Vintage Car and Driver mag 914 test Options

[bkrantz]

Many of you have probably seen this, but I found an old C/D issue from April 1973. This is special to me since I was in high school at the time, a dedicated C/D reader, and wishing for my first car. This comparison test almost made me wish for a 914, but instead I fell for the winner, the Fiat 124 Spider. A couple of years later, I got one from an insurance salvage yard. That started me on the evil path of DIY auto mechanics and body work.

[gereed75]

I remember that issue and still may have it. Bunch of friends had MGB and Fiats

My general feelings - Italian engineering and design (especially the X/19) was really good, built quality and materials not so good. British sportcars were old simplistic designs, Often updated via the parts bin with even older stuff. German engineering was really good, efficiency of design being valued, and execution and materials were excellent.

The 914 was a revolutionary design compared to its peers - mid engined and practical with fuel injection no less. The aircooled motor was an efficient package (operationally and packaging wise), but the longevity of aircooled motors is not good compared to water cooled.

It just struck me as an elegant design. The mid engine thing just screams race car but the design overcame all of the impracticalities of that configuration for a street car, something that has never really been done since. Throw in the open/ hard top - wow

[Superhawk996]

. . . the longevity of aircooled motors is not good compared to water cooled.

Have to disagree on that point. Especially so as compared to 1970's era domestic watercooled.

I've personally run a Type 4 1911cc engine 100K miles reliably. Compare that to an era where it was not uncommon for a domestic 70's era water pumper to be largely done at 100k miles. Is a T4 as reliable as a modern water pumper? Not at all, but, now we're not making an equal comparison.

The biggest issues with air cooled were the uninformed nincompoop's that unintentionally overheated them, ran them stupid rich on carbs washing down cylinder walls, didn't change the oil, didn't adjust valves, and/or removed the cooling flaps.

Likewise, T4's do not do well (w.r.t. longevity) when hot rodded beyond their design limitations vs. domestic iron. Domestic V8's were easily hot rot rodded and supported by a huge aftermarket with proven hop up solutions. Finding knowledgeable support for the T4 engines used to be a challenge back in the pre internet era.

It is true that air cooled is not as good at managing emissions. That was the main reason for the demise of air cooled engines.

Personally, I think Porsche would have kept pursuing the air cooled motors longer if they had been able to get around the emissions issues.

[MM1]

. . . the longevity of aircooled motors is not good compared to water cooled.

Have to disagree on that point. Especially so as compared to 1970's era domestic watercooled.

I've personally run a Type 4 1911cc engine 100K miles reliably. Compare that to an era where it was not uncommon for a domestic 70's era water pumper to be largely done at 100k miles. Is a T4 as reliable as a modern water pumper? Not at all, but, now we're not making an equal comparison.

The biggest issues with air cooled were the uninformed nincompoop's that unintentionally overheated them, ran them stupid rich on carbs washing down cylinder walls, didn't change the oil, didn't adjust valves, and/or removed the cooling flaps.

Likewise, T4's do not do well (w.r.t. longevity) when hot rodded beyond their design limitations vs. domestic iron. Domestic V8's were easily hot rot rodded and supported by a huge aftermarket with proven hop up solutions. Finding knowledgeable support for the T4 engines used to be a challenge back in the pre internet era.

It is true that air cooled is not as good at managing emissions. That was the main reason for the demise of air cooled engines.

Personally, I think Porsche would have kept pursuing the air cooled motors longer if they had been able to get around the emissions issues.

The first Porsche I ever drove was my friend's '83 SC. He bought it with 80k miles on it . . .he let me drive it on our "little track behind work" when it had 235k miles. Did it drive like a 27 year old car? Yes-but the motor was strong and I drove the sh*! out of for a few laps because he told me to . . .felt that classic steering wiggle for the first time just past the bottom of our "little Eau Rouge".

Just a year or 2 ago I drove it again with 283k on the clock . . .ran as strong as the first time . . .that motor has never been opened up . . .nothing but routine maintenance.