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Posted by: Mark Henry Feb 18 2019, 07:39 AM

For me mid-70's, I'm walking home from high school, this /6 with GT flair and the car was a rat rod in grey primer, it was on my home town main drag and the guy was honking on it. I actually didn't know it was a 914 till I saw a 914 with GT flairs up close a few years later.

It was pure sex, I was 13-14yrs/old, I probably went home and spanked one off to a car.

Posted by: mepstein Feb 18 2019, 08:04 AM

A black one parked on the street because my neighbor was having a big party. Mid 70’s so I was probably 9 or 10. Seared into my brain and never went away.

Posted by: jim_hoyland Feb 18 2019, 08:12 AM

Early seventies: a green 914 was being chased by the cops through the narrowstreets of Sunset Beach. The 914 eluded the police until it drove into a golf course several miles away and got bogged down....

Posted by: sb914 Feb 18 2019, 08:21 AM

QUOTE(jim_hoyland @ Feb 18 2019, 06:12 AM)

Posted by: Racer Feb 18 2019, 08:41 AM

My parents garage.. late summer of 1971. It had been in the garage for over a year till I was born

Posted by: 914Sixer Feb 18 2019, 08:43 AM

First saw one in Osnabruck in 1970. Not impressed, as I had a 1967 911S when I was in Germany.

Posted by: 76-914 Feb 18 2019, 08:49 AM

April 1971; a high school buddy bought a 914-6 and decided to take me for a ride, in the rain. I thought he was going to kill us and almost shit myself several times that night.

Posted by: JmuRiz Feb 18 2019, 09:15 AM

Around 1987, a dad of a kid on my football team had a yellow 914/6. I only saw it a couple times when the weather was nice and he picked him up in it, but it left an impression.

Later I saw a 'best car for $15k' article in R&T and Jeff Zwart's response was his personal 914/6...before he modified it for the Alaska-Panama rally.

Posted by: tmessenger Feb 18 2019, 09:36 AM

New one at a VW dealership in Spokane Wa when they first came out 1970.

Tim

Posted by: HansJan Feb 18 2019, 09:47 AM

1990 When I first came to the US (SoCal) for an internship.
My uncle in had a green 914-4 2.0.
When I moved to the US in 1992, I tried to buy one myself (But could afford the $2,000 price-tag).

Posted by: Jazzy Feb 18 2019, 10:54 AM

A real car, not a photo? In 2017 when I went to a Porsche seller to check out what ended up being my first 914. Since then I have seen two other 914's at classic car events in The Netherlands and three in the US.

Posted by: defianty Feb 18 2019, 11:03 AM

1989 in Vancouver. I was 16 and it was our last big family holiday. We'd spent a couple of weeks driving from Calgary to Vancouver through the Rocky Mountains. I remember walking though a car park and at the end was a black 914. I instantly fell for it and said to my Dad "I'll have one some day".

Posted by: Mikey914 Feb 18 2019, 11:07 AM

1985 March 20th. The day I bought my 73 2.0. I had never really paid attention. It looked like it came off the showroom floor, Black. Wish I could find it again.

Posted by: CHIZ 914 Feb 18 2019, 11:47 AM

1979 when my older Brother purchased a 75-1.8L in Youngstown, Ohio
Owned it for 4 years, always put up for the winter, then was stolen!

Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Feb 18 2019, 12:37 PM

1969 Geneva auto show pic in R&T. After admiring and lusting for a 356 and 911 912 for all of my early youth, I thought "my god what did porsche do making that thing? Where are the headlights? Dog pan hubcaps? How could they go from the 912 to this?

Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Feb 18 2019, 12:37 PM

and then, several years later, I dedicated my life to the car

Posted by: buck toenges Feb 18 2019, 01:11 PM

Winter of 1971. I was 12, sick at home and my dad brought home a 1970 Adriatic blue 914 he bought from some soldier. He gave my sisters a ride already in it by the time I went into the garage to see it. He had earlier in the fall taken me with him to test drive a silver 912. This 914 was really different. Flip up head lights, 3 sets of seat belts, where was the engine? We had that car until 1982 when i sold it to the daughter of my welding buddy who would patch it up after it broke in half in 1981. Boy did I want a 911! After 2 911 cabs, a 356A, 4 914s, 1 912, 2 944ts, and a boxster I am finally fixing up my soon to be dd irish green 914 2.0L.


The circle of life my friends, the circle of life.

