1971 Porsche 914/4 1.7

Original rust-free California car; dry stored and forgotten for over 20 years Early example with the 'Appearance Pack' inc. fog lights, chrome bumpers, vinyl pillars, and a leather steering wheel Believed to be an accident-free body and never been apart Recent recommissioning work Rare in this sort of unadulterated condition The Porsche 914 (also called the 'VW-Porsche 914') was a joint effort between the two companies to produce a modern sporting car to replace the four-cylinder 912. By whatever means it came to exist, the Porsche 914 represented something very special, particularly when it graced US showrooms in 1969. The Detroit horsepower wars were raging when this unusual and beautiful Targa-roofed, mid-engined sports car arrived from Germany. It was like a tiny Ferrari or Lamborghini, approximately the kind of thing Lotus had pursued with the Europa, exotic and a bit delicate-looking. Yet fragility was not an inherent part of the equation. After all, the 914 came not from some small workshop in limited numbers but from Porsche, which was part of the great German automotive complex. In its earliest form, the 914 was powered by a fuel-injected 1.7-litre flat-4 engine, based on the Volkswagen air-cooled engine, developing a modest 80bhp; to counter this the engine was mid rather than rear-mounted, ensuring the little 914 was blessed with excellent handling, aided by an all-round independent suspension. The Targa roof clipped neatly out of the way to the underside of the boot-lid when you wanted fresh air and set a fashion that cars such as the Fiat X1/9 would follow well into the 1980s. In 1973, the 1.7 was joined by a 2.0-litre flat-four, and the following year the smaller engine's capacity was increased to 1.8 litres. The car presented here is a 1971 Porsche 914 1.7 and is a highly original example, having never been restored. It is believed to retain both its factory-supplied mechanicals and panels, coming from the dry states of California where it has remained unmolested since 1971. The Lemon Yellow paint and chrome-work have recently been refreshed and now, complete with its CoA, recent MoT, mechanical overhaul, and a full service, you would struggle to find a more original 914.