Chris Saba's Porsche 914

The 70's were interesting. Almost all car manufactures were trying to pave a new road for their brand, and Porsche was no different. Chris Saba's 914 is a 40 year time capsule restored to its original glory.

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     What you see is a 1975 Porsche 914. These cars are hard to find without obvious aging. Whether it's rust, or unscrupulous owners, 914's aren't known to last very long. Until now these cars haven't been very sought after, but since their numbers are rapidly diminishing this is a rare find.

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     The 914 has a lot going for it. The convertible top, mid-engine layout, and lightweight structure provide a very go-kart-like driving experience. It may not be like Porsche's today, but you can't mistake what age it was born in.

     While it may feel like a traditional 1970's Volkswagen when you step inside, there are obvious signs it's something different. With subtle badging all around, and a remarkably restored interior, Chris's 914 is a testament to its original state.

     It may not have much room, and it may only have 4 cylinders, but the interior is amazing and the engine runs like a champ. 914's are actually originally fuel injected, but Chris has converted his to a carburetor (who wants to deal with 40 year old injectors?). 

     Chris actually informed me, since they're going up in value, that he was able to get his hands on 2 other 914's (one in tangerine orange and the other sky blue). There's an obvious deep connection between Chris and Porsche. Oh yeah, and he has a 911 and a Speedster replica (but those will come later).

     The body lines of the 914 don't scream "look at me!" like most Porsche's today. It's definitely an attention grabber, and has a timeless design, but there's something to say about a 914 owner. The love for 914's (and most 70's cars) go beyond looks or status, and Chris definitely holds this to be true. It's a truly deep connection to the car itself. Besides, why else would you drive a car with no passenger side mirror?

     It's obvious to tell when a car has an engine behind the front seats, but the 914 seems almost symmetric. Both the back and front look like they're mimicking each other, and almost taking the weight balance ideal perfectly. This again adds to the fun of driving a 40 year old car around.

     The front end of the 914 was particularly alluring to me. It takes on two completely different personalities (the second of which is below). It can be subtle and modest with its lights down, or have a wide-eyed smile with its headlights. Pop up headlights tend to make this happen, but when a Porsche has them it has a whole different effect, and I love it.

     If you're like me, you think Miata. The only car today that is popular for having round popup headlights are 90's Miata's, so when these things popped up I was surprised. It's obviously not like a Miata at all, but still gives that lovable goofy look with its eyes. This isn't something Porsche would do today, but I love that they did it 40 years ago. 

     I'd like to thank Chris for his time and patience while setting this shoot up. It took a little while, but we were finally able to do it. I have no doubt that I'll be seeing the rest of Chris's collection, and I can't wait until it happens.

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