Could the wallet-friendly Porsche 914 be a valid alternative to the iconic 911? “No” – the overwhelming majority of Porsche fans out there would say and be justified at that, because the two aren’t directly comparable. Still, let’s see just what the old 914 can be capable of given enough investment and tuning.
The current specimen came to us from the 1970s and originally packed a Volkswagen-branded six-cylinder under the hood, rated at mere 110 hp / 82 kW. Its low curb weight of 974 kg / 2,147 lbs and particularly low ride height still made it a decent sports car, but it certainly did not age well.
Here is where the tuners came in. They retrofitted the coupe with the much more modern 3.6-liter V6 engine of the 993 Boxster model, pairing it up with a diff lock and RWD. They also put metallic fender extensions on the body, spruced up the bumpers and made the exterior look a bit like that of the 914/6 GT racing-only model. The outcome is not just stylish, but also quite authentic-looking.
Rounding off the successful restoration project are such interior mods as a MOMO Prototipo steering wheel, König bucket seats, and VDO dashboard.
So, how do you like this 914?