“It didn’t take long for the Porsche 914 to win over enthusiasts and the automotive press after its release. In 1970, Motor Trend named the Porsche 914 Import Car of the Year, saying, ‚The 914 doesn’t feel remotely like any VW you have ever driven. All Porsche has done is return to an inexpensive, reliable engine and at a lower price than before.’”
“… in 1973, Porsche replaced it with a 2.0-liter flat-four engine. The 2.0’s refined brakes and steering results in a phenomenal driving experience. An optional interior upgrade featured a center console fitted with additional instruments.”
Offered here is a recently restored 1974 Porsche 914 2.0 in highly desirable Ravenna Green over black. The car’s odometer shows 97,409 miles, fewer than 2,100 miles per-year on average since new.
The refreshed Ravenna Green non-metallic finish was professionally applied. Door edges, sills, and the underside of the “frunk” lid were all properly painted. Uniformly smooth, glossy, and free of defects or wear indications, the striking Porsche color—one of only three greens offered on the 914 in 1974—is impressive. Lower rocker panels are covered in ABS-molded black panels with three-dimensional Porsche lettering (this addition was available from Porsche dealers back in the day). The front spoiler and both front and rear bumpers—also in black—are free of defects or damage. Badging is limited to the individual P-O-R-S-C-H-E gold letters on the engine-compartment lid and the gold “914 2.0” rear-panel emblem. The removable targa top has a glossy black finish. (To best assess the quality of the paint and trim finishes, please be sure to view the close-up photographs of the car in the accompanying gallery.) Dark-tinted cabin glass and all lighting lenses (including on the bespoke pop-up headlights) are free of imperfections. Factory 15-inch (Mahle) alloy wheels are mounted with Cooper C55 Grand 185/65 tires.
Inside, the correct look has been maintained. Black basketweave-texture door and lower-dashboard trim is a 914 signature design statement inherited from the Porsche 911 model of the time. Here that trim in black is very well-kept and free of damage. Fresh salt-and-pepper loop original-style carpeting covers the cabin floors and side walls. Seats feature horizontally pleated fabric inserts with black vinyl trim showing very little wear. The black 4-spoke Porsche steering wheel frames the simple analog instrument cluster set in a brushed-metal insert. The three VDO® gauges are (l. to r.) the fue-level indicator with warning lights, 5,600-rpm-redline tachometer, and 150-mph speedometer. Engine temperature and alternator-output gauges—part of the 2.0-liter engine option—are located on the console. Slide-lever controls for heating and ventilation, and an updated JVC® audio head unit complete the dashboard. The shift lever for the 5-speed manual transmission is mounted on the console forward of defroster controls and a combination center armrest-storage compartment. (Please view the close-up photography in the gallery to best assess the condition of the 914’s interior surfaces.)
Under the rear engine-access panel, the 2-liter, inline-4-cylinder (with the correct 3-bolt intake manifold) is in place in a clean but not overly detailed engine bay. All components appear properly mounted and complete. Viewed from below, the majority of the car’s chassis has been treated with rust-inhibitor, however the underside of the engine, transmission, dual exhaust system, and rear-suspension components– are visible and very presentable.
The car’s factory-mounted identification and information tags remain in place.
While the more than 135 high-definition photographs and the short walk-around-and-startup video available on the GarageKeptMotors website showcase this ’74 Porsche 914 2.0 in detail from every angle, including from below, we expect and encourage in-person inspections at our Grand Rapids, Michigan showroom. Please call to arrange an appointment in advance as our showroom is not open to the public. And feel free to get in touch anytime by phone or email if you have questions.
Hagerty concluded their review with: “No matter how you slice it, the 914 is an air-cooled experience that everyone should have a chance to savor. There’s no replacement for the feel of a 914, no matter the model. Its mid-engine configuration and low stature bonds car and driver to the road for a spirited ride, especially in the esses. An increasingly wide grin will max out at your ears as the short-shifting gearbox encourages high revs going into third and fourth gears.”
The next owner of this excellent, Ravenna Green 914 2.0 will likely never tire of wearing that “wide grin.”
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