Posted by: Olympic 914 Feb 18 2019, 01:31 PM

In high school 1970, rich kid on our bus route. his dad bought him one for his 16th birthday. Silver, appearance group -4. he was always hammering it. saw it a lot at school. Didn't think much about it... I wanted a Vette

Years later upon seeing mine, a motorcycle friend told me he cut up a wrecked one. someone was using the engine/trans to build a trike. description fit. he gave me two Mahles and a roof just to get them out of his garage. I have the roof on my car now.

Posted by: SirAndy Feb 18 2019, 02:26 PM

QUOTE(Mark Henry @ Feb 18 2019, 05:39 AM)

Posted by: altitude411 Feb 18 2019, 02:48 PM

I saw a six in the early eighties while living and racing bicycles in the bay area. Had to have one. I made plans to purchase a four to convert. My friend showed up at my house the day before my purchase with a autotrader magazine that had a six going up for sale in San Rafael. I was there the next morning to purchase the car. Didn't expect that the sixes would ever be worth what they are getting for them today. Thanks to Andy for keeping this site together so we all have a school to learn from and to all the awesome people who share advise and knowledge.

Posted by: mbseto Feb 18 2019, 02:59 PM

Don't remember the FIRST time, there were enough of them around that I saw one occasionally. I do remember asking my dad about them and him saying they are underpowered. I was disappointed because I thought they looked cool. He had a 240Z around that time, which was a hoot. He had a knack for picking future classics.

Posted by: Lucky9146 Feb 18 2019, 03:03 PM

Neighbor had one in 1978, green, took terrible care of it and it smoked and sounded like hell. Hated them then

Posted by: poorsche914 Feb 18 2019, 04:37 PM

1982 when my dad bought a white '75 1.8.


Less than a year later, I had bought my first 914... an Alaska Blue 2.0

Posted by: raynekat Feb 18 2019, 04:46 PM

1970....brand new 914-6 sitting in a carport at the apartments where I cut grass for my summer job. I was big into VW Beetles...still caught my eye.

Posted by: Beach914 Feb 18 2019, 04:55 PM

Probably around 1973 or so, my Brother took me out to Dealer in Monterey that had a 70 914-6, Bahia Red, on the lot that we test drove and they were asking only $2600. He ended up buying a 64 356C for $2400 in Santa Cruz from a private owner.

Posted by: mb911 Feb 18 2019, 04:56 PM

About 1979-1980 I was 4 or 5 and dad bought a 71 with 3 seat belts . my parents drove with me everywhere in that. That was alonh with the 356s, 912s and the 924turbo (I loved that car as a kid)

Posted by: Gint Feb 18 2019, 05:16 PM

Early seventies for me as well. A guy three doors down had one that he parked on the street. I walked by it every day on the way to kindergarten or first grade (it was only three blocks down the street). The seats on the flat floor and the 150 MPH speedo fascinated me.

Posted by: daytona Feb 18 2019, 05:18 PM

March 1972. My girlfriend's older brother bought a yellow 914-6 and took me for a ride.

Posted by: TheCabinetmaker Feb 18 2019, 05:34 PM

Summer, 1973. Drove past Conine-Swab porsche\Audi and thought "what the hell was that sitting in the show room? " Drove 3 blocks and turned around. Took it for a test drive, then drove it home! Traded in my 1 month old datsun pickup.

Posted by: kgruen2 Feb 18 2019, 06:04 PM

When they first came out in 1970. Saw one compete in a parking lot gymkana in Kansas City, Mo. Have owned 2 since, a maroon '76 and white '73 2.0.

Posted by: mmichalik Feb 18 2019, 06:05 PM

Probably around '79 or '80. I was in 5th grade and it the license plate RUNVS (Are You Envious)
Between that and the BMW 2002 that I fell in love with, I was hooked.

Got both cars now and the license plate as well.




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Posted by: cpavlenko Feb 18 2019, 07:03 PM

Early 1970, Anaheim California, at auto dealer. They had different euro cars there new for sale. I sat in the 1970 sixer, and loved the room it had being 6'2". Much better than my 74 Lotus Europa JPS. Especially getting in and out.

Posted by: VaccaRabite Feb 18 2019, 07:30 PM

Mid-80s growing up in Modesto CA. I'd see 914s, Bugs, Things, and Ghias on a fairly regular basis driving to work waiting for the bus. At the time I had no idea what a 914 was.

