Tag on drivers door jamb Options

[TX914]

Does anyone know what the missing tag (plate) was in this photo? This a on a 76.

[wonkipop]

don't think the vin and cat labels are original.
possibly repros that have gone on after a restoration/repaint.
the labels are not positioned where the factory placed them.
normally a bit higher up nearer latch.
(all 914s - at least from 74 on seem fairly consistent with position).

some examples of 76 i had on file.






re drilled holes.
is this VW production plate with its number sequence still in the front trunk.
should be left hand side.



could be someone restoring/painting car mistakenly fixed this plate there in door jamb thinking it had something to do with vin labels. the distance of holes apart looks vaguely like it could have been that. if so its not something factory original.
no plate or similar was in that spot where holes are drilled originally.
holes look more recent. no paint in them so drilled after paint job. factory drilled holes were usually in the body before it was painted. not drilled afterwards.

[davep]

I agree, the labels appear to be out of place, and the drilled holes should not be there.

[TX914]

@wonkipop @davep Thanks for the comments. Pretty sure the VIN and cat stickers are original. Been there since I bought the car in early ‘79. They were carefully taped when the car was painted in ‘98. I may have removed whatever tag was there at that time but would have kept it if important. I’m wondering if the dealer might have added it, e.g. the car had a/c which I removed during refresh in ‘98. However the position of the VIN and cat tags suggest it was there originally. Pretty sure the production plate is in the front trunk but will check.

[wonkipop]

@wonkipop @davep Thanks for the comments. Pretty sure the VIN and cat stickers are original. Been there since I bought the car in early ‘79. They were carefully taped when the car was painted in ‘98. I may have removed whatever tag was there at that time but would have kept it if important. I’m wondering if the dealer might have added it, e.g. the car had a/c which I removed during refresh in ‘98. However the position of the VIN and cat tags suggest it was there originally. Pretty sure the production plate is in the front trunk but will check.

ok

beeing able to verify it since 79 seals that one.
maybe heinrich on sticker duty was replaced by hans that day at the factory (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) - they are slightly all over the place. i must admit i have seen one on my files from a 75 1.8 that looked like sticker man was suffering a heavy hangover on duty.

got no idea on the screw holes and possible plate.
as you say - maybe some kind of dealer ornament or some such.
or AC installers tag?

[Jim C]

Are reproduction non-catalyst stickers available? If not, if I have a good photo of a 1975 and a 1976 sticker and the measurements I Say Ding Dong in the UK can make some. They do good work.

[TX914]

So the riveted chassis identification tag is present on the inner passenger wheel arch and that number matches the number on the Karmann tag on the drivers front door jamb. (Being a 76 there is no id plate on the bulkhead.) The rivet spacing on the chassis tag is 6cm whereas the spacing on the missing tag on the door jam is 4.3cm so probably not another chassis tag. Missing tag seems uncommon but wish I knew what it was.

[wonkipop]

So the riveted chassis identification tag is present on the inner passenger wheel arch and that number matches the number on the Karmann tag on the drivers front door jamb. (Being a 76 there is no id plate on the bulkhead.) The rivet spacing on the chassis tag is 6cm whereas the spacing on the missing tag on the door jam is 4.3cm so probably not another chassis tag. Missing tag seems uncommon but wish I knew what it was.

indentations in paint around holes almost look like impressions left by washers.
do you think there was something there that was screwed or bolted to the inner wheel well and only the screw heads were visible in the jamb.

i'm not sure what they would have been however that you would want to fix or hide in that recess. but there could have been something positioned back in there that you could access. something original owner did way back. box with a spare key in it?

[TX914]

indentations in paint around holes almost look like impressions left by washers.
do you think there was something there that was screwed or bolted to the inner wheel well and only the screw heads were visible in the jamb.

i'm not sure what they would have been however that you would want to fix or hide in that recess. but there could have been something positioned back in there that you could access. something original owner did way back. box with a spare key in it?

@wonkipop My best recollection is there was a soft metal tag (maybe aluminum) fastened by rivets that would occasionally get snagged when entering/exiting the car and eventually bent such that it was best removed. (Not the best location for a metal tag.) I suspect the dealer installed it but I don't recall the significance. We were not sure what to do with this when painting so left it for the time being. In terms of originality I suppose since the tag is unknown and cannot be replaced one should eliminate the rivet holes... or retain them as part of original history of the car. We should have cleaned up the area better when painting but in reality one really doesn't notice it except in a close up photo such as this.