car, looking stunning in silver metallic.

Click for details: 1972 Porsche 914 on eBay

Year: 1972
Model: 914
Engine: 1.7 liter flat-4
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 139,400 mi
Price: $17,495 Buy It Now

1972 Porsche 914 [VIN 4722 9028 81]
Low mileage, Accident Free, California car
3 coats epoxy primer, Factory color L96D Silver metallic two stage Paint
Body gaps true and consistent, confirmation of straight uni-body construction
1.7 liter factory fuel injection, 130 compression all cylinders
All electrical working, Addition of Alpine deck and speakers, Bluetooth, hands free
Optima red dry cell battery with battery tender hook-ups
Single key locks doors, front hood and back trunk
Complete original tool kit, original steering wheel new leather wrap
New Sumitomo tires x5, Bilstein shocks and struts
Idaho title free and clear, Sold as is no warranty
Will assist in the coordination for required shipping
Require $500 pay pal deposit within 24 hours for winning bid
Cashiers check money order, or direct deposit required for remaining balance 7 days

Seeing a 914 like this makes me ask the same question as we did with the Audi Coupe Quattro yesterday: why are these cars not more well-regarded? It could have been the Volkswagen connection, but that seems unlikely, as the 356 shared a lot of DNA with the Volkswagen Beetle. You really can’t have Porsche without Volkswagen and vice versa. Maybe the 911 does too good of a job overshadowing anything else Porsche? Whatever the case may be, there are plenty of these mid-engined machines hanging around on the market, so there is certainly one for every budget and taste. This one in silver over black strikes my fancy. The simplicity of the 914 and the fact that it’s a 1970s Porsche but NOT a 911 is a neat combination. With the 911 getting further out of reach for me, I may take a chance on this underappreciated air-cooled sports car in the future.

-Paul