Zach

Posted by: Dion Feb 18 2019, 07:33 PM

Funny... just talking about this last nite with Brian (ThreeV8’s) .
I was about 8 yrs old (1973) , neighbor 4 houses down had a “Robin” egg blue one in the driveway. SHE would always give a beep on the horn when I was on my bike.
Lasting impression on me.... hmmm the girl or the car

Posted by: Rleog Feb 18 2019, 08:04 PM

1970. A good friend bought a new Signal Orange 914/4 just as I graduated from college. We roomed together and I got to drive it occasionally until I entered the Army that fall.

Posted by: 914forme Feb 18 2019, 08:07 PM

1976 when my father brought home his new to him 914-6. Love at first site.

Posted by: beech4rd Feb 18 2019, 08:10 PM

Early Seventies in West London, England. A yellow (VW-Porsche) 914 and a BRG MGB were racing between traffic lights late at night. The 914 was being out dragged at each light. I was following in a VW van and could almost keep up with the 914. Never thought I'd own one after watching that.

Posted by: SteveL Feb 18 2019, 09:21 PM

1982 Swim Coach had a zambezi green 73. Decided then that I wanted one. Bought one 10 years later after college and have had it ever since (27 years) It is in the garage right now waiting for some diagnosis time and new tires.

Posted by: warpig Feb 18 2019, 10:19 PM

When I was 12 (1975ish) I lived in Southern AZ. My best friend's dad wrenched on Baja Bugs, Sand Rails, Ghias etc for his friends as a side biz in his carport. We would hang around, hand him tools etc, and read him info from the VW's for Idiots book. As a reward we would get to go on test drives around the neighborhood. One day we walked up after school and he was working on this weird little, baby blue two seat car with no top, and it had a strange passenger seat that only the bottom moved. After he finished working on it we both buckled into the weird passenger seat and went for a ride.
That memory stuck with me until I decided I needed something to drive besides a motorcycle or a truck and I got one of my own in 2010. (now I'm on #3)

Posted by: bbrock Feb 18 2019, 11:20 PM

Would have been about '75 or '76 when I was 13 or 14. Riding in the car with my mom and saw an adriatic blue with BUBs drive by in the other lane. It had a negative side stripe to tell me the make of the car. I wasn't into cars. I liked Vettes, but every teenage boy in America liked Vettes. This car was different. It grabbed me like no other car had before, or has since. I didn't buy my first car until I was 19. Of course, it had to be a teener. No regrets!

Posted by: SKL1 Feb 18 2019, 11:25 PM

Pretty much about 50 years ago- the following bit tells the story...

Gotta try and find a picture of when one of my best friends and I drove a very early euro model 914 (just before they were introduced in the USA) from Minneapolis to Cedar Rapids IA for the opening of the new Porsche+Audi dealer in my hometown. A good friend of mine was one of the P cars mechanics at the new dealership and they need "volunteers" to drive the car down to Iowa. It was in the middle of the winter but we didn't care.
The car was a 4 with appearance group and if I remember correctly a darker blue. Had the Wolfsburg crest on the steering wheel and the VW-Porsche script on the back. We were in college at the time and the trip was a great break from studying!!

Got my 914 from the same dealer about a year later... 49 years and still going strong!

Posted by: oakdalecurtis Feb 19 2019, 03:11 AM

I started dating my now wife of 42 years while in high school. My car was a Ford Pinto, and even then we referred to it as the "blow up car”. One afternoon, my neighbor asked me if I was planning on taking my girlfriend to the upcoming high school Prom. When I said yes, he then informed me that it “just wasn't right to take her out on a big date like that in a Pinto”. My neighbor had just purchased a new silver 914, the first I had ever seen, and he offered let me use it to drive her to the big event! I couldn't believe it, and neither could my girlfriend, when I arrived to pick her up for the Prom in this little racy silver Porsche!
My generous neighbor continued to let me use his 914 whenever I had a big date night with my girl, and I will be forever grateful to him.
I'm not so sure that I would lend out my 914 today to a 16 year old kid like I was then! My neighbor will always be one of my heroes!

Posted by: ClayPerrine Feb 19 2019, 06:40 AM

First time I saw one was when I moved back to Texas in 79. One of the guys in my high school class drove one. I ended up parking next to it in the school parking lot. There are pictures of it in my high school year book. The owner was a bit of an ass, and he and I didn't move in the same social circles, and frankly, I was really into muscle cars, so I didn't give it much thought at the time.

First 914 that I ever rode in and drove is sitting in our garage right now. I met Betty in 1985, and we have been together ever since.

