In December of last year, I took the 914 plunge and bought a '71 6cyl conversion. Said car had too much cancer (rust), so I started looking for a suitable replacement donor chassis. By this March, I found and bought my replacement chassis, a clean, mostly original, bone stock base '71 1.7L 914.

My intention was to strip down the latter to transplant drivetrain, suspension, and brakes from the former, but before doing so, I wanted to drive it just to see what it was like. So I took it on a canyon run in the mountains down here (where I have driven many other previously owned sportscars). Afterwards, I found that the 1.7 was one of the most fun cars that I have driven on those roads because the meager 80hp is perfectly complemented by the OEM suspension that leans like the Tower of Pisa in corners, and the 165SR/15 bicycle tires 4-wheel drift everywhere.

My question to those of you with experience: is a bone stock 1.7L durable enough for track days? I would love to drive this thing as is at track events, not in pursuit of laptimes (obviously), but purely for enjoyment.

It'll survive if you put in 1/2 quart extra oil & watch the oil pressure on sweeper turns. Best part is if you overcook it, you've got the backup engine already....I'd say go for it!

Thanks for the heads up regarding extra oil

Oh yeah... put on a tuna can....thread in garage section discussing it right now

What group doo you run with when have 80hp? Vintage? I really don't know. But I'd be concerned running with newer cars that have four or five times the power.

DE events particularly with PCA start you off in Green group... strictly enforced passing rules keep everyone out of trouble while learning the track... promotion to blue group still will have an instructor until solo'd... is not a horsepower thing.

Durable? YES!
Slow? YES!
Will it be enjoyable? maybe - short twisty course? yes. Full of long straights and uphills? No
Will you have another similar car to run with to make it fun? not likely

I've run my car in multiple DEs, local SCCA club races and Chumpcar. Same engine, stock 1.8. While I'm no pro, I'm probably a better driver than many of the people around me, but I'm still 3-4 seconds off the pace of the next slowest car in the field. The stock 914 is woefully underpowered, though it out handles just about everything else. The engine will last, but it really does get boring after a few laps. Recommend you run a high quality oil as it will get hot. Expect to change it after every weekend and make sure the fan and cooler are clean of debris. You need all the cooling you can get. Have fun!

A "slow" car will teach you waaaaay more than a 1000hp track monster (HP intentionally exaggerated). You will learn momentum and how to carry speed. These are extremely valuable lessons that will then be applicable in any vehicle moving forward.

"I'd rather make a slow car go fast, than make a fast car go slow" - way too long ago for me to remember who said that...



- Me, to a student who's worried about driving a slow car...


"Son, do you want to be the Miata chasing the Corvette, or the Corvette chasing the Miata...?" - some old grizzly fart

That's a very good point. I learned a TON trying to make a 914 go fast. I am much more confident hopping into just about anything now because I learned fundamentals with the 914. TC (carr914) was my instructor and really helped me understand conservation of momentum early on. In that regard, the 1.7 would be perfect for your first few outings. Then do your /6 swap, and the added power will really compliment the lessons you learned.

Yes, but this is learning the hard way. The "stock" /6 conversion is a big & expensive undertaking for only 25 or slightly more bhp. Maybe more. And why do this if the host is a rusted out piece of toast. Buy a used Cayman instead for twice the bhp.

Oh, for sure. But as we all know, theres nothing like driving a 914.

Ditto.