1970 - Porsche 914/6 - Lot 39

1970 - Porsche 914/6 One of the best small sports coupes of its time, which could have overshadowed the 911. French registration Chassis n°9140432274 Engine n°901/38-6405351 Gearbox n°914/01-7502289 - High-performance, mid-mounted engine, original, convertible styling - Only 3333 examples and eligible for major historic competitions - Rare "matching numbers" model with Fuchs rims - Fully documented restoration costing almost €200,000 in 2015/2016 - 13,500 kms covered since completion of work, with ongoing maintenance - Original upholstery and steering wheel supplied, Trip Master and bluetooth radio In the late 1960s, a fratricidal battle raged between two Italian automakers. While the one with the prancing horse maintained that the engine should pull the car, the one with the bull argued that it should push it. Between Ferrari and Lamborghini, the debate as to who won persists. The Miura did, however, introduce an engine layout technique that had been offered on very few cars before it: the rear mid-engine position. In Germany, however, Porsche's bosses must look on this situation with great amusement, as the brand has been producing central engines since the beginning - cantilevered, admittedly, but still. Still, the Miura is a trendsetter and, above all, a trendsetter. And since Porsche was looking for a replacement for its 912, it capitalized on this trend and designed a car with a mid-engine, like the 550 competition car or the 904. The problem was that the 912 was so successful that Porsche had no choice but to delegate the construction of its successor to another manufacturer. Volkswagen took charge. Indeed, the relationship between Stuttgart and Wolfsburg is a close one, and has been since their respective foundations. The first Beetle was entirely designed by Ferdinand Porsche, who then used it to develop the first 356 prototypes. Called the 914, the 912's successor boasts angular lines that are perfectly in tune with the times. It's very much a Porsche in its design, with its targa roof and as a sports car, rather low, with wide tracks and wheels set back at all four corners. Two versions were initially offered: a 4-cylinder with a 1.7-liter engine designed by Volkswagen, and another with a 2-liter Porsche 6-cylinder borrowed from the 911 T. Volkswagen's 4-cylinder version was first upgraded to a 2-liter in 1973, then to a 1.8-liter in 1974, while Porsche's 6-cylinder remained unchanged, being produced for just 3 vintages from 1970 to 1972. Although Karmann was in charge of car production and also assembled VW engines, it was on the Zuffenhausen production lines, alongside the 911s, that the 914/6 received its engine. Strictly a two-seater, the 914 was resolutely sporty, especially the 6-cylinder version, as the advertising of the time emphasized with its slogan: "Instead of two crying children, we offer you 6 roaring cylinders". Nevertheless, thanks to its architecture, it boasts two storage compartments, as well as a rather spacious and relatively well-finished interior for a car in this class. The ambience is characteristically Porsche, with the rev counter in the middle, and the steering wheel with its famous left-hand ignition lock for the 914/6. Well-born, this car had everything it needed to succeed. Nevertheless, this dual Porsche-Volkswagen strategy was not well received, as the car was too expensive for a VW and viewed with suspicion by Porsche enthusiasts. In fact, it was only sold under the Porsche name in the USA. Nevertheless, both companies believed in it and invested heavily in the 914. And rightly so, since the car was the most successful mid-engined model of its time, with over 115,000 units produced. Alas, the 914/6 was scarcely less expensive than a 911 of the time, and despite its undeniable qualities, it appealed to far fewer people: barely 3,300 examples rolled off the production lines. Little-known and even rarer 50 years after its launch, the 914/6 is now being rediscovered and is finally being appreciated for its true worth. The car we present is one of these rare examples. It's a 914/6 that was delivered new to the USA on June 3, 1970 in Tampa, Florida, in a beautiful Adriatic Blue color, which it still sports today. This vivid color is a perfect match for the iconic 15-inch Fuchs wheels in satin black and aluminum, as well as the jau