Interesting 914 Article I just found, Jan 04 Classic Motorsports Options

[Tom_T]

This is an interesting older 914 article from 2004, which I just found perusing the website of "Classic Motorsports" that I recently subscribed to for the halibut!

http://classicmotorsports.net/articles/porsche-914/

Enjoy! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/type.gif)

[Tom_T]

BTW - yes I know, a few errors in it, like this:
"The 914 was designed by Gugelot Design GmbH." (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[dlkawashima]

BTW - yes I know, a few errors in it, like this:
"The 914 was designed by Gugelot Design GmbH." (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Not to beat a dead horse (well, okay, I guess I am) but the thing that puzzles me is how an authority like Karl Ludvigsen could be so wrong about the origin of the 914? Was he misinformed? Did he just make it all up? Has he written any explanation, now that this has been revealed?

Reading thru the Mythbusters thread here ...
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=51265

... reveals a Gugelot clay model that precedes the 914. It's not the BMW-Bayer fastback concept but another design:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads/post-5409-1252585190.jpg)
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads/post-5409-1252585211.jpg)
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads/post-5409-1252585231.jpg)

Take your hand and cover up the pictures of the model just aft of the door and the car looks like the spitting image of a 914, right down to the indentation for the door handle. It's hard to believe this model had no influence on the 914 exterior design.

The Das Grosse VW-Porsche Buch article (as well as the May 2011 Excellence article) features the BMW-Bayer fastback concept rather than this clay model. It's obvious the BMW-Bayer fastback concept did not influence the shape of the 914, but what about this other design study? Is this not the design that Ludvigsen suggests was the inspiration for the design of the 914? It's the one he includes in his book.