Posted by: 914 Ranch Feb 19 2019, 09:39 AM

I can't remember when I first saw a 914 but in '71 I tried to trade in my Ghia with a 356 motor (a really sharp car). Took a test drive and when I returned they told me that they couldn't give me what I wanted for the Ghia. Only wanted $1.000.

Posted by: pascalou Feb 19 2019, 09:43 AM

Hi, first time I saw a 914 was in 1979; It was a phénix red with tartan seats. The guy and me were at Liege University in Belgium. I was telling to myself this is my dreamcar, I will own one like it! And I did it in 1984, a white 1700 car but so rusted that I sold as parts...
In 2012 I bought one from Arizona but did not use it until this year. I have almost finished to refurbish it ! Before this year I used to ride my ruby red 356.
So much fun too!

Posted by: rhodyguy Feb 19 2019, 09:47 AM

1972 Karlsruhe Germany. Parked half on a sidewalk at night with the left side lights on. I wanted a 356 at the time or a flared Capri with a turbo charged v-6. No interest in a 2 seat 'Volkswagen'.

Posted by: Aircooledfool Feb 19 2019, 09:53 AM

For me it was 1973 when I purchased my first car, a tangerine 72 914. I was 15 and couldn't drive it legally for 6 months. However, that didn't stop me . After all, it was the 70's.

Posted by: ejm Feb 19 2019, 10:11 AM

It was late 70, early 71, dealers showroom, Fearn Motors, Huntington Station, New York. Wish I still had the brochures I picked up that day.

Posted by: Pursang Feb 19 2019, 11:04 AM

1969 at the San Francisco Auto Show. Brooks Hall, under the Civic Center plaza. I had just gotten out of the Army. First one I've owned was in July of 1989. I still have it.

Posted by: cjdawley Feb 19 2019, 12:02 PM

It's not the first one I've ever seen, but there was always one sitting in a bunch of trees on my way to work when I lived in Cross Plains WI. I remember thinking what a shame it was to let that car rot away. I was always going to stop and ask what he would take for it but never had any money then. I've always loved them. The first one that I drove is when I got mine.

Posted by: bandjoey Feb 19 2019, 12:22 PM

1971 I think. Forest Lane Porsche Audi in Dallas. Stopped by there after they closed to walk the lot. Saw the 914-6 between the 911's. One only. Went back the next day and bought it. From some old slides... Traded it in for a 320i after a small fender bender.


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Posted by: mgphoto Feb 19 2019, 12:56 PM

Spring 1974, a guy I knew within the group of motorcycle riders I hung around with had one, Joe Trotta, '71 black. Back than I was a big fan of prototype sports car racing and flat track Harley racing.
A few friends and I just left a bar we used to hang out at and went to get something to eat at the Park Diner, New Dorp Lane. Joe's car was parked outside the diner. The passenger door was open, "what the fu*k" I was blown away by the integrated seat back on passenger side, never saw anything so futuristic, the car looked like a space ship.

I was hooked. I had been driving beetles at the time, It took 5 years for me to put together enough to buy my first '70, after 3 years of repairs and updating, it got rear ended and I sold it off. Took 3 years to find the '72 that I currently own, still looks like a space ship.

Posted by: gandalf_025 Feb 19 2019, 01:02 PM

First close look was a 1970 at a used car dealer near my home.
A stripped 1.7 that was a plane Jane around 1971.
2nd look and drive was at the Local Porsche Dealership in late 1972.
A 914-6 that had been traded in for a new 911.
A tangerine 6 with less than 24,000 miles...
Sitting in my garage, waiting for reassembly...

Posted by: Steve Feb 19 2019, 01:28 PM

Mid 70’s my neighbor had a 914-4. My dad had a hopped up bug with dual Weber’s, 3/4 cam, etc. people in the neighborhood would ask my dad if he had a Porsche motor in his bug, because it sounded like the neighbors Porsche 914. In 79, I bought my first 914 which was a 71 914-4. That same neighbor traded his four for a real six. He gave me a ride in it and I had to have one. In 1986 I built my six out of a 75 and put in a 2.7. I still have the car.

Posted by: ConeDodger Feb 19 2019, 04:41 PM

1980. I was at an autocross with my 240Z which I still have, and the son of the owners of Karousel Racing came to the autocross latish, registered and spanked me by 2 seconds then left at lunch time. I was chasing his time for the rest of the day.
I decided tight then that I would own one some day. His was a -6. It had every go fast part his parents sold. I’d like a rematch! He is an engineer at Onan now.

