1970 Porsche 914 Specs

Engines

Two engines were available upon the model’s introduction: a 1.7-liter flat four-cylinder engine and a rare 2.0-liter flat six-cylinder engine. In a flat, or horizontally opposed, engine the cylinders are placed opposite of a central bank laid side-down rather than upright. The 1.7-liter used for base 914/4 cars uses fuel injected air-cooled engine based on previous powerplants from VW. With bore and stroke of 3.54-by-2.59 inches, the motor has an 8.2-to-1 compression ratio. Power production measures 98 horsepower at 2,700 rpm and 79 ft.-lb. of torque at 4,900 rpm. The up-level 914/6 cars use an air-cooled carbureted 2.0-liter. Bore and stroke are 3.15-by-2.59 inches, with an 8.6-to-1 compression ratio. This engine makes 116 horsepower at 4,200 rpm and 106 ft.-lb. of torque at 5,800 rpm.

Drivetrain and Chassis

Like Porsche’s modern Boxster, the 914 uses a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive architecture. Placing the engine behind the driver but slightly in front of the rear axle creates an even weight distribution and neutral handling. Motor Trend named the 914 its Import Car of the Year for 1970 due in large part to its handling prowess. The sole transmission option was a five-speed manual using different gear ratios for four-cylinder and six-cylinder cars. The car uses a fully independent suspension with a torsion bar with lower arms design in the front and trailing arms in the rear. Four-wheel disc brakes provide solid stops for such a light car. Rear disc brakes, rather than drums, were uncommon at the time, even on sports cars. The rack-and-pinion steering system does not use any type of power assist.

Exterior and Interior

The 914’s small and flat proportions departed sharply from Porsche’s 911 and other more rounded cars the company had built before that time. The exterior measures 156.8 inches long, 65 inches wide and 48.4 inches tall. Riding on its 96.5-inch wheelbase, curb weight came to around 2,100 lbs. to 2,200 lbs. depending on engine and options choice. The two-seat interior isn’t exactly long in space with the firewall right behind the seats to accommodate for the mid-engine configuration. The car’s roof features a removable targa roof section to allow for the open motoring feeling of a roadster. There was no 914 true convertible model produced.

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