Porsche_US 914_1972

For years people have enjoyed our mid-engine racing Porsches. But not everybody could afford one. So three years ago we introduced our first mid engine car for the street. The Porsche 914. It’s a 2-seater sports car.

But different from most other sports cars in that its engine is mounted in front of the rear axle, almost exactly in the middle of the car. Now if you’re a little puzzled as to why we put it there, it’s because in all our years of racing we learned a few things.

We learned that a mid-engine car has a lower center of gravity and better balance, front and rear. So it’s extremely stable and holds the road better. We learned that a mid-engine car corners superbly Because its weight is distributed more evenly. We learned that a mid-engine car decelerates more evenly (something that’s just as important in racing as acceleration, because the wheels carry a more equal load and the brakes perform more smoothly.

On top of all that, the 914 has a lightweight, air cooled engine. So it can’t boil over or freeze up. And an electronic fuel injection system that automatically feeds the engine the exact amount of gas it needs under all conditions. It’s got disc brakes on all 4 wheels. Sits on wide radial ply tires. And has the same type of steering as the Porsche 917:rack-and-pinion.It does about 26 mpg.

And is put together with the kind of craftsmanship you expect from a Porsche. Of course, we could have made our Porsche for the street exactly like our Porsche for the track. But that would have been illegal.And$36,000. The Porsche 914 is a 2-seater in the classic sports car tradition. But unlike classic 2-seater tradition, you don’t need a shoehorn to wedge yourself into it. Its doorways are nice and big and wide.

And there’s enough headroom, legroom and shoulder room inside to handle just about anybody who comes along. Headroom, for instance, is 35.8from the seat to the Headroom, for instance, is 35.8from the seat to the And since the Porsche 914 doesn’t have an engine in front, and because the seats slide back and forth, you can sit far back and stretch your legs way out just like a race car driver.

As for the seats themselves, well, you couldn’t ask for a better place to sit. They’re firm and comfortable, not mushy. So you don’t sink way in and get swallowed up by them. You rest up against an upholstered back with built-in headrest that makes you feel like you’re sitting in your living room easy chair.