"Incredibly Modern" Options

[falcor75]

What should excite us all is that Porsches’ current Head of Design is passionately interested in the intrinsic qualities of the 914.

This could bode very well for us in future P-car offerings.

My conspirational brain says that they are just trying to elevate the 914 badge for a future relaunch of the EV that showed up a week or so ago. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stirthepot.gif)

[bbrock]

I think this abbreviated version of the article makes Mauer seem more of a dedicated fan than comes across in the full text of the interview. Here is an excerpt from the full interview in the book:

Lewandowski: How would you assess the design of the 914 from a personal perspective?
Mauer: "I still find the car quite bizarre, but my impression has changed during the course of this conversation. I never really thougt too hard about the 914 until now. As a result of the last hour's discussion and the fact that I have understood the times in which the car originated, I come back to my original point - the thing is incredibly modern, particularly with regard to the initial models. It's incredibly impressive to see how the results are way ahead of anything else at the time. This wasn't really on my radar until now. The car has almost no floor plan, but this central element is extremely consistent. To have the courage to design such a big surface without a single bead or extraneous element is genuinely awesome. I really like the rear of the car. From a modern perspective, the process in getting to this result is quite fascinating. I still have some difficulties with the car, but for me what counts is what was achieved at the time..."

It's pretty clear the interview is the result of a man seriously considerig the 914 for the first time. Whether those impressions of a future role for a "pure" Porsche will stick is anyone's guess. I hope so.

As for him thinking this is a "real Porsche," it's not just him. What I really love about the book that contains this full interview is that it completely revolutionized my view of the 914's place in Porsche history. I already knew that the "Porsche in name only" is total BS as anyone who has wrenched on these cars does. I also thought the NARP label was undeserved but assumed that VW had a significant influence on engineering and design. The archival information presented in the book clearly shows that is far from the truth. This car was pure Porsche. The original concept was pure Porsche as was the design. The only input I can see that VW had was to quibble over swapping in VW parts to save cost whenever they were plug and play without compromising design. Even the selection of the Type IV engine made perfect sense from a purely Porsche design standard.

The only thing NARP about these cars was the sometimes awkward partnership in manufacturing and marketing. I didn't realize this partnership is the whole reason VW-Porsche-Audi delerships were created in the US. As a result of reading the book, I've come to believe "Volkswagen in name only" is a more accurate description of the 914. That's not from any snobbery of VW either. I've never had any issue with the VW heritage of these cars. It's a proud heritage. But the facts revealed in this book show the design of the 914 is pure Porsche.

[76-914]

A good read. Thx for posting this. It's a confirmation of what we already felt for these great little cars. One only needs to drive one to be convinced. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[SirAndy]

What should excite us all is that Porsches’ current Head of Design is passionately interested in the intrinsic qualities of the 914.
This could bode very well for us in future P-car offerings.

Also obvious, is that Porsche's current Head of Design considers the 914 to be "a real Porsche"!

Also obvious, he doesn't actually like the design of the 914 ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

[Ansbacher]

What should excite us all is that Porsches’ current Head of Design is passionately interested in the intrinsic qualities of the 914.

This could bode very well for us in future P-car offerings.

The future of P-Cars, sad to say, is all-electric, robot-factory made, bottom line mandated, overly complicated automobiles. Porsche ditched its traditional roots ca. 1997 and will never return to them.

Ansbacher

[bbrock]

What should excite us all is that Porsches’ current Head of Design is passionately interested in the intrinsic qualities of the 914.
This could bode very well for us in future P-car offerings.

Also obvious, is that Porsche's current Head of Design considers the 914 to be "a real Porsche"!

Also obvious, he doesn't actually like the design of the 914 ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

I think its funny that he singled out the rear of the car as the one thing he really liked. IMO, the rear has always been the weakest styling on the car.

[Mark Henry]

Also obvious, he doesn't actually like the design of the 914 ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

Plus he only knew the basics, like he just scanned the trove of material Porsche has. IMO the historians here know way more about the 914.

But it's good to see Porsche officially recognizing that they designed the 914 and that Ferry had a fair bit of involvement in the project.

What should excite us all is that Porsches’ current Head of Design is passionately interested in the intrinsic qualities of the 914.
This could bode very well for us in future P-car offerings.

Also obvious, is that Porsche's current Head of Design considers the 914 to be "a real Porsche"!

Also obvious, he doesn't actually like the design of the 914 ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

I think its funny that he singled out the rear of the car as the one thing he really liked. IMO, the rear has always been the weakest styling on the car.

I like my fat bottom girls (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[gereed75]

I’m with Brett. I had always thought the design was somehow shared with VW. Not the case according to this - designed by Porsche. vW where parts were available, assembly and marketing. More like NARV.

[RARE 6]

Perhaps NARP switches to “Now A Real Porsche”

[Tbrown4x4]

I want everybody to forget we exist again. I didn't select my car because it was or wasn't a Porsche. I bought it because it was unique and fun to drive.