By Steve Martin, republished with permission from the July 2015 issue of Fourteener Motoring Magazine

There has been a lot of talk recently about the rise of 914 prices. Air-cooled Porsche prices in general are on an upward swing, and it is pulling the prices of 914s up as well, so the story goes. And so the debate as to whether this is a good thing or not, begins.

One side of the debate contends that rising prices increase the value of the car in your garage, and this is a positive development. We all like the idea that the things we own are increasing in value. Maybe it will slow down the nearly inevitability that we will be upside down. Right? Maybe.

The other side of the debate takes the position that, as 914 prices rise, the demographic of our “community” will change. I don’t know if this is a nice way of saying that we are “cheap.” But I readily admit that I am. Most of us have lived with (enjoyed) the fact that the 914 has had a relatively low entry price for many years. If the prices of 914s keep rising, it could change the face of the average 914 owner, as the argument goes. No longer will the little guy/gal be able to afford the car we all love. Right? Maybe.

I think that it is fairly clear that the market for 914s will change over the next decade. And that change will likely have an impact on who owns a 914. Rather than speculate on the possible changes in the complection of our “community,” I think it is more important to focus on what these changes mean for the restoration and use of the cars we love.

First, as the cars gain more respect, and become more desirable by the traditional Porsche crowd, the attention will likely result in more 914s being restored. Fewer cars will go to the scrap heap.  Owners with cars that are still restorable will likely feel more compelled to finish their car, and therefore, fewer will remain unfinished. When was the last time you saw a 550 or Speedster sitting, in unrestored disrepair? Further, the 914s that are left will likely be better cared for. This can’t be a bad thing.

Second, as the cars become more valuable suppliers should be more willing to provide the parts we all desperately need to keep them on the road. For a vendor to survive there must either be a very large number of cars in existance, or they have to carry enough value to justify reasonable prices for the parts. The 914 has sufferend from both a relatively small number of cars, as well as low prices. The continued availability of parts for the cars we love is of prime importance. Increases in 914 prices helps secure that supply.

Third, there could be a trend toward many of the 914s becoming “garage queens.” You know the cars I am speaking of. The ones that never leave the garage. They are trailered to concours events, “driven” in place to keep them running well, and then passed on to heirs that often don’t appreciate the car since they have never ridden in one.

It is this last conseqence that is most concerning. One of the primary things that makes the 914 unique is that it is a blast to drive. Anyone who isn’t sure what 914 enthusiasm means should take a ride in one of the cars. It will quickly become apparent that it can only be fully appreciated by taking it out on the road. Few cars of this vintage provide the driving experience that we enjoy in our 914s.

Fortunately, we all have an impact on whether the 914 continues its legacy as a driver’s car. How? By driving it. When we get our our cars out of the garage our enthusiasm grows. We get involved in the forums, we help each other, and we keep the car relevant in the world. There are a lot of great 914 events each year. Okteenerfest is coming up quickly. Get your car out on the road where it can be enjoyed, and driven as it was intended.

Gaze at the Ferraris. Gawk at the Lamborghinis. And then when you want a driver’s car, get the Porsche out of the garage.