On a side note, his dad divorced his mom and married a much younger woman who then divorced him. I then dated her. She showed up at my work one day with parts for my Z she wanted me to try. I took the hint...

Posted by: rhodyguy Feb 19 2019, 04:51 PM

So you fucked her in exchange for car parts?

Posted by: Larmo63 Feb 19 2019, 07:10 PM

When I was 15 and taking Driver's Ed at Newport Harbor High School, I had John Wayne's daughter Aissa in my ceramics class. She was deemed somewhat "untouchable" because of who her dad was and all that, but at the same time, she was quite nice, friendly, and VERY pretty. She was such a babe!

On her 16th birthday, her dad bought her a brand new 1971 Signal Orange 914 1.7. That car caused quite a stir at school to say the least. Even though it had steel wheels and hub caps, it was a sensation.

We were all freaked out by it, I thought it was a very handsome car at the time and I still do. We were into VW bugs and busses, Karmann Ghias and BMW 2002s. Her 914 was just so radically different at the time.

John Wayne was a silent partner (I think?) with Chick Iverson at his Porsche/VW dealership in Newport Beach. They had just built the brand new showroom/lot on Pacific Coast Highway in a perfect location with tons of monied people surrounding the place. Mr. Wayne drove a big customized Pontiac station wagon that had a raised roof in the front area because he was a tall man. He had the money to have anything, but I remember seeing him all over Newport driving that thing.

Posted by: Beeliner Feb 19 2019, 07:21 PM

In 1970 one of my fellow students at the University of Arizona had just purchased one in a dark blue. It was really an amazing design with a mid-engine, and was sure to be more reliable than my 1956 XK-140.
Back in New York, my mom thought I should get a car for graduation... No problem, Mom!
My 1971 was white with the "Appearance Group"... No radio though.

I am on #4 & #5 914s... Never had one with a radio.

Posted by: charlesmac Feb 19 2019, 08:02 PM

In the early 80's when I was 11 or 12, my dad and I were doing our usual Sunday afternoon r/c plane flying when a yellow 914 pulled in to watch us fly. I told my dad I want one of those. He just said yeah.... I fell in love that day and bought a '73 in college that I flipped, literally. Got anther '73 almost finished now.

Posted by: craig downs Feb 19 2019, 08:59 PM

I remember seeing the commercials on tv when they were just about to be released I was 12 years old at the time. I remember thinking how cool they looked with a small rear window and 4 disk brakes when most cars just had disks in the front and drums in the rear. A short time later I saw one flying by on the freeway and said oh there's goes one and I was in love. 7 years later I got mine a 75 1.8 and I was so excited. I had it about a month and I let the girlfriend at the time use it while I was at work and she got drunk and rear ended someone and folded the left front in and the rear transmission case broke dropping the rear end to the ground. I was crushed and the girlfriend never paid for it, the estimate came out to 4500. My dad helped me get the parts and I fixed it myself 2 years later and I still have it today and I'm glad I hung on to it.

Posted by: mobymutt Feb 19 2019, 10:15 PM

2014, when I looked at the one I bought. Hmmm, makes me think I could have spent more time looking around...

Posted by: 914werke Feb 20 2019, 12:39 AM

Ha @http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showuser=16770 that makes me feel better as I cant recall paying attention to cars at all in the 70's, that was partly because my pop wasnt/isnt a car guy at all.
In the early 80's I got into bikes in a BIG way...
Its was in the early 90's ...I spied this odd car, bought it & drove it across 3 states home
& its been in my garage (mostly) ever since.

Posted by: JawjaPorsche Feb 20 2019, 02:46 AM

Saw my first in person at University of Georgia in 1970 in my dorm parking lot. It was signal orange. I had to have one and bought one after graduating from UGA. I still have it!


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Posted by: mobymutt Feb 20 2019, 07:32 AM

QUOTE(914werke @ Feb 20 2019, 01:39 AM)

Posted by: Chief Feb 20 2019, 08:14 AM

QUOTE(oakdalecurtis @ Feb 19 2019, 09:11 AM)

I started dating my now wife of 42 years while in high school. My car was a Ford Pinto, and even then we referred to it as the "blow up car”. One afternoon, my neighbor asked me if I was planning on taking my girlfriend to the upcoming high school Prom. When I said yes, he then informed me that it “just wasn't right to take her out on a big date like that in a Pinto”. My neighbor had just purchased a new silver 914, the first I had ever seen, and he offered let me use it to drive her to the big event! I couldn't believe it, and neither could my girlfriend, when I arrived to pick her up for the Prom in this little racy silver Porsche!
My generous neighbor continued to let me use his 914 whenever I had a big date night with my girl, and I will be forever grateful to him.
I'm not so sure that I would lend out my 914 today to a 16 year old kid like I was then! My neighbor will always be one of my heroes!

