The Legend of the "914 S" & "914 SC", Myth or Fact? Options

[Tom_T]

<edit update>
For the ADHD crowd & reading challenged & the just impatient....

The `73 MY's "914S" is a "Trim Designation" or "Trim Package" - the same as was the "914 LE" in the `74 MY.

It was official by Porsche & Porsche+Audi/Volkswagen of America for North America, & likewise for th Porsche distributors of the "914S/914SL" in Japan & "914SC" in the UK.

However, in the case of North America, Porsche Germany made Porsche+Audi/VoA drop the "914S" designation after running the program for over a year - from early -1972 in the pre-release campaign - through about March 1973 - apparently after pressure from the 911 crowd at PCA objecting to it confusing them over their911S's. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Period!

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See my Post #205 on page 11 for more details - or just read on below & through the ensuing facts, then debate by the naysayers. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

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CLIFF NOTES VERSION: (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)
- for those not interested in looking at cool old 914 stuff from back in the day"!

1. Porsche+Audi marketed the 914/4 2.0 "fully loaded" as the "914 S" in ads & sales brochures from Summer 1972 to about Jan/Feb 1973, then Porsche made them stop.

2. The British Distributor similarly marketed the 914/4 2.0 from Summer 1972 through 1976 as the 914SC, but was never told to stop.

3. Neither was ever badged as either a 914S or 914SC.

4. If one is interested, read the stuff posted here from that 1970's period.
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There has been talk from time to time on here & elsewhere, about whether there ever really was a "914 S" &/or "914 SC"? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)
- especially amongst those of us with USA 1973 MY 914-2.0's from the first half of the 73 MY production!

Well - as many things 914 - the answer is an unequivocal "Yes & No"!

I can answer more definitively regarding the "914 S" in the USA & Canada/North America, since I researched that recently to better plan for the restoration of my early-73 914-2.0. However, I was already well aware of the "914 S" terminology back in 1975 & it's having been dropped unceremoniously at PAG's insistance during early 1973, because I'd reviewed MT & R&T road test articles on the "914 S"/914-2.0 which bracketed the change & made mention of PAG's forcing it to be dropped while researching the purchase used (3 yrs. old) of my one & only 914-2.0 which I bought in Dec. 75 & still own (2nd owner).

I also had 3+ years before that, gotten a "free" copy of the 12 page early 1973 MY 914 sales brochure from the Downtown LA Porsche+Audi dealership, from a classmate whose parents eventually bought him one for his graduation (oh to be so lucky! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) ). In it, it referred to the "914 S", as shown in the pix on the following posts here of the similar current brochure which I had to buy last year, having misplaced the other! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

But we will have to ask that some of our Brit Teeners out there (both of you! - just kidding! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ) to add in regarding your "914 SC".
- Yes, the Brits had "something completely different," as in the Monty Python bits!

First - "No" - 914's were never officially badged as either a "914 S" nor "914 SC" by either the Porsche+Audi US/Canada nor the British Isles distributors, and definitely NOT EVER by the factory.

North American 914s with the GA 2.0 motor were badged with the familiar separate "914" & "2.0" badges on the right rear body panel above the rear bumper & to the left of the right taillight.

Whereas the rest of the world's 2L's with the GB engine were badged with the familiar long "914-*-Porsche" between the rear trunk lock/button & right taillight (where "*" is the VW roundel Logo), with the 2.0" badge below that & aligned with the first long badge next to the right taillight.

USA/Canada - Porsche+Audi 914 2.0 Badging:


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Rest of the World's 914 2.0 Badging:


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<edit>
For many, this above is enough to know & take/keep the position on "no" - but it is NOT the whole story, much of which is not known today unless you were around then. If you're in the no camp, your point is taken & no need to torture yourself by reading on - unless you want to add some other documentation/pix from the period which relate to this subject - then please do so.

However, this post isn't here for a debate - although it seems that we have a lot of "master debaters" logging in here with a burning desire to prove someone - anyone - wrong. Even to the point of agreeing with me then saying I'm wrong, and one re-posting information which I'd already posted in an effort to prove me wrong! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif)

I'm just presenting some factual documentation here on what the "914S" thing was all about - so others will know that there is some basis to it, even if it was not a "real" 914 model nor badge name. I have also thrown in some of my own thoughts, speculation & opinions, which I hope are clear from the way I've stated things (IMO, IMHO, I speculate or suspect or estimate that ... , etc.) that they are just that - which is not to claim that they are "facts".

As you can tell by my edits here, I'm getting a bit frustrated with the "master debaters," conspiracy police, & those who consider "914S talk" as heresy - but it did exist - to a point, as the following explains & provides period documentation to back it up. To the point - it is an indisputable fact that Porsche+Audi in the USA & Canada marketed the then new 914/4 2.0L model as the "914S" from Summer 1972 through about December 1972 or January/February 1973 -period! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)
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Today, one of our member vendors here - RJMII - makes custom aluminum badges in a "914 S" design, and could customize anything else - including "914 SC" - should someone want one for display purposes or fun in a temporary attachment/placement. However, IMHO I would not recommend placing one in the rear badging position, because you'd have to weld/braise/putty to fill in the mounting stud holes, which is NOT a good idea nor an acceptable "Originality" approach.

