Porsche 914 /6

Porsche 914 /6

The Porsche 914/6 occupies a fascinating niche in Porsche history. Born from a joint venture between Porsche and Volkswagen, the 914 was intended as an affordable entry-level sports car. While the base 914 used a VW flat-four, the 914/6 received a detuned version of the 911T's 2.0-liter flat-six engine, transforming the car from a pleasant runabout into a genuine Porsche sports car.

The mid-mounted engine layout gave the 914/6 a handling advantage over its rear-engined 911 sibling. With the 110-horsepower flat-six sitting just ahead of the rear axle, weight distribution was near-perfect at approximately 46/54 front-to-rear. This made the 914/6 extraordinarily neutral in cornering, with none of the 911's tendency toward lift-off oversteer. Many experienced drivers considered the 914/6 the better-handling car.

The Targa-style removable roof panel provided open-air motoring, while the two trunks (front and rear) offered surprising practicality. The interior, designed by Porsche, featured a clean instrument layout and comfortable, if somewhat narrow, cockpit. The five-speed manual gearbox was the same unit used in the 911T, with the gear lever positioned ahead of the driver in the ideal location for a mid-engine car.

Porsche also campaigned the 914/6 successfully in motorsport. A specially prepared 914/6 GT finished sixth overall at the 1970 Le Mans 24 Hours — an impressive result for what was essentially a budget sports car. The factory also produced limited-edition 914/6 GT models with widened fenders and more powerful engines.

Only 3,351 units of the 914/6 were produced between 1969 and 1972, making it considerably rarer than the four-cylinder version. For decades, the 914/6 was undervalued relative to the 911, but collectors have now recognized its outstanding dynamics, rarity, and significance as Porsche's only production mid-engined car before the Boxster arrived 25 years later.