What Is It?, Silly Question Options

[Larmo63]

I am not new to classic cars, or Porsches in general. As a relative newcomer to the 914, I look at it, think about it, and try to come to terms with it as to what it is. By that, I mean is it more Volkswagen, or is it a Porsche? It may seem like a silly question, it has a multitude of P-car parts, but says VW on the glass. The deckled says Porsche, but the steering column is pure Volkswagen. The transmission and engine (in mine) is a Porsche design made by Volkswagen? It is a radical departure from the Karmann Ghia which it replaced. Weird. Split personality disorder?

[Elliot Cannon]

NARP

[EdwardBlume]

I am not new to classic cars, or Porsches in general. As a relative newcomer to the 914, I look at it, think about it, and try to come to terms with it as to what it is. By that, I mean is it more Volkswagen, or is it a Porsche? It may seem like a silly question, it has a multitude of P-car parts, but says VW on the glass. The deckled says Porsche, but the steering column is pure Volkswagen. The transmission and engine (in mine) is a Porsche design made by Volkswagen? It is a radical departure from the Karmann Ghia which it replaced. Weird. Split personality disorder?

I break it down by understanding that a car is a recipe of parts from 1000s of suppliers. While the parts can go on from VW or Ghia, the design came from...., and the fit and function came from.....

After all of that conjecture, its a 914.

That said, if the 914 had no race history and not so much success on the track (even today), and if it wasn't so fun to drive.... it would be an unnoticed miserable failure. Thats kind of why they stopped building them. It was a financial failure.

The concept endured however, and I see today's Cayman as basically the same idea. Porsche design and function, subvented performance, wider market.

[EdwardBlume]

NARP

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

But proud of that distinction too.... its a drivers car.

[Steve]

Bottom line it was designed by Porsche. If you have owned an early 911 you will see the similarities. I am also a VW fan, so it doesn't matter to me that some of the components were sourced or made by VW. The 356 convertibles were also made at the Karmann factory.

[Mikey914]

Simply put
The bastard love child of Porsche and VW that has finally come into it's own.

[Johny Blackstain]

Since the Father designed the VW & the Son designed the 356 I have to ask what's the difference? The 1st 2 VWs were built in Dr. Porsches personal garage attached to his home. The 1st 356 was also built in a home garage a number of years later, using VW parts. Again one has to ask what's the difference? I find the whole NARP thing to be absurd, if not ridiculous.

[SirAndy]

is it more Volkswagen, or is it a Porsche?

Short answer, it is both.

They actually started a new company just to produce and market the 914. It was called "VW-Porsche Vertriebsgesellschaft GmbH" and was made of roughly 50/50 Porsche and VW employees.

The 914 was marketed (and badged) as VW-Porsche everywhere except in the US.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[EdwardBlume]

is it more Volkswagen, or is it a Porsche?

Short answer, it is both.

They actually started a new company just to produce and market the 914. It was called "VW-Porsche Vertriebsgesellschaft GmbH" and was made of roughly 50/50 Porsche and VW employees.

The 914 was marketed (and badged) as VW-Porsche everywhere except in the US.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

How many true Germans made the 914? That's the tipping point!

[Larmo63]

Plus, I've never driven a Volkswagen that is remotely similar to driving a 914.

Come to think of it, nothing I've ever driven is as fun as a 914.

[EdwardBlume]

Plus, I've never driven a Volkswagen that is remotely similar to driving a 914.

Come to think of it, nothing I've ever driven is as fun as a 914.

Put 200 hp in a 914!

[Mike Bellis]

Plus, I've never driven a Volkswagen that is remotely similar to driving a 914.

Come to think of it, nothing I've ever driven is as fun as a 914.

Put 200 hp in a 914!

Or more... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

I think it's mostly Karmann since they built most of it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Johny Blackstain]

I think it's mostly Karmann since they built most of it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Does that make all Chevys, Pontiacs, Buicks, Oldsmobiles, Cadillacs, GMC's, etc... "Fishers"? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[Mike Bellis]

I think it's mostly Karmann since they built most of it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Does that make all Chevys, Pontiacs, Buicks, Oldsmobiles, Cadillacs, GMC's, etc... "Fishers"? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

Yes (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Mark Henry]

911's had VW parts scattered through them right into the 80's
Porsche engine intermediate bearings are VW (T1 and T4) cam bearing just drilled different.
Same suppliers, I'm sure VW used its clout with its supply chain to make sure Porsche got a good deal on it's needs.

[Johny Blackstain]

Yes (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

OK by me. That makes all 356s & 911s Reutters. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif)

[messix]

I am not new to classic cars, or Porsches in general. As a relative newcomer to the 914, I look at it, think about it, and try to come to terms with it as to what it is. By that, I mean is it more Volkswagen, or is it a Porsche? It may seem like a silly question, it has a multitude of P-car parts, but says VW on the glass. The deckled says Porsche, but the steering column is pure Volkswagen. The transmission and engine (in mine) is a Porsche design made by Volkswagen? It is a radical departure from the Karmann Ghia which it replaced. Weird. Split personality disorder?

yes, all the above, exactly!


that's what makes this car unique, it's what drives the popularity across the pinky lifters that really know the P-cars and the rest of the air cooled crowd. and of those that are into racing from autoX to vintage recognize what these cars are capable of in performance.

so it seems like the 914 stands out from Porsche as a completely unique car and it's owners only look at other Porsches as a source for engine and suspension/brake up grades.

[stugray]

Here is my way of looking at it:

If a bastard child mid engine car with VW parts on it cannot be called a "Porsche" then what does that make the 550 Spyder?

[boxsterfan]

It's a Polkswagonorsche.

[KELTY360]

A lot of irony surrounds the 914. The NARP thing is real and was perpetrated by the early 911 crowd who got it in their minds that to be a "real" Porsche it had to have a six cylinder engine. Even though sixes were put in 914s, the predominant image was that of an entry level (read cheap) sports car with a bus engine that did not rise to the exclusive stature of their 911s. I couldn't begin to count the number of times I heard, "it's just a Volkswagen", in reference to my new '73 1.7. I'd always just agree, thinking if this was the sports car that VW built that they'd done a pretty amazing job. It's also why, to this day, I don't think of myself as a Porsche owner so much as a 914 owner.

Years later, when I found this 914 community it was gratifying to see that the spirit of the redheaded step child had been embraced as a badge of defiance against pretense and exclusivity. I discovered a group of avid enthusiasts who saw through the ignorance because of the simple fact that these cars were an absolute blast to drive. It was true in 1973 and it's true in 2014.

The ironic thing is that the NARP heritage is the opposite of it's true character. We all know that the first Porsche was a mid-engined four cylinder creation based on a modified VW engine. Truth is that the 914 embodies the spirit and concept of Dr. Porsche's vision. It represents a throwback to the founding era of the car. Maybe in some eyes it will never be a 'real' Porsche....but it will always be a True Porsche.