914-6 Sportomatic

[Gustl]

let's discuss the Sportos in this thread

[davep]

Jürgen Seyffert sent me this translation of a letter from Porsche.

[davep]

VIN________PAINT__CHASSIS__Date__Engine__Trans___O wner___________Location
914120__________________________________________Ja kelic Automobile_Stuttgart, Germany
9140432664_14_____1310019_______________________Wi lliam Storey____USA
9141430035_14_____________________________________ ______________Germany
9141430093_29_____________________________________ ______________San Donato, Italy
9141430120_23___________________________________Fr ank Pohl_______Nürnberg, Germany
9141430156_80___________________________________Ur ban Knutsen___Sweden
9141430163_14______________02/71_6417013_7610021_Auto Atlanta____USA
9141430184_11___________________________________Jü rgen Seyffert___Germany
9141430396_14_____________________________________ ______________Wolfsburg, Germany

[davep]

There is also:
Blue in France
Irish Green in USA
Silver in USA

[Gustl]

Jürgen Seyffert sent me this translation of a letter from Porsche.

wow - that's interesting

2 cars for the Porsche family went directly to Austria ...
so I guess these cars were for Luise Piëch and Gerd Porsche??
both of them lived in Austria in the early 70ies
Gerd Porsche also owned a 916


about a week ago Jürgen Seyffert contacted me to talk about the Sportos in general - I told him that I was too busy these days, because I put all my efforts in getting the ex-Strenger car
it seemd that he got this wrong - after the ex-Strenger thing was over I tried to contact Jürgen, but he didn't respond to my mails ...

[Gustl]

There is also:
Blue in France
Irish Green in USA
Silver in USA

there's also a metallic blue one in Germany

it was for sale a couple of years ago - unfortunately I lost the information

as I remember, it was a 2nd owner car, 1st owner was a well known german industrial boss (can't remember which one)

but - maybe this one sold to France ??
don't know ...

[914]

wow - that's interesting

2 cars for the Porsche family went directly to Austria ...
so I guess these cars were for Luise Piëch and Gerd Porsche??
both of them lived in Austria in the early 70ies
Gerd Porsche also owned a 916


about a week ago Jürgen Seyffert contacted me to talk about the Sportos in general - I told him that I was too busy these days, because I put all my efforts in getting the ex-Strenger car
it seemd that he got this wrong - after the ex-Strenger thing was over I tried to contact Jürgen, but he didn't respond to my mails ...

Gustl,
That ex-Strenger was very under priced,I see on P.Base site you were helping the owner find info on that M-471,Can you tell us about the car,Was the engine numbers matching,Condition? Why did he sell it so cheap ? Why did he not sell it to you,You were helping him find info on the car,I also was interested in it but was too late...
Take Care,914

[Gustl]

Gustl,
That ex-Strenger was very under priced,I see on P.Base site you were helping the owner find info on that M-471,Can you tell us about the car,Was the engine numbers matching,Condition? Why did he sell it so cheap ? Why did he not sell it to you,You were helping him find info on the car,I also was interested in it but was too late...
Take Care,914

good questions, but I guess Gerhard (former owner) would have to answer some ...

I can tell you that the engine number doesn't match and that the overall condition of the car was fairly good; some work to do getting the car more original, but no major problems

to be honest, IMHO cars like this are much overprized
Gerhards car had a really fair prize, maybe a little underprized

a M471 is not a GT => it's simply a 914-6 with flared fenders, wider wheels and swaybars ... the only special is, that there were just about 23 factory built
but there were lots of other standard 914-6 that got flared later, at a dealer

personally I don't see any reason why anybody should pay $70-100k for such a car - and I could never ever afford such a car


@all - sorry for getting OT

[Dave_Darling]

There was a Panorama article a number of years ago (about ten now??) where either Dave Morse or Kerry Morse had what appeared to be the final word on series 914-6 Sporto production: 25 cars. 4 in the 1970 model year, and 21 in the 71 model year.

There may have been a reference to it on the old DGI site? There were at least two Sportos described (Jeff's and one in Sweden, perhaps?).

I have seen a silver Sporto myself in person. This was at a PartsHeaven swap meet in California around 1992, shortly after I had gotten into 914s. It was up front, but I don't remember if it was for sale or in the concours or what... I sort of think it might have been for sale?