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Second - "Yes" - The Porsche+Audi US/Canada distributor did in fact initially market the "new for the 1973 model year" (MY) 914/4 with the GA 2.0 engine as the "914 S" from mid-72 through early 1973.

While the British Isles distributor marketed their GB engined 2.0's as the "914 SC" from mid-72 through the end of the 914's run in 1976.

Oddly - according to both the period articles in the left book below & commentary by the second book's author - Porsche never asked them to drop the "SC" nomenclature - even after the "911 SC" was introduced later. Whereas their almost immediate objection to the US Porsche+Audi arm using the "914 S" in marketing, what that they were concerned that it may confuse the public with the 911S & detract for that far more expensive car's sales (more than 2x the 914-2.0' price in 73 MY).

A fair amount of factual back up for both of these "914 S" & "914 SC" marketing programs can be found in the 2 books whose covers are pictured below - both of which are still currently available in print from numerous sources - so I won't duplicate that information here.



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Additionally, Porsche+Audi printed both 4 page & 12 page 914 full color sales brochures for the US & Canadian dealerships, both of which clearly & unequivocally referred to the "914 S" - not a "914 2.0" at that point in time (although the terminology was eventually changed to "914 2.0" by the 74 MY as seen later).

Front & Rear Covers of 4 page Porsche+Audi 914 Sales Brochure referring to "914 S":


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... continued ....

[ME733]

I purchased my 914-S about two years ago.....This was a california dealer sold car, I am the third owner.(89101 original miles).a no rust survivor,previous owners took care of this car...previous owners all claimed that it was purchased as a 914-S....I made a list of options on the car as follows...1).leather boot around shifter,2)adjustable passenger seat,3)drivers side mirror,4)leather covered steering wheel,5) ugraded radio,6) fuchs (and mahle wheels)..7).front and rear sway bars...8),2.o engine,9)center console, guages, and storage compartment(under tray).10).arm rests with storage,11) tinted windows,12)fog lights,13)aluminum door sills,14)loop pile carpet,15)..chrome bumpers,16 dealer installed rubberised undercoating.....I wonder how many more options i should look for ...other than a rear window defroster this car has all options I know about.....so far....I look forward to hearing from other 914-S owners and specifics of their car.

[Tom_T]

I purchased my 914-S about two years ago.....This was a california dealer sold car, I am the third owner.(89101 original miles).a no rust survivor,previous owners took care of this car...previous owners all claimed that it was purchased as a 914-S....I made a list of options on the car as follows...1).leather boot around shifter,2)adjustable passenger seat,3)drivers side mirror,4)leather covered steering wheel,5) ugraded radio,6) fuchs (and mahle wheels)..7).front and rear sway bars...8),2.o engine,9)center console, guages, and storage compartment(under tray).10).arm rests with storage,11) tinted windows,12)fog lights,13)aluminum door sills,14)loop pile carpet,15)..chrome bumpers,16 dealer installed rubberised undercoating.....I wonder how many more options i should look for ...other than a rear window defroster this car has all options I know about.....so far....I look forward to hearing from other 914-S owners and specifics of their car.

Hey Murry Thanx! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Were these from your 914's window sticker, dealer sales invoice/bill of sale, COA or ?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Just to clarify for others reading this on the options on yours that you mentioned above, this is what I've found regarding them in my research on options, although often they'd list certain "features" as "N/C" on the window stickers along with true "options" -

1).leather boot around shifter, <App. Grp. & Std. on 914S>
2)adjustable passenger seat, <Std. on all 914s 72-76 MY>
3)drivers side mirror, <Std. on all 914s 70-76 MY, Passenger side mirror was an available Option & maybe Std. in some Euro Country(s)>
4)leather covered steering wheel, <App. Grp. & Std. on 914S>
5) upgraded radio, <Available Dealer Option for various radios @ all years & models, although factory did offer a "radio ready option" of antenna & speakers>
6) fuchs (and mahle wheels), <Perf. Grp. & Std. on 914S - the Mahles were "extra goodies" that you got with your 914 IIRC>
7).front and rear sway bars, <Perf. Grp. & Std. on 914S>
8),2.o engine, <Baseline for "914 S"/"914 2.0" model, but never an upgradable option on a 1.7 or 1.8 914 - it was either 1.7/1.8 or 2.0 model & engine>
9)center console, guages, <App. Grp. & Std. on 914S>
10? ... and storage compartment(under tray).10).arm rests with storage, <App. Grp. & Std. on 914S - I think you meant these 2 together with storage tray being under the flip-up hinged center cushion?>
11) tinted windows, <Available Option @ all years & models, as either tinted windshield or "Tinted Glass All Around" - which was both the windshield & side windows (wings & roll-ups) all tinted - always with safety glass in USA & never were the rear windows tinted, since they were shaded by the rollbar & sails anyway>
12)fog lights, <App. Grp. & Std. on 914S>
13)aluminum door sills, <Std. on all 914s 70-73 MY, later switched to black plastic ones for late-73 & 74-76 MYs>
14)loop pile carpet, <App. Grp. & Std. on 914S>
15)..chrome bumpers, <App. Grp. & Std. on 914S>
16 dealer installed rubberised undercoating <Available Option @ all years & models from factory or by dealers - mine also has dealer undercoating>

