Check Out This Porsche EV Being Built by a 14-Year-Old

Youthful Build

All-electric conversions are quickly becoming a thing, and vintage Porsche vehicles are popular targets for this newfound trend. However, pretty much every Porsche EV conversion we've seen thus far has been put together by someone "of age," or at least a professional company of some sort. That isn't the case with this very cool 914 EV being built by 14-year-old Frances Pearl Farnam, however.

Photos: Frances Pearl Farnam

Saving Money

What's even more impressive is the fact that Farnam isn't doing this with financial assistance from anyone, too - in fact, she saved up the $2,000 she used to buy 1976 914 by growing and selling fruits and vegetables at her local farmer's market. She is leaning on her father, industry folks, and social media supporters to put the car together, however.

Photos: Frances Pearl Farnam

Unique Project

Farnam's build attracted quite a bit of attention at this year's SEMA Show, where it stood out for the simple fact that it's truly unique. We've seen plenty of 911 EV conversions, but the 914 is a rarer site in that particular segment. It's also obviously not every day that we see 14-year-olds building vehicles from scratch, too.

Photos: Frances Pearl Farnam

Supportive Crowd

“All the older people are nice to me, it’s fine,” Farnam told Forbes about her experience at SEMA. “This is the most chill show. I’ve been to other shows where they're like, ‘Why are you making it electric?’ But at this show, everyone's like, ‘Whoa, this is really cool. I love what you're doing.’"

Photos: Frances Pearl Farnam

Fateful Day

Farnam's appearance at SEMA happened by chance, however, after the show's president and CEO Mike Spagnola happened upon the build at an Earth Day event in Sierra Madre, where both reside. “I think it was fate,” Farnam said. "I didn't tell her who I was," Spagnola added. "I went over and identified myself simply as a ‘car guy.’”

Photos: Frances Pearl Farnam

Helping Hand

“I discovered that she’d had this dream for a couple of years,” he said. “I was intrigued by the story. She gave me her website and YouTube addresses and I started looking at her videos right there in the park, and this girl was amazing. I met her parents who were there with her and I just said I was a resident and a car guy. I just wrote ‘Your daughter is amazing and I'd like to help her.' So we brought her to the garage. We scanned the car for her in 3D, teaching her to do it along the way, so that we could show her how to put the motor in the car. “

Photos: Frances Pearl Farnam

Gaining Exposure

Since then, Farnam has been quickly developing her skills, learning how to weld and work on cars along the way. Thus far, the 914 has still proven to be a challenge, however. There's still much to be done, of course, and Farnam continues to scrap together the cash required to buy the parts she needs to make it happen. But with any luck, this newfound exposure will net her some sponsorships or at least donated parts from companies looking to help.

Photos: Frances Pearl Farnam

>>Join the conversation about this 14-year-old's Porsche right here at Rennlist.com.

>>For help with your do-it-yourself maintenance and repair projects, please visit our how-to section.