OK, a stop at the "Internet Wayback Machine" has found the following--
The Pano article I remember is from 1995. It is quoted at the end of the first page below; a letter to Jeff Gacek is cited as one of the sources...
http://web.archive.org/web/20030710115648/dgi.net/914/feat/sporto.html

The Swedish one is here:
http://web.archive.org/web/20030710120029/dgi.net/914/feat/sporto2.html

--DD

[gms]

I have moved each car to it's own thread

914.120 (http://www.roadglue.com/forum/showthread.php?t=247)
914.043.2664 (http://www.roadglue.com/forum/showthread.php?t=241)
914.143.0035 (http://www.roadglue.com/forum/showthread.php?t=246)
914.143.0081 (http://www.roadglue.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1782)
914.143.0093 (http://www.roadglue.com/forum/showthread.php?t=243)
914.143.0120 (http://www.roadglue.com/forum/showthread.php?t=244)
914.143.0156 (http://www.roadglue.com/forum/showthread.php?t=245)
914.143.0163 (http://www.roadglue.com/forum/showthread.php?t=242)
914.143.0184 (http://www.roadglue.com/forum/showthread.php?t=249)
914.143.0396 (http://www.roadglue.com/forum/showthread.php?t=248)

[914/6 Sporto]

wow - that's interesting

2 cars for the Porsche family went directly to Austria ...
so I guess these cars were for Luise Piëch and Gerd Porsche??
both of them lived in Austria in the early 70ies
Gerd Porsche also owned a 916


about a week ago Jürgen Seyffert contacted me to talk about the Sportos in general - I told him that I was too busy these days, because I put all my efforts in getting the ex-Strenger car
it seemd that he got this wrong - after the ex-Strenger thing was over I tried to contact Jürgen, but he didn't respond to my mails ...
Hallo Gustl!
Sorry I didn´t find time to answer your PN, you can call me any time, I remember that I gave you my phone numbers. I am the owner of 0184, if it is finished I will provide pics. Last week I contacted Mr. and Mrs. Spicka the owner of 0035, a nice couple! Further I wnat to mention that only on car went to Austria, the other stays in Stuttgart, I remember Ferry was the biggest fan of Sportomatic.

Hope to meet you soon!
regards Jürgen

[914/6 Sporto]

there's also a metallic blue one in Germany

it was for sale a couple of years ago - unfortunately I lost the information

as I remember, it was a 2nd owner car, 1st owner was a well known german industrial boss (can't remember which one)

but - maybe this one sold to France ??
don't know ...
Hallo Gustl!
As far as I remember the car of Mattia/Italy 0092 has been blue as he bought it in 2001 near Koblenz, he told me that it was second hand and that the last owner tried to restore it for morre than 10 years, but I will e-mail Mattia and ask him again. I would like to invite him to join the roadglue as well!

regards Jürgen

[914/6 Sporto]

VIN________PAINT__CHASSIS__Date__Engine__Trans___O wner___________Location
914120__________________________________________Ja kelic Automobile_Stuttgart, Germany
9140432664_14_____1310019_______________________Wi lliam Storey____USA
9141430035_14___________________________________He lmut Spicka__________Germany
9141430093_29___________________________________Ma ttia__Picco______________San Donato, Italy
9141430120_23___________________________________Fr ank Pohl_______Nürnberg, Germany
9141430156_80___________________________________Ur ban Knutsen___Sweden
9141430163_14______________02/71_6417013_7610021_Auto Atlanta____USA
9141430184_11___________________________________Jü rgen Seyffert___Germany
9141430396_14_____________________________________ ______________Wolfsburg, Germany

Hello Dave!
I am now here, I added some names in to you list!

