The Forgotten Porsche 914 Police Cars
When most people picture a classic Porsche, they typically think of racing heritage and innovative German engineering. Rarely does the phrase Porsche and Police come into the same sentence, unless you're being pulled over in one of course. That exact statement is just what happened back in 70’s Europe with Porsche, as 911s screamed down the Autobahn in hot pursuit of helpless BMWs and Mercedes who thought they could run. And during that time period, the Porsche 914 also wore police colors. That is exactly what we will be discussing today.
While the 914 was never widely adopted as a patrol vehicle as other Porsches did in Europe, several 914/4 and 914/6’s were tested in Germany and the Netherlands. The idea of a 2-seat police vehicle sounds odd in today’s world, but having a lightweight car that could handle and maintain higher speeds with other sports cars of the day was very useful on the autobahn and other roads for patrol duty. Very similar to how Chevy Camaros and Ford Mustangs have been utilized in limited roles in the United States since the 80’s.
Nicknamed the “VoPo” in Germany, the Porsche 914/4 and 914/6 made a lot of sense for the work the Polizei needed it for. With the lack of power many cars had in the era, the 914 was a very respectable car in the performance category. Not to mention how much more cost-effective it was compared to the ever increasingly costly 911. In many ways, it represented a more efficient alternative to the increasingly costly 911 patrol cars that had become very popular at the time.
The German versions were painted white with green stripes and police markings, followed by a myriad of police lights and radio equipment. While we don’t have an exciting service record or note for the 914 in Germany, they were used as demonstration and evaluation vehicles, along with seeing limited regional highway service instead of being mass-deployed patrol cars.
The Dutch National Police:
The Dutch National Police, the Rijkspolitie, made the much more famous Porsche police fleet, ordering over 500 of them in the 60’s and 70’s. These white Porsches were finished in an orange or red livery with lights and sirens to finish the look.
Part of the reason Porsche’s like the 356 and 914 were heavily utilized was for their convertible and targa
tops design, which would allow officers to be able to remain in the vehicle and simply stand up in the car to direct traffic in accidents and other situations.
Today, surviving photos of Porsche 914 police cars have become obscure pieces of Porsche lore, offering a glimpse into an era when automakers and police agencies alike were willing to experiment with high-performance sports cars in ways that would seem almost unbelievable today. And it also serves another piece of heritage in the very peculiar and interesting existence of the Porsche 914.
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Just northeast of Salem via OR-214 through Silverton. If you're serious about fixing building the perfect 914, we are the shop for you!