Another option which should be found on most or all USA 914s, is the "USA Equipment" on the COA &/or window sticker/Dealer B.O.S. - which included the US-DOT approved/required items, such as:
> laminated safety glass windshield (clear or tinted),
> 3-point safety belts appropriate to the MY (retractable starting in 72 or 73 MY)
> smog equipment & engine(s) as appropriate to the specific MY,
.... (IIRC - 69-72 basic smog controls, 73 decreased CO limits & added unleaded gas only 73-76, 74-76 further decreased CO limits, 75-76 added catalytic converter & air pump - each step reducing the hp output of the respective MY's engines)
> impact resistant bumpers appropriate to the MYs
.... (73 = Front 3 mph Bumper Guards ["Tits"], 74 = F & R "Tits", 75-76 = 5 mph "big bumpers" - & 75-76 with extra smaller "tits" required in CA for sure & MD too IIRC),
> Side-impact beams in doors starting after early production 73 MY

However, for ease of production & distribution/redirection, many of these ended up on all 914's worldwide, such as the "big bumpers", 3-point seat belts & side impact beams in the doors.

Additionally, all California 914s should also indicate on the window sticker &/or Dealer BOS/Invoice - a $15+/- "[California] Smog Test Fee", & in some MY's & on some engines/models there were 49 state & CA versions, but the 2.0's were all 50 state versions for the respective MY.

If your 914's window sticker lacks this fee but is touted as a CA car - then it's highly likely that it was NOT originally sold by a CA dealership when new, and a later smog test should show on the earliest CA DMV registration as an "imported" out-of-state vehicle (unless brought in after the smog exemption for pre-75 MY vehicles in the mid-1990's). Unfortunately, PAG's/PCNA's "Kardex" records don't indicate this, so a COA won't indicate it at all.

However, a continuous CA DMV registration chain from the date first sold/registered in CA consistent with the car's specific MY as shown on the DMV Reg. card (&/or by doing a DMV registration information request for a fee) may be another way to confirm a CA 914. Likewise, a continuous chain of service/maintenance records in CA could reasonably document a CA 914. {I had to use both types to document for PCNA that their records were in error by showing that my 73 MY 914-2.0 was supposedly first sold in Connecticut in 9/73 - more than a year after it was built in 8/72 according to my VIN sticker & chassis no. (which was not at all likely, as "hot selling" as they were then), when in fact my personal first CA DMV registration card from when I first bought it used/3 yrs. old on 12/26/75 shows that it was first sold in CA on 11/9/72!}

That's not to say that a particular 914 didn't "live" some or most of its life in CA - just that it probably was not one of the +/- 40% of all 914's which were originally sold new by Porsche+Audi dealerships located in CA.

Conversely, it's possible that some 914's so tested for CA smog compliance, were later diverted for sale in other states, or purchased here in CA & then relocated out of state later - or even immediately, esp. with the shortages of 2.0's in certain points of the production where "out-of-staters" would come here, buy a 914 & immediately drive/transport it to their own home state; & dealers could also work swaps between themselves - even interstate - as they still do today (as we did in-state for our 88 Westy to get what we equipment wanted in Dove Blue).


FYI All -
Various factory options & their factory code numbers are listed here by Jeff Bowlsby, with which you may have to "help out" the PCNA folks doing your COA, since they often misinterpret the old codes with newer ones - such as Pat Garvey's 72 914's "Norwegian Equipment", or their misreading the "#31 Beige" interior color on my 73 914S/914-2.0 as black!

Remember that at PCNA & PAG - they're human, numbers & codes have been changed by Porsche over the years, and their records are old, incomplete & sometimes in error - so sometimes their "Certificates of Authenticity" (COAs) are not all that "authentic" with regard to all of their information thereon, and you have to take time to work with them to get things corrected. Here are some sources to do so -

Options -
http://bowlsby.net/914/Classic/OpEq.htm

Accessories -
http://bowlsby.net/914/Classic/914Accessories.htm

Overall 914 Info which Jeff Bowlsby has collected (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif)
http://bowlsby.net/914/Classic/

... as well as here -
http://www.p914.com/

This info & that here at 914 Info tab above & at p914.com are some great resources for whatever you need to research on your own 914!
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