Story of 914 Both Typical and Atypical of Porsche

Fascinating History

The Porsche 914 is easily one of the most overlooked models in the automaker's history, but it's also one of the most interesting and revolutionary. Perhaps that's because the 914 was intended from the get-go as an entry-level model, one designed to get young drivers behind the wheel of a Porsche. Regardless, the automaker recently saw fit to explore this interesting model's history in detail, and it was fascinating, to say the least. 

Photos: Porsche 

Long Process

On the surface, the 914 doesn't really look like your typical Porsche. But like its brethren, the mid-engine machine was designed with function prioritized over form, drawing inspiration from the 550 Spyder. After an extensive process, Heinrich Klie was the one who ultimately produced the final design of the car. Interestingly, the process began way back in August of 1966, though the idea for the car dates back even further.

Photos: Porsche

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Open and Clear

Klie notes that the design phase for the 914 was incredibly open and loose. Essentially, management largely gave the designers free rein and only discussed making changes after the presentations of the 1:5 scale models were complete. "The 914 was always a completely independent design which was also a formal success." explained Ferdinand Alexander Porsche at the time.

Photos: Porsche

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Obvious Influence

"The influence of the 550 Spyder is clear in the Model 1 dating back to 1964," explained Porsche Head of Design Michael Mauer. "I immediately wondered about the specifications, the basic orientation. For an entry-level Porsche, the 912 concept – a four-cylinder 911 – could have been developed further. So why did they go back to the mid-engined concept? The inspiration for the 550 is obvious. As a designer, I understand this. Because the car was also the smallest of the choices, the most agile. Minimalist, puristic. Using this as a starting point, as a beginning for the development of a new model, like inspiration, is logical."

Photos: Porsche 

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More Elegant

"The first draft in 1964 was followed by the Model 2, which went in a completely different direction," Mauer said. "It was actually a lot more elegant, a lot less sporty. This reminds me of many things, but not necessarily of the 'small, sporty, puristic' theme. This – in my opinion – relatively strong difference shows that the search was open-ended at the time. With the five models from 1964 to 1967, the design process of the 914 shows exactly this search for a new series alongside the 911. The basic package was established, but the formal characteristics were still enormously different initially. In chronological order, we started with 'something like the 550,' then the discussion obviously headed in a different direction."

Photos: Porsche 

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Modern Factor

The evolution of the 914's design continued, with sharp contrasts in each and every model. "This one looks almost American-inspired," Mauer said of version two. "The fourth model isn’t really modern at all, and then we come to this one (Model 5). The back, in particular, is very modern for that time and the point in the sequence. It looks clean, neat. That fits the bill. The result is comparable with the development from the 356 to the 911. That was an incredibly courageous step back then – the new model had that modern factor."

Photos: Porsche 

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Return of the 914?

Perhaps most interestingly, Mauer is also asked if he thought the 914 or a similar entry-level Porsche could make a comeback. "I think it’s very interesting, but opinions differ on the characteristics of a vehicle like that. Porsche is probably the only brand that could allow this in an unusual way. An entry-level Porsche not in terms of the price, but the sense of reduction. A car with almost no electrics, everything mechanical, puristic. I find the idea exciting. Puristic, reduced, 'back to our roots.' I think the time has come. That would be typically Porsche again."

Photos: Porsche 

>>Join the conversation about the tale of the 914 right here in Rennlist.com.

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