'Signal Orange' from new
1971 Porsche 914/6

Footnotes

"Top speed for this model is over 190km/h with 0-100 being accomplished in just under 10 seconds. In addition, the 6-cylinder version offers much more mid-range torque which makes it a more pleasurable package all round, particularly for driving conditions in the United States." – Car & Driver, comparing the Porsche 914/6 to the four-cylinder 914.
Porsche's strong historical links with Volkswagen we reaffirmed in 1969 with the launch of the Porsche-designed VW-Porsche 914, a mid-engined, Targa-top sports car to be assembled by Karmann of Osnabruck. At the time Volkswagen needed a new car to replace the ageing Karmann-Ghia, while Porsche was looking for another option to add to its line-up. First seen at the Frankfurt Auto Show, the 914/4 used the 1,679cc, four-cylinder, air-cooled motor of the Volkswagen 411 while the 914/6 was powered by the Porsche 911T's 2.0-litre six, which was installed at the Zuffenhausen factory where the 914/6 was finished off. Both cars employed all-independent suspension - a mixture of 911 and VW parts - to which were married four-wheel disc brakes and a five-speed gearbox.

The 914's reputation for perfect balance and excellent handling was somewhat marred by criticism that the four-cylinder version was too slow, though lack of speed was never a shortcoming of the 914/6. Porsche being Porsche there was, inevitably, a competition version of the 914/6 – the 914/6GT – a small batch of which was built in 1970. The GT's engine was tuned for around 220bhp, while glassfibre panels and Plexiglas windows helped get the weight down, and dramatically flared arches accommodated wider wheels. In addition, the factory offered a GT kit that could be ordered with a regular 914/6 to be installed by designated Porsche dealers. Now increasingly sought-after, the 914/6 was a relatively short-lived model with only 3,360 examples produced between 1970 and 1972.

A full matching numbers example (chassis, engine, and gearbox), this particular Porsche 914/6 was delivered new to New York, USA in March 1971 and soon went to California. A Porsche enthusiast, the current vendor bought the 914/6 in 2011 as an interesting restoration project. The body-off restoration commenced in 2012 and a detailed list of all works carried out is available together with a photographic record of the restoration process. The bodyshell was fully sandblasted, etc and it is worth noting that the car showed practically zero rust prior to restoration apart from the boot. The US-market reflectors were deleted in the course of the restoration, giving this car the more elegant appearance of the models delivered in Europe. The engine and original 5-speed manual gearbox likewise have been rebuilt, although no supporting invoices are available. The rebuild consumed some 1,800 man-hours (a lot for a relatively modest car like a 914) and the project ended up costing the owner close to €100,000!
Finished in the brilliant Signal Orange livery forever associated with the model, this beautifully restored example rolls on original Fuchs wheels and comes with Belgian registration documents and a Porsche certificate confirming its original and current specifications.