Posted by: Marv's3.6six Feb 20 2019, 09:48 AM

In 1971 I moved to Hermosa Beach from Gardena Ca. as I was fresh out of HS and a surfer dude and wanted to be near the waves. My apartment was in a duplex on First Place, one half block from Pacific Coast Highway. On one of my walking trips around the hood I strode by Vasek Polak Porsche (original location) to my surprise I saw a brand new 914-6 on the showroom floor, it was sitting right next to one of Vasek's race cars. I was floored, the 914 looked to me to be a direct descendent from the race car. Engine in the middle, the wheels of the car were way out on the corners of the car, the dimensions of the car were very similar to the race car. Wow I was smitten.... but then reality hit me as I saw the window sticker, to my recollection the car was $5400, a giant sum of money in 1971. At the time I was driving $300 volkswagen bugs. My thought at the time was OMG I will never be able to afford such an expensive car. That began my love for teeners.


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Posted by: pete000 Feb 20 2019, 11:36 AM

Back in 1974 my dad helped a friend rebuild his engine on what I think was a 71 1.7 Adriatic blue. I crawled all over that car when it was in our garage with the engine out. Loved it. it was only a few years old and already had an engine failure of some sort.
I got a few rides in it once it was back on the ground, so much fun. I was 12 years old.

Posted by: 9146GUY Feb 20 2019, 01:27 PM

I was playing around with one of my fraternity brothers 356's in Tucson. We both autocrossed his car. One day we decided we would go test drive one and see if it handled any better that the autox set up 356. Off to the local dealership and there was one on the lot. We convinced the salesman that we were serious buyers and he let us test drive it. This was in the spring of 1970. I ended up buying one when I returned to Ohio that summer. Green, non appearance group car. Have owned at least one ever since then

Posted by: mgphoto Feb 20 2019, 05:33 PM

QUOTE(Marv's3.6six @ Feb 20 2019, 07:48 AM)

Posted by: Betty Feb 21 2019, 11:14 PM

In May of 1985 I was in the market for a SPORTS CAR. I had wanted an MG ever since I realized at the age of 16 that car's were cool. After figuring out I couldn't afford anything that wasn't a basket case, and after being told a few "Lucas, Prince of Darkness" jokes, I thought a Datsun Z car would fit the bill (I quickly found out any of those I could afford were really high mileage and beat up).

I had gone to this guy's place (he was a small time car flipper) to look at a Z car I'd found in the Auto Trader. When I got there, the Z car (for whatever reason, it's been so long I don't remember) was not there.

I had been fixated on seeing the Z car and had totally missed seeing the orange, flat as a pancake, car parked nose in to the guy's detached garage and asked what it was. He said "Porsche 914, I just replaced the clutch in it, it's kind of like a Volkswagen". I had no idea what it was and had never seen one before in my life. The guy said since the Z car wasn't there, did I want to drive the orange one instead because it was for sale too? I wasn't going to (I really wanted a Z car) but then figured why the heck not - at least I could say I'd driven a Porsche. :-)

Now, I didn't like orange, so I walk up to the car bitching inside my head about the color and how the black roof and the black rockers made it look like a pancake that had been burned on both sides . After I slid down into the driver's seat - that's when a teensy, tiny bit of rationalization started... "Ya know, sitting in the car you don't really see a lot of the orange".

I got the car started, it took a minute to figure out the gear pattern, backed it out, turned it around and putted to the end of the driveway. Stop, look left, look right, look left, proceed. It was that first right-hand turn, crawling out of the driveway onto a deserted residential street when I fell in love!

The way the car felt, making that slow turn... that's when the full-on rationalization started. "What he's asking for it really isn't thaaat much, I'm sure I can get him down a few hundred on the price". "You really don't see a lot of orange at all when you're sitting in here". "The guy said it was 'mid-engine', that sounds cool whatever that means".

