1970 Porsche 914-6 2.4 'Targa' Coupe (RHD)

Description

Originally announced in 1969 as an affordable sibling to the 911, the 914 was a sales hit particularly in America, where the fashionable targa styling and mid-engined layout captured the imagination of a generation of sports car enthusiasts. Although the 914 handled brilliantly, some criticism was levelled at the relatively mundane performance afforded by the 1.7-litre (and later 2.0) Volkswagen sourced four-cylinder engines and Zuffenhausen answered by dropping in the 2.0 litre flat-six from the 911T to create the 914-6 in 1970. However, the resulting price increase - the new model cost the same as a 911 and around 50 per cent more than a Jaguar E-Type - resulted in poor sales and the 914-6 was killed off after just three years production, with just 3318 built (compared with 115,597 four-cylinder models). The Porsche 914-6 was the precursor in many ways to today's Boxster and fulfilled a similar role back in the early ‘70s, offering a mid-engined layout and 911-level performance for those wanting something different to the ubiquitous 911. Today the 914-6 has a loyal following and is proving a popular choice for historic race or rally drivers - hardly surprising given the model enjoyed a successful competition career in GT racing during the ‘70s (sixth overall in the 1970 Le Mans 24-Hour race a highlight).