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1973 Volkswagen SP2

1973 Volkswagen SP2

Published January 16, 2022 by Carter

Volkswagen do Brasil’s attempt to revise the Karmann Ghia Type 14 took two very different directions. Both were based on the 1600 wagon, but they took very different directions. The Karmann Ghia TC looked like a restyled version of the original, while the SP2 looked a bit like a Type 4 and a 928 had a wild child.

‘SP’ referenced São Paulo where the SP and SP2 were produced. The early model had a 1.6 liter flat-4, while the SP2 moved up to a 75 horsepower 1.7 air-cooled flat-4 mounted in the rear. The proportions of the body styling seemed to suggest the opposite though, with the long, low hood and hatchback GT profile looking more like a traditional sports car than any VW had before. Other period designs were borrowed – the Volkswagen 411, the Porsche 924 and Audi’s 100 Coupe S all had similar angles.

Only about 11,300 of these ultra-rare, Brazil-only SP2s were produced. They’re about as legendary as air-cooled VWs get in the U.S., so when one pops up for sale it’s worth a look:

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1974 Porsche 914 1.8

1974 Porsche 914 1.8

Published July 6, 2021 by Carter

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:

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1974 Volkswagen Brasilia

1974 Volkswagen Brasilia

Published December 18, 2020 by Carter

I’ll start out by saying that the Brasilia is not the most beautiful Volkswagen product. It is not the most beautiful air-cooled product, either. In fact, we can go a few steps further and argue that it’s not even the most beautiful product from Volkswagen do Brazil, but a factor of at least two – since the SP2 and Karmann Ghia TC have that market pretty firmly cornered. But all three of these Brazilian creations share one thing in common, besides being air-cooled and produced in South America – they’re über rare in the states. Today a clean Brasilia has popped up on eBay in Florida, and it was worth a look:

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1976 Porsche 911S Coupe Signature Edition

1976 Porsche 911S Coupe Signature Edition

Published November 29, 2020 by Carter

What was the first special edition 911? It seems like the chicken and egg argument, if I’m honest. But certainly in the running must be the 1976 911 Signature Edition. Created to commemorate…Ferry Porsche’s signature, apparently….the Signature Edition treatment was applied to just 200 911s, all of which were finished in Platinum Metallic with color-matched wheels over a brown-beige leatherette and tweed interior. The pièce de résistance was the steering wheel, though, replete with Porsche’s signature embossed in the center. These are rare cars to find in the market today, so it was worth taking a look at this 911S Coupe for sale:

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1970 Porsche 914-6 Tribute

1970 Porsche 914-6 Tribute

Published January 16, 2020 by Carter

The aura of the 911 is so thoroughly encompassing it overshadows nearly every other Porsche model conceived and constructed, but especially this seems to be true of the 1970s. During that time Porsche launched groundbreaking models like the 924 and 928; generally, both very unappreciated compared to the air-cooled siblings. But the 914 seems nearly forgotten despite its similar engine behind the driver and atmospheric cooling setup. Why? Well, it’s not the prettiest Porsche design, it’s true – but presented properly it is still quite neat.

The most collectable are the original 914-6s, but of course the low cost of ownership for some time meant there are a lot of motor-swapped 914s cruising around. Some are better than others and not all are desirable – I’d take an original and clean 914 over a poorly swapped car. But some really grab attention, as this Signal Orange 2.2-swapped car did to me:

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