Most Embarrassing Cars Ever Built, by Otherwise Excellent Automakers Options

[siverson]

Not sure if this has been posted, but I thought I'd share. The title is click bait, but is actually a fairly complementary write-up of the "weird-looking" 914.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/g6...ilies/?slide=14

Porsche 914

Plenty of myths swirl around the 914, the most persistent of which is that the car was a repurposing of a concept penned by industrial designer Hans Gugelot. But the truth is Porsche's Heinrich Klie, designer of the iconic five-lug Fuchs wheel, did the majority of the aesthetic work on the machine. The rear suspension isn't shared with any other car, while the front is pulled from the 911. The five-speed transmission, though it may have VW emblems stamped on the case, is the same unit used in 1960s and early '70s 911s. Did we mention that Ferdinand Piëch was in charge of the 914 program, at the same time he was spearheading the development of the vaunted 917?

In fact, aside from a corporate steering column used on the four-cylinder cars, some underdash wiring bits and pieces, and the Type 4 engine (which was reworked by none other than Hans Mezger in 2.0-liter guise), the 914 was much more Porsche than Volkswagen. It's certainly more Porsche than a Macan or a Cayenne, and at least as much a Porsche as a Panamera. And if you argue that it was built at Karmann, might we remind you that the Boxster and Cayman were constructed at Valmet in Finland? Is the 914 a black sheep? Yes. Have a gander at the thing. It iskinda weird-looking. Is it a Porsche? Also yes. Very much so. —Davey G. Johnson

-Steve

[PlaysWithCars]

Yeah! Double billing. The 914 is #13 and #14. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

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[flat4guy]

I think they all had 2 spaces, that's why the 12 cars had 24 pictures.

[Mark Henry]

I think they all had 2 spaces, that's why the 12 cars had 24 pictures.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) 12 cars, 7th place.

[veekry9]

Automotive Journalists,like others,are all too prone to revert to a template,used since the 914 was first introduced.
Among the drivers and winners at events around the world's endurance racetracks,they only desired more power.
Voting among the owners and admirers as to the car's designed 'beauty',would,I believe,garner surprising results.
Personally,I've liked the shape since I first saw it at the show,the Kamm-like roof truncation,a unique mid feature.
Repetition of some old dusty opinion,offered up by a biased stringer,in '69,won't affect a discerning eye today.
Mod bod,so '60s,with flower power Fuchs wheels and bright pastel paints,were selling points.
A look at some of the other mid manufacturer's of '69,it was all so space age and big power.
Light,economical,a driver's sport runabout,for two,and ahead of the fuel curve of the '70's.
Fits it's design brief perfectly,an opinion never ventured by mag writers,then or now.
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[Perry Kiehl Clone]

In truth, the front suspension was designed for the 914 and then carried over to the 911

[siverson]

> In truth, the front suspension was designed for the 914 and then carried over to the 911

Really? Isn't the 914 front suspension remarkably similar to the early (1965) 911 suspension?

-Steve

[EdwardBlume]

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[yellow75]

.... It's great little car. I owned a 70 2.2 911S and it was an exciting car to drive. I have a 914 because its a fun car to drive and actually handles better than the S car. Oh and Karmann built the 356 as well..so..

[flmont]

I think it just goes to show these Road and Track people spend too much time behind there desk,.its obvious they haven't driven these cars that much,..!! FM

[rgalla9146]

In truth, the front suspension was designed for the 914 and then carried over to the 911

????
Except for the lower ball joint that was revised in 1968 (?) the 911 had the same front suspension from 1965 on..

[veekry9]

https://issuu.com/racing30/docs/gt_porsche_2016_11_

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[gms]

> In truth, the front suspension was designed for the 914 and then carried over to the 911

Really? Isn't the 914 front suspension remarkably similar to the early (1965) 911 suspension?

-Steve

yup, that is why the 911 steering rack had a 914 part number into the '80s

[gms]

Congratulations R&T you are so provocative and original.
no one has ever called the 914 ugly or uninspired before.

[pt_700]

what's road & track doing posting from car & driver?!

[JmuRiz]

Recently they've gotten into the accumulating of automotive media for their website.

Kind of like Jalopnik, which whey partner with on some stuff.

Notice the origin article didn't come from MotorTrend...all they did was name the 914 their first import car of the year.
I'm sure none of there staff was around when their longtime photography collaborator Jeff Zwart had an article saying the 914/6 was the best car for under $15k you could buy...with a picture of his 914/6 prior to rally prepping it.