I look at a lot of 914 pictures for answers to questions, style details, cars for sale, just to look and admire. I frequently see the shot of a 150 MPH speedometer all by itself as a selling point. I think these were an upgrade or a 911 part maybe, not sure.

Has anybody with a mostly street car ever driven it at 150MPH? Will a mostly stock 914 actually do that. I had mine around 100MPH, maybe true, maybe not, just saying, and the front end was getting very light, almost lifting up and the steering was loosing contact.

Is this like a subaru with a loud muffler on it, it's not any faster? Just window dressing? My guitar goes to 11! Just asking

120 was the top speed listed. They all have 150 (in the US). I have had mine up to 100 on the track. Handled like it was doing 50. Mine is a chalon however. Over a foot wider than stock.

115 MPH - flat Nevada highway

My ‘72 came with a 120 mph speedo. I got my silver dot 150 out of an early ‘74.

The 150 mph speedo is a lot like racing stripes: makes it go faster only on your mind's eye.

A stock 914 doesn't have the aerodynamics to go 150mph with the stock 75hp to 110 hp engines; it would need a lot of additional horsepower to reach 150mph.

Had my 6 at 130 MPH a couple years ago. It seemed fine.

120 is about the limit of a 2.0 car, and you are pushing it to get there.

There is some selling involved with the 150 speedo. But gauges are usually the most accurate in the middle and loose accuracy at the ends. So a 2.0 with 120 would be pushing the edge of the gauge if the car was pushed (on a track, legally and safely). So, the 150 puts the speed back into the middle part of the gauge where its more accurate.

There isn't a stock 914 that will reach the end of the 150mph speedo though. Not anywhere near enough power.

Zach

Ive been over 100, in my 2.0. The only way yould see 150 is downhill with a tailwind.

A very steep downhill with a hurricane tail wind!

105 MPH

"73 1.7

165 lb load

Question:

how fast was #40 clocking around the track 50+ years ago. Sure, a 917 would fly by on the straights, but she still had to be in the 180mph range

Mine will do 150 but i cant tell you how soon that happens.

Around 120 was tops for me 2.0L in flat country when the throttle cable hung wide open.

What is your powerplant?

As others have said a /4 will get up near 120'ish or so under the right conditions etc., and handling remains reasonably stable.
My big /6 has the capability to far exceed my good judgement, somewhere north of 130, things start getting really interesting in a car with no aero but for bursts --whoa-- I have no doubt it will pull redline in 5th but being 100% honest I'll likely never find out.
I do wonder what #40 was doing down the straight at Le Mans because they had to go all out all the time *much respect to the drivers pushing those limits*

Never really thought about it, but there really isn't any additional aero on #40. Insane to think about those speeds without any more downforce than a stock 914.

https://pbase.com/9146gt/image/164479036

These guys have little fear

NOT Stock.

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LOL..definately not. Nice 914 BTW.


I'm not saying online what I had the Cayman up to during the pandemic on the freeway.

I remember 914/6 GTs at the Daytona 24 race in early 1970s being reported 152mph in daytime & 148 at night with headlights up. Maybe they went faster at LeMans.

Did a bucket list trip to Germany last month - a father / son bonding experience - all road trip and auto related. Dash cam and in-car photo (taken by my son) of getting to 150 mph or 250 km/h in our rented 911 on the Autobahn.

A couple of weekends ago, on the way back from Mosport race track (PCA parade lap day), the 914 (2.4L 220hp) easily got to 130 mph before backing off - didn't want to push my luck. Can't trust the speedometer but had the phone speedometer app running. The blue with silver racing stripes is mine.

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I got the chance to drive on the Autobahn. An eye opening experience and a once in a lifetime experience.

At 140 mph...I got flashed on from behind. Decided my bucket list item was done after that.

A friend of mine in a modified 2.7 6 cyl did a buck fifty on a long highway stretch during the lockdown. He runs a repair shop...

My mustang would probably get up near scary but it has the gov. Mandated 85mph speedometer. I did bury the speedo to where 100 should be at Watkins Glen once during a fun lap, it had much much more to give. But that's a healthy V8.

I’ve owned my 914 since 1980 best I could do was 108 wanted 110 with the motor singing and front end talking I said that’s enough. Today better motor better suspension and bigger better tires maybe I need to try again!

My turbocab has seen 145 at redline in 4th. She has a G50 and is probably good for 160 or so, but never wanted to push more than that.

How does one explain to an officer?

Yes, not really a very high speed car, but lots of thumbs up with my 74

I really look forward to really try it out, I am not that confident with it yet. But managed a brief 105 once.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VySYOz6L9ZU

I had an open stretch of road with no cars within a quarter mile of me front or back so I said let’s see what this baby will do. I have 205-50-15 tires so the speedometer reads high and was just under 100 and still climbing when…s#%*! The ticket said 91 mph. First speeding ticket in over 30 years.

