1973 Porsche 914 1.7: The Oppo review

"gmporschenut also a fan of hondas" (gmporschenut)
01/30/2016 at 20:25 • Filed to: Oppo review, Porsche, 914, Porsche 914

The Porsche 914 came in a six and four cylinder configurations, 1.7, 2.0, and 1.8 lt sizes between 1969 and 1976.

Disclosure: Porsche wanted me to drive this so bad they sold to a guy, who drove it for about 11 years before letting it sit in a garage for 26 years. Then let me spend 2 1/2 years, and some $$$ getting it back on the road.

Looks: subjective ?/10

Function over form, with low center of gravity, decent ground clearance, targa roof and great visibility it is somewhat polarizing.

Steering: Sublime 10/10

Light, instant feedback due to low weight and no power steering.

Interior: 70's. 7/10

Heat, adjustable seats and radio (rarely used) with optional upgrade featuring an 8 track player. Also Led Zeppelin II is better than Led Zeppelin IV. Come at me bruh.

Braking: may require new seatbelts 8/10

Disks all around. The original master cylinder was shot and all the calipers frozen. Upgraded to a 19mm 911 master with BMW 320 brakes for the front. Rears were able to be rebuilt after using a full can of PB blaster and an encyclopedia of curse words. Stock brakes grab but you can feel these in your chest.

Power: eh do we have to... 3/10

... ok the 1.7 came with flat 4 producing @84 hp using a similar engine to the VW Type 2. You won’t win any drag races. What it does mean is that you can spend all day cruising in a classic with a raspy little engine and get 30+mpg. Also gives you a great excuse to go WOT and still be under the speed limit.

(photo by Asphalt)

Gearbox: Dogleg 5 speed. 5/10

The dogleg is great while cruising backroads 2-3 perfect for 30mph roads, 4-5 great for 45+mph. The dogleg also means that you will annoy most traffic from a dead stop as 1-2 shifts take a while,and usually require a shift to 3rd as that minivan next to you is now 3 car lengths ahead.

The 70-72 models had a different linkage that was improved for the 73 model year. The 914 gets a lot of flack for shifting a stick in a box of rocks. Though true I think some of that is due to 30 year old worn out plastic bushings. Swapped mine and felt a noticeable improvement.

Ride Quality: Weekend cruiser 7/10

I kept the original setup, with Bilstein shocks and 100lb springs in the back and decided to pass on the optional sway bars fitted to many. I wanted to keep it stock for endurance comfortable weekend cruising. Lightweight and mid engine provide great handling, and a comfortable ride. Bumps are felt but not spine breaking. Older spines may have different results.

passes shoe test

Value: 8/10

I purchased mine in 2010 for 1K, and between tires, upgraded brake kit, some welding work, parts, and a new windshield spent about 6k to get it back up to snuff. Restoration could have been completed for about 4k but as I don’t plan on ever selling it I spent the extra money to get it right.

Conclusion: The 914 is great little mid engine car that will fill you with loads of joy driving twisty roads. Like many British roadsters, the lack of straight line speed is made up for in the handling. Parts bin special means that parts aren’t insanely priced and somewhat simple to repair.

Thank you Asphalt for the extra photo.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

DISCUSSION (17)

JeepJeremy > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
01/31/2016 at 17:30

I would love to own a 914. Such a cool car!

Chasaboo > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
01/31/2016 at 17:48

You missed one category.

Soul: 9/10

Clemsie McKenzie > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
01/31/2016 at 17:49

I read somewhere that most people don’t like how it looks. I don’t get that, it looks fantastic! Especially in orange like that. Congrats on getting it on the cheap and saving it! Must be a blast on those sunny weekends.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
01/31/2016 at 17:58

I’ve always considered these to be basically next gen Ghias...That’s not a bad thing.

JR1 > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
01/31/2016 at 20:00

Fun little roadster and lucky you they are appreciating (even if you don't want to sell it.) Nice review

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Clemsie McKenzie
01/31/2016 at 20:16

Thanks. Going out for an afternoon ride and disappearing on backroads is one of my favorite activities.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > JR1
01/31/2016 at 20:34

thank you. i think one of the reasons they are appreciating so fast is due to how many were chopped up, hot rodded with subaru or v-8s, an/or rusted out.

JR1 > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
01/31/2016 at 20:36

Always thought it was funny they had a rust problem you don't hear about that as much on 924s/944s

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > JeepJeremy
01/31/2016 at 20:36

thank you

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > JR1
01/31/2016 at 21:04

Kinja'd!!!

They weren’t galvanized. just primer. I think they started in 76 just as production was ending.

the two main spots are below the rocker panels below the door jams (above) and behind the battery(beloe). i took these from google.

Kinja'd!!!

The rockers clog with sand and dirt, trapping water inside.

the battery will also rust out dripping acid onto the fuel pump, leading to a number of fuel leaks/engine fires.

DarkCreamyBeer > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
01/31/2016 at 22:05

How's the fit for those of us that are 2 or 3 inches north of 6 feet?

JeepJeremy > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
01/31/2016 at 22:19

And I agree: Led Zeppelin II is better than Led Zeppelin IV!

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > DarkCreamyBeer
01/31/2016 at 22:41

I think ok. I’m 5'11 and have the seat moved forward a little bit and straight up. I’m sure if you asked nicely at a car show the owner would let you sit in it.

I have wide feet and the issue I had was the center console was in the way, so I had to remove that (3 screws).

DarkCreamyBeer > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
01/31/2016 at 22:49

Thanks. My wife has declared “it’s cute” but also “I’m not parking outside,” so I have some work to do.

Found one asshole asking $94k for a restomodded 914 near me. CP

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > DarkCreamyBeer
01/31/2016 at 23:01

94000 or 9,400?

If in the market i would look for a 2.0 (extra 15 horsepower can be felt). 73 and later have the better transmission

http://www.pelicanparts.com/914/How_to_buy…

DarkCreamyBeer > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
02/01/2016 at 09:47

Sorry: $95,000.

http://www.dupontregistry.com/autos/listing/…

Thanks for the link, which is super helpful.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > DarkCreamyBeer
02/01/2016 at 22:06

George is the North American 914 guru so I bet he did top work, but damn.

on a side note the pecking order is 2.0, 1.7, then 1.8 (due to 70s emissions equipment that chocked power/reliability.)