It has been said that American Hot Rods evolved out of the desire of Americans for European Sports car performance prior to Corvettes and the early T-bird. Now you are going the other way and I am familiar with putting Aluminum 215 cu. in. GM engines in MGs. However you have started an argument within my head as to what will result. The weight given for a 914 on one site is 2890 pounds while others claim lower weights down to 2000 pounds and with 4 cyl engines 0-60 times as low as 4 sec are quoted on some sites touting 914s. My question is estimating my 0-60 times for a '29 Ford roadster ('glass replica) with a mild 350 estimated at 250-280 HP on the GM rating scale later than '72. I have been told that the '72 and later H.P. values are about 50 lower due to measuring the H.P. at the tail shaft and with an alternator while the earlier values were measured on a bare engine driving only the water pump, oil pump and distributor. Thus the interesting picture you show above might be rated at 250 H.P. (??) on the new scale. I guess the secret to low 0-60 times for the 914 is in the transmission?? I just checked the 0-60 time measured for the famous "Magoo '29 Roadster" (HR Rod & Custom No. 11) and he gets 6.52 sec without fenders using a hi-po 327 and auto-3-speed. Thus with non-aerodynamic fenders and the added weight of the fenders I guess I will be lucky to get 7 sec with a 2200 pound roadster with a 350/TH350/2.79 rear?? Admittedly you have an advantage with a 4-speed but what do you expect to get for 0-60 with the 327? (Just bench racing while I wait for parts).

Best Wishes,
Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder