1974 Porsche 914 Can Am Bumblebee

Everyone loves a motorsport-inspired livery – and to a list of cars that include the Gold Leaf Elan and the MX-5 Le Mans, you can now add the Porsche 914 CanAm.

Offered in two colours, this example is the so-called ‘Bumblebee’, obviously named for its striking Black with Sunflower Yellow Trim colour scheme (paint code U1/V9).

Built to commemorate Porsche’s domination of the CanAm series with the legendary 917, just 1,000 were built with the production run split 50:50 between this and the Phoenix Red and Cream ‘Creamsicle’ (paint code U2/V9).

But the CanAm was much more than a natty paintjob because the cars also benefit from the ‘Optional Equipment Package M-778’ comprising Mahle alloy wheels, a unique front spoiler, ‘negative letter’ side stripes, painted bumpers, driving lights, dual horns, and the loss of some of the standard car’s brightwork.

The package also included a leatherette steering wheel, a leather gearlever gaiter, and a centre console containing a clock, an oil-temperature gauge, and a voltmeter.

Uber-rare at the time – the CanAm cars are thought to have accounted for less than 1% of all 914s built – the attrition rate since makes them something of a unicorn for the Porsche enthusiast.

Which is where ‘WEY 368M’ comes in. Like most of the Bumblebees, it started life in the United States of America, staying in the car-friendly climate of California until it arrived here in 2021.

The seller bought it shortly afterwards and immediately set about restoring it – and because he owns his own business restoring high-end classics you can imagine the effort his people went to to make sure the boss’s car was perfect.

They stripped it back to a bare shell before popping it on a rotisserie to assess its condition, after which a little new metal was let in before the whole thing was epoxy-primed and resprayed in its original colours.

The components were carefully examined before being either reconditioned or replaced: remember, this was the boss’s car, so no shortcuts were taken.

Meticulously rebuilt, it’s covered just 600 miles since it was finished.

And doesn’t it look fabulous with its freshly repainted Black and Sunflower Yellow coachwork and 15-inch Mahle alloy wheels? Powered by the fuel-injected two-litre engine, its desirability is further bolstered by the presence of the versatile Targa roof.

A ‘matching numbers’ car with the letter from Porsche to prove it, it is also correctly recorded on the official CanAm Register, where clicking the link brings up a pre-restoration photo of it in Arroyo Grande, California.1

Now retired and living abroad, the seller thinks it’s too good to be left in storage, so has reluctantly decided it’s time to let his treasured Porsche 914 go.

While he really wanted a Creamsicle CanAm, the seller resisted the temptation to change its colour; as one of just 185 Bumblebees left, he thought it was important to keep it as original as possible.

His team has done a really nice job, taking the time to align the panels neatly before applying the paint: Black is a notoriously hard colour to get right as it highlights every imperfection, but these panels are very good indeed and the result is an even and highly polished finish.

The Sunflower Yellow lower sections have been finished in a stonechip-resistant finish, and the front spoiler and Hella front foglamps are present and correct.

Even our man, a chap not known for hyperbole, assessed it as: “In immaculate condition, with zero stonechips and no heavy scratches.”

The alloy wheels are correct too, being a nicely finished set of 15-inch Mahles that have been painted to match the lower section of the body. Fitted with new centre caps and bolts and boasting a contrasting silver rim, they present very well indeed with no noticeable flaws or imperfections and certainly no kerbing damage whatsoever.

The tyres are a matching set of 195/65R15 Falken Ziex ZE310. All have good tread and we will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

The Targa roof panel fits well and is free of any obvious damage or significant wear ‘n’ tear. The rubber seals are all new, so they’re still soft and pliant, the headlining is taut and undamaged, and the overall condition is very good with the exception of a few white marks to the offside rear.

The headlamps pop up and down as they should, and they fit squarely in their apertures.

The pressed aluminium numberplates add yet another layer of authenticity to an already hugely impressive sportscar.

