By Steve Martin. Republished with permission from the January 2016 issue of Fourteener Motoring Magazine.

Seventy percent of second generation businesses fail. In other words, only 3 out of every 10 children who succeed their parents in the “family business” succeed. The numbers are even more striking for third generation businesses with a failure rate of eighty eight percent. Does this matter to 914 owners? It should.

Why do these children fail? Perhaps there are lots of reasons. Sometimes the business loses its relevance in a changing market. Often the children lack the knowledge, resources, or network connections to make the succession work. But, the most often cited reason for the failure of children to transition into the management of a business their parents built, is a lack of passion for the business. They frequently are just not inspired by the company.

So how does this affect us? It seems to me that the biggest threat to the little cars we love is not rust. It’s not rising prices. It may very well be the possibility that the next generation may not feel the same passion about them that we hold. Will they yearn to get out and drive? Will they relish the opportunity to sneak out to the garage and work on the car?

You can ensure they do. How? By instilling that passion in them. Take them for a drive. Let them drive. Transfer your 914 spirit to the ones you love. It may be the thing that helps our cars live forever.

Save the 914, Steve