In 1964, Porsche had replaced its 356, with the new six-cylinder 911. As with VW’s Type 3, the 911 was a clear evolution of the 356, sharing its rear-engine layout and distinctive fastback shape. Also like the Type 3, the 911 was much more expensive than its predecessor, by about 50%. Although the Porsche faithful embraced the 911 as a worthy successor to the 356, the company was in danger of pricing itself out of the market. Porsche desperately needed a cheaper model to supplement the 911.

Their initial solution was the 912, which mated the 911’s body with the four-cylinder engine from the last 356C. Substituting the cheaper engine and deleting some standard equipment enabled Porsche to slash the price. It worked for a while but sales eroded as prices crept up. It was too little for too much.

In 1967, Porsche’s general manager, Ferry Porsche, took a meeting with VW managing director Heinz Nordhoff to discuss collaborating on a new inexpensive sports car. The idea was logical enough; Ferry’s father had designed the Volkswagen Beetle back in the 1930s, and the Porsche 356 had originally used VW hardware. Porsche needed a cheaper, entry-level model, while Nordhoff was looking for something to replace the unsuccessful Type 34 Karmann Ghia.

They quickly came to a verbal agreement: Porsche would design the new car, using a significant number of off-the-shelf parts from both companies, and Volkswagen would build it. There would be two versions, one with a VW powertrain, which would be badged as a Volkswagen, and another sharing the same body shell, but with a Porsche powertrain and Porsche badges.

The deal with Ferry Porsche had been a handshake arrangement and Nordhoff’s successor, Kurt Lotz, wasn’t keen on the terms. He decided that the projected volume of the 914 wasn’t enough to make it worth building in the VW factory in Wolfsburg. Instead, Karmann would manufacture it, giving the Karmann factory a new project to replace the Type 34 Karmann-Ghia. In Europe, 914s were badged as Volkswagen-Porsches and sold through VW dealers.

This Porsche 914 is from the first production year. It was new delivered in Belgium. In 1981 it was imported to the Netherlands. The current owner bought the car in 1989 and kept it till now. He only drove 7.500 km it these 28 years. This original 914 is fitted with ATS 15 inch wheels and a Personal steering wheel. The Porsche is in a good used condition. This Porsche needs some small cosmetic and mechanically attention.