Looking at a 914 this weekend and the owner sent me these shots of the engine. The Carbs look like serious gasket gas leakage - brown stains all down the sides.

is it a danger to drive the car with carb gaskets leaking out?

Click to view attachment Click to view attachment

Run the fuel pump and see if the outside of the carbs gets wet.
I doubt the discoloration is a sign of significant fuel leakage.

Yes it is, the exhaust is right under the tin below those carbs.