? DPD and VPC A/C Center Console differences ?, A dealer installed option Options

[Dr. Roger]

I'm not sure what I have, so...

I have a hard plastic, 3 gauge, center piece which has the gauges angled facing the driver. The clock is quartz. It is short to accommodate A/C.

I also used to have a vinyl covered, 3 gauge, short center console in which the gauges sat square in the holes.

My research seems to show that there were two different types of A/C with each a particular center console.




~I'm curious to know which year has which type of air-conditioning/center console combination?
~Is it true that the short, angled, gauge console is the rarer of the types?
~Is it true that A/C was a dealer installed option only?


Thanks !

[Tom_T]

Oooops!!!! - my bad! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chair.gif)
No Roger - just the 2 - the "VPD" was just my brain fart"! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

The second 914 with the VPC center console is Steve G's Sahara beige featured in the O&H Forum's "The few, the rare ..." nailed thread. I added it when I realized the old VPC options brochure pic didn't show the console.

I'm trying to train myself with the VPC there! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)

You could say that the new AC sold at AA is the 3rd one. Here's the link to the AA site on their 1 & 2 condenser versions of it for 914s:
http://www.autoatlanta.org/detail.lasso?pa...;serial_number=
http://www.autoatlanta.org/detail.lasso?pa...;serial_number=

A better description of it is on pg. 149 of their free to download AA linkable pdf 914 catalog at this link below, which does say that the same guy designed all 3 systems - VPC, DPD & new AA one):
http://www.autoatlanta.com/pdf/download914...e-914-parts.pdf

This is their how to install a VPC or DPD unit book by Dr. George:
http://www.autoatlanta.org/detail.lasso?pa...;serial_number=

IIRC - this isn't covered at the O&H section yet, so maybe when I get time I can post pix. I did all this research because I was considering putting AC in mine as a part of the resto due to the SoCal heat, but was advised by dr914 (George Hussey) not to do so since mine was never optioned that way from the dealer.

After all the research - my plan ended up though to try to put the "new" R134 system of his into a period correct dash/shorty-console & front condenser of the DPD - so modern innards & operation with the correct period look (as if updated), which is probably what I'd do today if I had an AC'ed 914 whose DPD AC unit was dead or becoming a PITA to keep running.