That said, there are a few flaws including orange peel to the finish adjacent to the nearside indicator as well as the scuttle between the bonnet and the windscreen. There are some light swirl marks from polishing throughout, plus slight blistering on the nearside A-pillar.

Other flaws include a cracked surround for the nearside headlamp, tarnished chrome trim on the offside door, a slight crack to the offside front repeater, and yellow marks inside both headlamp lenses.

The rest of the Hella lenses are very good though, as are all the badges.

The black leatherette interior (trim code 11) is in a very good condition with no significant flaws or wear. The restoration saw new carpets and pedal rubbers fitted, but everything else was judged good enough to be reused.

It’s a left-hand drive of course, but the payoff for that is the car’s spent its life in California, so rust is much less of an issue. However, in some cases the same sun that preserved the coachwork can crack and dry out the interior trim, although this doesn’t appear to have been a problem here.

Because all we can see is fresh, clean trim that wears a light patina in areas such as the instrument bezels. Speaking of which, the CanAm-specific centre instrument panel is present and fitted with the correct array of VDO gauges.

The seats are minty-fresh and free of even light creasing and softening; there is certainly none of the cracking or damage you’d have every right to expect to find inside a car that’s now more than half-a-century old.

They’re also still firm and comfortable, with their smooth outer edges contrasting nicely with the embossed centre panels. Deep side bolsters hold their occupants firmly in place, and the padded panel between the seats is in a similarly impressive condition.

The door panels and the lower dashboard are trimmed with the same material as the centre panels of the seats, and these too are all but flawless in their condition.

The four-spoke, leatherette steering wheel falls nicely to hand, as does the leather-covered gearknob and pedals, all of which are in the same great shape as the steering wheel.

A push-button Motorola radio is fitted, although it doesn’t work.

Lifting the new carpets shows only well-painted, rust-free metal underneath, both in the cabin and the equally well-trimmed frunk and rear boot; the presence of two luggage compartments plus a full-size spare steel wheel and that well-fitting Targa roof, makes the Porsche a surprisingly practical sportscar.

As for problems, there is a tear in the trim panel immediately behind the offside seat, the top cover is missed from the nearside door pull, the driver’s door pull has perished, and the sunvisors are a bit floppy.

The engine benefits from having had a top-end rebuild that included new pistons, barrels, and valves. As you’d expect of a freshly fettled fuel-injected engine, it starts immediately, idles like a metronome, and revs as freely as you’d expect from a Porsche, with the Dansk exhaust system giving a terrific exhaust note.

Our man came back from his test drive full of praise for how it went and steered, although he mentioned the brakes are “a little spongy”.

The engine bay is immaculate with fresh paint, new air trunking, neat wiring, and much, much more.

The underside is every bit as impressive and has been well protected with a combination of paint and underseal. Like the engine bay, there is evidence of plenty of new components.

Please note, the seller has told us the car may need a light re-commission due to it not being used.

The Porsche doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, the recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the history file includes a V5 Registration Certificate, two maintenance record booklets, the Porsche wallet, and a memory stick containing a photo album documenting its restoration.

Plus, perhaps most important of all, a letter from Porsche confirming it is a genuine CanAm Limited Edition.

It also has the Emission Control System Maintenance Requirements booklet for USA-market cars, its State of California Certificate of Title, four Registration Cards, a receipt from the DMV, and Californian numberplates.

While the Porsche 911 is the car every car enthusiast thinks they need, the mid-engined 914/4 has been slowly gaining traction over the past few years – and yet, despite considerable fresh interest, it still offers an inexpensive route into Porsche ownership.

Because they really are very inexpensive indeed.

Take this freshly restored Porsche 914 CanAm for example; said to be the only one of its type and condition on the open market worldwide, we suspect the hammer will fall somewhere between £25,000 and £30,000, which is a fraction of what it would cost to buy and restore one yourself – and it wouldn’t be ready for you to enjoy in the coming spring and summer.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.