Greetings Jürgen

[DEC]

VIN________PAINT__CHASSIS__Date__Engine__Trans___O wner___________Location
914120__________________________________________Ja kelic Automobile_Stuttgart, Germany
9140432664_14_____1310019_______________________Wi lliam Storey____USA
9141430035_14_____________________________________ ______________Germany
9141430093_29_____________________________________ ______________San Donato, Italy
9141430120_23___________________________________Fr ank Pohl_______Nürnberg, Germany
9141430156_80___________________________________Ur ban Knutsen___Sweden
9141430163_14______________02/71_6417013_7610021_Auto Atlanta____USA
9141430184_11___________________________________Jü rgen Seyffert___Germany
9141430396_14_____________________________________ ______________Wolfsburg, Germany

The current owner of ...396 is Matthias Windropski

Wilco

[davep]

Welcome Jürgen. Please invite others to join and add to our collective knowledge. Here is the original letter that Jürgen translated:

[914/6 Sporto]

There was a Panorama article a number of years ago (about ten now??) where either Dave Morse or Kerry Morse had what appeared to be the final word on series 914-6 Sporto production: 25 cars. 4 in the 1970 model year, and 21 in the 71 model year.

There may have been a reference to it on the old DGI site? There were at least two Sportos described (Jeff's and one in Sweden, perhaps?).

I have seen a silver Sporto myself in person. This was at a PartsHeaven swap meet in California around 1992, shortly after I had gotten into 914s. It was up front, but I don't remember if it was for sale or in the concours or what... I sort of think it might have been for sale?

OK, a stop at the "Internet Wayback Machine" has found the following--
The Pano article I remember is from 1995. It is quoted at the end of the first page below; a letter to Jeff Gacek is cited as one of the sources...
http://web.archive.org/web/20030710115648/dgi.net/914/feat/sporto.html

The Swedish one is here:
http://web.archive.org/web/20030710120029/dgi.net/914/feat/sporto2.html

--DD

Hello DD!

I am a new member from Germany, and I have the Sporto 0184.

I think the Information of 5 to 25, which is also been found on sportomatic.org, is the summary of the basic knowlegde. Jürgen Barth told in the letter to the swedish owner, that there have been only 5 cars, if you read the letter above you will find 5 cars for Porsche have been made. I you read further you will find out, that nobody at Porsche really knew, that there has been a serial production of 914 Sportos! The number 25 is not far from the number of produced engines, so I believe that 25 is only an estimation!

When I was new in this topic, I called Mittelmotor in Germany and asked them how many Sportos have been made, they answered after some time, that they think i had been 16, but they did not know for sure and where the info came from. But 16 is the number of the a.m letter, too.

regards Jürgen

[914/6 Sporto]

The current owner of ...396 is Matthias Windropski

Wilco

Hallo Wilco!

Is it possible to contact Mr. Windropski?

I would like to talk to him!

Grüße aus Stuttgart

Jürgen

[davep]

If we can get other owners contact information and get them to join, that would be great. Jürgen's post over on 914World got me to contact him and start this whole thread of research going. In only a few weeks we know far more than what was known for the last 35 years.

I speculate that the 16 mentioned in the Porsche letter may be only those to the dealers listed. The Swedish, and USA cars may not be on that list.

I will try to scan and post some of the information in my technical booklet regarding the 914/4 sportomatic.

[Gustl]

Hallo Gustl!
Sorry I didn´t find time to answer your PN, you can call me any time, I remember that I gave you my phone numbers. I am the owner of 0184, if it is finished I will provide pics. Last week I contacted Mr. and Mrs. Spicka the owner of 0035, a nice couple! Further I wnat to mention that only on car went to Austria, the other stays in Stuttgart, I remember Ferry was the biggest fan of Sportomatic.

Hope to meet you soon!
regards Jürgen

Hi Jürgen,

nice to meet you here - this is the place to stay!

I met Mr. (Helmuth, IIRC?) Spicka at the "Classic Mobil" at Munic in March 2006. This is where I took the photos. He's the guy next to the car with the blue shirt (and the white hair :rolleyes: ).
Really nice guy and a pretty interesting car!

I also sent you a PM

meet you,
Gustl

[Gustl]

general question:

do you think it's a good idea to show all the names of the cars' owners public?

I mean - we don't know if it's o.k. for them :confused:

I just wonder about something like "private sphere" ...

[DEC]

Hallo Wilco!

Is it possible to contact Mr. Windropski?

I would like to talk to him!

Grüße aus Stuttgart

Jürgen

I clarify this tomorrow

Wilco

[davep]

general question:

do you think it's a good idea to show all the names of the cars' owners public?

I mean - we don't know if it's o.k. for them :confused:

I just wonder about something like "private sphere" ...

I thought this was going to be in the Historians forum. That would be a good place for the intimate details.