I drove the car around just a couple of blocks (I'll admit it; with the park brake light on the dash blinking at me the entire time) and parked it back in front of the guy's garage. I thanked him, told him I'd have to think about it and that I'd call him later, maybe the Z car would be back? Three days later I was the proud owner of that orange Porsche 914.

I had no idea what it was, I had no idea what I was getting myself into - and I have never, ever, regretted that Z car not being there.

Posted by: oakdalecurtis Feb 21 2019, 11:54 PM

QUOTE(Chief @ Feb 20 2019, 06:14 AM)

QUOTE(oakdalecurtis @ Feb 19 2019, 09:11 AM)

I started dating my now wife of 42 years while in high school. My car was a Ford Pinto, and even then we referred to it as the "blow up car”. One afternoon, my neighbor asked me if I was planning on taking my girlfriend to the upcoming high school Prom. When I said yes, he then informed me that it “just wasn't right to take her out on a big date like that in a Pinto”. My neighbor had just purchased a new silver 914, the first I had ever seen, and he offered let me use it to drive her to the big event! I couldn't believe it, and neither could my girlfriend, when I arrived to pick her up for the Prom in this little racy silver Porsche!
My generous neighbor continued to let me use his 914 whenever I had a big date night with my girl, and I will be forever grateful to him.
I'm not so sure that I would lend out my 914 today to a 16 year old kid like I was then! My neighbor will always be one of my heroes!

Wow, what a fantastic story. What a neighbour. It just goes to show that little things can influence our lives in such a big way.
Thanks for posting, really made me smile on a difficult day.

Posted by: djway Feb 22 2019, 12:23 AM

First memory I have of them was going to a little shop called Kravig Marine in La Sierra (Riverside) CA. Donny Kravig went to the same High School as I did and my cousin hung around him. I was starting to get into VWs as my Uncle raced off road.
Donny told me to stop by the shop and there was a Grouppe 5 sitting back there and Mr Kravig pointed out a few things they were doing.
The next memory I have was a red V8 914 showing up in one of the VW mags I got in the mail and that was it, I had to have one.
Bought one to put in the V8, but the stars were not properly aligned and the project did not make it.
Went through a bunch of them after that and I drive a 74 now.
I am going to remedy the V8 situation

Posted by: jcd914 Feb 22 2019, 02:56 AM

I think it was 1974 and it may have been a Creamsicle.
I was in Boy Scouts and into hiking, biking & camping, not so much into cars.
Our troop was at a camping event (camporee maybe?) at Mt Tamalpais state park and our new Scoutmaster showed up in a 914. I remember it being white with a bright color trim, which means it could have been a Creamsicle but I don't really have a good mental picture of the car. I remember riding back home to Antioch in it, specifically crossing the Richmond San Rafael bridge with the roof off. I thought it was pretty cool at the time but Antioch being a very blue collar/American iron town, I don't recall another 914 until I was in college.

In 1979 when I started working at a VW, Porsche Audi dealership I developed a very poor opinion of 914s. They were a NARP, a PITA to work on and had finicky Fuel Injection. It wasn't until after 9 years as a mechanic and I left the third Porsche dealership and went to an independent shop in Sacramento CA that I learned how great 914s really were. There I learned how to work on and fix 914s, the dealerships had few 914s coming in and had someone with experience working on them, so I did have to work on them often. The independent shop was motorsports oriented and I learned how to really make a 914 perform. I bought a 71 1.7 and started auto-crossing regularly.

Jim

Posted by: Spoke Feb 22 2019, 07:09 AM

I grew up outside of Pittsburgh near the town of Sewickley. Sewickley isn't a rich town but had a lot of rich people there. Sewickley Heights was popular with rich people including people like the Melons and Carnegie's. Old money. I saw a lot of 911's and Audis. My love of the 911 began there although I never rode in one.

In 1973 at the age of 15, I started dating a girl who lived in the country just outside of Sewickley. To get to her house I always needed a ride. At that time, her older sister was dating a guy who lived near me. When things worked out, he would pick me up and take me to her house.

I first saw his car at my girlfriend's house. It was a 1973 914. Not sure of the engine size. Immediately I fell in love with the fold-down headlights and unique turnsignal buckets.

Many times he picked me up in the 914. Going out to her house was twisty roads and that 914 just hugged the road. One day, there was about 2 inches of fresh snow on the road. We drove to her house and that 914 again just hugged the road.

I was hooked on the 914.

