1974 Porsche 914 1.8

Instead of continuing on my trend of bashing you over the head with 924s you should buy, I thought I’d take a look at Porsche’s other budget entry model – the 914. Relatively unloved by all but those who own them, the 914 is an oddball in today’s market – values are literally all over the map. Perhaps that’s in part because of the array of options offered. Porsche threw several engines at the 914 to see what would stick; from the 1.7 liter flat-four through a 2.0 flat-six borrowed from the 911. Today’s example comes from the 1974 model year, which saw light revisions to the exterior and a new 1.8-liter fuel-injected flat-four enter service at the bottom of the range. But, as usual, it was the color that attracted me to this particular example:

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1974 Porsche 914 1.8 on eBay

Year: 1974
Model: 914 1.8
VIN: 4742908462
Engine: 1.8 liter flat-four
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 99,400 mi
Location: San Francisco, California
Price: $39,500 Buy It Now

This 1974 Porsche 914 was purchased new by the first owner at RS Taylor Corp., a Porsche/Audi dealership in Vallejo, California and has always resided in California and Washington. It remained with it’s original owner until 2014. It is finished in it’s original color of Delphi Green Metallic over brown leatherette interior. Powered by a fuel injected 1.8-liter flat-four paired with a five-speed manual transaxle and the car is equipped with the Appearance Package, a removable black roof panel, a single chrome flag mirror, intermittent windshield wipers, and an AM/FM/Cassette stereo. Work in the last 3k miles included a full repaint and professional full engine rebuild. This attractive 914 is offered with it’s original owners manual with service stamps, manufacturer’s literature, service record for full engine rebuild, and a clean title.
Paint and Body

The exterior was repainted approximately five years ago in it’s original highly desirable color of Delphi Green Metallic (L99A). All glass and trim pieces were meticulously removed prior to the repaint. The car features black sail panels, retractable headlights, fog lamps, and black bumpers front and rear. The stock black targa top is in very good original condition.

Interior

The interior is trimmed in brown leatherette with matching door panels and beige carpeting. Interior features include a heater and manual crank windows. An AM/FM/Cassette stereo is installed. The four-spoke steering wheel frames VDO instrumentation including a centrally mounted 7k-rpm tachometer, as well as a 150-mph speedometer and a fuel level gauge. A functioning analog clock, as well as gauges for engine temperature and battery voltage, are mounted in the center console. The five-digit odometer currently displays 99k original miles.

Wheels and Brakes

The original 15″ Fuchs wheels wear newly installed Vredestein Sprint Classic 165/80 radial tires with 2021 date codes. A brake system refurbishment included a replacement master cylinder, rebuilt calipers, and new brake pads. Brake fluid flush was just completed.
Mechanicals

The 1.8-liter flat-four sends power to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transaxle. The original engine was professionally rebuilt at 96,713 miles by Helmut’s German Auto Repair in Washington state with documentation. A photo of engine number EC004144 is shown in the gallery and is believed to be the original engine. The original 5-speed type 901 gearbox shifts smoothly with new shift bushings and a recent shift linkage adjustment. Scroll down to view test drive and cold start videos.
Documentation and Accessories

A tool kit, jack, and original spare are also included in the sale, along with service records and original owner’s manual with service stamps.

Test Driving Delphi Green 1974 Porsche 914 For Sale at Carplanet.com

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Cold Start 1974 Porsche 914 Delphi Green Metallic For Sale at Carplanet.com

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What really grabbed me was the Delphi Green Metallic exterior, but in truth looking inside is a rare treat as well – the vast majority of 914s I’ve seen have black interiors, so the brown leatherette is very cool here and matches the exterior well. Nice treats are the condition and Fuchs wheels; the 1.8 isn’t particularly desirable, though it was apparently recently rebuilt. Additional recent work seems to be a brake system overhaul and replacement of the tires. Also interesting is that the ad reads as if it’s borrowed from Bring a Trailer, but as far as I can tell this car wasn’t up on that site. Pricing? Well, pretty aggressive for a 1.8. Similar cars are trading for around $25,000 to $35,000, which is nothing to sneeze at – but it’s also the cheapest air-cooled Porsche you can get into right now, for what it’s worth. I’m not sure these are undervalued hugely, as much more and you’re treading on the arguably more desirable 912’s toes.

-Carter