[Pat Garvey]

Back in '75, after taking my 914 in for its final "dealer" service, I noticed an Irish Green 914/6 in the service lot. Now, before any of you give me cr_p about my memory, I have it noted in my service notes, else I wouldn't bring it up. Coincidentally, my '70 911E sporto was in the same shop (Cincinnati) for collapsed hydro struts - another story.

Since the green car was a six, I took a look at it & noted it had only two pedals! So, the phantom 914/6 sporto? Asked the service manager about it & he said it WAS a factory sporto 914/6 & blonged to a guy in Dayton, Oh. Wouldn't give the guy's name. Wish I'd had the foresight to mark down some numbers, but I had to get home & clean up them mess they'd made of my '72!

So, anyone know of a US (& it had US equipment) sporto in Irish Green? The only person I know of from Dayton, Oh who ever had a sporto-anything was Jon Lowe. It was a 911 & he replaced the trans very quickly after he got it. I know the six wasn't his (known him for many years).

Personally, I loved the sporto - at least in my 911. Not only was it a great city car, but easy to auto-x. That hydro suspension was a major problem, though after it collapsed it actually handled better. Left the fix to the next owner, who blew the engine in 2 days. Never repaired. Junked. Too bad.

[Gustl]

There is also:
Blue in France


just got a picture of this one

it's the one delivered to Sonauto

I contacted a 914-friend from France - maybe he could find out more, or even get the owner in here ...

[davep]

I asked Johannes, and he did not know the owner. Perhaps doesn't know of the car yet.

[gms]

I bought a 1969 911S engine from a sportomatic, I am keeping the pump because it can be used as a transmission cooler pump. It runs off of the end of the camshaft.

[gms]

the exploded diagram

[davep]

I bought one of those years ago also, for the same purpose. At the time I acquired my 914/6 engine tin I got the sporto panel with the hole for the pump to fit. I also purchased a 905 sporto years ago thinking of using the different ring & pinion plus possible use of the gearsets. I understand the output flanges are also quite useful.

[914/6 Sporto]

just got a picture of this one

it's the one delivered to Sonauto

I contacted a 914-friend from France - maybe he could find out more, or even get the owner in here ...

Good Job Wolfgang!

@I think to publish the name and the town only in the Forum is o.k., if you do not publish street and phone number, I see no special problem.

@Did you call me on sunday? You did not leave your number!

[Gustl]

@Did you call me on sunday? You did not leave your number!

yepp, I tried it twice ... but I didn't want to talk to a machine ;)

I'll send you a PM with my phone number

[gms]

here is a picture of the shift knob from the Owners Manual

[gms]

More Information can be found about Sportomatics at
Sportomatic.org (http://www.sportomatic.org/)

[johannes]

Got thze information about the french Sporto ...

You can add it to your table.

Serial 9141430173
Original color 80 (now is deep blue as seen on the picture)
Owner lives in France and is member of the French 914 Club.
Car was sold in feb 71 by Sonauto

[Gustl]

Johannes, many thanks for you great info !!!!

[gms]

Got thze information about the french Sporto ...

You can add it to your table.

Serial 9141430173
Original color 80 (now is deep blue as seen on the picture)
Owner lives in France and is member of the French 914 Club.
Car was sold in feb 71 by Sonauto

Yes thanks Johannes, this is great info to have! :)

[davep]

Very nice to know. Can you get the body # from the rear trunk, engine and transmission #'s from the owner? That would be very informative!

[johannes]

A french guy who is a 914 enthousiast would like to buy a sporto.
He already owns a 914 but he wants a Sporto because he is disabled.

If you have any information about a 914 sporto for sale, even a car to restore, please contact me.

[davep]

Gustl sold his car, but it may be the one on the Konradsheim website.
There is another one (1970) in California I know of.

[Gustl]

Gustl sold his car, but it may be the one on the Konradsheim website.
There is another one (1970) in California I know of.

yupp - it's the one on the Konradsheim pages ...

I already told Johannes about them :)

[carr914]

Gustl, why did you sell the Sporto, did you find something more interesting?

T.C.

[Gustl]

there were more than just one reason ...

for example - driving the Sporto in the low lands and the city is a pleasure, but it isn't through the mountains (my prefered terrain); shifting is slower than with a manual transmission and oil temperature raises up fast