Posted by: jimkelly Feb 22 2019, 08:06 AM

two unusual cars that blew my mind when i was young, was a 914 that i saw in a parking lot one day, i was about 11, and i peeked inside and thought, where is the fucking trans tunnel? and wow, cool grill behind rear window. another car that i found cool was lotus europa, as a kid. i was like, what the hell is the deal with that engine compartment : ) then i saw some magazines with V8 914 but cant find images of it so i will post simpsons tail dragger : )


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Posted by: Bleyseng Feb 22 2019, 10:01 AM

I was in High School in the fall of '69 and at a party on Capital Hill when a couple of us went to score some beer by standing outside a grocery store. A girl we knew drove up and parked in front of the store in a white 914. She told us her dad had just given her the car (he worked at University Porsche/Audi) so all three of piled back in the car to go for a drive, top down back to the party with the beer.

Posted by: Justinp71 Feb 22 2019, 10:19 AM

Before I was born... My uncle had a 911s and really loves it (still has it), he then convinced my mom to buy a 914. So as a little kid I rode around in it a lot. At some point she bought a 4 door sedan and put the 914 in storage for me when I turn 16!!! For about 7 years I dreamed of 914-6 GT's and 916's. When I turned 16 the car needed some help and we ran into a street legal ax prepped 2.0 914 in 1998 for only $3500. That is the car I have today.

Posted by: struckn Feb 22 2019, 11:00 AM

I was dating a yellow 914-4 in 1972 when I got out of the Navy, and it came with a Blond. Seems to me back then it was considered to be a Chick Car....then I started Auto-crossing in my E stock Gremlin X V8 pissing off the BMW 2002's in my class, and I noticed there were a lot of fast 914's in Class C stock. Their times were close to mine. Took years for me to finally get a 914 and the Gremlin is long gone, but I did get my '68 AMX before the 914. They are parked next to each other in the garage and I love them both for different reasons.

Posted by: Literati914 Feb 22 2019, 11:17 AM

I was about 9yo spending the summer at my grandpas house in Fl... very rural place, small town, down a long red dirt road. One day a distant family member I'd never met before (Kenny) pulled up in a 914 !! Very sofisticated car in a broken down rusty truck kind of place. I was in awe and spent the afternoon in the drivers seat pretending I was "Speed Racer" while they visited.

I guess it stuck with me but only recalled this after I had gotten my first 914 when I was 24. I'm on my 3rd now.

Posted by: SirAndy Feb 22 2019, 12:36 PM

QUOTE(rhodyguy @ Feb 19 2019, 02:51 PM)

Posted by: 7TPorsh Feb 22 2019, 04:56 PM

First exposure was 1970 at Beverly Hills Audi Porsche. Front lot was a rainbow of 914s lined up in all colors. Wish I had a picture but I was 8 and nobody carried cameras back then.
Loved them at that point. Then a few years later I saw a long haired, moustached dude driving one. He was sitting at the light with two blondes in the car. Girls seemed to be having fun and the dude was smiling ear to ear.

That did it.

Posted by: 7TPorsh Feb 22 2019, 04:56 PM

First exposure was 1970 at Beverly Hills Audi Porsche. Front lot was a rainbow of 914s lined up in all colors. Wish I had a picture but I was 8 and nobody carried cameras back then.
Loved them at that point. Then a few years later I saw a long haired, moustached dude driving one. He was sitting at the light with two blondes in the car. Girls seemed to be having fun and the dude was smiling ear to ear.

That did it.

Posted by: Maltese Falcon Feb 22 2019, 11:11 PM

I was seeing these different looking Porsches all around SoCal in the early '70s, never thought much about them. One evening at a nightclub parking lot (near Vasek Polak Porsche), I saw a badass yellow six with the m471 flares. I was on the hunt for a 914 since January 1974. I was given the 914 keys (by a good friend ) to his1972 1.7, and took it for a couple hours through the Hollywood Hills canyons. I was amazed by its ability to grip the road like a go kart, but going uphill with little horsepower was a different story. I loved the car but for the sake of power, I started looking for used 9146 models. After checking out a dozen or so used 6's...I only found cars that needed major body, and drivetrain work. So I made the decision to spend the money on a new 2.0, then make my own 6 cylinder conversion later. The invoice is what happened next ; 45 years ago this month...

Posted by: Maltese Falcon Feb 22 2019, 11:27 PM

....seems like yesterday that I signed the invoice ; well except for the decades of designing and fabricating that have gone into this car . It did get its first six cylinder transplant in 1978, a single turbo/ CIS 2.7