That sucks

Kermeee clocked 153 at Daytona with a Dawe 2.7 downhill from turn 4 to the tri-oval with 15mph tailwind & 225/50/16 Dunlops, 4 inch rear spoiler and Roger Sheridan front spoiler....praying nothing break or no tire go down....
OP asked about street trim....don't think it would be stable at all!
Here ya go...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdsRVmnX09c

According to "50 Years Porsche 914" book states that #40 navigated the track at an average speed of 159.725 kmh. I believe that the 1970 track was laid out different than these days; and about ¾ of the race was in the wet.
Those 2 drivers were on a mission

130 indicated 914-6.. 2.4 plus Ralph Meaney engine, highway 2, Stevens Pass, Wa.
Got to E-Burg, getting gas<< A guy ,,, wow 914-6, Rare.. I said ..Ya.. Long Time Ago..

Not sure but I think Tony @Cracker might be the winner. He has on-track video of his LS7 swapped car at 169. Lotsa hp, big areo, well developed car.

Subaru turbo. 130 is easy. Front is still planted with larger tires and a flex dam. GPS speedhut speedo.

150 in an 87 Carrera on an empty 2 lane road in southern Utah. i chickened out at 150 although I held it there for a bit. Slowing down to 100 feels like you are not moving, weird experience.

My 3.6L with a stock 901 will hit the rev limiter and top out at 135.

Ask me how i know.

thats about where i pegged out my 1.8 30 years ago on a long stretch of WA highway north of perth. it took a while to get that last bit too.
and the nose came up somewhere north of 95.
it did sit VW understeer engineers setting - arse down nose up - back in those days.

if i tried to do that now in the dick - tah - torial republic of hicktoria where i now reside and the cops nailed me there would be one less origi didgy 74 L jet in the world and i'd be invited to watch it get crushed while they shredded my license in front of me before leading me out for a public stoning.
i got booked at 51k (1kph over the speed limit in a part of town here).
cost be $250 AUD and 3 points off my license.
first speeding ticket in 40 years.
i don't know whether to laugh or cry. i'll laugh i suppose.

+1 Incredible

With my 2056, I was showing 115 on the gps and 125 on the speedo when I backed off. Car had more to give, I didn't. Car started feeling floaty around 90 and settled back down again around 105ish. I could really feel when my little ducktail spoiler started to bite and the car started to settle down again. But that said, I started to pucker at 105 and I was done by 115. I just don't need to go that fast in my old car, but I can say I've done it. So... yay!

I've not attempted anything like that with the 2.3 and slightly taller tires. And I likely won't. I know the engine is faster, and I never topped out the 2056 so what would I have to prove?

Zach

150 would be a real white knuckle ride in a street 914...at least for me. My 1964 Beetle had a 90 mph speedo....even less likely to peg that one .

Stock 1.8L. 1975. Pedal was to the metal. Satisfied my curiosity. @930cabman

Must be something about HWY2:

1990 2.4 converted six, 134mph according to the Officer that pulled me over. Had to cry my heart out so he wouldn't haul me away. Made my buddy drive the 914 home. Parents made me sell the 914 after that one. I was fresh out of High with a license to get speeding tickets.

I was up hill eastbound near summit

Somehow....even with a 4.0L engine, my 914 is never going to bury the speedometer needle....

My first 914 (1974, 1.8) maxed out at 106.
It was 10 mph less with the roof removed.

Officer, I am studying aerodynamics!

105mph in a fairly short time running on full rpm near limiter then my rural test road was getting a little short with a tight corner looming ,love my 944T/S2 Brembo's so not a problem ,however you need to have good stopping power before trying to go fast IMO.
Most memorible ride was 25yrs ago in a TransAm 454 super duty Canadian spec with manual box ,best mate behind the wheel was an ex speedway champion and wanted to check recent power upgrade ,we hit 150mph ,2 lovely girls in the back screaming in joy ,never forgotten that to this day,epic.
Cheers.

well it really depends on your space to get to terminal velocity. I've never been able to get to top speed in my track car because the straights on race tracks aren't long enough.

You could probably sneak up on top speed for a stock 914 on a deserted interstate.

six and LS swaps could get to 150 in about a mile.

at that point aero plays a huge roll.

I've pushed 160 in my Corvette Z06 track car at Road America, Indy, and Road Atlanta and a 924 with a LS or huge six just isn't going to get much faster than 150.

The 150 speedo is there for dreaming and some hope of modded your car.

Sure, chop the windshield, remove the rear window, and put a big LS engine in with say some 935 suspension and you could go really fast...but not likely you will find that equipment on a 914.

914's really aren't about that. find a twisty road, top off, and that's where I enjoy my 914.

I know I am one to talk, but a 914 is more than just brute horsepower. There is an old addage... "It's not how fast you go, it is how you go fast." The 914 handles so well it makes driving a tight twisty road at an average of 30 mph a joy. Some of the best times I have had were either driving or riding in a 914 on a twisty road.

@Betty has this little laugh when she sees something like this:

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There is a low "Heh", and sometimes she says "I take that as a challenge!" One lady that rode with her at Okteenerfest dubbed it her "U-laugh".

That is why 914s appeal to me.