By Steve Martin; Photography by Tommy Williams; Republished with permission from the April 2015 issue of Fourteener Motoring Magazine.

Every so often an event comes along that has the making of history. The honoring of the Porsche 914 at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance was that type of historic moment. This year, at the 20th annual show in north Florida, the iconic mid-engined sports car joined the ranks of some of the world’s greatest vintage models on one of the automotive world’s biggest stages.

The primary Saturday event at Amelia Island was the Cars & Coffee at the Concours. Over 250 classic and exotic cars from local car clubs were displayed on the fairways of the Golf Club of Amelia Island. This year there was a strong contingent of 914s from around the country. With a healthy mix of four-cylinder 914s, as well as sixes, it gave owners a great chance to show their pride and joy on the green.

The big event came Sunday, however. And, it didn’t disappoint. Some of the rarest cars in the world were displayed on the precious green, for everyone to admire. A Meister Brauser Bocar XP-5. A 1956 Packard Predictor concept car. A Stutz Black Hawk Special Streamliner Replica. One of only two Porsche 914-8s ever built. 

Yes, one of the rarest cars in attendance at Amelia this year was the famous prototype 914-8, sent from the factory in Germany to take its place of honor on the lawn. Enthusiasts marveled at the prototype, which seemed to be different than the final production car in nearly every detail, yet shared the overall spirit of the 914s we all love. From the size of the headlight covers, to the shape of the fenders and quarter panels, to the mirrors, the car was, at once, both very different as well as incredibly familiar.

While the rare 8-cylinder 914 alone made the show a special event, there were others worthy of the stage. The 914-6 GT built for the 1971 Monte Carlo Rally was in attendance. There was one of three Porsche 914-6 GTs entered in the Marathon de la Route at the Nurburgring in 1970, a race in which three 914s finished first, second, and third. Both the number 58 and number 59, 9146 GT cars of historic racing history graced the green. Even the 914-6 GT that earned a First-in-Class win at the 1971 24 Hours of Daytona and 7th place overall, was present for all to admire.

Beyond the 914-8 and 914 race cars, there were still other teeners to enjoy. The Porsche 914-6 Troutman Truck support vehicle was a particularly popular entry. An immaculately restored 914-6 owned by Susan and Henry Wilkinson, of Atlanta Beach, Florida gave patrons something to dream about. Finally, one of eleven original 916 prototypes built, and the only one sent to the United States, took its rightful place among vintage automotive royalty.

It would be easy to go on and on about the amazing cars at Amelia Island this year, while reveling in the fact that the Porsche 914 finally made it to the big dance. But, sometimes, history needs to speak for itself. Beyond conveying that it was a moment every teener can be proud of, I will let the cars at Amelia tell the rest of the story.