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?

NARP

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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...

I think it's mostly Karmann since they built most of it.

Does that make all Chevys, Pontiacs, Buicks, Oldsmobiles, Cadillacs, GMC's, etc... "Fishers"?

Yes

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.

OK by me. That makes all 356s & 911s Reutters.

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.

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?

It's a Polkswagonorsche.

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.

had a look over the plastic bumpers from my '75 914 and they have the 4 ring Audi logo on them ...

wtf ...

The whole NARP thing is just bullshit.

The 914 has a bunch of 911 parts in it, and a bunch of VW parts.

Then there is the 924. It is more of a NARP that the 914 ever was. It was designed by Porsche to be an Audi sports car, using all VW and Audi parts. It has an Audi motor, Super beetle front suspension, IRS beetle rear suspension, and an Audi transmission. There is not a single part on a 924 that has a Porsche part number When Audi decided not to build it, Porsche bought the rights to it. But it was never sold as a VW-Porsche, and it got a Porsche hood badge from the factory, so it is not a NARP. Go figure.


Frankly, I think the NARP thing is sour grapes on the part of the 911 drivers. To this day, the 914 kicks their asses on the track. I watched a 3.0L 914-6 lap 3/4 of the field at COTA, running against 911 GT3 cup cars.


Q. What did the 911 driver say as he went sideways off the turn?

A. "How in the hell did that 914 turn inside me?"

Almost all 356 motors used a VW fan shroud with welded up holes….

I used to drive a 993 as a DD. Meeting people at PCA events, I would get asked what I drive. I would always answer a 914. Helped me meet the right people.

The VW-Porsche 914 was designed by Porsche's Heinrich Klie, the same gentleman who designed the classic Porsche Fuchs wheel.

That being said, since VW and Porsche are now brands of the same company, the distinction of being a VW-Porsche is no longer all that distinctive.

Also some 911 distributor drive gears...

Yes.... Same as some of its owners.

NARVW either.... because....

Funny, when you thrash a 911 they invariably refer to your car as a Porsche...

I think the discussion is silly, even irritating. Who cares? Do you? Really? Then buy a 911 and it's solved. It's the same with wine snobs, try removing the label, then ask them what they think of the wine and most will begin to sputter. Genuine people will just take a sip and tell you what they think. Be friends with those people. So do you drink (or drive) the label? I've removed all the Porsche identifiers from my car because they're irrelevant. Irrelevant to me, anyway, and if someone asks I tell them it's a Fiat. I smile, they smile, and we're all happy.

No offense but I'm not downgrading to a 911. Not happening.

It's much easier to increase the HP in a 914 than it is to make a 911 mid-engined.

ok, time for a dumb question:

What the heck is a NARP?

"Not A Real Porsche."

If it's not a Porsche, you'll have a hard time convincing the DMV otherwise. That's whats on my registration at least.


That being said, anyone who really cares that much probably should be lumped in the with rest of the "P-car" crowd who cares far more about what badge is on the back of their car than what it can actually do in the hands of someone who knows how to really it. Call mine whatever you like. I just drive the wheels off of it.

I solved that problem by getting one of each.

What problem?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp7130Bjec4

I forgot how to post a video.

This is exactly correct. You can also add the Cayenne as it was a joint venture with VW.

The components that make up that iPhone in your pocket are made by a dozen companies and is assembled by 2 Taiwanese companies, yet it is an Apple product.

The NARP argument is outdated and irrelevant.

Which do you want it to be?
That's the beauty of this model. You can make it go any way you want.

Now days it is even less clear cut.

So it is pretty widely known that Volkswagen AG bought or took over Porsche AG a few years back. Porsche AG is only the Automotive manufacturing part of Porsche.

Porsche Automobil Holding SE still owns Porsche Design Group, Porsche Engineering and a controlling interest (50.76%) in Volkswagen AG.

So Volkswagen owns Porsche but Porsche owns Volkswagen??

It is so much more than just a"car" and it would be fun to drive if it were made by Diahatsu.!! Ok Maybe not. The teener has original Porsche DNA. It could be argued that it is more Porsche than a 911. The Boxter is just the Teeners grandchild. Forget who builds the parts. Or who happens to own the company at this particular moment in time. Think of the concept. Horizontally opposed mid -engine 2 seat SPORTS CAR !!!

Yes